It’s really hard to know what’s right or wrong. Sad as it is, I’m not thinking about Tony. He’s gone. I’m worried about what Deke might do if we let him loose. I’m worried about losing Mia or Imani. What if he hits them with rocks or shoves them off a cliff? Or me, for that matter. Would he do that, or has he really changed his ways? I don’t know, but I’m not sure we can take a chance, even if I have to break my own promise about never being mean to a fellow human being.

I take a deep breath and say, reluctantly, “Convict. Leave him tied to the tree.”

Two down, one to go.

“Imani, have you made up your mind?”

Imani lifts her head up, standing tall. There’s a kind of gleam in her eyes I hadn’t noticed before. The gleam of a strong person who has something important to say, and is finally getting her chance.

“Cut him loose,” she says. “Did you really think I’d leave him to die when this whole miserable trip is my fault?”

Mia, for once, is at a loss for words. And me, I’m just plain stunned. What on earth is Imani talking about?

35. My Brave Friend

Something about her expression convinces me that Imani is proud of herself for keeping a secret. What secret, exactly, she takes her time revealing. Warming her hands over the fire, clearing her throat, preparing for whatever she’s about to say.

“My full name is Imani Walker James. I was signed in to the program as Imani Walker because I didn’t want anyone to know my father is Byron James.”

Mia’s eyes grow as big as saucers. Deke is visibly startled, as well as obviously relieved.

“The new regional middle school exists because of me. This leadership program exists because of me. Not that I wanted either one. It all started two years ago, when I refused to go back to my prep school. I hated it! I hated having security guards. I hated that everybody knew my dad was super wealthy and super famous. Kids acted weird around me, okay? All I wanted was to be treated normal. More than anything, I wanted to go to a public school and just be a regular person.”

“Wait,” Mia says. “Deke’s parents work for Byron James. How come he didn’t recognize you?”

Imani shrugs. “Hundreds of people work for my father. Thousands if you count the ones who help build the inventions, or use his patents. Also, my dad has this thing about privacy. He never brings his work home, and he never speaks publicly about family because he’s afraid bad things might happen. Like kidnapping, okay? So it was, like, a really big deal when he agreed I could go to public school.”