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“We can do ant!” another voice from the crowd shouts

“We can lead ourselves!” Bartie calls back

The call becomes a cheer Lead ourselves! Lead ourselves! Lead ourselves!

Marae and the other Shippers try to drown out the chant with their own shouted orders for silence Expletives le with the chant—sneers and threats The Shippers respond in kind Their threats lead to action Marae shoves a man twice her size back as he draws too close to us; anotherat Shelby

I slaainst my wi-com “Communicate area: within fifty feet of my location,” I order As soon as the wi-com beeps that the connection has been made with every other wi-com in the area, I say, “Everyone, calm down There’s no need for this ”

A few people stop; they’re listening to their wi-coh “EVERYONE STOP,” I shout, and my voice echoes in all of their ears “Look around you!” I order, and most of the each other And there’s no need for that Stop Fighting Now ”

I take a deep breath For the most part, the crowd has stilled

“And what about Food Distro?” Luthor roars through the quiet

“What?” My head whips around to Marae “What’s going on at Food Distro?”

“Don’t you know?” Bartie says, disgust in his voice “How can you call yourself a leader if you don’t even know that food distribution stopped?”

I turn again to Marae “We were aware of the probleetically “We were just about to com you ”

I don’t bother waiting for another answer I take off down the street toward Food Distro The crowd around us is surprised—they weren’t expecting et out of h, and I bump into the of their feet on the pavery that I can barely think straight I do not need Food Distro, of all things, added to my problems

Frex Frex, frex, frex

The Food Distro is a giant warehouse so far on the edge of the City that it butts against the steel walls that encase the Feeder Level Food distribution is autoe steel-and-brick building, the er, Fridrick, has chained the doors shut He stands in front of theht

Everything in me tenses—my fists, my teeth, my eyes