about Mira? Did he have no compassion for her whatsoever?
One of the book’s spines cracks in my hands. With my breath lodged in my throat, I wait to be discovered, but Socrates doesn’t seem to have heard me. Forcing my muscles to relax, I smooth down the edges before easing both of the antique texts back onto the shelf. I have to get out of here before I do something that’ll really give myself away.
When I get to the library’s rear door, I grab the antique knob in my hand and slowly turn it, holding my breath. I may just get out of this library before they find me.
“What would you do if the Free America Bill failed?”
With one foot hovering over the threshold, I wait for his answer so intently that I hear the blood rushing through my veins and my heart pounding in my chest.
“I’d do what any red-blooded American would do,” he says. “I’d keep fighting, of course.”
Terrified
Mira
I stomp into Ellie’s brightly lit sunroom. Perched on one of two spindly-legged sky blue chairs that face a floor-to-ceiling window, she stares at a holo-reader projecting words and pictures in front of her. She flicks through the images, scanning the text far faster than I ever could. When she doesn’t move, I clear my throat and she jumps.
“You never told me there could be two minds in one body,” I snap as she turns around.
A sardonic smile tugs at her lips. “Good morning to you too, dear.”
Before I can think better of it, a disgusted snort escapes me. “How come I never knew this? I’ve heard of the procedure failing before, but I never thought that could happen.”
She shrugs and sets the holo-reader on the side table next to her. “There are several possible endings to every Exchange.” She raises one finger. “The procedure is successful.” Up goes another finger. “Two, neither mind takes hold.” And another. “Each mind stays in its original body. Four, one person dies, the other lives. Five, two minds, one body. It’s only happened twice, and the first committed suicide shortly after waking up.”
I fold my arms in front of my chest. “I want to meet him.”
She gestures at the chair across from her. “Lewis Carroll? Why on earth would you want to see him? He’s crazy.”
With a huff, I throw myself into it. “That reporter said they were afraid something like that had happened to me. I don’t know, it was something in the way he mentioned him...”
Eliot regards me with a cold expression. “No. Carroll’s a loose cannon, completely unpredictable and prone to violence. In fact, he’s been institutionalized since his procedure five years ago.” She folds her hands in front of her and leans forward. “I don’t think you fully understand what you’re asking. Mr. Carroll has two minds trapped in one body. They’re constantly at war with each other. You never know which soul you’re speaking to at any given time. This has proven deadly on more than one occasion.”
I fish for an answer. “He wouldn’t hurt me. Not if I explain what happened.”
Something like hope ignites a light in her eyes. “You mean Socrates is still there?” Her words come as a breathy whisper. “He’s alive?”
“What? No!”
At the devastated expression on her face, I touch her hand.
“I’m sorry. I need to watch what I’m saying.” I take a deep breath. “Maybe I just want to meet someone as screwed up as I am.”
Eliot dabs at her eyes with the back of her hand. “You think a man confined to an insane asylum has the answers you seek?”
“No, of course not,” I snap. “But the only person who has the answers is dead, so I can’t ask him.”
Eliot winces.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just frustrated.” I throw my hands up, palms toward her. “The reporter kept asking me questions I didn’t know the answers to, and I kept feeling like everything I said would screw up our plan.” I grind my teeth, frustrated.
She takes my hands in hers. “You’ll do fine. I
One of the book’s spines cracks in my hands. With my breath lodged in my throat, I wait to be discovered, but Socrates doesn’t seem to have heard me. Forcing my muscles to relax, I smooth down the edges before easing both of the antique texts back onto the shelf. I have to get out of here before I do something that’ll really give myself away.
When I get to the library’s rear door, I grab the antique knob in my hand and slowly turn it, holding my breath. I may just get out of this library before they find me.
“What would you do if the Free America Bill failed?”
With one foot hovering over the threshold, I wait for his answer so intently that I hear the blood rushing through my veins and my heart pounding in my chest.
“I’d do what any red-blooded American would do,” he says. “I’d keep fighting, of course.”
Terrified
Mira
I stomp into Ellie’s brightly lit sunroom. Perched on one of two spindly-legged sky blue chairs that face a floor-to-ceiling window, she stares at a holo-reader projecting words and pictures in front of her. She flicks through the images, scanning the text far faster than I ever could. When she doesn’t move, I clear my throat and she jumps.
“You never told me there could be two minds in one body,” I snap as she turns around.
A sardonic smile tugs at her lips. “Good morning to you too, dear.”
Before I can think better of it, a disgusted snort escapes me. “How come I never knew this? I’ve heard of the procedure failing before, but I never thought that could happen.”
She shrugs and sets the holo-reader on the side table next to her. “There are several possible endings to every Exchange.” She raises one finger. “The procedure is successful.” Up goes another finger. “Two, neither mind takes hold.” And another. “Each mind stays in its original body. Four, one person dies, the other lives. Five, two minds, one body. It’s only happened twice, and the first committed suicide shortly after waking up.”
I fold my arms in front of my chest. “I want to meet him.”
She gestures at the chair across from her. “Lewis Carroll? Why on earth would you want to see him? He’s crazy.”
With a huff, I throw myself into it. “That reporter said they were afraid something like that had happened to me. I don’t know, it was something in the way he mentioned him...”
Eliot regards me with a cold expression. “No. Carroll’s a loose cannon, completely unpredictable and prone to violence. In fact, he’s been institutionalized since his procedure five years ago.” She folds her hands in front of her and leans forward. “I don’t think you fully understand what you’re asking. Mr. Carroll has two minds trapped in one body. They’re constantly at war with each other. You never know which soul you’re speaking to at any given time. This has proven deadly on more than one occasion.”
I fish for an answer. “He wouldn’t hurt me. Not if I explain what happened.”
Something like hope ignites a light in her eyes. “You mean Socrates is still there?” Her words come as a breathy whisper. “He’s alive?”
“What? No!”
At the devastated expression on her face, I touch her hand.
“I’m sorry. I need to watch what I’m saying.” I take a deep breath. “Maybe I just want to meet someone as screwed up as I am.”
Eliot dabs at her eyes with the back of her hand. “You think a man confined to an insane asylum has the answers you seek?”
“No, of course not,” I snap. “But the only person who has the answers is dead, so I can’t ask him.”
Eliot winces.
“I’m sorry. I guess I’m just frustrated.” I throw my hands up, palms toward her. “The reporter kept asking me questions I didn’t know the answers to, and I kept feeling like everything I said would screw up our plan.” I grind my teeth, frustrated.
She takes my hands in hers. “You’ll do fine. I
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