Behind the Stars Read Online Free PDF Page A

and promise not to prolong your stay.”
    I didn’t understand what she hell she was talking about “prolonging our stay,” but I studied her face. It was too perfect somehow, and her movements were too fluid, like the air moved around her instead of her moving through it. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but in addition to her pale-blue eyes, something was different about her. Maybe it was what made her the leader.
    “Thank you, Shubuta,” she said. “Please carry on.”
    “Now you will begin your work,” Shubuta said. “There is much to be done to keep our farm in operation.”
    The general turned and strode out of the garden. I watched her walk away a moment longer before I turned my attention back to our leader. We were in a large field of long rows containing different varieties of plants, short and tall. I recognized tall corn and low cabbage and lettuce plants. I wondered whose garden this was and what had happened to the owner.
    Beyond the garden was a big, open barn where four cows stared at us over the gates. Their huge, brown eyes comforted me, and for a moment, I wished I could go and rest my head against one of their giant bellies. After nine months with Dr. Green, I knew what to expect from cows. What I faced now was something else entirely.
    Shubuta walked to the head of a long row. “This is a potato,” she said holding up a brown spud.
    I frowned at Flora, wondering what planet this leader thought we were from that we wouldn’t know a potato when we saw one.
    “You will use the small shovels in your baskets to dig these from the earth. Watch as I demonstrate.” She bent down and began pecking at the ground.
    Flora leaned to me and whispered. “I’ve actually never seen anyone dig up a potato.”
    “Nothing to it,” I whispered back.
    Shubuta straightened and held up the result of her digging for us to see. “This will be your job for this morning. Please begin.”
    I looked up in time to see the general-woman enter the barn. Another assistant-type approached her and did a slight bow. Then the olive-clad woman began speaking and holding out her hands, palms up as if she were apologizing for something. The pale leader frowned and looked at a nearby cow, then back at the soldier.
    Shubuta went to them, and I went to a spot on the row. Potatoes. They wanted us to dig potatoes. I shrugged and dropped to my knees, sticking my little hand-shovel into the dirt.
    A few stabs in the loose soil, and I pulled a root out of the ground and wiped the grime off its skin. Cows. Potatoes. My hair was twisted back in a ponytail and I unzipped the top of my coveralls, tying the arms around my waist, exposing my white tank top underneath. By mid-morning, I was slick with sweat and my top was brown with dirt.
    Glancing up, I took a break and evaluated the chicken wire fence that lined the perimeter. A few brown-uniformed soldiers were dotted here and there. I wasn’t as sluggish today, but I still wasn’t back to normal. My drive was gone, like even though I didn’t care for our situation, I couldn’t summon the motivation to do anything about it. It all felt too big for one small person.
    I shook that away. I would do something about it. Flora was counting on me now, and I wouldn’t let her down. I’d meet up with Cleve after lunch. Maybe introduce him to D’Lo, and the three of us would save our friends.
    * * *
    A fter lunch, we were all released into the yard. D’Lo leaned against the same shed as yesterday, only today he seemed more alert. Maybe the hangover we’d all had really was remnants of the kidnapping, whatever they’d used to keep us unconscious. Lord knows I’d gotten three doses. Hope tickled in my chest.
    Cleve stood by the barn, and I started toward him, thinking I’d tell him about including Jackson’s best friend and see if he’d gotten any new ideas since yesterday. I’d almost reached him when a guard stepped around the corner.
    “You,” he barked. Cleve straightened and