Jas bit her lip. “I’m sorry, but there isn’t anything we can do. You’ve got to go home. This isn’t the kind of place where you can survive by yourself. You need your family. I know it’s hard, but in a few years, when you’re older, it’ll be easier. If you study, you can get a job on a passing ship, or—”
“I can’t study,” exclaimed Makey. “Don’t you understand what I’m saying? They don’t teach us anything. Only about the Earth Mother, and how to farm, and that’s it. There are books at school, but they’re locked away. They don’t give us the chance to do anything different. And whenever starships come, everyone pretends they aren’t there. Please help me. You’re my only hope.”
“That sucks, kid, but—” said Lingiari.
“If you don’t help me, I’ll head out of town and carry on walking till I die.
