“It’s fine. There isn’t much variety out here.” The food was filling and gave us strength. That’s all that mattered. “Fawke and I will take first watch. We’ve had a long day and can use several hours of uninterrupted sleep. These two can be tied under the wagon. It looks like rain. Everyone else sleep in your rubber suits.” I dug into my bowl, more ravenous than I’d thought.
As I spooned the last bite into my mouth, Sharon’s face filled the radio monitor. I got up and stood in front of it. “I hope you have good news for me.”
“It appears you have two more.”
“Right. The trackers.” I smiled without humor. “Nothing gets past you.”
“We want what they found.”
“And I want more fighters. Care to make an exchange?”
“You may keep the two you found.”
“They aren’t enough.” I crossed my arms. “We need extra provisions, suits, weapons, and living humans. The rest of their group were overrun with Malignants. The deeper we go into the city, the more of those things we encounter. Unless you want us all to suffer the same fate as the other scavengers, you’ll send help.”
“Our conversations have grown very redundant, Miss Dayholt. President Cane is not pleased at your lack of servility.”
“That’s unfortunate.” I kept my smile in place. “Perhaps we could trade places.”
Her features hardened. “Your insolence is unbecoming to your position. Five minor criminals will arrive tomorrow. Get the luxury items to the top of the nearest tall building. The items for fighters.” The screen went black.
Dayton clapped. “Bravo. You might be young, but you’re either the bravest or stupidest person I’ve ever met.”
“A little bit of both,” Ezra said. “Welcome to the crazy farm.” He pulled some plastic rope from our supplies and tied the newcomers together under the wagon. “Sleep tight. How long you here for?”
“Twenty years, but every item of value we find takes off a year. I have fifteen left. Lars is down to eighteen.”
“I’m a lifer, so don’t try to escape. Killing you won’t extend my sentence.” Ezra marched back to his spot next to the fire.
Dayton cursed and wiggled against his bindings until Lars yelled for him to stop.
I chuckled and climbed to the top of the debris pile to start my hour’s watch. A few minutes later, Fawke joined me.
“Now, we’re twelve.”
“Maybe.” I peered through the dark for any signs of life, beast or human. “Do you think we can trust them?”
“They heard Sharon’s orders. They have no choice but to be a part of our group.”
“You still think we can be killed by our chip.”
“I’m not willing to find out. Not this close to the end of my term.”
I’d miss him when he left. If I lived another two years.
“Five more isn’t enough.” I sighed.
“Don’t press your luck. Seventeen is a lot more than I thought we’d ever get. Pray some more young unfortunates land on black on their eighteenth birthday.”
What a horrible thing to wish, yet I did. Very much. I hated this place, the system, Sharon, President Cane…the list seemed endless. Dwelling on what I disliked would do me, or the others, no good. I had to make the best of things. “I’d rather pray that we receive enough supplies for the group.”
“That’s a good prayer, too.” He bumped me with his shoulder. “Chin up. I’ve survived this long, you will, too.”
“Before now, the group stayed in their safe little courtyard, dispelling Malignants as they came close.”
“Awaiting orders. Your arrival changed it all.”
I narrowed my eyes through the gloom. “No, that plume of smoke in the distance changed it all. My arrival happened at the right time, unfortunately.”
“Things have definitely gotten more exciting.”
I laughed despite my bad mood. “You are a strange person, Fawke Newton.”
“Trying to see the bright side of things.”
How could anything be bright in a world of different shades of gray? I shook my head and focused my attention back on the expanse in front of us. Far off, I thought I saw a light flicker. Wishful thinking or exhaustion?
If we could find the group that had run into the buildings, maybe we could convince them to join us. Either that or fight. I didn’t want to pull my weapon against another human. There weren’t enough of us anymore.
“Any idea how to make Lars and Dayton cooperate?”
“I know you don’t believe the chip can kill, but I’m sure they do. Threaten them with that.”
He was right. I did believe the chip to be nothing more than a tracker. I didn’t want to test it, though, and I came very close each time I butted heads with Sharon. If I could be exterminated that way, I must have value since I still breathed.
The far-off light flickered again, this time farther away. Whoever patrolled the night headed away from us and therefore posed no threat. Another scavenger or someone else?
Moses and Kira took next watch. I climbed into the tent, fluffed my pillow, and refused to think further on the things I hated. Instead, I focused on what I did have. A new family, the skill of fighting, and the ability to get Sharon to do what I wanted.
I smiled. It would be enough. For a while, anyway.
The presence of close bodies kept me warm, and I drifted off to sleep dreaming of the life I’d have in ten years. One where I never worried about food or shelter or fighting creatures thirsty for blood.
14
Over another bowl of gruel the next morning I pondered who to take to the nearest tall building and who to leave behind to guard the supplies. With scavengers and the mystery group roaming the city, our supplies would be very enticing. I could leave ten behind
