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Pert when Father drops below the surface; his anxiety will go unnoticed. Even the Watcher’s lives are on the line.
    I peek at Lendi’s fingers tightening around my forearm.
    “We can’t talk here, but I found something. You’ll want to see it, Luca. This is the only day we could go unnoticed.”
    “Where —”
    “No questions, all right? Just follow. I’m already a walking wrinkle, and thinking about it only makes it worse.”
    It’s a day for secrets, and my body tingles. Lendi’s mouth is a risk, but that increases my urge to confide about the boy in my closet. “I’ve got something to show you too.”
    Lendi puffs out air. “You know I blab. You know … Oh, fine, what is it?” I step away from the door, and Lendi slowly pulls it open.
    “Why is Walery in your father’s closet?”
    “It’s somewhat of a story.”
    Lendi lowers his voice. “Wait. I saw him in the march. Wasn’t he undone?”
    “Does he look it?”
    Lendi peeks. “No. But he’s supposed to be undone, isn’t he?”
    I say nothing.
    “He came through your gate, and somehow you hid him.”
    More silence.
    “And nobody knows about it but you, and now me. Blime! I can’t keep this kind of confidence. You know that.” Lendi drops to the floor and squeezes his dreadlocks.
    I sit beside him. “It’s okay, mate. Now, what was your news?”
    “My news?” His breathing quickens. “Yeah, my news! Maybe my news will help me forget your news.”
    I gesture to Walery, and he steps out while flattening his shirt. “You’re not going to slam me back inside again …”
    “Wasn’t planning on it.” I grab a fish from the cold box and drop it into Walery’s hands. “The place is yours tonight.” I offerhim a quick slap on the back. “Lendi and I are going on a little trip.”
    Walery presses his toe into the wooden floor. “I could … I could come with you. It’s, uh, really dark here, and really …”
    Lonely. The word you’re looking for is lonely. You haven’t been allowed to talk of it, but there it is. I know it well
.
    “I think it’s far too soon for you to be outside this house. Even Lendi knew about your scheduled undoing.” I wince. “Sorry, Lendi. Anyway, I need to find a place where you can stay. Forever. Perhaps the Northern Territories. A different district. Father knows people. Stay here until he gets back, okay?”
    Walery raises his palms and lets them flop back down. “Yeah, you’re right. This is just a strange place.” He glances around. “So quiet. So full of something.”
    It’s called emotion. That takes some getting used to as well
.
    I touch Lendi on the shoulder, and then together we push out the door and into the heat of afternoon. The streets of New Pert are nearly deserted. We wander along the Swan River and toward its lagoon, around which citizens’ homes huddle. Dotted among the dwellings, remnants of massive buildings stand in decay. The Swan is the heart of New Pert, both a magnet for those who remain and an image of what’s been undone.
    Millions used to fill the city, but no longer. Thirst has seen to that.
    Today, the shoreline is deserted — no bikes, no scooters. Not on the eve of Water Day.
    Lendi leads me across the river and then veers toward Freemanl Wharf, close to the sea, where only a few tardy fishermen are frantic at work tying down their boats and hauling in their catch. In another hour, even the most secret alleys of the wharf will be uninhabited.
    Only the water mission will remain open. All day, every day, it collects extra from donors and gives water to the destitute for free. Father sends me daily to contribute.
    Lendi’s face is tense and his gait quick; odd for my friend. There are no jokes. There are no words.
    There have always been words between us.
    Lendi first approached me when we were Sixes. He grabbed my swing at the play yard and twisted it, and I swirled and fell on my back while he laughed. His reprimand had been severe, but I felt an immediate