by Brian Cotton
***
After what seemed like ages, Harvey finally made his way into the tent. Clarke was still silent and Kaspar was too afraid of breaking the man’s concentration that he remained silent as well. They both looked up at their leader when he entered the tent. Harvey seemed disturbed, which was obvious, as a fellow soldier had just gone down. But, it seemed to be more than that. Kaspar didn’t care to ask, he just wanted to know what the hell Clarke had found.
“What is it, Robert?” Harvey asked, his tired voice shaken.
“I think we might have found it!” Clarke cried with enthusiasm all over his voice.
Harvey started to say something, but Kaspar cut him off. “Found what? The cure?”
“Maybe so.” Clarke replied.
Harvey’s eyes lit up in unison with Kaspar’s. The leader moved the young rebel to the side by invading the space behind Clarke. The former prize fighter didn’t care about the apparent rude gesture, he was just so full of excitement. He stopped himself from running out of the tent and waking Krys to let her know. It was far better, at this point, to verify that this was the case and not just some misread technical jargon.
“You see,” Clarke said, without looking up from the screen. “There is it, right there.”
Harvey gestured for Clarke to get up. Clarke obeyed and smiled wide at Kaspar who was still in shock at the discovery. This had to be it. Why else would Clarke be so giddy at the moment? Harvey seemed impressed, too. When he stood, he turned to face them, and he smiled, too.
“This is it.” Harvey said.
“The cure?” Kaspar asked. He moved his body forward with interest.
“Yes, this report is saying so, anyway. It’s out in the mountains. Might take a couple of days to drive there, but this is it.”
“You’re sure? It’s not some misread or something?” Kaspar demanded.
“According to this report, this is the only place where the cure is being manufactured.”
“Why would they only have one spot where they make it?” Kaspar wondered.
“It’s easy,” Clarke cut in. “They want to keep the supply as low as possible. If they made it everywhere, then guys like us could swoop in and take it. Not to mention, this is perfectly in line with the way the USR thinks.”
“Regardless,” Harvey said, “we’ll have to play this one close to the vest. We’ve only got one shot at this. That cure could turn the tides of this war in our favor if we play it right.”
“And, Krys, too. Don’t forget about Krys.”
Harvey folded his arms. “We’re all worried about Krys, but this is a powerful tool to have if we can get it.”
“Krys is a human being,” Kaspar shot back.
“Again, I understand your concern for her. God knows I’m worried about her, too. But, this is something bigger than any of us.”
Something inside of Kaspar snapped. It was that same feeling when Paxton accused him of being USR, the same feeling when those bikers at the bar taunted him, when Razor said something about his father. That button, it hadn’t been touched in a long time. And, here he found himself, red in the face and having Clarke hold him back. He didn’t want to slug Harvey or anything. He just wanted to get up close and personal to let his superior know that what was said went unappreciated.
“Calm down, Ryan.” Clarke said from behind.
“Let him go, Robert.” Harvey shot back. “If he’s got something to prove let him.”
Clarke let go. Kaspar got right in Harvey’s face. The feeling of hot breath brushed on his face. With his fists clinched, he breathed in heavy breaths, even tried some count to ten BS that Krys taught him. In the end, he simply walked past Harvey and nobody said anything. Kaspar threw the opening of the tent aside as he paced to his own.
It doesn’t matter what he says, Kaspar thought. In the end, justice would come for Krys, and then they could use that cure as a political tool all they wanted. As long as Krys got the first dose, that was all that mattered to him.
He held back his enthusiasm as he prepared to tell Krys the good news.
.17
He found Krys asleep on her cot when he entered. Kaspar tried to be quiet as he moved in and started to take off his clothes. As excited as he was about the news, he knew that she needed her rest. Alas, he was too loud, maybe even subconsciously on purpose. She started to move her head around and then moved her hair away from her eyes. She smiled as she saw Kaspar move in towards the cot.
“Hey,” she said in a hoarse voice.
“Hey, yourself.” Kaspar replied. He couldn’t contain the grin on his own face.
“What’s that look for?” Krys wondered with a raised eyebrow.
“Oh, nothing, it can wait until morning.”
“Okay, keep your secrets.” Krys replied.
They both laughed for a moment until Krys started to cough violently. She leaned her head over the side of the cot and reached for her bucket. When it was in line with her mouth, she started to vomit. The whole scene beside him caused a lump in Kaspar’s throat. He couldn’t stand to see her like this any longer.
He started to say it, but then held back. Absolute certainty was what would be needed right now. There would be no point in saying it, and then by some technical misread or typo, the information would be inaccurate. She already would get upset with him if he even mentioned the possibility of there being a cure for her. It would just be all kinds of wrong to tell her he knew for a fact and then that fact be wrong. Instead, he kissed the back of her head and held her close.
With his arms wrapped around her, he somehow succumbed to sleep.