We picked up our pace, coming to a break in the debris blocked by a couple of rusted out vehicles. If we could push those aside, we could pull the wagons through. Spotting a group of monsters too large for the two of us to fight ourselves, we turned around and headed at a sprint to the others.
“Thought we were going to have to call in the army,” Ezra said. “You were gone half the day.”
“We are the army.” I flashed a grin. “We also found an easier way.”
“Good thing. We aren’t making much progress here, and those things are too close for comfort.” He called for everyone to pack up.
I shrugged. I’d left him in charge. Obviously, it wasn’t a cloak he could easily shuck. I accepted a piece of dried meat and a small bit of water from Lara and sat to rest while the others loaded up.
“See anyone?” Moses sat next to me.
“Just Malignants.” I cut him a sideways glance. “You think we’ll run into people so soon?”
He nodded. “Follow me to the top.”
Exhaling heavily, I rushed my lunch and climbed to the top of the debris pile. I scanned the horizon, not seeing anything but Malignants emerging from buildings until Moses pointed.
“The weeds are trampled across that courtyard.”
“So?” The path through more vehicles and fallen buildings could have been made by the creatures.
“I’ve never known these things to make a path. They clamber over. Why bother? Plus…” He handed me a pair of binoculars. “What do you see?”
I lifted the piece to my eyes and took a longer look. A green backpack and a sword lay in the path. A few feet on I spotted the remains of who they’d once belonged to. “Not one of our former members?”
“Nope. We’ve not gone this far before.”
I climbed down and turned on the radio. “Come on, answer.”
“What is it?” Sharon’s face filled the screen.
“We need more people.”
“There aren’t any.”
I put on my sternest expression. “Take some from the prison. We’ve wasted two days trying to clear a path. On the other side of this pile is a horde of Malignants. If we die, you won’t have your answers.”
Her eyes widened. “You want me to send murderers?”
“Why not? Give them the option of fighting with us or staying behind bars.” I felt pretty certain they’d choose to fight with us.
Fawke narrowed his eyes, clearly not in agreement with me. Maybe I should have consulted the group, but where else would we get the able bodies we need?
“We need help clearing our way and fighting. We’re grossly out-numbered.” I refused to back down.
“That would mean more supplies, Miss Dayholt.”
“The prisoners are being fed now, aren’t they?” I tilted my head. “It’s a matter of sending their food here. I’m sure that’s something you can handle.”
Bright spots of color appeared on her pale cheeks. “You’re very close to overstepping your bounds.”
I leaned closer to the monitor. “I’m responsible for these people. I take that seriously. Send us help or we don’t go any further.”
After a tense few minutes of staring at each other, she nodded. “I’ll get back to you before you retire for the night.”
When her image disappeared, I turned to the others. “We’ll keep moving toward the spot Fawke and I found. Hopefully, we’ll hear from her before nightfall.”
“That’s pretty gutsy, boss.” Ezra shook his head, grinning. “What if she used your chip to dispose of you?”
“I’m not sure the chip can do that.” I hefted my pack onto the wagon. “I think it’s simply there to track us. Moses showed me evidence of another human on the other side of this expanse of concrete. We aren’t alone out here.”
Shock rippled across the faces of my comrades. “But prisoners?” Kira shook her head. “I mean…half of us are criminals, only the hardened ones are sent to prison.”
“You’d think they’d be the most expendable, don’t you?” I shrugged.
“Can you handle murderers, Crynn?” Fawke asked. “The men she sends might not take orders from a tiny slip of a girl.”
“If they don’t, we’ll send them on alone. They’ll never survive without us.” I put my hands on my hips and glanced from one face to the other. “Do you want to do this without more fighters?”
“No.” A muscle ticked in his jaw. “We need the help.”
“What if they try to molest us?” Gage’s voice rose. “They probably haven’t seen a woman in who knows how long.”
“Sleep with your knife in one hand.” I saw her point, but wasn’t going to back down. I didn’t know of any other way to get help. The Wheel was too slow. We didn’t have that kind of time. “Let’s move.”
“You heard her.” Fawke fell into step beside me. “I’ll do what I can to make sure your authority is recognized.”
“Thank you.” I’d taken a gutsy move, one I prayed would work.
“What makes you think the chip is merely a tracker?”
“Have you ever heard of one being detonated?”
“No.”
I grinned. “Ezra has been here for a long time. Don’t you think he’d have shared such a tale over a nighttime fire?”
He laughed, clapping me on the shoulder. “You’ve quite the brain inside that pretty head.”
My face flushed at his compliment. “I’ve read a lot of books.”
“Thank the Supreme Being for that.” He stepped back to help pull the wagons.
Kira took his place. “I feel exposed.” She jerked her head to where the toppled building tapered.
