Aquifer Read Online Free PDF

full. The stare reaches places the dials never find. Does he see my fear? My sadness, and the emotions that have no names?
    He rises and hoists his backpack over his shoulders. A beam pierces from inside the pack. Even though the light rods are in their inactive state, there is no way to fully contain the glow. “How was school today?”
    “It was … uh, fine. I moved into the Sixteens.”
    “Sixteen! Three more months of school, and you are done. Finally a young man. No more a boy.”
    “Ow!” Lendi stumbles into the shanty and crashes into Father, who doesn’t flinch.
    “Why is this boy prowling about?” Mape follows him through doorway.
    Father raises his eyebrows. “A good question.”
    I step forward. “When you’re gone, he sometimes comes over to keep me company.”
    Lendi turns a slow circle. “I swear that’s all. I didn’t know there were any Among — I mean Watchers here.”
    “Seems I should leave so you can enjoy each other’s company.” Father kisses my forehead. I turn toward Mape. From his pocket, I hear the whirring of his dial. “I’ll see you early in the morning, my son, after the celebration begins.”
    Dad leaves, and Lendi and I walk to the door. Outside, Father is escorted to the end of the dock, where he climbs into his boat.
    “There’s far too much water in this vessel for one man.” The gentle swells carry Mape’s words to the shanty.
    Father pays him little mind, and unties the rope. “You’ve never descended. You don’t know what’s needed.”
    “Hmm. Go now,” Mape says. “The world waits.”
    “Not until you leave my gates. I would not abandon Luca and Lendi to you.”
    “He’s right. They’ll come back,” Lendi whispers. “They’ll go and come right back and we’ll be debriefed and I won’t remember my parents and —”
    “Shh!”
    The Amongus back away from the dock. Father starts the engine and calls, “Your dials. Toss them to me.”
    The dials. During the New Sydney uprising, several Amongus had been attacked, their dials removed, and with them, their authority. They had quickly been undone. An Amongus without a dial was nothing, and even unfeeling citizens found relief in their embarrassment.
    Mape shakes his head.
    “Fine.” Father reclines in the boat. “You came to see me off. Let’s wait until others come, and you can explain to the waiting world why I’m still at the dock.”
    “We have to do it, Mape,” his companion says. “There is no option.”
    Mape reaches into his vest pocket and removes the dial. “You feel you have control. Because of your position, I will do this. But …” He glances toward us. “A penalty will be paid.”
    “No, it won’t.” Father reaches out his hands and catches three dials. “Accursed things. You’ll get them back when I return. Now it’s your time to go. You’re late.”
    The Amongus quickly disappear. Father waves to us. “Luca, the path in your mind — give it to no one else. If you are asked, you’ll know what to do.” He speeds out toward the reef. “Oh!” he yells back. “Please clean my closet.”
    “He took their dials.” Lendi backhands my chest. “Luca, did you see that? How can he do that?”
    I breathe deep. I don’t know the answer. But I’ve never been so proud.

CHAPTER
5
    C lean the closet?
    I run to the back of the house and throw open the door. Walery steps out, wide-eyed. “Are they gone?”
    “Luca?” Lendi calls. “Where are you?”
    My mind races, and I shove Walery back inside, slamming the door. “In Father’s area, Lendi. Come on in.” He appears, and I lean back against the closet. “So, where do your parents think you are this time?”
    “Caesar’s, as always. His place in Scarboro makes for a long trek, and the idea of staying overnight makes sense to my parents.” Lendi grabs my arm — another rare physical touch. “I need to show you something.”
    I wait, and my friend chews his lip. Fortunately for him, the Amongus don’t patrol New