You’re in one of the newer sections, where they’re all rock. Over there,” Hannah pointed across the vast space of the cavern, “are the older ones, from the beginning.” Rachel and Pathik could see wood-framed structures like the room they called the office, built lean-to style along the perimeter of the far wall. “The beginning?” Rachel stayed close to Pathik as they followed Hannah and Tom on the tour. “Way back, when the bombs fell.” Tom shrugged. “They didn’t have talent, those first survivors, so they couldn’t make them the way the new ones are made. Although with Keith gone, we may have to go back to—” He didn’t finish. “Most of the people left out here died from the radiation in the beginning. Was it the same for you?” Pathik nodded. “Most of the people Away died, too. For a long time, no babies survived. When they did, they usually had a gift. Now, most of us do.” “Most of you.” Tom frowned. “I think at first we only had some people with talent, but now it’s everyone.
