“That’s more than cracked,” Kelvin said. “How far did you fall?”
Mica swung her eyes to look at Peter, who glanced at Kelvin. “Ten feet? Maybe more?”
Kelvin glared at me, no doubt thinking I was lucky to not be in her condition.
“I don’t know what to do,” Peter said. “When I saw you guys, I figured a group from the colony had come to take us back in. Part of me—I was actually hoping you were—”
Mica waved him off, then started coughing again, causing all of us to tense up. Bone and bruise seemed to writhe under her skin with each spasm. Peter put his hand under her neck and brought the water to her lips as several of the others joined us by the sad excuse for a fire. Leila crouched down, patted Mica’s foot, and whispered a greeting.
“What were you hoping?” I asked Peter.
“That you’d take us back to the colony and fix her,” he said.
“I’d rather die right here,” she croaked.
I looked at the fire, which was nothing more than a pile of smoldering grasses. There were some scrub bushes growing beyond the edge of the canopy that seemed to contain a bit of wood, but all of it had been soaked by the rain. We needed to dry out, get some food in us, and rest up.
“I’m not letting you die right here, so stop talking like that,” Peter told Mica. “In fact, just stop talking.” He gently pulled her shirt back down and turned to us. “If you guys hadn’t shown up, I was thinking about breaking into the dozer and using the radio to tell Hickson where to find us.”
Mica shook her head but didn’t say anything.
“He’s as liable to shoot her as patch her up,” Kelvin said.
“We need to get that fire going,” I said. “Let’s dry everyone out, get her some decent food and water.”
“Decent food?” Peter scanned our faces. “You got something besides bombfruit?”
“Vinnie meat,” Kelvin said. He swung his pack around and pulled out one of the leaf-wrapped cuts.
“Is that what you call the fuzzies?” Peter asked.
Kelvin nodded. “After Vincent. But I like fuzzies better. Or just giant-ass caterpillars.”
“While you guys are playing taxonomist, I’m going to work on the fire,” I said. “I need your machete.” I held my hand out to Kelvin, who gave it to me handle-first.
“You got a source on dry wood?” he asked.
“I’m hoping it’s only wet on the outside,” I said. “I’m gonna round up some of those little trees out there, bring them back in here and skin ‘em.”
“Good idea,” he said. “I’ll help.”
“Well, then I’m heading back to the canopy to get some bombfruit,” Tarsi said. “We need the husks to get anything started.”
I looked out the mine’s entrance, back toward the tree in the distance. It would take her at least an hour to get to the very edge of the canopy and back. I wanted to veto the idea but knew she was right. Relenting, I nodded. “Take someone with you.”
Tarsi smiled and pecked me on the cheek. Kelvin and I went down the slight rise and recruited the boys by the pool. Together, we sloshed through the water and back into the rain, so fixated on helping Mica we had completely forgotten about our cold and wet exhaustion.
Another thing I had forgotten about in all the excitement was the sound of the tractor engine I’d heard from the canopy. The one making its slow but steady way around the massive trees and toward us.
• 28 •
The Shaft
Two of us peeled the bark off as fast as we could, but we were barely able to keep up with the fire. Meanwhile, a group that had been born together naked tried our best to overcome innate taboos as we stripped and worked to dry our clothes. We hung our garments on wet branches by the fire; on smaller sticks, whittled sharp, we propped vinnie meat directly over the growing flames, and the smell of charred protein filled the mine, making it difficult to wait for it to cook fully.
When a piece was brought to me, I set my machete and my scruples aside and ate greedily. The rush of endorphins through my brain made me dizzy with joy. And between the meat, warmth, and water, Mica seemed to rally. Peter tended to her selflessly; he had to be forced to take food and water for himself as he cautioned Mica to eat small pieces and chew them slowly.
Tarsi came over after helping arrange wet clothes to assist Kelvin and me as we cleaned firewood. I couldn’t help but notice the way Kelvin stole glances at Tarsi’s nakedness. As I watched him, I found myself doing the same to him, my jealousy transforming into embarrassment and excitement.
“It’s a shame we can’t stay here,” Tarsi said, kneeling down and crossing her arms across her chest. “Colony will eventually look for us, don’t you guys think? Maybe they’ll even resume mining operations if the base ever gets fully established.”
“I agree,” I said. “I’m sick of running, but we need to move on as soon as the rain stops and Mica feels better.”
“We might have to carry her out,” Kelvin said. “I think—”
“Tractor!” somebody yelled. We all looked up toward the mine entrance to see Karl running toward us. He grabbed his shirt from one of the limbs and fought to get it on. “There’s a tractor heading our way from the canopy,” he said.
We scrambled to get dressed and finish our food. I grabbed one of the water pouches and looked to the cooking fire—I hesitated, then regretfully doused it. Kelvin did the same for the one by Mica.
“We need to get deeper into the mine,” Karl said.
“Our tracks are everywhere out there,” Leila responded. “They’ll know where we are.”
“Where we
“You guys go,” Peter said. “Mica and I are staying here. I want her to get some medical attention, anyway.”
Mica started to argue, then began coughing, her excruciating pain leaking out through the grunts and throat- clearing.
“We can carry her,” I told Peter. “Come with us.”
“Go,” he said, shaking his head. “We never saw you guys. I’ll take credit for the mess in here and outside.”
We could hear the tractor approaching, the steady rumble of the engine growing like slow-moving thunder. Tarsi knelt by the fire and put the flashlight back together, all the parts having been set out to dry. It flicked on with a solid beam. She handed it to me. I looked up and noticed everyone getting the last of their things together and looking at me once again as if I knew where to lead them.
“Get out of here,” Peter said.
“Go with them,” Mica croaked to Peter. “Leave me.”
He gave me a look—steady eyes and clenched jaw—that let me know he wouldn’t be reasoned with. Not by me and not by Mica. I bent over and kissed the top of Mica’s head. Peter raised his hand to me, and I clasped it. “Nothing foolish,” I told him. “If they don’t come looking, please don’t go to them. We’ll get you out of here.”
“I’ll leave our fate up to them,” he said, nodding.
“Thanks.” I was grateful for the compromise.
I grabbed my pack, turned to join the others, and we all headed deeper into the mine. Swinging the flashlight back and forth, I illuminated the way for the rest. Behind us, the rumble of the tractor grew, the blat of the engine filling the shaft of rock with powerful, angry sounds. We hurried forward, following the tunnel as it descended into the mountain, trying to put as much distance as possible between ourselves and whoever had come for us.
When the engine abruptly stopped, the ensuing silence felt as laden with danger as the rumblings had. The nervous chattering between ourselves ceased as we fought to move quickly yet quietly. Looking over my shoulder, I could no longer see the light from the mouth of the mine due to slight rise at its entrance. Still, I worried the flashlight would be visible to our uninvited guests, the beam dancing like a flame to anyone peering down the shaft.
