Page 38 of The Pacifist
We sat for a moment in silence, watching the fire fighters work outside, and then Cole stood up. “I know it’s in your nature to help and take charge, little brother, but will you do me a favor?”
“What do you need?”
“Stay inside while I go and face them. By now they’ll have discovered what we’ve been hiding. They’ll have to report it to the authorities and soon I’ll be facing the consequences.”
“You think they’re going to send you to a place of reflection?”
“No doubt! If I’m lucky, I’ll have a week or more to hand over assignments to the others, but if not, I’ll write them from wherever they take me.”
My hands fell into my lap with a deep sigh. “This isn’t right.”
“I know.” Cole squeezed my shoulder. “This might ruin your influence on the Council, but you can’t give up. Make them see that we’re not children and that we have a right to experience thrills in our lives. If they don’t want to race or drink, no one is forcing them, but they shouldn’t prohibit us from having some fun.” He swallowed hard enough to make his Adam’s apple bob in his throat. “Jonah, we’re depending on you to fight against the rigid laws.”
Raising my hand, I squeezed Cole’s shoulder back. “You have my word.”
CHAPTER8
Magni’s Miracle
Mila
“Mom, did I wake you?”
Laura sounded chirpy and laughed. “Since when would I sleep until nine on a Wednesday? I’ve been awake for a few hours. How are you, my dear?”
“I’m fine, but I wanted to warn you in case you might hear about it on the News. There was a fire last night.”
“A fire?” She lowered her voice. "Are you okay?"
“Yes, we are all fine. It was a storage building here at the family unit where Jonah grew up. We don’t know what caused the fire yet, but the Cervici family is famous here, so the news might come out.”
“Got it. Thank you for telling me. And how are you and Jonah getting along?”
I rubbed my face. Unable to untangle all the confusing emotions inside me, I went with an easy answer. “Good as always.”
“I’m happy to hear it, darling.”
“What about Dad, can I talk to him?”
“You can’t. He’s busy.” There was a burst of excitement in her voice.
“What do you mean he’s busy? Is he sleeping?”
“No. He’s actually busy with something meaningful.”
“Are he and Khan plotting?”
In a conspiratorial whisper, Laura spoke fast: “This is too big to keep a secret. Dad finally decided to get robotic limbs.”
I sucked in a breath. “He did?”
“Yes. I’m telling you, sweetie, it’s like a miracle happened. Yesterday we met up with the team of doctors who are going to help him. This morning he interviewed three different recovery specialists who were all recommended by the hospital. Right now, he and Finn are working on a plan to get him through the process as fast and with as little pain as possible.”
“Finn is there?”
“Yes. The minute Dad made his decision, he called Finn and now they’re plotting and planning together. I haven’t seen your father like this since before the accident. He even smacked me on my butt when I left them ten minutes ago.”
“Wow, that’s amazing, Mom.” I felt bubbly inside, as if her words had injected carbon dioxide into my veins, changing my blood from regular to sparkling. “When is the operation?”
