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ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: What can you tell us about the plot ofWayfarer?
ALEXANDRA BRACKEN:Lets see if I can do this without spoiling the ending ofPassenger…
But there are tavern brawls!
Credit: JOHN GEYSTER
A dark, mysterious group who have no problem with killing anyone who stands in their way!
So, basically, a little bit of everything.
What are you most excited for readers to see?
Whats the biggest question fans have been asking you about this sequel?
I get so many questions about Ettas mother, Rose, and why she is the way she is.
This totally delights me because shes such a complicated, thorny character and she endlessly fascinates me.
Both readers and Etta will get to know her quite a bit better throughoutWayfarer.
I think she even has one of my favorite lines in the whole book!
Can you tease any new characters well meet?
What was the hardest part of writingWayfarer?
It tends to mean pulling out a plot thread and starting over, which can be incredibly time consuming.
Whats been the most fun part?
The new characters have really created a fun, lively dynamic.
(If youve read The Darkest Minds series, you know I love a complex group dynamic!)
Whats your favorite story so far from your book tour?
What have the fans been like?
My book tour this past January was incredible!
It was just the oddest thing to be on one of two flights that actually flew out mid-blizzard.
Reach up, will you?
the young man said.
Etta shook her head.
Instead, he released her wrist with one hand and reached down to grab her nightgown.
There was a loud grunt overhead as he heaved her up.
Ettas feet scrabbled against the wall.
She didnt breathe again until her elbows were braced on the windowsill.
Then she was spilling through it, onto the young man and the carpet below.
She rolled off him as soon as she landed.
Well, that was exciting.
Etta cracked open an eye, turning her head toward the voice.
She pushed herself upright again and scooted back against the desk to put some much-needed distance between them.
She had time now, and enough light, to get a better look at him.
Etta took a step back, her path blocked by the desk.
That would make him a prisoner, same as her.
Or it would make him a liar.
But if this was the truth, then .
Etta was exactly where she needed to be.
With the people who had stolen the astrolabe from her.
she asked, interrupting him.
You sound as terrible as you look, kiddo.
She stared at it.
Oh, youre no fun, he said with a little pout.
I suppose youll want water instead.
Wait here and be quietcant raise the alarm just yet, can we?
You, thereyes, youbring me a glass of water.
The response was immediate and irritated.
Im not your damned servant.
So there are guards after all.The only question was whether they were protecting him or protecting themselves from him.
This dear boy wants water.
And make it snappy.
Pep in your step and all that.
Thanks, old chum.
Ettas lip curled back.
And, by the sound of it, definitely workingwiththe Thorns.
You and I will have the best fun together now that youre here.
You use your old bathwater?
the young man shouted through the wood.
Youd be so lucky!
He was still muttering as he crossed the room again and handed it to her.
Sorry, the water situation is none-too-good after the earthquake, as you’re able to imagine.
No ones gotten sick from it.
And then, after shed already taken a sip, adding, Yet.
Her hands and arms were still trembling as they tried to recover from the strain.
San Francisco, he said.
October 12, 1906.
Youve been out a number of days .
Ettas heels seemed to sink further into the rug, as the weight of his words slammed into her.
Nicholas could be anywhere.
Sophia could be anywhere.
Are you looking for a thank-you?
Dont I deserve one?
You were a few minutes away from becoming a coyotes dinner.
That confirmed her suspicion, at least.
Etta closed her eyes.
Took a steadying breath through her nose.
What changedoh, you mean the timeline?
You havent even tried asking them, have you?
Etta asked, unimpressed.
Frankly, Id rather not know, if its all the same to you.
odd, to say the least, feeling all these tremors in the timeline.
Knowing things are shifting in small ways, andin the case of that wonderful orphaning detourbig ones.
And if its the latter .
well, then, its time to leave this party and head for the hills.
The rest of Ettas thoughts came to a sudden halt.
His look was lightly scolding.
She swallowed her noise of irritation.
No, I mean, what year was it in Texas?
Oh ho He stood and backed away from her.
Youve got that wild look in your eyes like you did just before you bopped me
in the nose.
Believe me, theyve removed everything that can be used as a weapon.
Etta looked down at the glass in her hand, then back at him, one brow arching.
Ive gotten pretty creative over the past few weeks.
I think I can handle one minor Ironwood.
he shot back, his voice wavering between incredulity and outrage.
Dont you know who I am?
You were so busy congratulating yourself you never got around to introducing yourself, Etta said.
Though I take it you know who I am?
Everyone knows who you are now, he muttered, sounding annoyed.
How far Ive fallen that I actually have tointroducemyself.
Julian Ironwood, at your service.
Her disbelief must have been splashed across her face, because his smile shifted, becoming sardonic.
Clearly not the reaction he had been expecting.
Julian Ironwood?She let out a small, lifeless laugh.
But, surprise, it wasnt any easier to come face-to-face with the dead, even with some experience.
Alice had given her an out, had specifically asked her not to say, but now .
The guilt felt familiar as it pooled in her heart.
Etta bit her lip.
what were the chances of meeting Nicholass brother, and here, of all places?
Why hadnt Nicholas mentioned that his brother had been held at some point by the Thorns?
He didnt look all that young, either.
Those seem to be the only two reactions I get these days.
You Etta sputtered, whirling back around.
I didnt mean toits just
Calm down, will you?
I wont report you to the time-travel police, he said.
Besides, as you’ve got the option to see, I am decidedlynotdead.
she began, coming closer to better study his face.
She could see it now, of course.
He seemed toalsohave the Ironwood affinity for grappling for control of every conversation, no matter how short.
Yourealive, Etta finally managed to get out.
you didnt die after all?
He grinned, clearly enjoying this conversation now, and motioned down over his body.
Still in one piece.
The luck of the devil, as old Grandpops used to say.
Rather odd, that, consideringheis the devil
What happened?
He gave her an infuriating grin.
Tell me what you think happened.
Julian asked, flattening his hair with his hand.
There was a sharp undercurrent to the words that seemed at odds with his jocular tone.
I thought he would have.
He kept pacing, but this time turned his eyes to the floor.
I never heard anything about a memorial or the like .
Its not that it matters to me, he said, quickly, but its sort of .
anticlimactic to disappear into a puff of snow and mist.
A guy wants to know thatyou know, actually, it doesnt matter.
None of it really matters.
Stopstoppacing, youre making me nervous, Etta said.
Can you stand still for one second and actually explain this to me?
He popped himself up onto the corner of the grand desk, folding his hands in his lap.
Not only did he not shut up, he couldnt seem to burn off enough energy to stop moving.
The Thorns were responsible for orphaning me in that instance, Julian said, finally.
But I was born after 1940, too, and I wasnt orphaned when that change occurred.
Julian lifted a shoulder.
Its rare, but it happens.
That did actually make sense.
Etta didnt think her head could process any more of this.
Not any other member of his family?
Julian shrugged, scooting off the desk.
It was like watching a cat pace.
Im the fool,Nicholas had told her,because in spite of everything, he was my brother.
I never saw him as anything else.
And it clearly wasnt the same for him.
He had let Nicholas spend years questioning his honor and decency.
All of this time, Nicholas had been sufferingand for what?
Julian made his lap around the room, humming out some faint tune.
It all became rather tedious and boring.
Enter: the Thorns.
But nothing is safe or steady about this group.
He glanced at her, as if expecting Etta to coo with sympathy.
Hes not worth it.
What the bloody hell was that for?
Do you haveanyidea what he went throughwhat your jackass of a grandfather put him through?
Julian repeated, rather stupidly.
To her surprise, he said, But .
how do you know Nick?
He looked genuinely shocked, either from her hit, Nicholass name, or both.
Christ, said the other one, glancing at the first.
He was somewhat shorter, his pale hair cut close to the scalp and nearly gone from balding.
The others were right.
Its the bleeding ghost of Rose Linden.
Arent you supposed to be protecting me?
How in the hell did you get in here, miss?
Etta asked, reaching back for the water glass shed left on the desk.
Get a grip, Etta.
They needed to know she would fight back if they pushed her to it.
He craned his neck up to look at the men.
Arent you going to do something?
Come along, girlie, its time for you to go back up to your room.
I dont think so.
Dull footsteps grew into a pounding storm out in the hallway.
the dark-haired man called.
The rush of panicked activity outside immediately ceased, but one voice rang out.
Thank you, thatll be all the excitement for this evening.
A man strode in, hand tucked into his trouser pockets.
We were handling the situation, sir, the dark-haired one said quickly.
I was about to return the girl to her quarters.
I see, came the amused response.
But it seems to me that shes the one who has this situation well in hand.
The black hair, cut through with silver strands .
She saw him in the classic black-and-white tuxedo, in the Grand Hall of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
In the twenty-first century.
You recognize me, he said, with a small, approving note in his voicelike hed expected less?
Almost as if hed known it might happen.
Or hed been the one to pull the trigger.
The two guards immediately stepped closer to the mans side, as though theyd been drawn into his orbit.
She dropped in onme, Julian protested, pointing to the window.
I was minding my own business.
The man flicked his dark gaze onto Etta, and this time, she forced herself to meet it.
The corners of his mouth tipped up again.
Tell me, did it ever occur to you that you could have broken your neck?
He was so calm, his voice measured to the point of making the rest of them sound manic.
Where the boundaries of his anger began.
You know, Etta said, youre making me wish I had.
He turned to the bald guard.
I told you she had some fight in her, didnt I?
You did, the guard confirmed, gruffly.
Have Winifred dress her and bring her to me once shes comfortable and presentable, will you?
Yes, of course, sir, the guard said, nearly sagging with relief.
Im not going anywhere with you, Etta said, taking a step forward.
I dont even know who you arewhat right do you have to order me around?
The man had already begun to turn toward the door, but at her words, his shoulders stiffened.
He glanced back over his shoulder, but the candlelight flared in his glasses, masking his expression.
Julian coughed, either to hide a laugh or his discomfort.
My name is Henry Hemlock, and youre here at my mercy, the man said.
And you will do as I say, because I am your father and we havemuchto discuss.
