Moments later, Marjorie came out to greet us. She hugged me first
and then Weevil. "I'm so glad you're here." With a hand on each of our shoulders, she said, "Listen, I'm very new here, so I have no way of convincing them to let you stay. I barely convinced them to let me stay here, and I'm townsfolk while you're--well, you'll have to do this on your own."
An earlier version of me might've told these people if they didn't let us stay, I'd go back to the wardens and tell them where this cave was. But that was the old me, the one whose quick tongue and slow judgment always led to problems.
The new me understood that I would never threaten these people with any secrets I already had. Not for any reward or under any risk to my own safety. I would be as dependent upon them for my survival as they would be upon me.
Marjorie led us inside. The entrance was narrow, requiring us to scoot along sideways. Nature had given these people a brilliant place to hide. The tight entrance protected them from the evening breeze but still kept the air from going stale.
That led to a wider room with another tunnel that we had to crawl through. Once we did, we were there. In a large room filled with a dozen people, most of them rolling out beds for the night. Their mattresses were made of stolen linens stitched together and filled with grasses. Lit candles were set into posts on the cave walls. Although there wasn't much light, it was enough. Another fire was around a corner, in a separate small room. It kept the cave at a comfortable temperature, and I guessed there was some sort of ventilation to carry the smoke outside since the air smelled clean in here.
"It's perfect," I whispered.
This was every bit as nice as any home a River Person had, and except for the twice-daily flooding, it might've been an improvement on our homes. Not only could Weevil and I be comfortable here, I felt we could also contribute to making this cave even better.
Weevil cleared his throat and said to the group who had stopped working to stare at us, "We just came to the Colony yesterday. We ask permission to stay with you all. We'll do everything we can to help. We're good at fishing and gathering food, and--"
A man in the back of the room stood and pointed at me. "Get out, grubs. You'll bring nothing good our way. Get out, or we'll toss you out with the tide."
Weevil reached for my hand, but I didn't need it. I stepped past him. "What if we are River People? We're also prisoners of this Colony, same as you."
"You're not the same," the man who had spoken before said. "We do everything we can to avoid the attention of the wardens. And from the minute you stepped foot on this island, you have broken every possible rule."
I raised my voice, making sure everyone in this cave could hear me perfectly. "Is that your judgment of us, that we're rule breakers? How dare you?" I moved deeper into the room and grabbed one of the stitched blankets. "Were these linens gifts to you, or are they stolen? Is that why you allowed Marjorie to stay here, because she works in the laundry and can steal more when you need them? What about those candles on the wall? Who carried the candle wax here when you were brought on the boats? Or did someone steal them too, perhaps from the old prison? For that matter, which of you in this room has the wardens' permission to be here? Who is the greatest rule follower in this group? Stand and identify yourself!"
There was silence for a moment, and then a woman said, "We're all breaking rules here--that is true. But the wardens are keeping an eye out for you. What happens when they look for you tonight and can't find you in the prison?"
"Ani snuck into the wardens' barracks earlier tonight," Weevil said, crossing over to me. "She got in and out, right beneath their noses. If she can do that, she can sneak in and out of this place."
More silence. Another younger woman said, "Why should we trust the word of two grubs?"
Weevil's fist clenched, but I said, "There are skills River People have that can benefit you. We're no different from you townsfolk, not really." I felt Weevil's eyes on me then. He had never heard me refer to these people as anything other than pinchworms. Never again, I reminded myself. "Weevil doesn't have the Scourge, and I'm feeling much better than before. We won't be a burden here. River People are strong."
The man who had spoken first shook his head. "River People are cowards."
"My father was in the exploration ship that was lost last year," Weevil said. "He died for this country."
"Where's the heroism in his being forced to go?" the man asked. "Why don't your people fight for your land; why don't you fight to vote, to be full citizens of this country? Anyone who's learned their history knows the River People didn't start the Scourge, yet you all just accept the lies and let us treat you with no more respect than we'd give an actual grub."
I said, "Every time Keldan pushes us, there is talk of pushing back. But we don't fight, and it isn't because we're weak--it's because we know our strength. We know what would happen to Keldan if we took up weapons against our own countrymen. We love our country, the same as you. Times have been hard and they are getting harder. The only way our country will survive is if River People and townsfolk come together. Not if we fight one another. Please, let us stay now."
Yet more silence followed. The people in the caves looked at one another, as if trying to come to an unspoken agreement for what they would do. Then a boy stood up from the shadows. He was a few years older than me and Weevil, with dark eyes and darker hair. His clothes were those of townsfolk, though they were nothing fancy like Della's, and time had worn down the fabric.
He said to the group, "You know me, and by now you trust me. But perhaps you trusted me too much, for there was one secret I've kept from you since coming to the Colony. I worked for the townsfolk, as if I'd always been one of you. But what I am, and what I always shall be, is one of the River People. If you turn these two away for that reason, then you will have to turn me away as well."
An older woman said, "That would be a death sentence, Jonas."
I didn't know why he couldn't leave the caves, but my instincts had already guessed that was his name. Jonas Orden, Della's friend.
He nodded and stepped closer to us, standing right next to Weevil. "You trusted me, and you can trust them too. They will never lead the wardens to us. They will never betray us."
Although some grumblings were heard, the man from the back, who seemed to be the leader, said, "All right, grubs, you can stay."
"My name is Ani," I said. "This is Weevil. You'll use our names or not refer to us at all."
He smirked, amused at my boldness. "Very well, Ani and Weevil, my name is Clement Rust and I'm in charge of everyone in these caves. Betray us in any way, and I'll toss you into the sea myself. Other than that, this is your home now. If you need refreshment, get yourselves a drink of some hot tea. We have extra mattresses." Even as he said it, two thin cloth mattresses were handed over to us--I wasn't sure from where.
Once we were settled in a corner, Jonas came over to sit beside us.