The Better to See

Chapter 4: Sarah

Ben glanced at Sarah. "Just what did you find out there?"

Sarah shook her head.

General Morales did not offer any further explanation. "Immediately, Blake," she said.

"You should go," Sarah told her brother, avoiding his eyes. "It's important."

Ben took off his glasses and stuck them in his shirt pocket. "Perhaps I won't be joining you for dinner after all," he said, and was ushered out of the library.

Pearl came up behind Sarah and rested her chin on the shorter woman's shoulder. "What was that all about?"

"I don't know," said Sarah, and felt dreadful. Maybe this was some kind of hideous mistake. Her little brother wouldn't be a part of Esperanza's abominations, right?

"Huh," said Pearl. "Well, maybe he'll tell us later. Come on, dinner awaits!" She tugged Sarah toward the dining hall.

Sarah sat across from her at one of the long tables and poked at her food. It was hard to eat. Her stomach was in knots. Not Ben, she thought. Not Ben, not Ben.

Pearl glanced up from her plate of potatoes and cheese. "You all right, Sarah?"

Sarah nodded and gave her a pained smile. "Fine. Just want to know what they wanted Ben for."

"Mmmph," said Pearl through a mouthful of food. "Bet it's super boring. Bet they wanted him to double-check their requisitions forms for extra commas."

"That's not what he does, Pearl." I might have no idea what he does.

"Whatever. You clearly got the interesting genes in your family."

"Mmm." Sarah nudged a piece of lettuce across her plate.

"Oh for pity's sake," said Pearl. "Eat your dinner. Ben's a big boy, he'll be fine."

Sarah glared at her and ate a forkful of potatoes.

"Good girl. Oh, there's David. David! Help me convince Sarah that she should be eating instead of worrying about her ickle baby bruvver."

David stood awkwardly next to the table. He didn't even have a tray.

"How'd your discussion with Commander Edwards go?" Sarah asked him, pointedly eating another mouthful at Pearl.

"I got a reprimand," David told Pearl. Then, to Sarah, "He made me read the rules to him. Three times. And I've got dishes for the next week, and I've got to retake basic protocol."

Sarah sighed. "Well, it could have been worse. Did you happen to see Ben while you were there?"

"He came in as I was leaving. With Firemen." He was also having trouble meeting Pearl's eyes, Sarah noticed.

"We don't know what's going on," said Pearl, "but Sarah is going to worry herself into an ulcer if she doesn't stop. He's fine."

"Yeah," said Sarah, exchanging glances with David.

David raised his eyebrows, but remained silent. They couldn't say anything about their discovery until the commander approved it, and certainly wouldn't be discussing it someplace as public as the dining hall. That was third on the list of rules that David had just had to repeat.

"Aren't you going to eat, David?" Pearl asked. "One worrier is more than enough."

"Leave him alone, Pearl," Sarah sighed.

"Attention please!"

They all turned toward the front of the hall. Sarah's stomach flipped. General Morales was standing there with a page of orders.