“Okay…we’ll go up and talk with them some more. Maybe they’ll barter with us for some things. Besides, I’m curious about this Jeffrey.”
Thais lit up.
“Thank you,” she said. “Now please put that away.”
Finally, I put the gun away.
Esra and June had known about us living in the cabin and they never tried to hurt us; they hadn’t turned us in like the people at the farm; Esra could’ve shot us at the supply cabin; he could’ve been shooting at us right then from the treehouse, but the empty elevator was being lowered for us instead.
Maybe Thais was right this time.
THAIS
I held my breath the whole way up as the elevator swayed and made awful noises. I thought about the cable pulling our weight. Was it strong enough? How old was it? I thought about the wooden box with a chain-link door that was the only thing separating us from the ground. Was it strong enough? How old was it? Was Atticus too big? Maybe we should’ve taken the elevator separately. Yes, he is quite tall and muscular; surely he weighs more than June and Esra combined despite losing weight.
As the elevator climbed closer to the top, I saw the supply cabin, and the dirt path and the edge of the bluffs; another series of paths snaked through the woods in different directions. And as we ascended higher, I glimpsed the roof of our own cabin, and had a clear view of the pond just beyond it.
June and Esra had known all along we’d been there; they’d been watching us since day one; they’d left us alone. And because of that, I felt at ease. And I think maybe Atticus did, too, even if only just a little bit.
I couldn’t get the elevator door open fast enough, and the moment I stepped out, a colorful bouquet of wildflowers filled my view. A man with a smile so broad it showed a set of crooked teeth, stood in front of me with the flowers in his hands.
“Hi,” the man said, and stepped forward, held the flowers out to me.
I beamed and took them, brought them to my nose and smelled them. “They’re lovely,” I said. “Thank you so very much.”
“My name is Jeffrey John Langston,” he said with a bright and cheery personality; he was more like a child than a full-grown man. “But you don’t have to say the whole thing; I’m just called Jeffrey.” His head had been shaved; there were scars and fresh nicks where he must’ve cut himself.
“It’s nice to meet you, Jeffrey. My name is Thais.”
Jeffrey’s eyes gleamed with wonder. “Very pretty,” he said. “Thay-us.”
I smiled, and then motioned at Atticus standing behind me. “This is Atticus”—I turned—“Atticus, meet Jeffrey.”
ATTICUS
I reached out my hand, but Jeffrey wouldn’t take it—his eyes hardened instead; he shook his head and his mouth crumpled like a petulant child’s.
Jeffrey was tall and skinny, but his arms were fit with small muscles, probably from climbing the treehouse so often. He may not have been the brightest, but I thought he was probably strong enough physically to give me a problem if he wanted.
“Go on, Jeffrey,” Thais encouraged, “it’s all right; Atticus is one of good guys. He won’t hurt you.”
Jeffrey’s big eyes went back and forth between us.
He’s not afraid of me, Thais; he’s jealous of me.
“Oh, Jeffrey,” June croaked from behind, “don’t be so rude, boy; shake the man’s hand.”
“No, it’s okay,” I insisted. “No need to force him.”
Finally, Jeffrey lumbered over to me and wrapped both arms around my back, squeezing me. “My name is Jeffrey.”
“Good to meet you,” I said; I glanced awkwardly at Thais, and her smile grew. “I’m Atticus.”
“Nice meet you, At-ti-cuss.”
Then just as unexpectedly, Jeffrey took Thais’ hand, ignoring everyone else, and practically dragged her inside with him, to which she happily followed.
“I show you my house,” he told her with a childlike delight.