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Shimmers. They were at peace; they lived in harmony with their surroundings. Their insides and their outsides were one.
    That was what Marya had to learn to do.
    She entered her tent, which Daniel had helped her set up a long time ago. It was really just sheets slung over the branches of several trees, clipped together so that they wouldn’t slip. Marya had decorated the branches with chiffon scarves and flower garlands. A trunk held all of her belongings—of which she had few. She stored the various presents that Daniel had given her in the trunk, too. She slept on the soft grass and used a tree stump as a table. She liked being able to watch how the sun changed the colors inside the tent as it filtered through the different layers of fabric.
    She placed the little ballerina statue on the tree stump and lay down on the grass, her arms under her head as she formulated a plan.
    After a short time, she stood and stretched. She knew what she needed to do. First things first. She left her tent and located Kerwyn, making sure he didn’t see her. She hid behind a thick tree and watched him for a few minutes. He was surrounded by a group of children, probablythe new ones Daniel had brought in. Kerwyn should be busy for a little longer.
    Next, she went to Kerwyn’s cave. She never understood why he would choose to live underground. Marya’s tent was light and airy, while Kerwyn’s shelter was dark and dank. But Free Country gave each child what they needed, so maybe the dark made Kerwyn feel protected and safe. Marya knew a bit of what Kerwyn had gone through on that Crusade. The cave must let him feel hidden. Had Marya undergone such an ordeal, she might want to hide, too.
    Marya looked around the small cavern. Candles stood in niches carved into the rock walls. Books were strewn about everywhere. Bags of chalk sat in one corner. None of these was what she was looking for.
    Her green eyes lit on a stack of board games. Kerwyn could spend hours playing these games. Several of the children from later times had brought them through, often losing interest in them once they discovered all the activities Free Country offered. They abandoned them for swimming and tumbling and rafting and playing dress up. Kerwyn then inherited the games, and he loved them. He didn’t care if there were no other players. Sometimes he’d sit and play all sides. Both the white and the black checkers, the hatand the car and the iron in Monopoly.
    His favorite, though, far above the rest, was the word game. He would set up four sets of tiles, and make words appear all over the board. He kept a dictionary at hand, and once Marya had heard him arguing with himself over whether or not a word was admissible for points. It grew quite heated, with Kerwyn arguing both sides. Apparently something called “triple bonus points” were at stake.
    Marya opened the box and took all the little tiles with the letters on them. She slipped them into the pocket of her dress. They clicked against each other as she hurried back to the hill where she’d last seen Kerwyn.
    Kerwyn was alone now, sitting with his back against a tree, gazing out over Free Country. He was watching the new children exploring their freedom.
    Marya climbed the hill and stood over Kerwyn. “Kerwyn? Listen. I’m ready,” she said.
    â€œWhat?” Kerwyn glanced up at her.
    â€œI’m ready. I want to go on the next mission.”
    â€œThat’s silly. You’re a girl.” Kerwyn went back to watching the little ones. A small girl was picking flowers that instantly replaced themselves the moment the first ones were plucked from the ground.
    â€œWhat does that have to do with anything?” Marya demanded. She hated it when Kerwyn said stupid things like that.
    â€œOur group has only one assignment left, and it’s important.” Kerwyn sounded as if he were a very old man explaining things to a very young—and slow—girl.