I didn't get a chance to break away for hours...not until Solomon and Cassandra showed us to our quarters for the night. They took us to adjoining rooms in a building on the third terrace, then left for an hour to give us time to get ready for dinner.
I waited five minutes, then went back outside. Stood at Laurel's door for a moment, thinking about asking her to join me...but I decided not to knock. Felt like I wanted to do this alone.
The sun had set, and twilight was settling over the mountain. Katydids rasped and crickets buzzed in the trees, tuning up for the night's performance.
I strolled nonchalantly across the terrace, cutting back toward the exposed mountainside. Nodded at passing Parapets people—Parapeople?—as I picked a concealed spot among some shrubs and rocks on the s
