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Mount Deliverance last autumn and the fact that they were the only ones who had been to Kanjai. Maybe it was Amma’s knack for problem solving or the fact that Taemon had psi. While this wasn’t public knowledge, most of the leaders knew it.
    Today’s meeting began with excited talk about the running water. “And not a moment too soon,” Solovar said. “This more than anything will give everyone the feeling that things are getting better.”
    “People can deal with almost anything when their toilets flush,” Amma said.
    Solovar laughed. “We’re not quite at that point, but we will be in a few more weeks. We’re making great progress.”
    “Indeed we are,” Hannova said. “What’s next? Does anyone have anything else to report?”
    “There’s something I’d like to bring up,” Taemon said. All eyes turned toward him. “I think we should write a peace proposal to send to Kanjai.”
    The room fell into complete silence.
    “A peace proposal?” Amma’s father said. “Do you think they’d even read it?”
    “It’s a good idea,” Da said. “What would the proposal say?”
    “I think the first step toward peace is to talk to each other,” Taemon said. “We could work out some ground rules, some boundaries, with the goal being to live side by side without fighting.”
    He looked at the faces in the room — Hannova, Solovar, Challis, Mr. Parvel and Amma, Da, and Drigg. Frowns, mostly, and knitted brows, but an encouraging look from Amma.
    “Do you really think they’re still going to attack us?” Challis asked. “Seems to me that if that was their plan, they would have done it by now.”
    “The last thing Gevri said to me was a vow to come back and destroy Deliverance,” said Taemon. “I’m pretty sure he meant it.”
    Hannova leaned forward in her seat. “Yes, but Gevri is not in charge of the army. He doesn’t make all the decisions. Besides, people say unreasonable things when they’re angry.”
    Da spoke up next. “Let’s say for the sake of argument that Hannova’s right and the Republik has no plans to attack. Wouldn’t it still be a good idea to work out an understanding between the two countries?”
    Taemon was not sure that the Republik thought of Deliverance as its own country. More like a no-man’s-land. But Da’s point was a good one.
    Drigg scowled. “If we were to write this peace proposal, how would we get it to General Sarin? Someone would have to take it.”
    “I suppose we could send a runner,” Mr. Parvel said. “We know the way to the tunnel by now.”
    “No,” Hannova said. “We have no idea how General Sarin feels toward us right now. We’ve had absolutely no communication since the attack last winter, and I won’t send someone into an unknown situation like that.”
    Taemon’s heart leaped. He wasn’t even sure if anyone would go for the peace proposal idea, and now it seemed they might actually do it.
    “I’ll take care of that,” Taemon said.
    Hannova wagged her finger at Taemon. “Oh, no. You’re not going to Kanjai again so soon. Not until we know more about the situation. You barely got back alive last time.”
    “That’s not what I meant. I’m not planning on going there — I promise. I have an idea.” It would mean using psi, but he didn’t mention that. He still felt uncomfortable talking about his psi to others — though they probably guessed that’s what he meant.
    “I suppose it can’t hurt,” Solovar said. “It’s either that or do nothing and hope for the best.”
    After the meeting, Amma’s father had stayed to talk to Solovar, and Taemon walked Amma home.
    “I think the peace proposal is a great idea,” Amma said. “Is that what you came up with when you were up on the mountain?”
    “Cha, sort of.” It was his own answer to what the Heart of the Earth had asked of him, but that seemed too complicated to explain.
    “Well, it’s brilliant.” Her words brought a warmth to the back of his neck. He wondered if it