Crystal Keepers by Brandon Mull Page B

following Joe down the central aisle of the train.
    From inside the monorail, the tinted glass didn’t look nearly so dark, though everything outside had bluish tones. People were settling into the cushioned seats at either side of the aisle. Much as when he had walked into the station, Cole felt a sense of home. This monorail was too modern to fit his experiences in the Outskirts. It was too much like boarding the light rail in Phoenix or getting on a plane.
    Joe led them down the aisle to the end of the car, through a set of doors, and along another aisle until the seats gave way to private compartments on either side, each with its own door. Checking his ticket, Joe opened the door of a compartment where two cushioned benches faced each other. The far wall was all window.
    â€œOur own room?” Cole asked.
    â€œWe’re not poor,” Joe said. “I thought a little privacy would be nice.”
    Joe and Dalton sat on one side, leaving Cole, Mira, and Jace on the other. With the door shut, they could almost be alone on the train—only the faintest noise of other passengers moving around or conversing reached them.
    Looking out the window at the platform, Cole watched other passengers approaching the monorail. The crowd thinned until only a few patrolmen remained.
    A soothing female voice came from a speaker in the ceiling. “Now departing Outpost 121. Next stop, Outpost 45. Please keep your tickets handy and enjoy the ride.”
    The monorail began to slide forward, starting off so gently that it was difficult for Cole to determine when the motion began. Smoothly and steadily they picked up speed. They left the station behind, and the low buildings of the outpost blurred beneath them. Cole leaned his head against the window to enjoy the foreground streaming past.
    The monorail reached terrific speed, but inside their compartment Cole could feel no motion. When he closed his eyes, they could have been standing still.
    â€œAre we even moving?” Cole asked. “It’s almost like the outside scenery is fake!”
    â€œThe monorail is well designed,” Joe said. “It floats on a magnetic cushion and is extremely aerodynamic.”
    â€œI’ve never imagined anything like this,” Jace asked. “I can’t believe the speed!”
    â€œWhen do we get off?” Dalton wondered.
    â€œSixth stop from now,” Joe said. “Hanover Station. We’ll stop at two other outposts, then pass a few stations in the city.”
    â€œHow long?” Dalton asked.
    â€œWe have to go more than a thousand miles,” Joe said. “Including the stops, we should arrive in just over four hours.”
    Cole gave a low whistle. That was fast!
    â€œDo you know how to find the Unseen?” Mira asked.
    â€œI’ve been gone for a while,” Joe said. “They change location a lot to stay ahead of the patrolmen. We’ll hit a gaming hub called Axis. Cole or Dalton would call it an arcade. Some of the CKs should be there. The Crystal Keepers. They’re a gang of gamers who help out the Unseen. They’ll know how to help us get in touch with the leadership.”
    â€œThink we can find a thruport?” Cole asked.
    â€œProbably, once we reach the Unseen,” Joe said. “We’ll get their help in finding Constance and ask about your slave friends.”
    â€œAnd I’m going to find out about Headgear,” Jace said. “I want a hat like that robot guy had.”
    Joe snapped his fingers. “Whoops, I meant to put some money on your ID cards. We’ll have to do that once we get to the city.”
    Somebody tapped on the door. Joe opened it to reveal a conductor. “Tickets, please,” the man said.
    They handed over their tickets. The man passed a handheld scanner over them, then returned them. “Thanks for riding the monorail,” he said, tipping his hat. Then he backed into the hall and closed the door.
    Cole leaned