“Tyler?!”
“Yeah, man!” he replies with a grin. “What the fuck are you doing here?”
“Is Oasis still here?”
“You bet your ass it is. We’re not lettin’ this world take our home from us.”
“You can’t know how good it is to hear that.”
“Karo, you were exiled. I can’t let you beyond this point.”
“I’m not here to get back in. I brought these people here. They’re good people. This man’s a doctor and she’s a lawyer, they can help.”
“And the kid? Looks a bit worse for wear. Is he infected?”
“No! No he’s not!” Norman frantically interjects.
“We can check for that now, so don’t lie to us. If the test comes back positive we’ll shoot on sight, no questions asked .”
“I promise you, he’s not infected, he’s just had a difficult life.”
“Haven’t we all.”
The Corporal rises to his feet, and motions for his unit to lower their weapons.
“Stand on up now, no sense in treatin' you like prisoners, we don’t take those.”
Karo, Daisy, Norman, and Patrick join the armed unit on their feet. Daisy brushes hair out of her face, Norman gives a comforting gesture to Patrick, Karo places his hands on his hips, regarding Corporal Farley.
“So, why don’t you tell me what’s in that cooler you seem to be so careful with?”
“Blood, from a man who didn’t turn.”
The Corporal’s face stretches, his gaze bounces to his teammates, then back to Karo.
“That so? Pretty bold claim.”
“It’s true, I watched the man get attacked, get bit, then die. He never turned, he didn’t get infected.”
“Listen Karo-”
“I’m not fucking lying!” Karo emphatically states, interrupting the Corporal.
“Calm down now. I ain’t callin’ you a liar, but you gotta know how this sounds.”
“I do, it’s crazy, but it’s true. Can the blood be tested?”
Karo’s stance remains firm, his eyes do not wander, they do not glisten, his fingers do not tap nervously, and his breathing holds steady. The Corporal’s gaze narrows, his face becomes rigid, and his tone deepens.
“You’re not lyin' are you?”
“No, I’m not.”
“Holy shit.” utters the Corporal. His head raises, his brow lowers, his gaze does not break from Karo, “Allan, go bring the Commander to the gate, and hurry.”
“What’s going on?” Daisy inquires, as her head turns to see one of the soldiers race off.
“I can’t let Karo into Oasis, that’s not my call, but I know him. He’s never was one to stretch the truth, or make wild claims. I always considered Karo to be a fine man, respectable, and to be entirely honest I never agreed with the exile. You killed a man trying to harm your wife, a rapist, can’t say I see anything wrong with that.”
“Does that mean you’re going to let us into Oasis?” the doctor asks, unable to hide the underlying excitement in him.
“That’s also not my call, but I’m not gonna turn you away. There’s other people that handle screening. You’ll talk to them.”
The military man returns his attention to Karo.
“As for you, old friend, you need to talk to the Commander.”
“Commander?”
“Colonel Batts. People took to callin’ him Commander, guess it just rolls of the tongue better.”
“What about Maria and-”
“Yeah, figured you was gonna ask about them.”
“Them?”
“Maria’s doin’ good, she’s our top doctor, leads the hospital. Your daughter’s good too, real good kid. Smart, unruly, a bit like you.”
The rugged nomad’s lip quivers, his eyes dampen, his chest fills.
“Maria talks about you all the time. She refuses to let you be remembered as a just a killer.”
“Thank you, Tyler.”
“Come on now, I ain’t much for this mushy shit, let’s go talk to the Commander. He should be at the gate by the time we get there.”
The large metal gates at the entrance to Oasis have been fortified, numerous times from the looks of it. Barricades grew larger and deeper as they neared Oasis. A sturdy wooden bridge that connects two large watch towers has been constructed just beyond the gate, towering above it.
The gates are slightly ajar, a myriad of soldiers stand around them. The nomads are stopped near the entrance. Karo is told stand back as the gates are pulled fully open. Norman, Daisy, and Patrick fidget as the doors grind. Several more soldiers await on the other side, just past the entrance. The soldiers gesture for the new arrivals to enter. Daisy pauses and looks to Norman, who nods, not needing audible communication to understand her. She turns to Karo, a somber smile upon her face.
“I can’t thank you enough for getting us here. We didn’t get along well at times, but you kept your word. That Corporal wasn’t wrong, you are a good man Karo.”
He bows his head to Daisy, her face scrunches, and she waves him off.
“I don’t think so, if this is the last time we’ll ever see each other we’re hugging.”
He sighs, but she ignores it, latches onto him and embraces him. She leans in close to his ear.
“Keep yourself safe out there.”
She loosens her grip, her eyes wet, her face red and flushed. She thanks him again, then goes to Patrick. Norman, with tears in his eyes, throws his arms around Karo and holds him tight.
“Thank you Karo, thank you. I know I haven’t said it, but Jack’s death wasn’t your fault. Don’t hold onto that.”
“Thank you Norman.”
“I mean it. Don’t take any risks you don’t have to.”
“I won’t.”
“You sure you’re going to be alright, on your own again?”
“I’ll manage.”
“Maybe we-”
“No, you belong here. You three have earned the right to some sort of normalcy.”
Norman’s hand lingers on Karo’s arm for a moment, a bittersweet smile upon the doctor’s face.
“Go on, enjoy it.”
“Patrick, say bye to Karo.” says Norman.
The timid teen approaches the wanderer, his head down, their eyes not meeting. Karo holds his hand out, the boy stares at it, his lips to squeezed to the side.
“It’s alright, we don’t have to
