Pulse

because they lived in the western half of the country. It was a little bit like getting a note from heaven; and every time you got one, there was another glorious feature, and more friends and family were already there having the time of their lives while you were stuck on a farm in Oklahoma watching the corn grow.
    “But what if it is?” Liz asked. She pulled out her Tablet as she walked, which Faith wished she wouldn’t do. “What if they really do have all the things they say they do? Sometimes it feels like our parents are just plain stupid.”
    Faith didn’t answer, because she didn’t agree and she didn’t want to get into an argument. The posting had talked about new features, features you couldn’t get unless you went there. That’s what the postings were always about. Never about anything wrong with the State, only about how amazing it was. Mostly the State announced things like zero unemployment; zero crime; sources of synthetic-food, which tasted better than anything grown next to a forgotten lake full of brainless, flightless birds; the massive entertainment domes with a million things to do; the sporting events; the clean water and endless opportunities; everyone living to a hundred, some to one fifty.
    “I don’t know; it always sounds so final, like heaven, but in a bad way,” Faith said.
    Liz laughed.
    “Have a little faith, Faith. Maybe it is like heaven, and we’re the last of the unlucky, idiot holdouts.”
    “Maybe,” Faith muttered. She was going to say something else, but she came up short. She could hear movement off to her left in the darkness that sounded larger than a flightless bird.
    “Who’s there?” Liz yelled, and she grabbed Faith’s hand again. Liz thought about running, because the one thing about the outside that really bothered her, the thing that always made her think twice about the idea of going to the State, was the Drifters. She’d never seen them, but she’d heard about them. Bands of people, like gypsies, rolling through empty spaces, picking up strays.
    “Maybe we should go back to your place and lock the door,” said Liz. “We could listen to some music, watch some shows.”
    “We’ve got weapons!” Faith yelled into the night. “Better move along, find someplace else to go. Beat it!”
    There was movement again, and Liz practically jumped into Faith’s arms as she dropped her Tablet in the grass. A figure began moving toward them, hunching low, the glow of a Tablet leading the way.
    “Run!” Liz yelled, leaving her Tablet in the grass as she started pulling Faith back toward the lake.
    “Hey, Faith, it’s me,” a small, nervous voice said.
    When Faith heard the voice, she realized that it wasn’t an adult who was hunching low—it was just a short boy. “Hawk?”
    “Yeah, totally. It’s just me! Nothing to worry about. You’re fine.”
    “You little urchin!” Liz said. “You scared me half to death!”
    Hawk crouched down and picked up the abandoned Tablet, now in its large configuration, and held it out like a peace offering. Liz finally let go of Faith’s hand and grabbed her Tablet, holding it over her head, ready to clobber Hawk.
    “Liz, don’t—he’s harmless. Just calm down.”
    “You two a thing or what?” Hawk asked.
    “What? Are you insane?!” Faith yelled. She glanced at Liz, who looked doe-eyed and confused but didn’t say anything.
    “Whew! Okay, cool,” Hawk said. “You guys are just hand-holders. I get it; that’s cool.”
    Hawk reached over and took Faith’s hand, gawking like an idiot; and Faith was so dumbstruck that she just stood there, shaking her head at Liz.
    “Harmless. He’s like a frog.”
    Faith had to use her other hand to remove Hawk’s grip of steel.
    “What are you doing out here, Hawk? How did you even know where we were?”
    “Easy! Once we’re connected I can tap into your location. You’d have to leave your Tablet at home in order to lose me, and who does that? Nobody! Pretty cool, right? If you’re in trouble, I’ll know how to find you. Like if you fall into the lake.”
    Hawk pointed out into the darkness, the glow of light from his Tablet illuminating his nervous expression. “Sorry, you guys. Really, I messed up.”
    He looked like an injured puppy with his mop of brown hair, and both girls lost any interest in beating him up or chasing him off.
    “Do me a favor and stop hacking into my stuff, will you?” Faith asked.
    “But what if you’re in trouble?” Hawk