Page 7 (2/2)

"That’s what the Official thinks must have happened She thinks someone must have altered my microcard and put Ky’s face on there"

"Why?" Grandfather wonders

"She thinks it was some kind of cruel joke Because," I lower my voice even further, "of Ky’s status He’s an Aberration" Grandfather pushes out of his chair, knocking his tray to the ground I’ht as a tree

"There was a picture of an Aberration as your Match?"

"Just for ato reassure him "But it was an error Xander’spool at al " Grandfather doesn’t sit down, even though I re to calht

"Did they say why he was classified that way?"

"His father did so," I say "It isn’t Ky’s fault" And it isn’t I know it, and Grandfather knows it The Officials never would have al owed the adoption if Ky himself had been a threat

Grandfather looks at the plate where it clattered from the tray onto the floor I move to pick it up, but he stops me "No," he says, his voice sharp, and then he bends creakily As if he were made of old wood, an old tree, stiff wooden joints He pushes the last pieces of food back onto the plate and then he looks atstiff about them; they are alive, ful of e your microcard?"

"Grandfather," I say "Please, sit down It’s a prank, and they’l find out who did it and take care of everything An Official fro Department said so herself" I wish I hadn’t told hi?

But now there is "That poor boy," Grandfather says, his voice sad "He’s been h no fault of his own Do you know him wel ?"

"We’re friendly, but we’re not close I see hi free-rec hours on Saturdays," I explain "He received his pero and so I don’t see him much anymore"

"And what is his work position?"

I hesitate to tel Grandfather because it is such a dismal one We were al surprised when Ky received such a lowly assignment, since Patrick and Aida are wel respected "He works at the nutrition disposal center"

Grandfatherwork"

"I know," I say I’ve noticed that, in spite of the gloves the workers wear, Ky’s hands are permanently red from the heat of the water, the machines

But he does not complain

"And the Official let you tel me this?" Grandfather asks

"Yes," I say "I asked her if I could tel one person You"

Grandfather’s eyes gleam mischievously "Because the dead can’t talk?"

"No," I say I love Grandfather’s jokes, but I can’t joke back, not about this It’s co too quickly I wil miss him too much "I wanted to tel you because I knew you would understand"

"Ah," Grandfather says, raising his eyebrows in a wry expression "And did I?"

Now I a, a little "Not as wel as I’d hoped You acted like my parents would have, if I’d told them"

"Of course I did," he says "I want to protect you"

Not always, I think, raising my eyebrows back at hi at the edge of the pool

He joined us there one su?"

"That’s what she always does," Xander said

"Can’t she swilared at him because I could speak for myself He knew that