Free Among the Enemy by Margaret Peterson Haddix Page B

around to watch my back—or steal cars for me—I don't think there's any way I could get approval to take a new recruit with me into that sector."
"But I was just there!" Matthias argued desperately. "What's the difference?"
"Procedure," Tiddy said with a shrug. "Got to follow the rules, you know?"
    They were descending a set of stairs, then stringing their way through an array of twisty hallways. Finally they came out in front of another huge door in the middle of a bustling lobby.
"Give yourself six months, maybe a year," Tiddy said. "I'll make sure you're signed up for all the necessary training. If you do well, and if we still have enemies left to fight then, I promise, I'll take you with me every battle I can."
"But—," Matthias protested. Where would Percy and Alia be in six months or a year?
"No 'but's' about it," Tiddy said. "Now, I have to go back to the field, and you get to have a delicious meal courtesy of the Population Police. Honestly, I think you're getting the better end of the deal."
He led Matthias through the doorway, which opened into a huge eating area. Dozens of uniformed men, women, and teenagers were sitting at long tables, hunched over trays. And there were all sorts of heady aromas in the air: freshly baked breads, simmering stews, baked potatoes. ... In spite of his worries, Matthias couldn't help closing his eyes and inhaling deeply.
"I knew you'd like this part," Tiddy said, chuckling.
    He said something to a woman sitting at the end of a serving line at the side of the room, and the woman handed Matthias a tray.
"Fill up your stomach, and I'll check up on you when I get back," Tiddy said. "Ciao!"
Matthias stood there numbly, watching Tiddy walk away.
What do I do now? he wondered. He wanted to chase after Tiddy, but that wouldn't do any good if Tiddy wouldn't take him back to the cabin.
If only Percy and Alia were here to help me think. .. Matthias remembered a story Samuel had told him about a strong man who lost all his strength when his hair was cut off. That man had been captured by his enemies too. Matthias felt just as weak and stupid and useless without his friends. How was he ever going to escape from Population Police headquarters and get back to Percy and Alia?
"Bean soup, sir?" someone asked.
Matthias swayed a little. He was hungry. Starving, actually. He hadn't eaten since—when? The broth back at Mr. Hendricks's house? That seemed like several lifetimes ago. Would it be so awful to eat something now, so he'd have energy to think of a plan?
"Okay," Matthias said.
A woman placed a steaming bowl of soup on his tray. Another woman put a plateful of rolls beside the soup, and a girl added a cup of mixed fruit.
Matthias hadn't seen fruit like that in ages, and he loved it.
    "Thank you," he said, looking straight at the girl. And then he looked again. The girl had a white papery hat covering her hair and a sanitary mask covering her nose and mouth, but there was something oddly familiar about her brown eyes. She looked like ... No, she was—
"Nina?" Matthias whispered.

Chapter Eighteen

The serving girl scowled at Matthias and shook her head—just once, forbiddingly.
"Keep it moving," she said in a harsh tone that didn't disguise the familiar voice.
    Matthias wanted to scream out, Nina! What are you doing here? and Please, can you help me get back to Percy and Alia? But he said nothing, only picked up his tray and walked away. He aimed for a table on the far side of the room, where he could sit alone with his back toward the wall.
Where he could watch Nina.
Nina had escaped from Population Police prison with him and Percy and Alia months ago. She'd started at Niedler School when they did but had been called away in early October. Mr. Hendricks needed her help, she'd told them, sounding a little self-important What was she doing working for the Population Police now? Had Matthias and his friends come to the wrong conclusion about her loyalties— had she been on the Population