Free Akaela by E.E. Giorgi Page B

know Akaela
is dying to tell Uli the whole truth, especially about the piece of metal with
Dad’s serial number on it. Lukas examined it and, with his usual lack of
empathy, stated that the piece of metal came from the shoulder socket of Dad’s
robotic arm. He explained that shoulder sockets are connected to the bone
through reinnervated nerves, and therefore the piece of metal couldn’t have
come off naturally. So yes, something bad happened and our fathers are likely
in danger, Lukas concluded. And then, as he handed us back the piece of metal,
I saw a little emotion twinkle in his eyes.
    Akaela
almost ran to Mom that instant. I had to make her calm down and think, make her
swear to keep it secret.
    Yes, Uli
could help us with our plan, but he would tell Mom, too. And if Mom finds out,
she’ll never let us go forward with it. Provided they would believe us, they’d first
assemble the Kiva. The Kiva Members would discuss and cast a vote, wasting
precious time while we could be looking for Dad and the others instead.
    No. We
need to act in secrecy. I’m not even sure I can trust Akaela to keep her lips
zipped, but at this point she knows too much to leave her out of it.
    Uli covers
Kael with a cotton sheet, then leans against the countertop, crosses his arms
and stares at the two of us. “Guys, I know what’s going on.”
    “You do?”
Akaela blurts out.
    I elbow
her in the ribs, cold sweat trickling down my back.
    Uli nods
gravely. “Your dad’s been gone—what, now? Two weeks? Your mom’s a nervous
wreck and you guys are dead worried. Did you try and go look for your father
with Kael?”
      “We did not,” I say, my face as unmoving
as the darn eyeball that keeps shifting inside its socket. I squeeze against
Akaela, slide a hand behind her back, and pinch her.
    Don’t say a word , I
message, and then regret it. Not even messages are safe. Any Mayake has access
to our wireless network and can tap into it.
    I jump to
my feet and drag her up with me. “We need to go feed the horses. When can we
come back to pick up Kael?”
    Uli tilts
his head and gives me the hint of a smile. Maybe he’s better at outguessing me
than I give him credit for, given that he’s known me since I’ve come to the
world, butt naked, blind, and free of implants. He turns to the table, where
Kael is still resting, the LED indicator on the TCB
charger next to him still blinking.
    “I figure
it’ll take another hour or so to recharge,” Uli says. “Come back once you’re
done with the horses. I’ll feed him and take good care of him.” He winks and
then adds, “In the meantime, you two stay out of trouble. Your father’s going
to be fine, I promise. The Ambassadors set off for no easy task, but they know
what they’re doing. You’ll be hugging your dad again sooner than you think.”
    I nod, nervously wiping my hands against my jeans, then start
to the door.
    “And
Athel,” Uli adds, lowering his voice. “Remember what happened to Skip. Be
careful.”
    I open my
mouth to say something but then refrain.
    Skip was murdered.
    I do remember .
    “Thanks so
much, Uli,” Akaela says softly.
    I grasp
her arm and pull her out of the office.
    “Did you
have to play the victim like that?” I snarl, once we’re out of earshot.
    She
wriggles her arm away from my grasp. “What are you talking about?”
    “You kept
glaring at me and looking at Uli as if you were about to spill the beans.”
    She stops
in the middle of the hallway, her face flushed red and her fists balled. “I am
going to tell him, Athel. This secrecy you’re insisting on makes no sense. We
need help and we need it now. You’re acting like you’re the sole mastermind who
can save the world. Get real, brother. Dad and the others are in danger, and if
we waste another minute—”
    Not here. Not in a place where everybody can
hear .
    I press a
hand against her mouth. “Don’t make a scene here,” I hiss.
    “Hey
guys!”
    We both
flinch as Wes sprints by and