The teen jumps, clutching Karo quickly, and detaching just as fast. He retreats to Norman and Daisy. Karo shares a long look with them, then motions for them to enter Oasis. Daisy, Norman, and Patrick are ushered through the opening made by the parted large metal gates, peering over their shoulders to glance one final time at the man who delivered them to their new life.
The Commander stands in the middle of the bridge, high above, the cooler the nomads brought with them in his hands, his attention fixed on Karo below him.
"I’m sorry Karo. You know I can’t let you back in. In order for us to get back to where we were, to rebuild the world, there has to be justice, there has to be law, there have to be consequences, and they have to upheld. I can't say whether the reason you did what you did was right or not, I can't take a stance on that, but killing people can't be tolerated. We have to have a system in place to decide consequences, otherwise we're just like the infected."
"I know. That’s not why I’m here."
"This blood is really what you say it is? It came from a man who never suffered infection? Even after exposure?"
"It's true."
"I could have you shot right now Karo. Don’t bring these people here with false hope."
"It’s not! And they know it! They saw it too, ask them! We were attacked. They got one of us, a man named Jack, he never turned. He bleed out and died. We took what we could of his blood."
"You don’t know that’s what this is."
Karo grimaces, refusing to accept denial.
"Can it be tested?"
"I think so. I'm not a scientist, but we have a few more now than when you were here. It could be pointless, the blood might be too old."
"It’s a sign Commander. It's purpose, my purpose. It's why I stumbled upon those people. It's why that man was found. It’s why he did what he did to my wife. It’s why I got out of work early that day. For the first time in the two years that I held that position I got off work early. Then I found them, I killed him, and I was exiled. All so I could find that blood. To give hope. To bring a reason to live back into this world. To provide a future for my wife and child."
His head hangs low, his face stretches, and his eyes well.
“Don’t worry.” -his chest fills then deflates, almost in one fluid motion- “I won’t ask to see them. I don’t want them to try to come with me.”
"Kara."
"What?"
"Kara, that’s your daughter’s name. Maria named her in honor of you."
There is no warning, no build up, no chance to catch himself, no chance to stop the tears from streaming down his face. He inhales heavily, trying to remain composed.
"Tell her I love her. Both of them."
"I will, but they know you do Karo.” -the Commander hesitates for a moment, his jaw quivering, lightly, as he strains to keep himself composed- “I’m sorry that I can’t let you in."
A long moment passes, the two men standing in silence, their gazes never breaking from each other.
"Your friends will be screened, everyone has to be, and we’ll get started on whatever this is."
"Thank you."
The Commander straightens his posture, standing at attention. Karo bows his head, then turns on his heel and sets off to begin another travel into the unknown.
"Karo!" the Commander yells out to him.
The wanderer pauses, looking over his shoulder, back to the Commander.
"What are you going to do now?"
"You screen people for entry? That means you take in people that pass, you actively do this?"
"We do."
"Then I’ll spread hope. I’ll bring those back that are willing to trust and follow me. The others that are resistant I tell to not give up. All is not lost, there is a future."
"You’re a good man Karo."
"Make sure my daughter knows that."
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
“Halt! Slowly put your weapons on the ground, then hands in the air!”
The moment the first word is uttered KP directs her attention to Rosaline, sternly shaking her head as the young fighter reached for her backpack.
“It’s alright. They’re the scout team, they’re on watch, this is protocol. Just follow my lead.”
The Guide cautiously removes her pistol from its holster, and lays it flat on the ground. She motions for the others to do the same. Rad and Sweetie slide the rifle straps off their shoulders, then place their weapons on the ground. Hawaii removes the pistol from his waist and drops it on the pavement, and Rosaline does the same. The four young adults timidly unstrap their backpacks and let them fall.
“Identify yourself.” the out of sight voice commands.
“Guide KP, sectors 2-F, 3-A, entry code 23-F-4.”
A moment of silence lingers, presenting only the faint gushing of wind to their ears. KP gives each of them an assuring nod. A rustling, a scuttle, then the appearance of ten armed men and women making their way to them from hiding spots within the surrounding defunct buildings.
The armed guards are clad in dingy military gear, complete with dark camouflage clothing. They all carry rifles, wear bullet proof vests, are armed with handguns in holsters along their outer thighs, and machetes sheathed to their backs. This armed unit is not taking chances.
A man and a woman from the troop lower their rifles and circle around to the front of KP and The Family. The woman removes the ski-mask like garment covering her face.
“KP, it’s good to see you.”
KP lowers her arms, gesturing for The Family to do the same.
“Captain McDaniel, it’s good to be back.”
The male soldier removes his mask as well, and extends his hand to the Guide.
“KP! Short trip this time, huh?”
She grips his hand, firmly shaking it.
“Indeed John, these are my favorite kind.”
“I’ll bet. You’ll be back for, what, three months now?”
“About,
