Everything looks white. My eyes water. The last time I was in Progress, the sky was darker, closer to evening. But it is daytime now. And it is bright. So much brighter than what we have below. Even with our artificial lights and our panels, our world is darker. And the sun—I can actually feel it. It is an amazing feeling. Like nothing I have ever felt before. I blink a few more times and my eyes begin to adjust. “Stone insisted that he get you all to himself today,” Asta says as we continue walking. Stone is smiling, two sheets of plastic in his hands. “I would have come to get you—” “He is scared of the inside.” Asta smiles at me. “He thinks he’ll get stuck in there and not be allowed out.” Stone rolls his eyes. “No. I just prefer the air out here.” “Right.” Asta laughs and walks off. I have never seen people interact like this. So . . . not serious. “Ready?” Stone hands me a sheet of plastic and I begin to follow Asta. “No, not that way.” “What?”
