Page 48 of Across the Universe (Across the Universe 1)

“Oh, don’t worry, we’re all mad here. ”

I giggle, mostly from nerves. “It’s a good thing I read Alice in Wonder-land . I definitely think I’ve fallen into the rabbit hole. ”

“Read what?” Harley asks.

“Never mind. ” All around me, eyes follow my every move.

“Look,” I say loudly. “I know I look different. But I’m just a person, like you. ” I hold my head up high, looking them all in the eyes, trying to hold their stares for as long as possible.

“You tell ’em,” says Harley with another Cheshire grin.

“Where did you come from?” asks the tall man who keeps watching me, smirking.

“Who are you?” I demand, annoyed.

“Luthe. ” His voice is low and gravelly.

“Well, quit staring at me like that, Luthe. ” I cross my arms over my chest. Luthe’s smirk widens, and his gaze doesn’t leave me.

“Where did you come from?” a woman near Harley asks.

I sigh. There’s no real point in demanding that Luthe not stare at me; they’re all staring at me. “I came from Earth,” I say. “A long time ago. ”

There are looks of disbelief—from most of them, actually—but a few glance up with a light in their eyes that makes me know that they, too, are very aware of how their sky is painted metal.

“Will you tell us about it?” Harley asks.

So I sit down in the seat he offers, ignoring how the woman closest to me scoots away. What can I tell them about Earth? How can I describe how the air smells different, how the earth feels richer, how you yourself are different, just from knowing the entire world is at your disposal? Should I start with the mountains always hidden in clouds and snow—or do they even know what those words are: cloud and snow and mountain? I could tell them about the different kinds of rain, pouring rain that’s perfect for when you want to stay inside and watch a movie or read, or piercing rain that feels like needles on your skin, or soft summer rain that makes your first kiss with your first love all the sweeter.

They look at me eagerly, waiting to hear about the planet I called home.

I begin with the sky.

26

ELDER

“THAT FREXING GIRL HAS GONE INTO THE WARD COMMON room and is telling them all about Sol-Earth,” Eldest growls. “Didn’t we tell her about what would happen if she created more of a disturbance? Didn’t we?”

“Now, Eldest,” Doc says in a placating tone. “The Season will begin any day now. They’ll be distracted enough to forget anything she says. ”

Eldest punches the nearest cryo chamber door. I jump back, wary of him, unsure of what or who he will strike next.

“Fine,” Eldest says. He turns his burning gaze to me. “The first cause of discord?”

A pop quiz? Now? “Difference,” I say.

“Exactly. Discord will follow that girl everywhere she goes on this ship like dirt a child tracks across the floor. And the second is lack of leadership. Boy, when differences cause discord, the only thing that can maintain control is leadership. Learn from this. ”

He jabs his wi-com button. “All-call com link,” he says.

“What are you doing, Eldest?” I ask as a familiar beep, beep-beep fills my ear.

“Attention all residents of Godspeed. I have a very important announcement. ”

My stomach drops. Eldest is talking to every resident on the ship through his wi-com link. And I think I know what he’s going to say. My mind races. There’s no way he’d tell everyone on Godspeed about the cryo level, the frozens, where Amy really came from. He would never tell them that.

“Eldest, don’t do this,” I say.