Chapter 12: Inspection

The shuttle sat in the middle of the yard with its ramp down.

Twelve troopers in grey armor came off it in two lines, carrying shock rods.

After them came four people in white coats with a rolling cart of silver cases.

The Warden came last, in her neat grey coat, with her round glasses flashing in the floodlights.

She was smiling.

"Good morning, everyone," she said. "I'm so sorry to come early. I had a feeling."

She held out her hands to us in welcome.

The four men stood in a line across the gravel with their sleeves rolled up.

I stood at the end, next to Stellan.

They had all gone dull.

Rafe stared at nothing, with his jaw slack.

Kit swayed on his feet and let his mouth hang open.

Bastian's big shoulders sagged.

Stellan's blue eyes had gone empty and glassy, and he leaned a little against me.

I took his arm.

His fingers closed on my sleeve, hard, and he did not look at me.

The Warden walked down the line.

She stopped at each man, pressed her thumb into the back of his neck, and wrote on her slate.

She stopped at Stellan last.

Her thumb pressed his nape, once, twice.

Her smile did not change at all.

"Hm," she said, softly, and wrote something.

Then she turned to me.

"Selene. You look tired, dear."

"I didn't sleep well."

"I'm not surprised. It's been such a strain on you." She patted my arm. "I've been worried sick. So I've brought you something."

She reached into her coat and took out a thin silver band.

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