16

The cell phone rings twice, and then is answered.

“Hello.”

“Riyad? Ah thank god, you finally answered. Look, the conference has been called off. There’s hurricane force winds outside and the subways are flooded. Just stay where you… are you outside? I can hear the rain…. Riyad? Hey, Riyad? You there?”

“We are coming on the wings of the storm. We will carry away all traces of the iron scars which have been torn into our homes. And we will never be caged again.”

The phones dies.

15

A cell phone rings six times, then stops.

“You’ve reached the cell of Riyad Malik. I’m currently unavailable at the moment. Please leave a message after the tone.”

“Hey Riyad, this is Tony Pham. The storm knocked the power out, so you can’t see the emails I sent you. Just calling to let you know I’m waiting for you at the conference. Let me know if you’re on your way.”

14

To: Riyad Malik

From: T. Pham

Subject: Re: Conference Today

Did you get my last email? I haven’t seen you at the conference building. Send me an email or text when you get this.

13

To: Riyad Malik

From: T. Pham

Subject: Conference Today

Just reminding you, the conference of oil American oil companies is today. Grab an umbrella before you head out; it looks like there’s a storm coming in.

12

Pages of the notebook are filled with elaborately detailed landscape sketches.

Headache hasn’t gone away for days. The doctor I saw said there were no traces of drugs in me. Don’t know what’s causing this.

I can’t stand the noise. Was New York always so loud? Everywhere I go is a shrieking circus of sounds, all scraping like talons down my brain. The lights are even worse. Had to turn off all of mine, but I can still see them at night through the window. Can’t they shut them off for just one night? Then there’s the smog….

More people keep coming to the city. All the protestors, gathering for the conference. All they do is add to the din. Except for the Wakį́yą people. It’s easy to spot them amongst the protestors. They don’t have signs or chants. They’re just standing off to the side, quietly watching the sky. As if they’re waiting for something.

11

From: T. Pham

To: Riyad Malik

Subject: Re: Celine Interview

Great work with the interview, we’ll get it written up by the end of the day. Now get some rest, we need you back on your feet and healthy when the conference starts!