imo

Todd Hewitt is the only boy in a town of men. Ever since the settlers were infected with the Noise germ, Todd can hear everything the men think, and they hear everything he thinks. Todd is just a month away from becoming a man, but in the midst of the cacophony, he knows that the town is hiding something from him — something so awful Todd is forced to flee with only his dog, whose simple, loyal voice he hears too.

Matt Cruse is a cabin boy on the Aurora, a huge airship that sails hundreds of feet above the ocean, ferrying wealthy passengers from city to city. It is the life Matt’s always wanted; convinced he’s lighter than air, he imagines himself as buoyant as the hydrium gas that powers his ship. One night he meets a dying balloonist who speaks of beautiful creatures drifting through the skies.

The next morning when, everybody woke up, Topaz, Drake, and Aleea told Cryst everything, including the news from late that night before. “We really have our hands filled now, said Cryst. “How did you find out about the suit?”

“He told me about it when he finished it,” Aleea said. “He sounded so excited. He also told me not to tell anyone except people I trust with my life.”

“So they knocked the door down, shot up the place, some bullets bounced off stuff and every criminal except one died and you stabbed the last one in self defense,” the cop asked.

“Yes,” Aleea shuddered with tears, which wasn’t hard.