Chapter 35

Rory had tossed and turned all night; he could not sleep with this weight on his mind and in his heart. The factory weighed so heavily on his mind that it felt like someone was squeezing his throat and head at the same time. He rolled the heated words in his mind over and over until he stopped trying to sleep.

The next morning, he was met with a frigid wall. Rani accompanied him to breakfast, but they did not speak at all. He felt the icy turbulence emanating from Rani, and he gave it right back. He was right, anyway. Her fathered hadn't listened to a word he had said, Rani wasn't taking him seriously, and he could feel the breath of Skelmis on his neck, waiting for the seventh moon to set.

He went to the music room and found the instructor within.

"Good morning, Rory," said the instructor. "How are you?"

Rory made a grimace. The fatigue of last night showed plainly on his face.