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your
work?”
    “Yes. He’s given me a raise.” He grins
awkwardly. “So I can pay you back soon.”
    I pause to think over my next question for a
bit. “Are you coming to the town square for the Feast of the First
Harvest tomorrow afternoon?” I ask. It’s the seasonal holiday we
celebrate in the middle of summer when the first harvest is in. “We
could go together.”
    “I don’t know that holiday.”
    “All the more reason to go. You wanted to
start a new life here, right? It doesn’t get newer than that.”
    Ben scratches his chin, then nods. “Fine.
What time does it start?”
    “Four o’clock. That’s when you get out of
bed, I suppose.”
    He chuckles. “You suppose correctly. Where
shall we meet up?”
    “I’ll pick you up.” I scramble to my feet to
get back to work and wave at Ben one more time before starting my
round along the south quay.

    The next day, I pass the central square on my
way to Ben’s house. To my surprise, people are putting up a
gigantic grandstand looking out over the square. I see women
milling about carrying long garlands of flowers and banners
depicting ears of corn. They use them to decorate the stage.
    “Are we expecting more spectators than
usual?” I ask Yorrick’s dad, who is busy giving commands to the
carpenters. “We didn’t have this last year, did we?”
    “I sent an invitation to the Eldest to
celebrate the holiday with us. I told him he could take as many
people from Newexter as he wanted. One of our traders came back
last night and told me that about a hundred easterners will be
attending. And of course, I want to show our town in its best
light.”
    “You should make sure that the Phileans don’t
show up here to stir things up,” I remark sourly. “A scuffle like
that would probably ruin our reputation.”
    “I don’t think they’ll do that,” the
Bookkeeper replies. “They want to honor the seasonal holidays so we
can count the days until Annabelle arrives. But I told Daryl to
send over a few extra men to keep an eye on the square anyway.”
    Deep in thought, I continue down the main
street toward the harbor. The turmoil in our city has taken hold of
me, buzzing through the blood in my veins. Every morning after my
shift ends, I walk to the beach and stare out over the sea to see
whether any ships appear on the horizon yet. I used to do this once
every week, as a morning greeting to Annabelle as well as Yorrick,
who was waiting for me on the Island of Souls. I would hold up the
white, delicate shawl Yorrick had once given to me as a birthday
present, to let it flutter and dance in the breeze.
    Every time I walk out into the surf now, I
realize I have lost both Annabelle and Yorrick. Or is what the
easterners say true – is there really a life after death because
the force coursing through your body never dies? Don’t we have to
give up our deceased relatives and friends, even if there is no
island filled with souls beyond the horizon?
    Ben is waiting for me in front of his tiny
cottage. “Hi, Alisa,” he says with a smile. “Thanks for inviting me
along. I’m sorry I was less than enthusiastic yesterday.”
    “Well, you can make it up to me by being your
most sociable self today,” I tell him teasingly. “I want to
introduce you to my friend Anna, and to Samuel.”
    “Is Samuel your husband?” Ben asks
curiously.
    “Uhm, no.” I shoot him a puzzled look. I’m
not that old, but Ben seems to think I have the right age to be
married already. “I’m not ready for that yet.”
    “Oh.” He shrugs. “Well – people on our side
of the Wall usually choose a partner when they’re sixteen,
seventeen. You’re twenty, right?”
    Ah, yes. That’s true. Newexter sent away
their children at the age of ten. “Hey, so does that mean you have
a secret wife somewhere, Benny Boy?” I snicker.
    His face clouds over. “No.”
    “You hadn’t made your choice yet?”
    This question makes him shut up
completely.
    “Sorry,” I say