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The colorful cartoon characters were gone.
A photograph, in black-and-white.
Credit: Arthur A. Levine Books
A man, blindfolded.
Tied to a post.
Mia sucked in her breath.
Scholastic
Where had this come from?
She zipped her finger across the screen.
The same man, still tied to the post, head slumped forward.
Scholastic
Dark stains dotted his chest.
The two photos formed a terrible Before and After.
She wiped the screen, trying to erase the image.
Scholastic
But it just brought up more photos.
A scrawny young boy, pushing a wagon heaped with coal.
A naked doll in the mud.
Scholastic
Mia closed the game and stared at the home screen, one hand clamped over her mouth.
Chapter 5
Simon came walking around the side of the bus.
Mia leaped to her feet, then stopped.
Scholastic
She returned the phone to her backpack pocket and left her pack on the bench.
She didnt want anyone near it.
Crossing the parking lot toward the bus, she forced herself not to run.
Scholastic
I need you to see something.
She lowered her voice for only Simon to hear.
She could barely get the words out.
Scholastic
She gestured toward the grove of trees.
What is it, Squeak?
He started to protest.
Scholastic
She turned to him.
He caught her expression, let out a sigh, and followed her.
She pulled out her guidebook first.
Scholastic
Hold this and pretend were looking at it, she said.
Turn around so no one can see.
Back at the bus, none of the guides was in sight and no one was looking their way.
Scholastic
His eyes widened and his forehead twisted.
Then his mouth dropped open.
His fingers jabbed at the screen.
Scholastic
Mia, what the hell He sounded furious.
I dont know, I dont know.
It was in the gift they gave us yesterday.
Scholastic
I opened it this morning and there was a wooden box, and it had this phone inside it!
I knew I couldnt use it here, but I tried turning it on and it was already charged.
And it hadAngry Birdson it.
I was just playing a game and she gulped a breath these popped up.
Her voice was ragged, near tears.
They both flinched, their heads snapping toward the sound.
Some of the tour group members were moving across the parking lot to the bus.
We gotta get someplace safer, Simon said, eyes scanning.
He folded the guidebook around the phone and started off.
Mia grabbed her pack and followed him.
As they crossed the pavement, Mia looked for Dad.
There he was, over by the bus, talking to Mr. Kim.
Or rather, Mr. Kim was talking to him, looking agitated.
They couldnt risk calling to him while the guides were around.
The area behind the restrooms was completely out of sight from where the bus was parked.
Theyd be hidden, at least for a few minutes.
There were more photos.
Ragged people standing in long lines, their faces hollowed like Holocaust survivors.
Men staggering through the rain, bent under huge loads.
Mia heard herself whimper.
It looks like the kind of things that Dad says happen in the prison camps.
But I never heard of there being anyphotographsfrom the camps .
How did they get in the phone?
Her voice sounded high and scared, like a little girls.
Somebody put them there.
It had to be on purpose.
Simon slumped back against the wall as if exhausted.
So we have a major problem.
do the North Koreans know .
That the photos are on it?
Well, someone knows, whoever put them on the phone knows.
But we have no idea who that might be.
Simon ran one hand through his hair.
He gestured with the phone.
Dad talked about that guy who they said had a CD with photos of starving children, remember?
He got sentenced to hard labor.
If we get caught with these images .
The knowledge was breaking across Simons face, changing his expression.
If we get caught with these, theres no way were getting out of this country.
A violent shiver went through Mias body.
This is what came of breaking the rules.
She never should have opened the phone.
But but cant we just throw the phone away?
Like bury it right here
Simon frowned, concentrating and talking fast.
Whatever we do, we have to do it immediately.
Theyll be looking for us soon.
Mia pressed her fist to her mouth.
Simon slipped around the side of the building and leaned to peer around the corner.
Mia ran to look over his shoulder.
Dad and Mr. Kim stood midway across the parking lot, Mr. Lee and Miss Cho just behind them.
Dad was leaning toward Mr. Kim, gesturing fiercely with his hands.
Back at the bus, the entire tour group including Daniel stood in a cluster, watching.
Dads upset, Mia said.
Their father never got angry.
A black car careened into the far end of the lot.
It sped toward the group in the center, screeching to a halt, the doors flying open.
Four soldiers spilled out and sprinted toward Dad and the guides.
The soldiers took hold of Dads arms and began to walk him back toward the black car.
Mia grabbed his shoulder.
Theyretakinghim, Simon said, his voice cracking.
The knot of men, with Dad in the center, paused as they neared the bus.
He spoke, then nodded at something Dad said.
The soldiers continued their march, pulling Dad with them.
The black car circled forward and swept out of the parking lot.
Mia and Simon turned to look at each other.
Simons eyes were wide, his mouth open.
What the ?He shook his head.
NEXT: Read the context-setting tourist guide
