“I know, you don’t have to tell me how gross and horrible that thought is, trust me, I agree. But I’m so god dam hungry. We are eating roots, and worms, and bugs and I’d like to have real food, real meat.” He said and looked at them, their eyes turning to speculation now, the revulsion taking a back seat.
“So, this is what I’m thinking. We take the weakest person, before they lose too much more weight, and we kill them. That should give us enough food for a good week or better. We can’t feed everyone, but we can feed ourselves.” He said in an oily voice and smiled when he saw their smiles.
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Henry and Bruce were fishing, both quiet and in their own thoughts. Then Henry asked, “you got family Bruce? Kids I mean? Wife?”
Bruce shook his head, “no, just didn’t seem to be the right time or the right girl. I’m really glad though, Jesus, poor Gabe, man, he is crushed.”
“Yeah, Gabe’s a good man. You think maybe the US did this? Bombed China? And we just got caught in the middle of it all?”
“I don’t think so Henry, I mean, that would be like starting world war three. And it would be crazy for North Korea to do it, they would be caught up in it as well. But they don’t give three shits about their own people. Maybe it was that solar thing Aiden mentioned. Maybe the whole world got screwed. Everything stopped. Wouldn’t that be something?” Bruce said and pulled the line in, a five-inch fish thrashing around. He threw it behind him, there were seven fish, ranging from four inches to ten inches.
Henry wanted to experiment with drying some of the fish. Everyone was racking their brains for long term food stores.
“I guess it really don’t matter what it was. We are stuck here, and I’m just glad it didn’t happen while we were flying in the airplane, man oh man, that has always been my biggest fear, a plane crash. Ever since 9/11.” Henry said.
“Yeah, that would be a shitty way to go. Did you see how thin Connor, Matt and Joey were? I thought all you guys were like experts at the survival game.” Bruce said, pulling in another fish, this one almost ten inches, he smiled and showed it to Henry who grinned and smacked him on the back.
“I think each of us has some level of expertise. I’m good at catching fish, starting fires, building things with my hands, you know, like huts, platforms, those kinds of things. I have no clue what Connor or the other guys are good at. The rest of us seem to be doing pretty good, even you guys are starting to catch up with the survival game.” Henry said smiling.
“Yeah, even Christian has stepped up to the plate, I never thought he would ever do anything but sit on his ass. Did you hear Marla talk to him that morning? Holy shit, it was so friggen great. She scared the t-total shit out of him. He isn’t quite the douchebag he used to be. He is actually busting his ass and not bitching. I felt bad for him when Leo came back, he just kinda fell apart.” Bruce said, all humor gone from his voice.
“Yeah, that’s rough. I’m not sure why I’m not as bothered as I should be. I guess because this place is actually really nice. Once we have enough to eat, and don’t have Connor trying to steal our stuff, life isn’t too bad. I mean, I’m still fishing.” Henry laughed.
“That’s true, we don’t got to pay no more taxes. That is good, don’t have to worry about government, and all that, the economic deficit, fake news, pollution, cause this place is pristine.” Bruce said.
“Yeah, I was getting the hell taxed out of me. Man, I was in debt with the boat and all. One of the reasons I was trying to win the money here. Over fishing, all that. Now, we just fish enough to keep us going. If we can find more meat, that would be great. How did you like the snake Hunter brought in? That was a big bastard. You know that is going to be some good eating.” Henry laughed and threw another fish into the pile.
“Sure, I don’t know what kind of snake it was, but the thing had to be as big around as my forearm, huge. I’ve never had snake before, but I’m willing to try. I was also thinking about making a gigging stick, we can see if we can find us some big frogs.” Bruce said, smacking his lips.
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Grayson had been tempted to follow Dan and Abby over the cliff and into the waiting arms of the gorge. Even now, his legs tingled to take the leap. The others had departed and he was alone now with the mist. His eyes narrowed. Connor was trouble. Even he could see that. Maybe he should have rushed the man and taken him over the edge as well? They could have both plunged to the bottom, to join Dan and Abby.
He’d not done it though and Grayson didn’t know why. Why was he so reluctant to take the leap? Some small part of him knew that he was fracturing. He wondered which was worse, being crazy or living alone in this place? Or living with those people, Connor, Carol, Matt, and Vana? He shivered at the thought. He’d rather be dead than have to deal with them.
CHAPTER EIGHT
Aiden put on his freshly washed clothes, it felt good. He’d just taken a bath with the
