“Lara’s dead,” Kira said, “and Shane won’t last long. She didn’t have the strength to fight, her being ill.”
My heart lurched. “Anyone else injured?”
She shook her head.
“What happens if someone is bitten? Will they die?”
“No. But they will get sick enough to wish they did.” Kira pushed to her feet. “The poison lasts three to five days before our bodies fight it off. Lara died because her jugular was punctured. Shane’s been gutted.”
I stood over him. “I’m so sorry.”
His gaze fixed on my face. “She didn’t want to go on without our babies. This way is good enough for me.” His eyes closed, and his breathing shallowed until he passed.
“Wash up and move out.” I closed my eyes and said a prayer for the two we’d lost. I almost expected a call from Sharon, but none came. The loss of two petty thieves wouldn’t matter much to Soriah.
Jolt and Dante dragged the bodies to one of the fires and lay them across it. We stood and paid silent respects as we wiped the blood from our exposed skin. When we’d finished, we set off again, a silent and subdued group.
I kept everyone going, farther than we usually did, wanting to leave the place our comrades had fallen as far behind us as possible. Every bad thought I’d had about Lara rose up and threatened to choke me. This time I ignored Alga’s words and let the cleansing tears flow.
Fawke sent some concerned glances my way, but didn’t talk. His presence was enough. I knew he felt the loss as keenly as I did.
When I felt none of us could go any further, I called a halt in a shelled out building. The front had fallen, leaving three walls intact. With the wagons in front of us, it would provide a safe shelter. “No guards tonight. Everyone needs a full day’s sleep.” We’d hear if someone came.
The day passed peacefully. I woke refreshed to the aroma of coffee. My eyes snapped open. “Where did that come from?”
Kira smiled and handed me a cup. “I found it in Lara’s pack.”
“Anything else good in there?” She’d told me she hadn’t squirreled anything else away. For once, I was glad she lied.
“Enough coffee for us all to have another morning of enjoyment. That’s it.”
“I’ll take it.” Today was a good day to splurge.
The coffee seemed to raise everyone’s spirits. For once, no one grumbled about the gruel we ate every morning. Smiles graced every face as we set off in the dark.
The closer we got to the city’s edge, the fewer buildings and debris we had to find a way around. Buildings got shorter, some still in one piece. The stench of Malignants faded.
Again, I thought of the tracker in my arm. Soon, I’d have to make a critical decision, and I wasn’t sure how the others would accept what I would offer them.
The radio crackled, and I called a halt. “Hello, Sharon.”
“Pity about the husband and wife,” she said.
“Their names were Shane and Lara.”
She sighed. “We have a few more spinning the wheel tonight. Perhaps you’ll get someone to take their place.”
While we needed help, I didn’t want anyone to suffer this life. “Some luxury items in our next drop would be nice.”
“It never hurts to ask.” A faint smile tugged at her lips. “You definitely keep me on my toes, Miss Dayholt.” She signed off.
“I think she’s keeping tabs on us,” Ezra said. “She’s never let us know of a wheel night before. Someone either shows up or they don’t. What does she think you’re up to?”
“I’ll let everyone know my thoughts in a day or two.” I set off again. Presenting the offer could get me executed if one of my group was a hard believer of Soriah’s ways.
I wasn’t worried about the lifers or Fawke. He’d make the choice to stay. Gage worried me, though, because I still got hard looks when she didn’t think I watched her. The more time I spent with Fawke, the more glares I got. Surely, she knows his plans on no attachments this close to his release.
Morning arrived earlier as we stepped out of the shadows of the city buildings. A large field of dead brush and grass stretched as far as the eye could see. I took a deep breath of air not rancid with Malignants or gas fires. Not as clean as the manufactured air of Soriah, but better than what we’d had before.
I glanced again at my arm. Tomorrow, I’d present the offer. Today, we’d rest. Maybe do some sparring, while we waited for the supply drop and to see whether anyone new arrived. If so, I’d have to decide how to handle them when I told the others of my plan. A newcomer might not be willing to stay.
Already, I missed my mother, knowing I might never see her again. I glanced at Fawke. I’d miss him, too. More than I cared to admit.
19
The others were more than happy to have a day of rest after days of fighting and clearing a path. Today, would most likely be our last day for a supply drop, not that I’d told the others yet. At least it would be my last day.
I’d pondered many times over the last few days on what my future held and it didn’t include living under the strict rules of Soriah. My mother had once told me I had the heart of a rebel. I think she was more right than she knew. My heart ached at not seeing her again, and I prayed she wouldn’t suffer repercussions of my actions. If things went right, she’d think me dead
