Intermix Nation

Nikolaus waits by the door, not reallypaying attention. Nazirah distantly hears him tell her that theywill finish discussing this later, that he needs to get back towork, that she needs to go to class. But Nazirah is notconcentrating on him. She is concentrating on what Adamek has justwhispered, his words repeating over and over in her mind.

“And don’t you forget it.”

As if she could.

#

“What a day.”

Nazirah drops her heavy bag on the dead,withered grass next to Cato. It is Thursday, four days since shemade her penitent return to classes, and she already feelsoverwhelmed with work. Her teachers weren’t understanding orlenient, hadn’t eased her back into things. They piled makeupassignments and extra credit essays on her with a smile, especiallyBairs. Nazirah doesn’t want to do the assignments. She thinks thatshowing up is more than sufficient. But Riva encouraged education,and Nazirah doesn’t want to disappoint her any more than shealready has.

“Rough day of class?”

Nazirah shoots Cato an a

“I got my paper on Zima back,” Nazirah tellsthem, stretching out her legs. “The bear was not pleased. ‘Youshould take your work in this class more seriously, Nazirah,’”Nazirah says, in a poor Bairs imitation. “‘Territory History is anessential foundation of our rebellion. It’s how the races learnabout one another, how we realize we are all similar andco

“That witch,” says Lumi, her voice suddenlyfull of derision. Nazirah is surprised to find she and Lumi agreeon something. “Can you believe she took points off my essay? Howwould she know anything about Zima? She’s a southerner!”

Nazirah smirks. It’s typical of Lumi torevolve the conversation around herself, but she still feels betterabout her own decimated essay.

“Don’t feel too bad about it, Irri,” Tajsays kindly. “Bairs doesn’t like anyone.”

“Except you,” Cato says, and Taj smirks.

Like Nazirah, Taj is intermix. An orphanedrefugee from a small village several hours north of Rubiyat, Tajhas warm brown skin, an appreciative smile, and an eternallygrateful disposition. He can’t read or write, so he completes hisessay assignments orally. Taj is wicked smart and remembers nearlyeverything he hears. Nazirah wishes she could be more like him,wishes she could let the despair roll off. She doesn’t know how hemanages to do it, continue smiling day after day.

Nazirah sighs. “She gave me so much makeupwork today that I’ll be busy for a month.”

“If you need any help, you can always askAni,” Lumi says sympathetically. “She’s the brains of ourfamily.”

Nazirah is thrown off by Lumi’spleasantness. Everyone has been walking on eggshells around Nazirahsince Monday morning, when Adamek first set foot onto the grounds.All Nazirah wants is for everything to return to normal and foreveryone to ignore her again. That would be so nice.

“Thanks, Lumi,” Nazirah says, genuinelygrateful for the tip. “How is she doing, by the way? I don’t seeher around much.”

“Your guess is as good as mine,” Lumi sighs.She throws her hands up in exasperation. “I try to ask, but shewon’t talk to me. Or my father. Or even Yuki.”

Nazirah is skeptical about whether Lumi hasreally tried to understand her reclusive sister, but she staysquiet. She feels guiltier now about not stopping to chat withAneira in the girls’ lavatory last Friday.

“It’s a big change,” Cato says gently. He isresting on his palms, eyes closed. “Just keep trying.”

Lumi looks at him wistfully. “I’m sick oftrying, Cato.”

Nazirah doubts Lumi is still talking aboutAneira.

“I overheard Grum speaking with Badoomitoday,” Taj says. “We’re starting actual combat training next week.Fun, yeah?”

Cato’s eyes pop open. Their combat classhas, up until this point, basically consisted of studying battletechniques from strategy textbooks. Nazirah wonders if Adamek’salliance with the rebellion has sped up the impending war. Thethought of having to fight sooner does not cheer her up in theleast.

“Fun,” she grumbles.

Silence becomes the fifth member of theircircle. Even though they’re all recruits, it’s easy to forget,sometimes, what they’re really here for. Why they’re constantlygoing to classes, learning, and training. But at certain moments,like now, they’re given a harsh reminder. They’re preparing tobecome soldiers, tools, warm insurgent bodies. They’re preparing tofight a battle against the government, Medis, and Median allies.Many of them will die.

Nazirah looks at the children jumping ropeand swinging nearby. She looks at her friends, at Cato, and shewonders.

Wonders who will be standing at the end ofall this.

They stay like that, watching the lateafternoon light dim, preoccupied by their own personal demons.Nazirah sees Cato stiffen. He is looking behind Nazirah, towardsthe picnic tables, surviving relics of a time long ago. She noticesLumi staring as well. Nazirah turns her head and sees Adameksitting alone. The tables around him are empty, which Nazirahguesses is more by design than chance. He is deeply engrossed inreading something, not paying any attention to them. People shoothim nasty looks, mothers hold children tightly to their bosoms, buthe takes no notice. Or pretends not to.

Nazirah faces the circle again, to find herthree friends avoiding her. Everyone at headquarters has heardabout Nazirah’s outburst in Nikolaus’s office, although no one, noteven Cato, has asked her about it.

“You don’t have to tread so cautiously,” shesays. “I’m not going to break or anything.”

Does saying it out loud make it true?

“No one would begrudge you if you did,” Tajsays quietly. Nazirah looks at him, but doesn’t respond.

“It’s just so weird that he’s here,” Lumijumps in eagerly. “I mean … not weird that he’s here outside …weird that he’s here in general.”

“Oh, because I wasn’t sure what you meantthere for a moment,” Nazirah says. Cato shoots her a look andNazirah shuts her mouth.

“He’s just … hurt so many people here,” Lumicontinues. “I don’t understand how someone can suddenly change thebeliefs they’ve been raised on.”

Nazirah looks again at Adamek, stillabsorbed in his book. “It’s simple,” she says. “They don’t.”

#

Half an hour later, Lumi and Taj leave tograb di

Nazirah basks in the last rays of light,resting her head beside Cato and closing her eyes. The sound ofCato breathing puts her mind at ease. She doesn’t know how shecould have done any of this without him. Her stomach turns at thethought of his family, whom he left on bad terms to come here. Catonever talks about them. Or maybe she just never asks.

Nazirah gets a sudden stroke of brilliance.She sits up, a quirk of a smile on her face. “What?” Cato asks, alltoo familiar with that look.

Nazirah doesn’t answer him. She hops up,brushing the dirt off her shorts. The wind has picked up, and herloose top blows everywhere. She smiles down at him, offering herhand. He warily grabs hold of it, standing. “Come on,” she teases.“I have an idea.”

“Which is?”

“Trust me?”

She is gri

“We’re here!”