Free Book Three of the Travelers by D.J. MacHale Page B

still.
    â€œI’ll try,” he said.
    She let go of his collar.
    Â 
    Siry found his father at the building where the tribunal met. “So this trial…,” Siry said. “When does it happen?”
    â€œFirst thing tomorrow morning,” Jen Remudi said.
    â€œWhat do you think is going to happen?” Siry asked.
    â€œWe’ll present the facts. If the facts indicate that she was a raider who came here to break our laws and do us harm—” Siry’s father shrugged.
    â€œWho’s going to defend her?”
    â€œWe’ll pick a former member of the tribunal.”
    â€œAnnik Neelow? She hates Flighters.”
    â€œWe haven’t decided. There are several other people who used to be on the tribunal.”
    â€œYeah, and most of them are so old they can barely—”
    â€œLook,” his father interrupted, “we have a process. That’s what separates us from the Flighters. It may not be perfect, but it’s what we have.”
    Siry came to a decision on the spot. “I want to represent her.”
    Jen Remudi looked at his son for a long time. “Son, you’re fourteen. You have no experience before the tribunal.”
    â€œYeah, but I actually care if she lives or dies!” Siry said. It came out sounding a little more emotional than he wanted it to.
    â€œAh…,” Jen said, his eyes softening. He stroked his jaw thoughtfully. “Look, I don’t really know how to say this. But you can’t get your hopes up. You can’t get involved with this girl.”
    â€œInvolved?” Siry said angrily. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    â€œI’m just saying—”
    â€œThere’s more to her than meets the eye.”
    â€œYou’re always saying that, Siry,” his father said. “I’m not saying you’re always wrong. But you’re not always right, either. Sometimes things are exactly what they seem to be.”
    Siry fixed his eyes on his father, challenging him. “And sometimes they’re not.”
    Jen Remudi looked away. “I’ll think about it,” he said finally. “You’re a smart kid. And I know you’ll do everything you can. But I’m not making any promises.”
    Â 
    After his conversation with his father, Siry went to the beach. Several of his friends—Loque, Twig, and someothers—were already there, swimming in the surf.
    â€œHey!” Twig called. “Heard you’ve been over to see that girl we captured.”
    Nellah, a blond girl about a year older than Siry, said, “They’re gonna execute her, you know. I don’t see why you’re wasting your time.”
    â€œWe’ll see,” Siry said.
    Nellah’s eyes narrowed. “Those animals were here to kill us!” she shouted. “Last week May Lonati was gathering fruit outside the village. One of them hit her with a rock and stole all her fruit. If a guard hadn’t happened to show up, the Flighters would have killed her.”
    â€œYou don’t know that.”
    â€œCome on! Don’t be stupid.” She turned and looked at Siry’s friends. “I mean we all know what’s going on here, don’t we?”
    Everyone nodded.
    â€œSiry,” said Loque, “I know you mean well. But Flighters are not like us. They’d destroy our whole way of life just like that.” He snapped his fingers. “And they wouldn’t even care.”
    Siry’s jaw worked. “So you don’t even think we should defend them in front of the tribunal.”
    Loque looked thoughtful.
    Before he could speak, though, one of the other kids said, “Let’s be serious. The tribunal is a formality. We all know what has to be done here.”
    Siry looked around the circle. “You’re saying if I go in there and defend her, no matter what I say…”
    Everyone looked at him without speaking.
    Finally Twig