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said.
    “Why do we need to sneak at all?” Aloren asked. “Why doesn’t one of us just pretend to be an injured person and stay here until nightfall? I mean, that way, we’d have an insider who could give info on the layout of the hospital and find Myler.”
    Gallus tapped his cheek, thinking. “This is a good idea, save for one problem.”
    “What’s that?”
    “You’d have to be the one to stay, and I’m definitely not comfortable with that.”
    Onaly knitted her eyebrows. “Why would Aloren stay? I’ve been here before—I’m fine here.”
    “Because you talked to Lish too much. And so did Jacob and I. Aloren is the only one Lish might not recognize.” He shook his head. “No, I’m not comfortable with this idea.”
    “Come on, Gallus,” Aloren said. “I’ve done things like this many times in my life. You’ve always trusted me before.”
    “It’s not that I don’t trust you,” Gallus said. “I made a promise to your mother, Aloren, and to you, that I’d protect you for as long as I could and as much as I could.”
    Aloren put her hand on his forearm. “And I thank you for that. But what’s going to happen to me here that would put me in so much danger? The Lorkon are gone already.”
    “Their disease remains.”
    Aloren looked Gallus in the eye for a moment, and an unspoken agreement passed between them. Jacob watched with fascination as Gallus’s colors changed to blue for peace.
    Gallus sighed. “All right. But promise me you will be careful.” He turned to Jacob and grabbed him by the shoulder. “Yet again, I’m putting her in your care. You’re heading to Gratitude City later, correct?”
    Jacob nodded.
    “If you don’t return in one piece, Aloren will be stuck here. Jacob, can I trust you?”
    What a stupid thing to ask. Of course he could. And it wasn’t like Jacob’s goal was to get killed while searching for the antidote. “Yes.”
    “Good.” Gallus wrapped Aloren in a huge bear hug. “Then let’s get you sick-looking.”
    Jacob frowned. “What if she gets sick for real?”
    “We’ll have one of your doctors heal her.” Gallus turned back to Aloren. “But you stay as far away from those people as possible, do you hear?”
    She nodded.
    After searching for several moments, they found a dirty shirt on the ground with blood all over the arms. Aloren plugged her nose and pulled the shirt on over her clothes.
    “I’ve got Hazel with me,” she said. “Once it’s night and I have an idea of what’s going on, I’ll send word.”
    Judging by the colors around Aloren, Jacob could tell she was nervous, but determined.
    “At the first sign of trouble,” Jacob said, “you send Hazel and I’ll come get you as quickly as I can. Who cares about the antidote—we can find it later.”
    Aloren half-smiled. “Unfortunately, you’re wrong. Finding it is more important than me staying healthy and whole.”
    Gallus hugged her again, then everyone said goodbye. Jacob opened the link to Taga Village, letting Onaly and Gallus go do whatever they needed to do. He couldn’t help turning and watching Aloren walk back down the street, though. She would be fine. He hoped.
     
     
     

Chapter Three: Onyev’s Tests
     
    “Are you sure?” Jacob asked. “It doesn’t seem like a good idea to me.”
    Dad had just told him that it would only be him, Akeno, and Fubble heading to Gratitude City.
    “Of course I’m sure. The city has been empty for quite some time, and you yourself saw no living thing there when you Time-Saw to it.”
    “I know, but what if someone comes? What if we get lost or hurt or attacked?”
    Dad smiled. “That’s why you’re leaving the link open. Fubble will be coming and going, and Akeno will be searching for the tree.” He put his hand on Jacob’s shoulder. “I promise—things will be fine.”
    Jacob nodded, but he wasn’t so sure. He knew everyone was going crazy, trying to keep up with the amount of things that needed to happen before the