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mean to leave school—I just wanted to get some fresh air. Then I couldn’t face going back in so I came home.”
    His father said, “So you just walked home? How’d you get out of the school? No, don’t tell me—I don’t think I want to know. Look, you can’t do things like that, Lance.” He held up his hand with his thumb and index finger about an inch apart. “As it is you’re this close to getting conscripted! Or don’t you remember what happened last month? They would have taken you right then if you hadn’t promised to keep your head down and really put the work in.”
    Lance didn’t like the sound of that. “OK. I’ll go back. I do feel a little better now anyway.”
    His mother removed a small booklet from the cupboard next to the fridge, flipped open the cover, and began to fill in a form. “You have to go straight to the principal’s office,” she said. “Apologize for walking out and tell them whatever they need to hear to make sure they don’t report you.” She tore off the top sheet and handed it to him.
    Lance took a quick look at the form before he folded it and stuffed it into his pocket. It was titled “Emergency Curfew Violation.” His mother had signed and dated it, and in the section marked “Reason for Violation” she had written “Unexpected illness (temporary).”
    What is going on in this place? Lance wondered. Conscription, curfews, America on the edge of war? What mad universe is this?
    As he turned to leave, something on the television caught his attention. He walked over to it and turned up the sound.
    â€œLance!” his mother warned.
    â€œYeah, hold on a second…. I have to see this.”
    On the screen was a grainy photograph of a blue-skinned man who was more than twice the height of an ordinary human. The newscaster’s voice was saying, “…reports that the creature somehow appeared in the middle of the prison’s main building. The Oak Grove prison is not equipped to deal with superhuman prisoners, and the guards were unable to prevent the creature from smashing its way through the walls and escaping into the countryside.”
    So it’s not just me , Lance thought. The same thing happened to Brawn. And we’re both connected to Krodin. Maybe it happened to all of us.
    He turned to face his parents. “Sorry. We’re doing a report on the superhumans in school. Anyway. I’d better get going.”
    When he reached the kitchen door, he turned back. “Dad? How far is Oak Grove from here?”
    Â 
    Abby had spent the past hour listening to Solomon Cord spinning lies to her mother about who he was and what he was doing in Midway. Cord had told her he was Jason Myers, an inspector for the school board. “If you are talking to anyone from Abigail’s school,” he’d told her, “please don’t mention I was here. Fact is I’m also checking up on them. If you don’t mind, I’d like to ask you some questions.”
    At first Mrs. de Luyando had been only too happy to answer anything Cord asked, and by careful manipulation he was able to build a better picture of how the world had changed. But now she was becoming suspicious. “Are you investigating me too, is that it, Mr. Myers?”
    â€œNot at all. No, I just have a few questions, nothing too personal. So, Vienna is the eldest, then Abigail, then…?”
    â€œTyler and James, they’re eight. Twins. And then Stefan and Elvis. They’re seven. Also twins.”
    Cord smiled. “Two sets of twins? Must be quite a handful!”
    â€œAt times, yes.” Mrs. de Luyando didn’t return the smile.
    She’s not buying this , Abby thought.
    â€œAnd their father…?” Cord asked.
    â€œHe’s gone, Mr. Myers. I’m sure that’s all in your files. He had an affair and I threw him out. Does that answer your