“She’s not old enough, and the Engineers didn’t grant her a ticket. I did.” Atlas steps next to me. “I had reason to believe her mother might have shared information with her and that she might be exposed and . . .” He sighs. “Screw it. You weren’t giving me any information, and I thought because Folio and Dad were working together that she might know something.”

Scarlett stares at him with unblinking eyes. “And did she?”

Atlas straightens his shoulders. “No.”

“So you risked the mission and everyone in the Lyceum to bring this child where she doesn’t belong.”

“I’m not a child,” I shoot back.

The woman doesn’t even bother to glance in my direction. “The rules are in place for a reason, Atlas. The Stewards have survived because we avoided the mistakes other, similar groups have made throughout history. Your father understood that—even if people like Folio were causing him to doubt our true purpose. The Stewards only choose members who are wise enough to be able to handle the choices we are forced to make—”

“My dad is missing. I couldn’t just wait around and do nothing. I need him! We all need him. I know we are losing more members every day to the Marshals. I know the Stewards have to be protected at all cost, but I can’t just assume Dad is dead. Would he use the deadman’s switch if he thought he didn’t have any other choice? Yes. But if he did, I have to think the Telegraphers would have found a record of his death by now. So don’t tell me to hope he’s gone. Unless one of the Telegraphers verifies that my father is dead, you can’t make me believe he isn’t ever coming back.”

The air crackles as Scarlett shifts her gaze to study him. Finally, she says, “I understand your position, but our decision has been made. The rails are set to yellow. In two days at midnight, they will be turned red.”

“For how long?” he demands.

“For as long as it takes for the government to stop hunting for us,” Scarlett says, cutting Atlas off. “That’s the protocol our grandfathers helped create, and all elevated to the position of Engineer, including your father and me, promised to uphold. All Stewards who wish to get into or out of the Lyceum will have the weekend to do so before we initiate the lockdown. Those who want to leave the city can go to the exit station up to a week after the lockdown and a Conductor will see they are relocated safely. If your father or the other missing Stewards are alive, they will anticipate this. They will do what they can to get back to the Lyceum or an exit station within that time frame. Otherwise, they will have to take their chances with the Marshals on their own.”

She turns and adds, “From now until the lockdown, all stations will be manned around the clock. Telegraphers have already started to spread word to those on the outskirts of our network. As of now, all operations will be designed to help those who need to go underground or who wish to be relocated out of Chicago. Under no circumstances will new tickets be dispensed or new riders allowed. Anyone who disobeys the signals will be confined. There will be no exceptions. I don’t care whose son someone might be.”