{They would detect an external message immediately.} the context advisory agent sent.

{They’re pretty busy.} Fift sent. {And it’s my last chance. They’re taking me to the Pole.}

“It was both of our faults,” Fift said. “And we’re . . . we’re both sorry. We know we shouldn’t have . . .”

Umlum’s face darkened.

“Oh, really?” Miolasia said. “We are sorry? Shria doesn’t seem particularly sorry, I must say.”

“But ve is,” Fift said, “and ve would tell you that. If you asked. I mean, you could take vem to the Pole too, and have vem express vir regrets. And disown the, the impropriety. Maybe that would . . . help . . .”

“Fift!” Smistria thundered, in the breakfast room. “That’s enough!”

“Don’t yell at zir, Smi,” Frill said. “Ze just doesn’t understand. Look, Fift, that’s not what they’re asking for. They can’t risk making Shria into a hero, after what ve’s done.”

Fift kept climbing. Higher into the shaft than ze’d ever been before.

{It may become necessary to inform your parents of your location.} the context advisory agent sent.

{You never did that when I used to climb up here before.} Fift sent. {And you could have done it already. But you haven’t.}

{Such a decision is contingent on many factors.} the context advisory agent sent.

{Well, I don’t know what those factors are.} Fift sent. {I don’t know whose side you’re on. You’ve been in my head my whole life, and I don’t really know if you’re there to help me or to spy on me.}

{We are here to take care of you.} the social nuance agent sent.

{I don’t know what that means.} Fift sent. {Take care of what? Of my ratings? Of my comfort? Of what I . . . what I become? Does it matter what I want to become?}

The softness of Shria’s cheek against zirs. The weight of vir forehead, pressed into zir shoulder. The hard muscles under the skin of vir arms, enclosing Fift. Vir hair falling in copper tangles over vir shoulders.

Amid a myriad, one true witness . . .

“I’m not going to betray vem,” Fift said, in the breakfast room. “I’ll go to the Pole. I won’t make trouble. I’ll say whatever else they want me to say . . . but I’m not going to blame Shria in front of the whole world.”

“Fift!” Frill cried. “We are in no position to bargain.”

Miolasia leaned forward. “We are here, Fift, as a favor to your Mother Pip. And because we believe that you want to do the right thing. And so we are offering you a chance. One chance. To trust us and to do as we say.”

The steam flowed thickly past Fift as ze climbed. The light was getting brighter.

{You are insufficiently aware of the dangers of attracting further attention.} the context advisory agent sent. {Your instant-fame has swelled dramatically.}