Im sorry, she told Solon. Im just worried that Im running out of time.
Now you have to say youre sorry, too. Claire held out a cherry to Solon.
I regret nothing, Solon said, and turned away. Trenton, youre next.
Wait, Cat said. I could do more. If we went back to those hazelnut trees, I could revive them. My grandfather grew pecansone tree produces six hundred pounds of nuts per year. Say there were fifty trees in that grove. Thats three hundred thousand pounds of food. The Poet said his family is starving. I could help.
None of you will leave the protection of the glaze, Solon said.
My family could be starving right now, Cat said. If there was something someone could do to help them
You cannot handle what is out there. Solon glared at Eureka, making her wonder if he knew where she had been last night.
Dad approached Solon. Ill give it a shot. What do I do?
You dont have to, Dad, Eureka said. Youre not well.
Solon looked hard at Dad. Your quirk is likely buried very deep within you. But its there. Its always there. Perhaps a tool might help. Ander, the orichalcum?
Ander unzipped his backpack and withdrew three silver objects. First was the delicate anchor theyd used yesterday to make landfall. It gleamed as if recently polished, as all the objects did. There was also a sheath, six inches long, and made of thinly hammered silver. From it Solon drew a futuristic-looking spear that was, amazingly, many times longer than the sheath. It was nearly four feet long, with a thin serrated blade.
The last object was a small rectangular chest about the size of a jewelry box. It contained Atlantean artemisia, a substance deadly to Seedbearers. Ander had flashed that chest at his family when they tried to run Eureka off the country road in Breaux Bridge. Its green glow had scared them off. Solon eyed it greedily.
The objects before you are made of orichalcum, he said to Dad. Before Ander brought them here, I had not seen them in three-quarters of a century and was beginning to think they were mystical aspects of my imagination. Orichalcum is an ancient metal. It is also an indentured metal, which means it works for its owner. You may choose onewhich is to say one may choose youas a talisman to help uncover your quirk.
Dad stared at the objects. I dont understand.
Can we please stop trying to make sense of things? Solon said. Its supposed to be natural, like it was for your children. For example, this one speaks to me. He lifted the chests lid and gave a deep, sensual sniff.
Ander snapped the lid shut. Are you suicidal?
Of course Im suicidal, Solonsaid, laughing. What kind of insane lunatic isnt suicidal?
If you die, I die, Ander muttered. I wont abandon Eureka because youre too much of a coward to live.
Solon raised an eyebrow. That remains to be seen.
Dad, take the chest, Eureka said.
Yeah, I like this one. Dad eased the chest from Anders and Solons grips. He opened the lid and recoiled at the sharp odor. Solon leaned forward, breathing in, enchanted. Eureka noticed that Ander leaned forward, too. Seedbearers couldnt resist artemisia.
As Solon bent over in another consuming coughing spell, Dad watched with a concern that Eureka recognized. Hed looked at her that way all her life.
You have cancer, he said.
Solon straightened, stared at Dad. What?
Your lungs. I see it clearly. Theres darkness herehe gestured toward Solons heartand here, and here. He pointed at two other places along Solons lower ribs. Artemisia could help. The herb eases inflammation.
Hear that, Ander? Solon laughed.
This artemisia comes from Atlantis, Ander said. Its far more potent than any herb you are familiar with.
Dad, Eureka tried to explain, Solon cant inhale artemisia without dying from it, without killing Ander, too.
There are other homeopathic remedies, Dad said, pacing, excited. If we could get our hands on some Venus flytrap extract, I could make a tea.
Theres a health-food store about a mile underwater, Solon said.
Youve always had your quirk, Eureka said to Dad. Thats why you try to heal us all with food. You can see whats wrong inside us.
And you want us to get better, William said.
Your mother always said I could see the best in people, Dad said.
Which one? Eureka asked. Rhoda or Diana?
Both.
Now its Eurekas turn, Claire said.
I think my quirk is my sadness, Eureka said. And Ive already used it enough.
Solon frowned. Your mind is much narrower than Dianas.
What do you mean?
There is a wider spectrum of emotions than just sorrow and desolation. Have you ever considered what might transpire if you allowed yourself to feelSolons eyes widenedjoy?
Eureka looked at William and Claire, who were waiting for her response. She recalled a quote shed once seen tattooed on a boys neck as he fought with another kid at Wades Hole:
Now you have to say youre sorry, too. Claire held out a cherry to Solon.
I regret nothing, Solon said, and turned away. Trenton, youre next.
Wait, Cat said. I could do more. If we went back to those hazelnut trees, I could revive them. My grandfather grew pecansone tree produces six hundred pounds of nuts per year. Say there were fifty trees in that grove. Thats three hundred thousand pounds of food. The Poet said his family is starving. I could help.
None of you will leave the protection of the glaze, Solon said.
My family could be starving right now, Cat said. If there was something someone could do to help them
You cannot handle what is out there. Solon glared at Eureka, making her wonder if he knew where she had been last night.
Dad approached Solon. Ill give it a shot. What do I do?
You dont have to, Dad, Eureka said. Youre not well.
Solon looked hard at Dad. Your quirk is likely buried very deep within you. But its there. Its always there. Perhaps a tool might help. Ander, the orichalcum?
Ander unzipped his backpack and withdrew three silver objects. First was the delicate anchor theyd used yesterday to make landfall. It gleamed as if recently polished, as all the objects did. There was also a sheath, six inches long, and made of thinly hammered silver. From it Solon drew a futuristic-looking spear that was, amazingly, many times longer than the sheath. It was nearly four feet long, with a thin serrated blade.
The last object was a small rectangular chest about the size of a jewelry box. It contained Atlantean artemisia, a substance deadly to Seedbearers. Ander had flashed that chest at his family when they tried to run Eureka off the country road in Breaux Bridge. Its green glow had scared them off. Solon eyed it greedily.
The objects before you are made of orichalcum, he said to Dad. Before Ander brought them here, I had not seen them in three-quarters of a century and was beginning to think they were mystical aspects of my imagination. Orichalcum is an ancient metal. It is also an indentured metal, which means it works for its owner. You may choose onewhich is to say one may choose youas a talisman to help uncover your quirk.
Dad stared at the objects. I dont understand.
Can we please stop trying to make sense of things? Solon said. Its supposed to be natural, like it was for your children. For example, this one speaks to me. He lifted the chests lid and gave a deep, sensual sniff.
Ander snapped the lid shut. Are you suicidal?
Of course Im suicidal, Solonsaid, laughing. What kind of insane lunatic isnt suicidal?
If you die, I die, Ander muttered. I wont abandon Eureka because youre too much of a coward to live.
Solon raised an eyebrow. That remains to be seen.
Dad, take the chest, Eureka said.
Yeah, I like this one. Dad eased the chest from Anders and Solons grips. He opened the lid and recoiled at the sharp odor. Solon leaned forward, breathing in, enchanted. Eureka noticed that Ander leaned forward, too. Seedbearers couldnt resist artemisia.
As Solon bent over in another consuming coughing spell, Dad watched with a concern that Eureka recognized. Hed looked at her that way all her life.
You have cancer, he said.
Solon straightened, stared at Dad. What?
Your lungs. I see it clearly. Theres darkness herehe gestured toward Solons heartand here, and here. He pointed at two other places along Solons lower ribs. Artemisia could help. The herb eases inflammation.
Hear that, Ander? Solon laughed.
This artemisia comes from Atlantis, Ander said. Its far more potent than any herb you are familiar with.
Dad, Eureka tried to explain, Solon cant inhale artemisia without dying from it, without killing Ander, too.
There are other homeopathic remedies, Dad said, pacing, excited. If we could get our hands on some Venus flytrap extract, I could make a tea.
Theres a health-food store about a mile underwater, Solon said.
Youve always had your quirk, Eureka said to Dad. Thats why you try to heal us all with food. You can see whats wrong inside us.
And you want us to get better, William said.
Your mother always said I could see the best in people, Dad said.
Which one? Eureka asked. Rhoda or Diana?
Both.
Now its Eurekas turn, Claire said.
I think my quirk is my sadness, Eureka said. And Ive already used it enough.
Solon frowned. Your mind is much narrower than Dianas.
What do you mean?
There is a wider spectrum of emotions than just sorrow and desolation. Have you ever considered what might transpire if you allowed yourself to feelSolons eyes widenedjoy?
Eureka looked at William and Claire, who were waiting for her response. She recalled a quote shed once seen tattooed on a boys neck as he fought with another kid at Wades Hole:
