“Valley, you don’t have to do it.”

That’s true. I’m a free person.

“Revenge isn’t worth it.”

I let myself think about that — about revenge. I imagine standing in front of Captain Nichols’s gate, waiting for him to come close, waiting for him to think I am squirming under his dirty thumb. And then I would destroy him. But I say, “That’s not why I’m doing this. Revenge is a bad reason. It’s a small reason. I’m not doing this for me. This is way bigger than me. You don’t understand yet.”

“Understand what?”

“Understand about the black helicopters.”

“Valley. You know I don’t believe in them? Right? I don’t believe . . .”

“I know. That’s why this has to happen. There are lots of people like you, people who don’t believe. That’s exactly why this needs to happen.” The tires go kachunk-kachunk-kachunk on the seams in the road. We are moving closer to wherever we need to be. The gears are all turning. The pieces are all moving. I say, “You are a part of it now. You should know that. Even if you are afraid, you are a part of it. Someday, when people understand, they will remember you. They won’t remember that you were afraid; the only ones who know that are you and me, and we will both be dead. They will remember that you were brave. You were brave, and you were a part of it. They will know that you helped me when I needed help. You will be a hero, Eric the Boneless. How about that?”