“Is that what you used to do before you went to prison?”
Coraset wasn’t expecting so many questions, but she didn’t mind. It was refreshing to speak to another person after being in solitary confinement for a year and a half. She answered, “No, I was a horticulturist.”
Rudy gave her a strange look. “So, you went from having an important position at Erato Biotrade to being a gardener in the Federation to a dangerous inmate in the Mojave Prison?”
She laughed and answered, “Well, I was accused of murdering a police officer. That’s how I ended up in the Mojave Prison.”
“Did you really kill a police officer?”
“No.”
“So, why didn’t you stay a humanitarian?” Rudy shifted intently listening.
“There is no such position in the Federation, and if it did exist, I wouldn’t take it. Before the outbreak, Erato Biotrade was the leading company in the world when it came to altruism. Then it was like they stopped caring. They did nothing to stop the N12 Virus. I believe they had the vaccine all along. I used to have so much pride working for that company. Now, I really don’t want anything to do with them. That’s why I’m a gardener.” Coraset spoke with a bitter attitude, and she gave a quick angry smile.
Rudy was speechless.
“So…what did you used to do for the Federation before you were in prison?” She asked trying to beat back the heaviness in the room.
“I was an engine and airframe mechanic.” Rudy spread his arms with a huge smile and added, “I really want to be a helicopter pilot!”
“Why didn’t you test for it?”
He dropped his arms and answered, “I did, but I didn’t score high enough.”
Coraset looked at him curiously and asked, “Rudy, how did you end up in prison anyway?”
He cleared his throat and said, “I stole a point card.”
She laughed and shook her head. “Why would you do that?”
Rudy embarrassedly answered, “I don’t want to say.”
Coraset knew as young as he was, he must have had a hard time in prison. He was among the leeches of society, and the worse of the worse.
Rudy leaned back on his arms before asking, “Have you ever been married?”
“No,” Coraset answered.
“Have you ever wanted kids?”
She seriously considered his answer and answered, “I did when I was in high school. I wanted to get married and have two kids, a boy and a girl. I wanted a nuclear family.”
“What is a nuclear family? It sounds dangerous.” Rudy asked in a serious tone.
“It’s not. It’s like I said, two kids and a husband.”
Rudy understood and remarked, “I don’t think I’ll ever get married, and kids are definitely not an option anymore.”
“It’s unfortunate for all of us,” Coraset added.
She stood and picked up the bag to test the weight. She placed the strap on her shoulder, and then on the other shoulder. She walked around trying to make sure it wasn’t going to be a bother when she set on her way that evening.
Rudy watched her considering everything she told him. He put all of the facts in his head, added a few notions based on what she said and what he’d seen her do, and drew his own conclusions. Overall, he thought Coraset was a strange woman. He’d never met anyone like her before.
He commented, “I don’t understand you, Coraset.”
“I’m not a complicated person, Rudy.”
“Yeah, you are. Before the outbreak, you were a humanitarian at Erato Biotrade. Now, you’re a horticulturist for the Federation, and you know how to handle a gun. You probably know how to fight, too. How did you learn all that stuff?”
“I’ll have to tell you later how and why I learned all of those things, but right now, you need to check the weight of the bag. We’re going to be walking all night, and you need to make sure it’ll be comfortable.”
Rudy threw the bag over his opposite shoulder and stood. He bounced where he stood and he walked around Coraset a couple of times. She watched him, smiling. He took it off and sat back down on the floor.
“I guess it’s good to go?” Coraset asked as she set her bag aside.
“Yeah, it’s perfect. Coraset, I have another question.”
“I bet you do,” she commented as she joined him on the floor.
“You mentioned you had a stepdad. What does he do for the Federation?”
“He’s a chemist.”
“Alice teaches mathematics. I don’t think she likes it anymore.”
“Why not,” she asked.
“She says school isn’t the same like it was before the outbreak. It is regulated, very controlled, and there are no kids. She doesn’t like teaching adults. She says it’s more difficult.”
“I can understand what she means. Some adults can’t be molded. We get stuck in our ways, and it’s hard to change. It’s almost impossible sometimes.”
“I always tell her it’ll get better. One day, the world will have babies again, and she’ll be able to teach them like she used to.”
“And what does she say?”
“She tells me I’m being foolish and to grow up.”
Coraset nodded, thinking the same thing.
They remained inside the hut and tried to get some sleep. Sometimes they started talking, but most of the time, it was quiet between them. Coraset couldn’t wait to start her trek that evening. She was eager to get back to civilization. Rudy missed his sister, and that’s what he looked forward to the most. Being with his only family and starting over.
The day continued on slowly. Way too slow for Rudy’s pace, but soon the sun was far in the west. Coraset stood. It was about that time, but there was one thing she wanted to do first.
CHAPTER FIVE
The horrid, larger than life vultures jumped away from muscle man dead body when Coraset and Rudy approached. Dewey was sleeping inside the bus. Coraset kicked his hand, startling him awake. Rudy backed away, avoiding the stench of the dead body. Dewey crawled out looking like a fright with severely chapped lips and messier hair than the day before. Coraset eyed his bloody pants.
“What you want, girly?” Dewey asked in a dry, rough voice.
“We’re taking you to the shack.” Coraset revealed as she tossed the handcuff key to him.
“Are you going to show me a good time?” His hands were shaking as he reached for the key.
Coraset showed him the gun as an answer to his question. He unlocked his wrist, but he didn’t try to get up.
“I can’t walk.”
Coraset pointed to Rudy and said, “He’ll help you.”
Rudy didn’t expect her to say that, but he came over to help him to his feet anyway. Dewey smelled horribly bad along with the dead body, and Rudy held his breath as they stumbled towards the road. Coraset followed them. Dewey hung his head, weak and tired, but he kept on going starving for the shelter at the end of the road.
When they were inside, Rudy helped him down to the floor. Coraset gave Rudy zip ties to secure Dewey’s ankles and wrists in front of his body. He hesitated to do it, but Rudy did as he was told, remembering that this man and his friends did the same to him. Coraset held the gun square on him, waiting for Dewey to make the wrong move. He stared back at Coraset, parched, tired, and unwilling to fight back.
“Why are you helping me?”
