by Gavin Zanker
‘Thanks, old man.’
‘Hah, old man. you’ll get old one day. Then we’ll see who’s laughing, sonny.’
Aiden smiled as he carefully wrapped the book in a cloth before stowing it in his pack. He swung the pack back over his shoulder, wincing slightly at the pain that still bothered him there. He thanked the bookseller and left with Hitch to find Ellis. Sure enough, he was still pouring over the electronics stall.
‘Ellis,’ Aiden said, stepping up beside him. ‘I spied a bar back there, let’s go get a drink. Maybe some food. If Hitch doesn’t eat soon he’s going to pounce on someone.’
‘Sounds good,’ Ellis said, reaching down and patting the dog’s head. ‘Here, look what I found.’
Aiden examined the metallic object inside the plastic bag Ellis was holding, but had no idea what he was looking at. Ellis tutted. ‘It’s an old charge controller,’ he said. ‘It’s rare to find one in working condition these days. See how there’s no corrosion?’
The shopkeeper piped up behind them. ‘Careful, delicate stuff that is. Make sure you keep the moisture out of it if you want it to last. You planning to set up a battery around here? I can give you some tips if you like.’
‘It’s okay, we’re not from around here. We’re heading back to-’
‘Thanks for your help,’ Aiden said, cutting Ellis off and pulling him away.
They headed for the bar and when they were out of earshot, Aiden turned to Ellis. ‘Where you live isn’t public information. Don’t throw it around casually or one day you’ll regret it. Think how happy those two thieves would have been to know about the Citadel.’
Ellis bit his lip and nodded. ‘Yeah, fair point.’
‘Come on, let’s get that drink,’ Aiden said. ‘I need to wash the dust out of my throat.’
CHAPTER 52
THE BAR WAS almost empty as they walked over the metal floor, rusty water dripping into puddles in the corners. Aiden took a seat at a booth while Ellis ordered from the bitter-faced woman behind the bar. He soon returned with two tankards and took a seat, careful not to disturb Hitch who was lying under the table.
‘I don’t think she likes dogs,’ Ellis said. ‘So best keep Hitch quiet. I asked what was good here and she just handed me these. Said the owner brews it in house. I hope that’s all right.’
Aiden looked down into the foaming drink, a strong smell of wet dog rising out of the tankard. ‘Did you ask what it was?’ he asked. ‘It looks vaguely like beer, but I’m not sure.’
Ellis shrugged and took a sip, almost gagging as he covered his mouth with his hand.
‘Not exactly cask-aged whisky I take it?’ Aiden said, with a laugh.
‘What do they brew this in, old septic tanks?’
‘I wouldn’t be all that surprised.’ Aiden took a sip of his own drink, wincing at the bitterness. ‘At least there’s alcohol in it.’
The barmaid soon brought over their meal of roasted fish, and Ellis counted out some coins into her outstretched hand. She remained there expectantly, her palm open. Ellis added another coin and flashed her a smile. She grunted and waddled back to the bar.
‘Friendly,’ Ellis remarked, as they started on their food.
After the last few days of dried meat and bread, the hearty meal was a welcome change. They devoured it quickly, dropping pieces for Hitch under the table when the barmaid was looking elsewhere.
‘I’ve been thinking,’ Ellis said, using a fish bone to pick his teeth. ‘You didn’t actually hurt either of those two men when they walked into our camp.’
‘I didn’t need to,’ Aiden said, washing down the meal with the last of his beer.
‘But you would have?’
‘Without a second thought.’
Ellis looked down at the table. ‘That makes me sad.’
‘You’d rather they’d stolen our stuff and left us for dead? Or just shot us in the head there and then?’
‘Fenton teaches that violence is a disease.’ Ellis shifted uncomfortably in his seat. ‘You don’t cure a disease by spreading it.’
‘Forget the analogies, look at it this way. If you saw someone being hurt, would you be happy to stand and watch?’
‘No, of course not.’
‘You’d help them if you could, even if it meant hurting their attacker?’
‘I suppose I would if I had to.’
‘There you go then. Violence isn’t always a terrible thing. Sometimes it’s a necessary reaction to defend you and yours.’
‘I feel shame for thinking I would hurt someone and go against the Kinship’s teachings though.’
‘Fenton does have a strong influence doesn’t he?’ Aiden said. ‘He’s an inspiring mentor, and could probably talk a man in to thinking he was a tree if he tried.’
Ellis smiled, but fell silent. Aiden understood the conflict going on in his head, he had been struggling with the same thing himself.
‘Let’s get a room for the night then,’ Aiden said, glancing up at the sign over the bar that advertised lodgings. ‘I’m exhausted and it’d be good to sleep inside tonight.’
HITCH WAS TWITCHING in his sleep on the end of Aiden’s bed while Ellis snored loudly on the other side of the cabin. Unable to sleep, Aiden tossed his blanket aside and walked into the adjoining bathroom, turning on the faucet and splashing freezing water over his face.
There was a polished metal plate over the sink that acted as a mirror and he was surprised at the sight of his reflection. A rough beard was growing from not having shaved on this trip, but what caught his eye was how much older he looked. Some of the fire had gone from his eyes, replaced with a depth that could be taken for calm.
Aiden felt a familiar presence behind him and he knew she was there, even without having a reflection. ‘I thought you’d left me for good,’ he said, his hands resting on the sides of the metal sink.
‘You’re still fighting a war inside yourself,’ Kate said.
‘How can I not? There’s no right answer, whatever I do ends up being wrong.’
‘The Kinship has been a good influence on you, Aiden. Their ways are helping you to heal. But you can’t be at rest until you have your revenge. I could spend all night persuading you one way or the other, but your mind is already made up.’
‘You could try,’ Aiden said, hope in his voice. He hung his head and sighed. ‘Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s just who I am. I’ve watched the Kinship with their pacifism, but I just can’t accept it.’
‘A balance then,’ she said.
Aiden nodded. ‘I think that’s the only real answer.’
‘Just keep your humanity, my love. Don’t lose yourself in that dark place again.’
‘I won’t. I promise.’
He turned around, but she was gone. He was alone in the bathroom, a faint dripping coming from somewhere overhead. A feeling of assuredness settled over him as he realised he had come to a firm decision. He knew his own mind again, and could cast away the doubt that had been crippling him to inaction.
‘Thank you,’ he whispered, then headed back to the bed, climbed under the blanket and fell asleep within moments.
CHAPTER 53
THE SLATS OF the house were covered in layers of brown dust and some wooden panels had fallen from the walls, leaving sections of framework exposed. Nothing was growing in the surrounding fields, the remains of old crops lay strewn around, left to rot under the sun.
‘You sure this is it?’ Aiden asked. ‘It looks like no one’s been here for a long time.’
‘Definitely. I was here last year with Fenton.’ Ellis scratched his head and looked up at the house. ‘It does look empty doesn’t it. Maybe he moved?’
Aiden looked sideways at his optimistic friend, unsure how he managed it. The man could see the positive side in a plague. ‘Come on then,’ he said. ‘No point standing around staring at the place. Let’s head inside.’
Aiden stepped up on to the porch and knocked. The door swung open at his touch, the hinges creaking lo
udly. He stepped into the dim interior with Ellis and Hitch following behind. The place was dark, but Aiden could make out overturned and broken furniture.
‘Owen? Carol?’ Ellis called out. ‘Anyone here?’
They listened for a response but were met with silence. Aiden checked the pistol stashed in the back of his belt, reassuring himself with its presence. He took the lead as they wandered through the house, Hitch sniffing around curiously. The house was small, just a few rooms which they quickly searched and found empty.
‘You have a look for any supplies down here, especially in the kitchen,’ Aiden said. ‘Keep Hitch with you. I’ll go check out the second floor.’
‘Come on then, boy,’ Ellis said, patting his knees. ‘Let’s go find ourselves some supper.’
Aiden headed up the stairs, alert for any noise. One of the steps gave way under his weight, and his foot crashed through the rotten floorboard. He cursed and carefully pulled his foot out of the hole. Luckily his ankle was only scratched, not injured, and he continued upwards.
Reaching the top of the stairs he was faced with two doors. One was open, but he could see the roof had fallen through, destroying the room. The other was closed, with no markings or signs of a struggle.
Opening it carefully, Aiden found an empty bedroom with an adjoining bathroom. There was just a bed, a wardrobe with a missing door, and a dresser with a cracked mirror. A dust-covered book lay on top of the dresser. Aiden picked it up and flicked through the pages. It read like a journal, with dates at the top of each page. He turned to an entry and began reading.
‘October 10th. The harvest was smaller than I hoped. The corn pale and sickly. Carol says we’ll have enough to fill our stomachs, but she forgets we have to trade for other supplies. We won’t last the winter without fuel to keep us warm. And who is going to pay for these pathetic wilted vegetables?’
Aiden turned to a later entry.
‘January 27th. Carol’s fever still isn’t improving. I can barely keep my eyes open from staying at her side every night. I’m considering leaving for Carson to barter for some medicine or send for help. If I could only get word to Fenton or someone in the Kinship, they would have something to help bring her fever down. I can’t bring myself to leave her alone though.’
The hand writing became more erratic and scrawled as Aiden kept reading.
‘February 3rd. Fought off more raiders today. Persistent bastards just keep coming. No idea why they want the house so badly. Probably just a challenge to them at this point. Only a couple of shells left now. I won’t be able to fight them off next time. I keep losing hours to daydreams. Yesterday I came to by Carol’s grave just as the sun was setting. No idea what happened.’
Aiden flicked to the last entry.
‘February 15th. I’m done now. No point carrying on. I’m sorry I couldn’t save you Carol. You deserved better. I love you. I’ll be with you soon.’
Aiden returned the book to the dresser with care. He walked over to the ajar door and looked through. Owen’s body lay in the bath, his shotgun lying across his chest where it had fallen. The tiles behind him were stained with faded red. The shot had entered under his chin and exited through the back of his head. It had been instant.
Crouching down by the bath, Aiden pulled his shirt up over his mouth as he gazed at Owen’s face. His body had preserved well, though the smell lingered. The man’s expression was strangely serene, and for a second Aiden felt envy. He reached out and closed the man’s unblinking eyes. Scenes like this were not uncommon since the Dawn. People just lost the will to carry on. Aiden hoped he had found peace in the end, though the realist in him doubted it.
He rose and left the room, closing the bathroom door gently behind him. He headed back down the creaking stairs, avoiding the hole, and found Ellis rooting through some cupboards in the kitchen. Hitch watched him with tilted head and pricked ears.
‘Find anything down here?’ Aiden asked.
‘A few unopened cans with the labels worn off. Should make for an interesting surprise supper. Apart from that just a drawer full of rotten old corn.’ Ellis rose, shouldering his pack. ‘Anything upstairs?’
‘Nothing,’ Aiden said, turning towards the front door. ‘I think you were right, they must have moved.’
CHAPTER 54
AIDEN PULLED THE hood of his jacket up as he entered Kiln Commons with Ellis. Though he had argued it was a bad idea, his companion had talked him in to visiting the market on their way back to the Citadel. So the two of them wandered through the colourful market picking up supplies and even a few gifts for their return.
‘Excuse me, do you have the time, Brother?’ someone asked Ellis, mocking him with the last word.
Aiden’s heart raced when he saw two Kiln Boys approaching. Ellis turned away and tried to ignore the confrontation but the men stepped around in front of him and barred his way. Aiden had seen this situation play out countless times. It starts with an innocent question, and it ends with you lying in the gutter with empty pockets.
‘I have some food if you’re hungry,’ Ellis said, his voice wavering. ‘I’d be happy to share.’
‘That’s nice of him, ain’t it?’ one of the men said to the other. Ellis swung his pack off his shoulder and pulled out the remains of yesterday’s camp fire bannock which the men snatched from him.
‘What else have you got for us?’ the other man said, his thick lips twisting in to a grin.
The bullying made Aiden’s blood boil, and he refused to let these two thugs push Ellis around. ‘Nothing for you,’ he said. ‘My friend and me are leaving now. Be happy with what you have.’
As Ellis turned to leave, one of the men lunged forward and wrenched his pack from him, turning it upside down and emptying the contents over the concrete. Ellis dove for the electronic artefact he had bought in Carson Waters, but his face fell as he realised it had shattered into pieces.
‘You broke it!’ he shouted, standing to face the two men with clenched fists at his side.
The men laughed together. ‘Oh no. What are you going to do about it?’
‘Pick that up,’ Aiden said, his voice dangerously quiet.
‘You going to make us?’
Aiden squared up to the largest man, unblinking as he stared him in the eye. A murmuring crowd began to form as people realised a fight was breaking out. Hitch crouched beside Aiden, a low warning growl coming out of him.
Ellis pulled on Aiden’s sleeve, his empty pack in hand. ‘Come on. It’s not worth it.’
Aiden stood his ground though, not breaking eye contact with the man. He felt the familiar churning of anxiety and anger rising inside him, but he did not let it consume him.
The Kiln Boy lunged forward, but Aiden was ready and ducked away. He grabbed the man’s arm and pulled him off balance, tripping him and sending him sprawling to the ground.
Seeing his friend go down, the other man rushed forward, fists flailing. Aiden leaned back lashed out with his foot, sweeping the man’s legs out from under him and causing him to land awkwardly on his friend.
The people watching erupted in laughter at the two fallen Kiln Boys who clambered to their feet, their faces reddened in embarrassment and anger. Hitch snapped at their ankles, barking menacingly, causing them to jump away and retreat through the cheering crowds.
Ellis scooped up his items and threw them back in his pack, a sullen look on his face. Hitch padded over and licked at his face, but he pushed the dog away. A few of the crowd patted Aiden on the back as they wandered away, a rare smile on their faces.
Aiden quickly spirited Ellis away from the market, knowing they had to leave before the Kiln Boys returned with backup. He was so busy checking over his shoulder, he rounded a corner and collided with someone carrying an armful of burlap sacks. Aiden apologised as the sacks tumbled to the floor, but hurried past without helping to pick them up. It was too dangerous to risk hanging around.
Ellis jogged to keep up. ‘Did you know that guy?’
&nbs
p; ‘What guy?’
‘The one you just walked into back there.’
‘I didn’t get a look at him. Why do you ask?’
‘He was just staring at you weirdly. Like he’d seen a ghost or something.’
Aiden glanced back but the man had disappeared. Aiden put it from his mind, there were more important things to worry about at the moment. Like an angry mob of Kiln Boys catching them in an alley somewhere.
They left town without incident, and by the afternoon the Citadel was in sight. Two men were travelling in the opposite direction, carrying parcels over their shoulders. No doubt Kiln Boys extorting more supplies. The way they treated the Kinship was no better than cattle, there to squeeze whenever they wanted something. It made Aiden so angry he almost turned and confronted the passing men. He kept his head down though, keeping a handle on his anger, and they passed without a word.
Finally arriving back at the Citadel, Aiden and Ellis entered the courtyard and were welcomed back warmly by the Brothers. Hitch headed away into the main building, probably making straight for the kitchens to beg for some food. Aiden glanced up at the tower and saw the grey-haired figure of Fenton at the window. The old man would have questions about the trip, and Aiden dreaded telling him not only about the decision he had come to over the Kinship’s teachings, but also the death of his friend Owen. His time with the Kinship was coming to an end, and it saddened him to know he would be leaving this place soon.
CHAPTER 55
‘AIDEN, IT IS good to see you back,’ Fenton said, approaching Aiden as he worked, potting tomato plants in the greenhouse.
‘I expected you’d have questions soon enough,’ Aiden said, putting down the trowel. ‘Did Ellis speak to you yet?’
Fenton nodded solemnly. ‘He told me Owen moved away. But I think there is probably more to the story that you can illuminate for me.’