Free Saving Sky by Diane Stanley Page A

signed a National Security Directive—that’s basically an executive order—allowing DHS to hold certain people in custody for the duration of the war. Actually, he signed the thing about a month ago, but they’ve kept it a secret till now. I guess they wanted to get the deportation centers back in operation and start making arrests before word got out.”
    â€œWhat exactly does it say?” Luke asked. “The executive order.”
    â€œIt authorizes”—she read from the printout—“‘the arrest and internment, for as long as is deemed necessary, of any persons of suspicious origin or associations.’ It goes on from there, but that’s the heart of it.”
    â€œWhoa! They could arrest anybody they want with wording like that.”
    â€œI know. It’s shocking. But the president has the power to do it. And the internment of the Japanese was upheld by the Supreme Court. So…”
    â€œIt’s legal.”
    â€œThat’s what it looks like.”
    â€œWell,” Luke said, “at least we know the situation now.”
    â€œKareem,” Ana said. He was sitting over on the window seat, staring glumly at his fingernails. “I know this is horribly disturbing. But there’s every reason to believe your father and your cousin will be all right.”
    He nodded.
    â€œAnd frankly, the more people who are arrested, the less likely it is they’ll be harmed or mistreated. Your dad’s just one name on a big, long list of people who come from the wrong part of the world. Nobody suspects him of anything. Eventually this is going to be over, and he’ll be released.”
    Kareem nodded again, but he still looked down and didn’t meet her eyes. The word eventually hung in the air.
    â€œThat’s all we know, I’m afraid. This is a very dark and shameful day in the history of our country.” She was winding it up now.
    Kareem said nothing. Sky ripped off a loose end of fingernail with her teeth.
    â€œBut at least you’re safe, Kareem.”
    Sky nervously chewed at the last few fibers of fingernail that were hanging loose.
    â€œIt’s what your father wanted.”
    â€œUm.” Sky finally found her voice. She’d been dreading this moment all afternoon.
    Luke turned and stared at her. “Um, what?”
    â€œUm, well, there’s this problem. Actually, it’s not really a problem. It’ll be okay, I’m sure of it. Only I thought I ought to mention it. I mean, you need to know and all.”
    Luke buried his face in his hands. “Please, Sky, just skip the preamble and tell us.”
    â€œWell—you remember Gerald?”

17
Moon-Glow
    S KY WOKE TO A SOUND of distress, something between a moan and a scream. It was coming from the living room.
    She sat up in bed and blinked. The light of a full moon was blasting in through the windows, almost blindingly bright. Sky had always thought of moonlight—so cool, so pure—as a powerful force for good. Now she turned her face to it, bathing in it, recharging her spiritual batteries.
    The cry came again, softer this time.
    She got out of bed, put on her robe and slippers, and crept softly out to the living room. She knelt beside the couch where Kareem lay whimpering in his sleep, his legs stirring in rhythmic jerks.
    â€œKareem?” she whispered, shaking his arm gently. “Kareem?”
    He flinched, and gasped, and opened his eyes.
    â€œYou were having a nightmare,” she said.
    â€œOh.” He cleared his throat. “Sorry.”
    â€œIt sounded really bad.”
    â€œIt was, kind of. Yeah.”
    â€œYou want to tell me about it?”
    â€œI’m all right. Go back to bed.”
    â€œNo, I need to stay here a little longer, make sure you’re really awake. If you go to sleep now, the nightmare will come back. You have to stir up your mind a little. I usually go get a drink of water or