The Lofties (The Echelon Book 2) by Ramona Finn (ebook reader play store .TXT) 📗

“We can’t see them.”

“They’d still be happy. They’d still—” Ona’s voice cracked. “Quit trying to ruin this. This place is amazing. I feel amazing. The only thing that could spoil it is you spouting off with your conspiracy theories and getting all three of us tossed out.”

“She’s just scared,” said Lock. “You would be, too, if you hadn’t been through the whole training.” He turned to me, and I thought he looked scared himself, tight-lipped and tense. Then he smiled, and his concern seemed to melt away. “We’ll be okay. Didn’t Jack look good?”

I frowned. He had looked healthy, but he couldn’t have been here long. I’d seen him maybe six months ago, down in the Dirt. “I just think—”

“What do you want us to do?” Lock’s tone was gentle. “If this is a reward, the update’s a good thing. If it’s not—if you’re right—what do you think happens if we say no?”

“If we could come up with some excuse...” I flopped down on a plush couch. It seemed to swallow me whole. Some excuse—it was hopeless. Lock was right. At best, we’d buy a day or two, and where would that get us? Nowhere, that’s where, except maybe in trouble.

“I’m having my bath,” said Ona. “I need time to soak before Elli comes back.” She retreated to her bedroom, letting the door slam in my face. Lock stayed where he was, but I could hear the water running in his bathroom.

“Go ahead,” I told him. “Soak yourself pruney. I’ll be fine.”

“We all will be,” he said. “Well, I’ll be a raisin, but I’m good with that.” He ducked back inside, and I heard his towel hit the floor. A few moments later came a moan of pure ecstasy. I chuckled in spite of myself. At least he’d gotten his wish.

I stayed where I was, watching the trains go by. They sighed on their tracks, a windy, lonesome sound. It made me think of the mountains, up where it got cold. Soon, Elli would be back. I toyed with the idea of befriending her, pressing her for answers, but people like her never had any. She was just a tour guide—a sweet one, maybe, but a tour guide all the same.

I sank deeper into the couch. Downstairs, the birds were noisy. Lock was splashing in his tub. Somehow, I dozed off, and when I woke up, I was alone.

Chapter Ten

I mostly ignored Elli’s chatter as we explored the shopping district. It wasn’t that I was annoyed by her, now I’d got used to having her around—just, there was so much to look at, so much to take in. One shop was full of padded chairs, and in each chair sat someone having their hair brushed or trimmed or woven with pearls or bells. Next to that was a dress shop, only every dress was white. Ona stopped to admire that one, eyes round.

“Are those the ones you put your photos on? The blank dresses?”

Elli laughed. “No. Those are wedding dresses. We get married in white.”

“Wedding dresses?” Ona stared at a woman trying on some sort of headdress, its gauzy white ribbons streaming down her back.

“You don’t have those below? Something nice for your wedding?”

“No. We just wear our good pants.” Ona peered in the window. “So you get that big, fancy dress, and it’s just for one day? What do you do afterward, hang it on the wall?”

“You could, I suppose, but most people just keep it. If you still fit in it ten years later, it’s like a mark of pride.”

I left the bridal shop behind and wandered on. It all felt like too much—everything you could think of, nothing you’d ever need. I spotted a man selling live rats out of a cart, white ones and gray ones and brindled ones with spots. Lock stopped to look at them, and I hoped he wouldn’t buy any.

“Ginger foam, miss?”

I stopped in my tracks. An elderly man was beckoning me over, holding out a paper cup. I eyed it suspiciously, debating whether it would be rude to keep walking.

“What is it? A drink?”

“A cloud in a glass. Come try.”

My curiosity got the better of me, and I took the cup and sniffed it. Cold foam shot up my nose, and I doubled over, sneezing.

“You’re meant to drink it, not snort it. Here, try another.”

“Sorry. I didn’t know.” I took another, feeling stupid, and tried a cautious sip. The foam was delicious, light and spicy, with a sweet aftertaste. I licked my lips. “How much for a whole cup? A tall one with a straw?”

“Three tokens,” said the vendor. “Ginger again, or will you try another flavor?”

“Just ginger’s fine.” I held out my phone, and it chirped to say I’d paid. I took a strange pride in that, how naturally I did it. I hadn’t thought I’d be able to, when I first opened the box. The manual had been gibberish, full of words I didn’t understand. I’d dropped that in the trash, but my phone had lit up. I’d poked at it, fascinated, and taken a picture of my nostrils. I’d found a map of the city and an app that brought a plumber, huffing, to my door. I’d found a message from Elli, directing me to my new bank account, overflowing with my new allowance. And now I’d bought something, one chirp and done.

I drifted back to Lock and Ona, sipping through my straw. Ona didn’t seem to notice me, but Lock cocked a brow.

“What’d you get?”

“Ginger foam. Want a sip?” I offered my straw, but he shook his head.

“I just had some ice cream thing. I don’t want to get sick on the ride home.”

“Suit yourself.” I took another drink, savoring the chill. “It doesn’t feel right, does it? How we can have this, just...” I waved my phone at him. “I have more tokens on here than I could earn in a lifetime. I can buy myself some ginger thing, or