On one side of the bus was the water of the Río de la Plata glinting in the sunlight. Boats crowded the small docking area, and massive skyscrapers of steel and glass, an ode to the modern world, speared into the sky, seventy or eighty stories high. On the other side of the bus, monolithic Greek columns held up a building that looked like the Parthenon, marble statues reared up in the roundabouts, carved horses leaping up and leading their stone riders to victory.

One side of the bus was the past, beautiful European architecture lining the road and springing up in the distance, breathtaking in its size and majesty. On the other side, towering steel monuments to capitalism.

“It’s stunning.” Kovit’s breath fogged up the glass and he wiped it away, eyes wide. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” He turned to Nita, a bright, happy grin on his face. “I’ve seen pictures and movies set in Europe, but never actually, you know, been anywhere like this.”

Fabricio looked over at him curiously. “Where did you live before . . .”

“Before I joined Nita?” Kovit’s eyes were glued to the passing city outside. “Bangkok until I was ten. And then I was part of the Family, and they had a compound just outside Boston. But I didn’t really get to go outside, they didn’t like that. Occasionally they’d drive me into the city for work, though. It was nice.” He made a face. “And then they sent me to the jungle. But I was only there for a month before I met Nita and we escaped.”

A look flitted across Fabricio’s face Nita couldn’t quite understand. It wasn’t quite pity, it wasn’t quite sympathy. It was just a flicker, a moment of some sort of sadness, and then it was gone.

“You’ve only been free a week?” Fabricio asked.

Kovit nodded, silent.

“Is it everything you wanted?” Fabricio’s question was soft.

Kovit hesitated. “I . . . I don’t know. I never realized how hard it would be when I had to make my own choices. I have the opportunity to be whoever I want to be, but all I can seem to do is the same things I always did.” He gave a short, sharp laugh. “But I got to see my sister, which I never thought I would again. And I’m getting to see Buenos Aires. So, yeah. It’s not perfect, but I’m glad I got out.”

Fabricio nodded slowly. “They say that people are creatures of routine, and even if you put them in different settings, they always end up repeating the same habits.”

“I hope not.” Kovit’s voice was soft. “I don’t want to go back to the life I had.”

“Me neither,” Fabricio whispered. He stared out at the city with sad eyes, his face part fear, part longing.