Page 72 of The Souls Harvest
“What is it?” I ask, tasting damp soil and sharp little stones under my hands.
But Tabitha presses a finger over her mouth before turning to Jyn, who crouches beside me after setting Galen against a tree.
“Am I reading it correctly?” Tabitha whispers.
Jyn remains still, staring at the odd sequence of lights for a few seconds. “Same word? How many times?” he asks.
“What are they talking about?” I turn to Galen, who’s managed to prop himself up on his elbows. The lights reflect on his pale face as he looks at me silently, nodding slightly as though inviting me to do the same.
“I think it’s…give me a second…” Tabitha mutters, tapping a finger on her thigh.
Twenty and something seconds, I count about one for each flash of light.
Tabitha slams a hand on the ground, with a grunt, sending shards of stone and little lumps of soil flying. “Bloody hell, you taught her well, Jyn. It says R O G U E. When did she get so fluent with the code?”
“You know, there is not much to do when you’re hiding with limited access to sunlight, surrounded by the same faces every day. It is either perfecting survival skills and personal knowledge—or sex. I told them we don’t have space for more hungry mouths unless those mouths can catch their food themselves.”
I swallow a laugh as Galen chortles beside me, “How I missed you guys! But—sorry to ruin your little moment of pride. I don’t think Merya is behind that message.”
I startle.When did he find the time to befriend these people?
Jyn and Tabitha snap their heads towards Galen simultaneously, and with such speed, my thoughts evaporate.
“You’re not saying…Jyn?” Tabitha slowly turns to him with an accusatory expression.
“He promised he would stay put.” Jyn scratches his neck with a bashful smile, “But you know Mack. He’s like an octopus…” He shrugs as if that helps explain everything.
Tabitha sighs deeply through her nose and slowly gets up, brushing away some dirt from her hands and trousers. “I’ll have a word with him once we’re back. In the meantime, don’t makeyourselves too comfortable. Anyone else could have spotted those lights; we still have some ground to cover.”
I realise my jaw has dropped in confusion when Galen moves towards me on all fours and pats me on the back. “They may sound unconventional, but they know what they’re doing.”
“Do not do that to me,” I point at his smile, “You’ve lost that power. I don’t know what game you and these people are playing, but I’m still deciding if I can trust you.”
“Oh.” He tilts his head. “At least, help me up?” He stretches a hand towards me with a stupid smile plastered on his cracked lips.
“You have enough freaking stamina to keep secrets from me…” I slap his hand away, “You can stand up on your own.”
But as I straighten my legs, which have turned numb from the time spent crouched, a firm hand grabs me by the collar of Galen’s jumper and pulls me up, ignoring my objections.
“You’re still alive and breathing purple, love. And talking. A lot,” Tabitha hisses in my ear, forcing me around to face her. My back brushes against a tree. “What else can we do to convince you we’re not the enemy here? Roden is,andthose scumbags who support him.”
I shake her hand off, arching my brows. “Well, you have to admit that if Tabitha Lorne shows up in Libera when the island falls under attack, I’m entitled to ask myself one or two questions. I’m glad I’m alive, but this doesn’t kill the doubt that you have something else for me in mind—after we get to wherever you’re taking me.”
In the cold moonlight, her lips press to a line so thin that her mouth nearly disappears. She steps back, scanning me from head to toe, with a hand on her hips.
“Glad to hear Roden Breith still depicts me like a fucking traitor. But, remember, girl, I’m not the one who asked you to condemn a gifted soul to Roden’s ‘special treatment’.” She jabs me in the forehead with a finger.
“Tabs!” Jyn and Galen exclaim at the same time.
“What?” Tabitha replies serenely. “I’m sure she’s done two plus two a while ago. If Galen took her to me and he knew about Roden’s plan…”
“And Galen has clearly kept himself busy, having fun with the Chapterandthe rebels,” I add, stepping next to Tabitha and mirroring her stance.
“Hey,” Tabitha whispers.
I shrug. “Sorry, but this is how I’ve known you all my life. Point is, everybody seems to know a lot about this poor Rogue, except me, so…”
“Fair enough, we’ve been called worse. No offence taken,” Jyn says, grabbing Galen by his armpits to lift him. “Can you stand on your own, boy? Yeah? Good.” He brushes some locks of hair off Galen’s eyes and pats him on the head.
