After The First Death

Back on the bus, the kids need to use the bathroom. Artkin supplies a bucket for them to use and puts Kate in charge of emptying the bucket. A bit later, he brings more drugged candy. Kate protests drugging the kids again, arguing there’s no guarantee more children won’t die from the drugs. Artkin says flatly “There is no guarantee of anything in this life” (95) and distributes the candy.

From then on, the kids are kept drugged and calm. Kate moves among them until she notices one of them (Raymond) who seems to be pretending to sleep. Kate sits with him, and they talk for a bit. Miro approaches, and Raymond pretends to sleep. Miro is fooled, and Kate realizes Raymond could be her advantage because “she knew something the hijackers didn’t know” (100).

Kate’s underwear chafes against her skin from where she wet them. Needing to get them off, she waits until Miro is looking away and goes to the back of the bus, where she removes her jeans and underwear. Miro sees her with her pants off. Wide-eyed, he leaves the bus, and Kate pulls her jeans back on.