He answered me in a jumbled English and Paterian. He did not understand this was good-bye forever


    and told me he wanted to swim tonight. Jonathan asked if Daddy would take him and his Brothers to


    swim.


    “Perhaps,” I called, my voice finally breaking, as they loaded him on the transport, “it will be a busy


    night. You have much to do and a long way to travel.”


    The pull of the new family was too strong. He couldn’t stay interested in something they weren’t worried


    about. His attention quickly went back to his lead Brother, who was ced beside him.


    The transport was driven by a man and he herded the children to the center. It raised up and began to


    move forward. Seeing Jonathan leaving me tore my heart, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. He


    had never been on a transport and squealed with delight as it moved. My boy took joy in every new


    experience.


    “She is a good woman,” Nu-reeh said, “powerful. She and her Sisters own many Administrators. They


    run theirpounds well.”


    “Thank you, Mistress,” I whispered hoarsely as the transport got smaller and smaller in the distance.


    I prayed as I watched him. He would be happy and safe now, I hoped. It was all I could do.


    Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    We’d been home in thepound for almost two full turns of the Large moon. I


    didn’tmenstruatebecause Nu-reeh saw to it that I was given the bitter drink daily to prevent conception.


    I was so very grateful I would not have to go through pregnancy again so soon. I used the time we


    were given wisely.


    It was a fight and a battle not to fall into the depression. I remembered how it had taken my will.


    Coming back from that had been painful and I wasn’t sure I could do it again. Using my friends and


    family I sought to center myself on the future. I would never give up. The only way to get my precious


    boy back was to be strong and escape.


    A N G E L A ‘s L I B R A R Y


    Every day I swam in the inlet with my friends and exercised with Damien and his Brothers at night. My


    men and I read the pad every day finding out about the and it’s other inhabitants. Our one goal,


    our only goal was to be ready for escape.


    Every day I thought of Jonathan. I dreamed of him at night. In my mind I saw him growing up and


    changing. Quiet moments always found my thoughts drifting to his expectant face thest time I saw


    him.


    “Stop it,” Kein demanded firmly during the evening meal one night.


    I looked up from my food confused.


    “Are you talking to me?” I asked stupidly.


    “When you think of him, talk to us,“ Kein demanded.


    “Stop pretending you are eating and mashing your food up. When you think of Jonathan you do that.


    We are all hurting, you can talk to us and you know that. We miss him, too.”


    Fierce golden eyes met mine across the table and I realized what I’d done. Before, little Jonathan had


    teeth I’d crush up part of my meal for him. In unconscious rebellion after he left, I was still doing it.


    Evan wrapped a hand over mine and squeezed.


    “I miss him, too, Sister. He is far from us, I know, but I still feel him. He is alive, you must know that. I


    am…sure he is well.”


    Thefatherwithout his child looked tortured. In quiet moments I saw the looks on his face and knew who


    he was thinking of. We all knew. Evan missed his wonderfulson.


    “I wonder what he is doing now?” I said trying to keep the tremors out of my voice


    Bane had paid the most attention to how they trained the young boys. He exined what a boy


    Jonathan’s age would be doing. It was mostly y, still.