Among the Enemy

Chapter Forty

The truck chugged through the night, its headlights casting eerie shadows. Matthias had no idea where Mike had gotten the truck — or the slips of paper that passed for identification at every checkpoint.

"This is all we have," Mike said apologetically each time the Population Police stopped them.

It’s all anyone has anymore,” the Population Police officers muttered back. “Just wait till we find those rebels. . ”

"I know what you mean," Mike always said sympathetically. But as soon as the officers waved him on through the checkpoint, he'd start giggling. "Did you hear that? We were right under their nose, and they didn't even know it! Man, I love these paper I.D.'s!"

Matthias couldn't join in Mike's mirth. He sat quietly, peering into the darkness, waiting for a small cottage to come into view.

He and Mike were wearing civilian clothes again. Mike's were ordinary jeans and a sweatshirt that one of his friends must have smuggled to him. But Matthias had on the sweater and pajama bottoms he'd worn the night he'd left Niedler School. He'd had them on under his Population Police uniform when he'd left headquarters. Some of his own blood had stained the sweater along with Percy's and Alia's.

"Want me to go in first?" Mike asked as they turned down a long driveway. "Just in case. . "

Matthias knew he meant that the cottage full of friends might have been taken over by enemies. But Matthias shook his head.

"That's okay," he said. "I want to get this over with."

They walked up to the door together, even though it wasn't the wisest strategy. Matthias saw the glow in the windows, just like last time, and it made his heart ache even more. Last time he'd been so frantic, so filled with hope and fear…. This time he stood still and let Mike do the knocking.

Mr. Talbot opened the door.

"Nedley?" he whispered.

"The same," Mike replied, grinning. "Back from another wild ride."

The different name threw Matthias for a minute — was Mike's last name "Nedley"? And was he, too, a friend of Mr. Talbot's? But Matthias couldn't think about any of that right now. He couldn't even stop to say hello to Mr. Hendricks, rolling down the hall toward him. He had a mission.

He stepped forward.

"Mr. Talbot," Matthias said, "I came back to apologize to you. I'm sorry I took your wife into danger. I know you didn't want to let her go, and I'm sorry about what happened. It's my fault. I cared more about saving my friends than anything else. I've been at Population Police headquarters since — since she was killed, and all I could think about was losing Percy and Alia. They're gone now, and I can't apologize to them, but I can still tell you…"

He had so much more to say, but his voice trailed off because Mr. Talbot wasn't reacting right. Instead of bowing his head in sorrow, he reached out and buried Matthias in a great bear hug.

"Matthias! What a relief to see you! But why did you think Theodora was dead?" Mr. Talbot asked in amazement. He held Matthias out at arm's length so he could peer directly into his eyes. "She thought you were killed. She's right here. She and—"

Mr. Talbot gripped Matthias's shoulders and steered him toward the living room. Matthias's ears were ringing now, so loudly, he could barely hear Mr. Talbot's voice. He stumbled forward.

There, curled up on the couch before a cozy fire, was Mrs. Talbot, her red hair glowing. A boy and a girl sat on either side of her, looking healthy and happy, leaning over a book Mrs. Talbot had been reading with them. Only a faint scar still showed on the girl's forehead.

It was Percy and Alia.