Island of Silence (Unwanteds) by Lisa McMann Page B

them closely, and found it hilarious that Meghan seemed entirely unaware of her suitors.
    Alex elbowed Samheed. “Lighten up,” he muttered. And then he said for all to hear, “Where’s Lani? She’s been scarce for days.”
    Samheed shrugged. “Probably working on something. Who knows.” He shifted uneasily, knowing Lani was avoiding Alex, and turned his attention back to Mr. Today.
    “And where’s Sean?” Alex didn’t seem to get the picture.
    Samheed shrugged and put a finger to his lips, then pointed to Mr. Today.
    “Well, that’s wonderful, Meghan,” Mr. Today was saying. He got to his feet. “Alex, I’ll see you tomorrow as usual. The rest of you, thank you for your generous contributions to our Necessary guests. It means the world to me.”
    Alex joined the others in a round of good-byes, but wondered secretly why Mr. Today wanted to continue meeting with him when he clearly wasn’t the leader Mr. Today was looking for.
    “Did you tell him?” Samheed asked Alex after Mr. Today was gone.
    “Yes, about five times.”
    “Why do you keep meeting with him, then?”
    “I have no idea.” Alex sighed. “I mean, I said I’d help out, so maybe that’s why.”
    “Did you ever think about suggesting a different leader?”
    Alex laughed. “Who, you?”
    “No.” Samheed scowled. “I don’t want to do it either.”
    “Then who?”
    “I don’t know. Don’t you think there’s someone you know pretty well who would be a good partner for High Priest Haluki?”
    “Well, sure. Lani. But she just seems mad that I said no. She hasn’t said five words to me since I told you guys about it. So I don’t think she’d want it, or she’d have said something.”
    Samheed flopped back on the grass and stared at the stars that were just beginning to pop out for the evening. He sighed and muttered, “Why does everything have to be so complicated?”
    “You’re asking me?” Alex said.
    » » « «
    The next afternoon Alex made his way as usual to Mr. Today’s office. When he stepped inside, he stopped abruptly. There he found Ms. Morning, dressed in riding jodhpurs, a vest, and a cap. Her long honey-colored hair was mussed as if she’d been out in the wind, and Alex wondered idly if Mr. Today had randomly created horses around Artimé or if there were just the magical kind that Samheed had once used.
    She noticed his look and laughed. “Small group training on invisible steeds,” she said.
    “Ahh.” Alex smiled and then noticed a stranger in the room.
    On the far side of Ms. Morning sat a rigid elderly woman. She startled when she saw Alex, and her face grew fearful.
    “Oh, wow, I’m sorry,” Alex said, his face flushing with embarrassment. He took a step backward. “Did I get my meeting time wrong?”
    Ms. Morning smiled. “Not at all, Alex. You’re right on time. I think we’re all meeting together.” She turned to the woman and patted her hand. “He’s not who you think. This is Aaron Stowe’s twin, Alex. The resemblance is startling, isn’t it?”
    “Yes,” the woman said, still wary. “Quite.” All Eva had ever wanted in life was her job, and a boy who looked exactly like the one facing her had been the one to take it away.
    “Alex Stowe, please meet Eva Fathom.”
    Alex wiped his hands on his pants’he’d just finished working with chalks’and nearly tripped over the chair leg as he walked over and reached out a hand to the woman. “Good grief,” he muttered at his own clumsiness, and then to the woman he said, “It’s nice to meet you,” thinking how strange it was that someone here in Artimé knew Aaron but not him.
    Just then Mr. Today breezed in. “So terribly sorry to be late!” he said. “I was just checking in with Charlie, as I was a bit worried about how he’s doing here without Matilda. But they are in constant communication, so neither is feeling too badly, much to my relief. And both understand their importance in helping us during these uncertain times. How