Chapter 1

1: 1

I opened my college acceptance letter, and a second letter, with no postmark, slid out.

"Sophie, Amy Dickerson is going to steal your college spot. Give it to her."

"Don't trust David Fox. He's in on it with her. You have to give it up, or you and your father are both finished."

Two short lines, and cold sweat ran down my whole body.

I'm Sophie Bradford. Amy and I were sent down to the countryside in the same batch of youth.

We both lived at the house of the village head, Thaddeus Fox. David is his son.

I gripped the acceptance letter and sank into thought.

Last night I'd had a nightmare, and everything in it matched what the letter said, word for word.

The moment I got back to the Fox house, Thaddeus came at me. "Did you get it?"

Amy dropped to her knees with a thud. "Sophie, can you give the spot to me? I'm desperate to get back to the city."

Looking at the envy hidden at the bottom of her eyes, I smiled and handed the spot over.

1.

"Really? Sophie, this is a college spot."

David stared at me like he couldn't believe it.

Amy snatched up the letter, unable to wait, turning it over and over like a treasure.

"Sophie, don't worry. You stay here in the village, and I won't let you down."

"Once Amy's off to college, I'll have my dad start arranging our wedding. I'll marry you properly, with a good spread and everything."

Looking at his cheering, delighted face, I stepped back without thinking.

Because in the dream, that was exactly it. I trusted him.

And that was what damned me and my father past all saving.

In the dream, to get Amy the college spot,

David didn't hesitate to report, after I'd started school, that he and I had slept together.

A female sent-down youth who'd lived in his house all those years.

With his accusation, and with Amy's testimony,

it didn't matter how I explained. Nothing I said would come clear.

The two of them twisted it black to white, claiming I'd used my father's standing to steal Amy's college spot.

The investigation team came out to the village, and Thaddeus was the village head. His hand covered the whole sky.

In the end, I was expelled from the university, and Amy enrolled in my place.

My father was dragged down with me and lost his job.

On the train home from work, his heart gave out, and they couldn't save him.

I was sent off to the remote Northwest, and I spent thirty years there in the wind and sand.

In the end, I died in a shack.

Thinking of it, I put more distance between us again.

I pointed at Amy on the ground. "I can give you the college spot. But I need to know why."

As if she'd expected me to say exactly that, Amy put the letter away.

Her eyes reddened. "Sophie, my father is sick. Very sick. He doesn't have much time left."

David pushed forward. "Sophie, Amy's dad is a big man. He earned honors and was wounded before. His old injuries flared up recently, and Amy's afraid he won't pull through."

As she talked, Amy's eyes went red.

"Sophie, my mother's gone. It's just me and my dad, leaning on each other."

"I know you want to go back to the city. But my dad can't wait much longer."

She looked absolutely pitiful, and David hurried to pull out the handkerchief he carried and wipe her tears.

"Sophie, don't worry. As long as you give the spot to Amy, I'll marry you for sure. My dad's the village head. You're an orphan. Even if you go back to the city, you'll be on your own. Better to stay in the village. I promise you'll never want for food or anything else."

I glanced at his solemn, swearing face, and I couldn't help laughing.

Once Amy was back in the city, his father, Thaddeus, would pull strings to slot her into the textile mill.

So he could cling to the thigh of Amy, this big man's daughter, at every turn.

By then, he wouldn't remember a word of the nonsense he was spouting today.

Afraid I'd change my mind, Amy took my hand.

"Sophie, I'll remember your kindness my whole life. Once I'm back and my dad's better, I'll have him help you get back to the city."

"Sure! But first I need to know who your father is. What kind of big man, and where. How am I supposed to contact him?"

She paused, and her face turned ugly.

"Sophie, are you saying you don't trust me?"

"You think she'd make up something like her dad being a big man?"

A flicker of panic crossed Amy's face.

I said flatly, "There's no proof at all. How am I supposed to trust her?"

"If she's lying, then I've given up the spot for nothing, haven't I?"

"Rather than take that risk, I'll go back to the city myself."

In an instant, Amy tensed.

She jumped in. "I have proof."