Earthseed

go in first. You were their friend—and a real good friend from what I heard.”
    Bonnie stared back at him impassively, then shook his hand away. She had cut her long, flowing locks before coming to live in the Hollow, and her light-brown hair now curled around her ears and over her forehead; she wore a crown of daisies. She left the shelter of the trees, marching forward as though she had nothing to fear. Tonio followed, leading Helena, Muhammad, and Julius. The blond Helena towered over the two dark-haired boys; she took long strides while Muhammad and Julius scampered. The three, always anxious to get out of extra work, had willingly volunteered for the trip.
    Zoheret waited with the others. Robert seemed nervous; he pulled at his red hair and chewed on his lower lip. Federico’s tanned, chiseled features were grim. He had been complaining of headaches ever since his injury; she wondered if he had one now. Serena and Cho Lin had their hands at their waists, near their guns.
    Tonio picked up a stick and stirred the ashes in the fireplace while the others searched the cabins, disappearing inside for a few moments and then emerging, shaking their heads. Helena walked around the settlement, peering at the trees beyond the clearing. The land around the rise was barren, the brush cleared away.
    “Hello,” Tonio shouted. “Come on out. If you give back what you took, or trade for it, we can come to an agreement.” Bonnie came toward him; he pushed her away. “Come out.”
    He waited, then signaled to Zoheret. She came out with the others, keeping her hand on her gun. “I don’t think they’re anywhere around here,” Bonnie said.
    “There’s nothing in the cabins except cots,” Muhammad muttered as he approached. His scowl made his round cheeks chubbier than usual. “They could be anywhere. Maybe they knew we were coming.”
    Tonio’s wide mouth became a thin, pale line; his cheeks grew red. “The fireplace is cold,” he said. “They might be on the other side of the Hollow for all we know.” He glanced overhead at the distant land beyond the thickening clouds. “They got to the storehouse, and then they got away. Maybe they had help. Maybe one of us helped them all along.” He faced Bonnie.
    She backed away. He raised an arm and struck her, knocking the circlet of daisies from her hair. Bonnie raised her hands; Helena slapped them down. Tonio hit her again, then punched her in the abdomen; Bonnie doubled over as Helena kicked her with one long, muscular leg.
    “Leave her alone,” Zoheret cried, moving in front of the girl. She looked up at Helena’s hazel eyes; the taller girl glared back, her full lips pursed.
    “I always wondered why she stayed with us,” Helena said. “Now I know. I’ll bet she’s stolen plenty for them, a little here, a little there—who would notice?”
    “It isn’t true,” Bonnie moaned.
    “Prove it,” Muhammad shouted.
    “Ask Lillka,” Zoheret said. “She keeps records. She’d know if one jar were missing. Bonnie hasn’t done anything. And if she had, I’d know—I live right next to her house.”
    “So what?” Helena responded. Zoheret put an arm around Bonnie, who was shaking. “Maybe you’re in it together. You were the one who said you saw the thieves. But they didn’t really hurt you, and you didn’t sound the alarm until they got away. So how do we know it wasn’t some kind of plan?”
    “You’re crazy,” Zoheret said. “If I’d been helping them, I wouldn’t have sounded the alarm at all. And I wouldn’t have said who they were.” She looked from one angry face to another. Deprived of a confrontation with Ho’s group, she realized, they would take out their anger on someone else.
    “Why aren’t they here?” Tonio asked her.
    “They’re probably out hunting or fishing. And if they thought we might show up, they’d take everything with them.”
    Tonio spun around and ran toward the nearest cabin, picking up a large stick before he walked inside. The others waited.
    Zoheret drew Bonnie away from the group. “Are you all right?” Bonnie nodded; her green eyes glistened. “I know you didn’t help them.”
    “Are you so sure?”
    “Of course.” Zoheret fought off her doubts.
    Tonio came out of the cabin; he threw back his head and crowed. Smoke curled from the side window, becoming a pale cloud and then a streamer.
    Federico cheered. He ran toward another cabin, pulling out a pack of matches. “Light the cots,” Tonio