I nodded. I’d take my original seven, which included me. “When?”
“As soon as you’re physically able.” He stood and waved Fawke over. “I’ll leave it up to you to let your group know.”
Fawke frowned when I told him. “So much for the easy life.”
“Someday.” I smiled and gazed through the trees surrounding this place. “We’ll go back to traveling at night. If a chopper spots us, we’ll be finished.”
“Spotting that chopper will get us needed supplies.”
“Not much. How many can Soriah have sent so far? One or two?”
“Unless the wheel is rigged to land on black more often.” His expression grew grave. “They’ll want Stalkers to clear the way for scavengers. I wouldn’t put it past them to cheat.”
Neither would I. I glanced around the place I wanted to stay. The thought of heading out scared me more than I let Jenkins know. “You’ll resume the leadership role. I don’t want it. You’re more qualified anyway.”
He put his arm around me. “Why not lead together? Feel up to hunting up the others and giving them the bad news?”
“Yes. The nap did me good.”
He stood and helped me to my feet. “Take a while to heal, okay? I like the food here.”
I laughed. “I’ll take as long as possible.”
Ezra cursed and threw his plate upon hearing the news. “I wanted to find me a woman and settle down.”
“The sooner we find the base, the sooner we can return,” I said, putting a hand on his arm. “You know that city better than anyone. I’m counting on you.”
“I didn’t say I wouldn’t go.” His eyes flashed. “I’ll draw up a map of possible sites. It won’t be an easy task. The place will have traps. We’ll lose people.”
I hoped not. “We’re only taking seven, but I hope to find others along the way. We can do this.”
He nodded, glancing at Fawke. “I know.”
We continued on, telling the others of our new mission. Gage pouted and slumped against a wall. “I’d hoped never to go out there again. Why me?”
“Because I want those with me who can fight and won’t run screaming at the first sight of a Malignant. Any new Stalkers will be scared out of their minds. We can’t let them perish for Soriah’s sake.” I remember the fear that flooded through me on my first day.
“You didn’t say anything about hunting for Stalkers,” Fawke said.
“You disagree?”
“No. The more we can take from Cane, the better.”
Dante, Moses, and Kira accepted the new assignment, nodding in resignation. “I knew a new life was too good to be true,” Kira said. “When do we leave?”
“Once I’m healed.”
“Then no more medicine for you.” She grinned. “And half rations.”
“Let’s not go that far.” I smiled. “It’ll be at least a week or two. Plenty of time for us to gain strength.”
“I’m going to spend some time with a girl.” Dante stormed away.
“Sounds like a good plan.” Moses followed him.
Kira shook her head. “That’s all they talk about. I’ll make sure we have plenty of medical supplies. The wagons?”
“We’ll need them.” I’d see about getting back all of our supplies. The more protected we were, the better our chances of survival.
“Let’s get you back.” Fawke led me home.
I’d miss this little shack and the safety of the trees. The air clear of the stench of Malignants and gas fires. Anger burned in my chest. “I hate this.”
“Our sacrifice might be what keeps Rebel City safe.” Fawke drew me close. “These people would never be allowed to live if Soriah found them. The children would grow up in orphanages and take their turn someday at the wheel.”
“I’m not a hero, Fawke. I’m an eighteen-year-old that wants to grow old with a family around my bed when I die. I want to see my mother again.”
“This may be the only chance for that future you dream of.”
“Always the voice of reason.” I pulled back and stared into his face. “Why not rant and rave against all this like I do?”
“It doesn’t serve any purpose. Jenkins said go, so we go. We’re soldiers, Crynn. We do as ordered.”
I liked that title better than stalker. “Sometimes, I need to throw a pity party. I’ll be fine by the time we leave.” Already my mind filled with all the things we needed to do. Things to gather.
A familiar sound reached my ears. I lifted my head and stared upward. A chopper flew low over the trees.
“It can’t see us.” Fawke put a hand on me to stop me from bolting into the house. “The trees are too thick. The shacks are built to blend in, that’s why the roofs are covered with dead grass.”
“Soriah is looking for us.”
“I’m sure they’re looking for dead bodies, not live ones. Without our trackers, we’re dead.”
I wanted to believe him. Instead, my heart lodged in my throat. “We’ll be sitting ducks when we leave here.”
“Again, they won’t know it’s us.” Concern crossed his face despite his words.
I’d rather face Malignants than any high-level person from Soriah after finding out we still lived.
23
I let myself heal for a week. On the last day, I strolled the path through the center of the community, branding it into my memory. This place already felt more like home than Soriah ever had.
Folks smiled and waved, not worrying over their next meal or their child turning eighteen. Children played with abandon. We hadn’t seen another sign of a helicopter, but worry ate at my mind like a flesh-eating bug.
I hunted up my group who were gathered by the wagons. “Is everything here?”
“Yes.” Fawke nodded. “Everything they took has been returned. We have chalk to mark our path. Without that, no supplies.”
“Weapons?”
“All
