Page 111 of The Last Hope

“Far right!” Gem says with mic static. “I see an oversized trash bin.”

I can barely distinguish the first row of dumpsters. I try to waft away the dust.

“We’ll all be able to squeeze into that one,” Kinden says, trekking slowly forward.

“Good find, Gem,” Court tells her. “Let’s hurry.”

We try to quicken our pace.

Mykal is the only one able to move with no setback. I bet he could jog if he wanted to. This gravity must feel only a little different from the weight of an animal on his shoulders.

The groans grow louder, and the robotic shuttles I’d seen pictured in textbooks are suddenly up close. Materializing through the dust.

Each shuttle is like a jetpack. Engines blast and keep the shuttle airborne while their monstrous claws shut the lid of an empty gray dumpster. Once the robotic arms grab hold, the trash bin is secured and the shuttle soars off the moon. Heading to Saltare-1, so the dumpster can be refilled with garbage.

This is fun.

So much fun.

I blow out a measured breath, and the tallest help boost the shortest into the sturdy dumpster. Court is among the tall, along with his older brother and Stork.

Mykal easily climbs over on his own, and once we’re all inside, we press our backs to the firm sides. Cramped, I’m between Court and Mykal, and I’m barely an arm’s length away from Stork and Zimmer across from me.

Remember the plan, Franny.

I unclip a handle attached to my jumpsuit’s belt and press the ends to the wall of the dumpster. It suctions, and I grasp hard for support.

I hear thepopof suction from everyone else’s handles. We kick back our ankles and a sticky grip on our spaceboots adheres to the wall.

“Now what?” Zimmer’s voice crackles with more static.

“We wait for a shuttle,” Stork replies.

I shut my eyes. Trying not to repeat the worst-case scenario:an asteroid hits our dumpster.Or more terrifying, theRomulusintercepts the trash bin.

Fear snakes down my spine, and I can’t tell if I’m sweating since the spacesuit wicks away perspiration.

Technology is a beauty.

“It smells rank in here,” Kinden complains.

“That’s justyou,” Gem says, nestled beside her older sister. Bangs cut blunt across her forehead and dyed a periwinkle shade.

“Poor… insult.” His voice breaks, bad connection. “Seeing as… we’re… a trash…”

Something slick is stuck to my boot. I let go of the handle and crouch to the bottom of the bin. Moving so,soslowly.

I can do this.

I better do it without hyperventilating.

Lifting my sole, I make out a flyer in Saltarian. I read aloud, “And so let the God of Victory bless us and unite us on this Sacred Eve, for now, for always.”

Everyone grows quiet.

Court rolls his eyes.

Mykal hangs his head and mumbles huskily, his prayer unfamiliar to me.