Chapter Nine
The next day was miserably hot. Winter came out early. There was hardly anybody on the docks, but people were there, avoiding The Singsong. Ilse came by late morning. Winter and Isidor got up, coming to the rail.
“I read Maren’s journal,” Ilse said right away. “I want to talk to her.”
Winter turned his head. Soule came to the rail.
“Do you know why Havish and Leet hate you, Soule?” Ilse said when she got there.
“No, Ilse.”
“Because their parents’ bodies are on the reek of the black rocks. Their fathers. Their mother. Dead like other Siblin your people have driven mad and murdered. A siren like you killed them.”
Soule began to breathe faster. She looked at Isidor, at Winter. They hadn’t told her that.
“Don’t do this, Ilse,” Isidor said, drawing her away from the rail by
