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her joy of Bodhi staying in TicCity, but she worried about his emotional state. Neither Glade nor Bodhi liked the other all that much, so it surprised her to think they could work together without coming to blows. She hesitated to comment, only to preserve Glade’s almost pleasant mood. “You left off the trip part of my question. Do you really think it’s possible after all these years to find passage to the West? Wasn’t anyone looking while you were in captivity?”
    For a moment, Glade’s forehead glistened as though he might start to sweat. He brushed a hand across his brow. “Getting to the West and finding the Third Protocol—that last important set of Landers—is paramount now that you’ve been transitioned to a novarium. I had hoped to have more years to explore the data before you became of age, but itdidn’t work out that way. No one looked while I was gone because there are very few First Protocols left here. TicCity has become mostly newer Lander generations that don’t have the commitment to old ways they’ve grown to consider myth and fallacy. The few marked Landers who were prisoners in the Mountain with me are just about all of the originals in our northern group who have survived this long.”
    â€œSo that’s why I don’t see head markings among these people other than you, Bodhi, and the random stranger passing through.”
    Glade nodded. “Most of these Landers are a second generation of intermarriage. They actually place Bodhi and me higher up on the authority scale because we are among the two Protocols of originals.”
    Selah tipped her head. “How can people tell the difference between a First Protocol Lander like you and a Second Protocol Lander like Bodhi?”
    Glade smiled. “Have you ever really looked at our head markings? They are quite different to the knowledgeable observer.”
    Selah filed it in her list of things to do. She leaned back on the stool, maintaining a perfect balance, just shy of touching the digital board. She felt a sudden surge of energy and her extremities warmed. “How come you’re talking all of a sudden? This is more than you’ve told me about Landers since I arrived here.”
    â€œI’ve spent so many years lying and covering our tracks that it’s almost part of me now. I even find myself doing it with you, and I don’t want that kind of relationship. We’vegotten off on the wrong foot lately, and I think if I’m more forthcoming with you, then you won’t need to waste all your time ensconced in the Repository.”
    There it was! Call it cynicism, but Selah knew there was a reason for his sudden change—to get her to give up on her file searches. But she loved him as her father, so she decided graciousness was the better answer. “I’m glad you’re willing to open up. Where are you going on this search and how long will you be gone?”
    Glade looked over his magnifying tool. “We’re headed into what used to be New York. Probably three or four days. We’re trying to match symbols, so the longest part will be the trip there and back, but we’ve got the Council’s fast transportation at our disposal since this is so important.”
    â€œHow do the Appalachians or getting to the West help me? The truth this time.” She had to take a couple of good breaths to stop the grin trying to overtake her face. First Bodhi was staying, and now they were all going to be out of the city at the same time. She could explore all she wanted in the Repository.
    Glade removed his reading lenses and pinched the bridge of his nose. “The Appalachian Mountain range is very important, my princess. During the Sorrows, it protected the eastern coastal plains from the ravages of the Yellowstone super volcano. We’re looking for the opening to the West. Documents tell us there will be an opening. In my time I’ve searched