by Jo Schneider
“Congrats.”
“Thanks.”
They got to the end of the line and spotted Kev and Cal. As usual, Kev was perched in the middle of a gaggle of girls, telling a funny story. Cal sat nearby, watching with an amused expression on his face.
“Let’s go sit by them,” Arie said.
“They still don’t know about me training with the fighters.”
“I told them.”
“What?” Wendy turned a scowl on Arie. “Why would you do that?”
“Because they asked where you were, and I didn’t want to lie. Besides, it’ll make things easier. They’ve already come to terms with it.” She pointed and found Cal waving them over.
Wendy shook her head. “I am capable of communicating.”
“I know,” Arie said. She stopped and looked at Wendy. “Are you mad at me?”
Wendy ground her teeth. “No. Just...I wanted to tell them. I wouldn’t want to get news about you from Jeff.”
Arie bit her lip. “I get your point. Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Wendy waved her hand. It was paranoia for her to think that Arie didn’t believe her capable of simple things. It was her earlier failure still rattling around in her head.
The girls got to Cal and sat next to him. As usual, he was shoving food into his mouth faster than he could chew it.
“Please don’t kill yourself,” Arie said. She took a bite. “I’m dying for our movie night.”
“That’s why I’m hurrying,” Cal said. “I have some extra training tonight, so I need to set up now.”
“Oh, yeah? Training for what?” Arie asked.
“Computers.”
“My dad?
“Yeah, he’s great.”
“He’s pretty smart.” Arie shrugged, but smiled.
Wendy looked at the clock. “Actually, I have some extra stuff tonight too.”
Cal’s face fell.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be finished before the movie.”
“Are you bringing Jeff this time?” Cal asked.
“Am I supposed to?”
“You should,” Arie said.
“I’ll see if he can come.”
Arie and Cal exchanged a look that Wendy wasn’t entirely comfortable with. She did her best to ignore it as she ate. Kev joined them.
“Hey Shrimp, you coming tonight?”
Wendy nodded. She’d just taken a big bite of greens. She was pretty sure Kev had waited for her to have food in her mouth.
“Good.” Kev smirked and inhaled a potato. “Did you invite Matt?” he asked Arie.
“Yes, but he’s busy in medical. He says they have a few people there with the flu or something.”
“Wow, doesn’t sound fun.”
“Nope.”
Wendy noticed the time, finished her meal and stood. “I’ve got to run. See you guys in a few hours.”
“Who’s taking you?” Kev asked.
Wendy pointed. “Janice. She’s headed for the machine shop.”
“Bye,” all three said at once.
Wendy met Janice at the door and they hurried toward the hangar.
“So who are you meeting?” Janice asked.
“Jeff.”
“Well, good luck.” Janice dropped Wendy off at the computer room two minutes early. Wendy keyed in the code and opened the door and found Jeff already inside. Waiting.
“Hey,” he said. He sat at the first row of computers on the opposite side from the one they’d used for the test the day before.
“Hey.” Wendy sat next to him. “Did you get dinner?”
“I grabbed something earlier.” Jeff had two computers going. “I wanted to find this tutorial.”
Wendy looked at her screen. On it she found the image of a color-coded keyboard, along with drawn hands that had the colors on the fingers. “What’s this?”
Jeff scooted closer. “Each finger is assigned to a certain set of keys on the keyboard.” He held up his pointing finger. “This one, the green one on the screen, is assigned to hit each of those green keys.”
Wendy took a moment to study to diagram. “It kind of makes sense.”
“Good. Now put your fingers on there like this.” He showed her.
Wendy tried to imitate him.
“Close.” Jeff got out of his chair and came around behind her. “But keep your little fingers tucked in.” He put his arms around her and adjusted her hands. “Feel those little bumps?” He gently held her pointing fingers and rubbed them against the keys beneath. “That’s where you always want to start when you place your hands. If those fingers are on these keys, then you know you’re in the right place.”
Wendy tried to ignore the fact that Jeff’s cheek was touching hers. He needed to shave. His arms slid along the outside of hers as he spoke.
“They’ve laid this out so that no fingers have to travel very far. Like, this one goes from the n to the number 7.” He picked her finger up and showed her the range.
A flush crept up Wendy’s neck. Her stomach flexed again, and she suddenly couldn’t breathe properly.
“Okay,” she said in a shaky voice.
Jeff twitched, and moved away. “Sorry, I forget you don’t like tight places.”
Yeah, that was it. “Thanks,” Wendy managed.
Jeff sat down, but pulled his chair close enough that their legs would touch if one of them moved even the width of a finger.
“So, the tutorials will go through what each finger does. Click the screen here, and the first one will start.”
Wendy did as he said. The screen dissolved, and a set of directions came up. A word would appear, and then each letter would glow on the keyboard on the screen. Wendy was to follow the drawn hand and hit the keys beneath her actual fingers.
“Ready?” Jeff asked.
Wendy positioned her hands as Jeff had showed her, then nodded.
At first the directions were just random letters. Letters that she soon realized were the ones already beneath her fingers. The first time through she was painfully slow, trying to train her mind to memorize the positions of the letters.
“Just follow the screen for now,” Jeff said. “Your mind will eventually remember it.”
Wendy took the advice, and found it easier.
Jeff watched.
Wendy was concentrating so much on the screen that she wasn’t sure when Jeff’s leg started to press against hers. She passed off three exercises and was about to start the fourth when the door opened.
Both she and Jeff looked up. Jeff moved away just enough to put some distance between them.
Hound and Cal walked in.
“Hey,” Cal said, grinning when he saw Wendy.
“Hi.”
“Whatcha doin?”
Wendy looked at the screen. “Learning to type.”
“Nice.”
Hound pointed at Jeff. “I’m glad you’re here. Mike is looking for you. He wants you both in his office. Now.”
“He does?”
“Yes.”
Jeff sighed. “We’d better go.”
Wendy nodded. She glanced up at the clock, gave Cal one last smile, then followed Jeff out of the room.
“Why would Mike need us?” Wendy asked.
“Not sure.” He looked down at her as they approached Mike’s office. “I guess we’re about to find out.”
Jeff knocked on the blue door.
Wendy’s mind flew through the possibilities. Maybe Jeff wasn’t supposed to be helping her with the computer. She didn’t understand why that would be, but it was possible. Or perhaps Mike had found some part of the map that he wanted her to look at. But if that were the case, then why bring Jeff in?
Maybe Mike had changed his mind about her training with the fighters.
That brought tension to Wendy’s shoulders. She forced them back down, and took a deep breath.
Everything was going to be fine.
“Come in,” Mike said through the door.
Jeff turned the handle and
pushed. The door swung open. He stepped through before Wendy, which put her even more on edge. He usually let her go first. He usually insisted upon it.
Did he know something she didn’t?
Wendy followed Jeff in and stepped to the side so she could see around him. Mike sat at his desk, surrounded by papers. Dark circles carved the skin beneath his eyes, and stubble covered his usually smooth cheeks. No one else was in the room.
“Ah, someone found you. Good. Sit.” Mike gestured at the two chairs across from him.
This time, Jeff indicated that Wendy should go first. She might never get used to what Arie called his insistence on being a gentleman.
Wendy chose the chair on the right. The spindly legs looked as if they might give way under even her slight weight, but the wood didn’t budge when she sat. The cracked leather of Jeff’s chair creaked as he settled in.
Mike surveyed the two teenagers for a moment, first Jeff then Wendy. It felt as if he was looking into her soul. She held perfectly still, willing herself not to squirm. After a few seconds, Mike’s gaze returned to Jeff.
Mike finally spoke. “I need your help.”
Wendy narrowed her eyes.
Mike turned his attention to Wendy. “You have brought an interesting conundrum to us.” He sighed and sat back, rubbing his eyes behind his glasses. “Now I have to suspect everyone here of being an insider for the Primate.”
“Everyone?” Jeff asked.
“Almost.” Mike waved a hand. “If Pelton was in the Den for eight years, I have to assume he was working for the Primate the whole time.”
Wendy opened her mouth to argue, but Mike stopped her. “I know that it’s possible he met the Primate out on one of his scavenges. But what would you assume?”
Wendy closed her mouth, swallowed and said, “I’d go back ten years.”
“Exactly my problem.” Mike sighed. “This place has been around for longer than that, but there weren’t many people here for a long time. Of the approximately three hundred people here, less than fifty of them have been here for longer than eight years.”
Another pause. Mike’s face screwed up into an expression of distaste. “Which means I can’t fully trust most of my best fighters.”
Mike was planning an assault on the Primate, and there was likely someone in his ranks that would report back to their intended target.
“What can we do?” Jeff asked.
This time Mike shifted in his seat. He pressed his lips together and took another deep breath. “I have an idea, but I’m going to need you two to be in on it for it to work.”
“What is it?” Jeff asked.
“I’m going to put together a team of teenagers to join the fighters.” Mike leaned forward and put his elbows on the table. “There are a couple of reasons for this. First off, Pelton never tried to convert you directly, am I correct?”
“Correct.” Wendy didn’t like where this was headed.
“Which means that the teenagers are probably clean.”
Jeff opened his mouth. Mike put up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say, but you’re the one I trust the most. And that’s because you’ve been honest with me.” He held Jeff’s gaze until Jeff gave him a grudging nod.
Wendy watched the exchange and wondered what the story was. Jeff had never offered up more than a few sentences on his past or his struggle with flashes. Wendy had never asked, but now she might have to.
“A majority of the teenagers have been here most of their lives. Or, like Jeff, only a year or two. From what the others have told me, Pelton seemed to care a lot about you, Wendy. He saved you so he could take you to the Primate. I’m going to have to go with the history I have and hope that none of the Primate’s guys have started recruiting teenagers.”
Wendy flexed her fingers. “What do you want us to do?”
“Jeff, I want you to come up with a list of six teenagers that you think can be believably incorporated into the fighters teams. Wendy is an obvious choice, because her fighting skills are so advanced. Matt needs some medical time in the field, so it will be easy to include him too. But you need to come up with a few more. I have some suggestions, but consider everyone. I just need your reasoning.”
Jeff took a list from Mike’s outstretched hand.
“What about me?” Wendy asked. He didn’t drag her in here just to compliment her on her fighting abilities. Maybe he wanted to personally tell her to step up her computer skills.
“I need you to watch for any adults that approach or spend a lot of time with the kids that Jeff picks. I’m going to advertise the purpose of your group as a back up to the fighters. People generally underestimate you or overlook your intelligence. Watch. Listen. Think back to Pelton. And any signs that you see, I want to know about.”
“What about the Council?” Jeff asked.
One corner of Mike’s mouth twitched. “I’ve known Hank since before the Starvation. He was asking about Arie, so I suggested that he use her as an assistant. She’s keeping her eyes on the Council for me.”
“Does she know why?” Wendy asked.
“Only that I’m watching for undermining behavior, which she’s only too happy to look out for.”
Wendy silently applauded Mike’s strategy. Arie was perfect for the Council, and he was right about her being able to watch and listen better than anyone else.
Mike looked at Jeff. “Are you up for this?”
Jeff, who had been scanning the names on the paper, glanced up. “If you’re sure.”
“Jeff, you’ve proven your loyalty more than once. Your past stays outside of these walls. I need you on this.”
Mike talked to Jeff almost as an older brother, but with a deep respect that didn’t come easily. Like Pelton used to talk to her.
“I’ll do it,” Jeff said. He looked like he wanted to say more, but a sidelong glance at Wendy stopped him. “When do you need the list?”
“By midnight tonight.”
“I’ll get it to you.”
Mike looked back and forth between the two. “I wasn’t planning to involve you two like this, but I think you’re up for it. Your first exercise is tomorrow morning. Have your stuff outside of your room by six o’clock.”
A knock came from the door behind them.
“Mike?” Riggs asked through the wood.
“Come in,” Mike said. He stood. Wendy and Jeff followed suit.
Riggs came in as Jeff and Wendy stepped around their chairs to leave. He took the two of them in at a glance. “See you two in the morning.”
“Good night, “ Jeff said. Wendy echoed the words as they exited into the hallway.
While Wendy’s mind chewed on Mike’s plan, she suddenly remembered movie night.
“What time is it?” she asked.
Jeff stopped and checked his watch. “Seven thirty.”
Cal wanted her to bring Jeff to movie night, but he was already looking at the list of people.
A moment of indecision swept over Wendy like a cool, penetrating wind. She almost shivered, and her fingers tingled as she wiggled them. A tiny lump rose in her throat. The rhythm of her heartbeat sped up. Her eyes were riveted on Jeff.
He must have noticed—the feeling of being watched was pretty distinctive—because he looked up. “What?”
His dark eyes studied hers. Wendy swallowed the little lump. She had to at least say she’d asked. “Uh, Cal is showing a movie tonight. Did you, uh, want to come?” She went on before he could answer. “I mean, I realize Mike just asked you to get that list to him in a few hours, so you’re probably busy, but you’re invited.”
Jeff’s face relaxed. He smiled and folded the paper in half before shoving it into a pocket in his jacket. “I’d love to.”
“Are you sure you have time?” Wendy asked.
“Do you not want me to come?”
“No.” Wendy ground her teeth once. “You should come. I just don’t want to be a bother.”
Jeff’s eyes met hers, and he said, “The last t
hing you could ever be to me is a bother.” His grin widened. “Besides, I’ve heard rumors about movie night. I’ve kind of been hoping you’d invite me.”
“Well, you’re invited,” Wendy said. The smile Jeff had on his face made her think he was in on a joke she didn’t get.
“Good. When does it start?”
“Eight. I need to go by my room and get some treats.”
“Treats?”
Wendy set off. “This is Kev and Cal we’re talking about. And maybe Matt, if he can finally get out of medical. Bring them a treat and they’re your best friends forever.”
Jeff chuckled. “Are we that transparent?”
Wendy eyed him. “So a treat will work on you too?”
“Absolutely.”
“Good to know.”
The week before, Kev and Cal had cleared a way to the movie room so no one had to go through the maze of holes to get there. Jeff and Wendy arrived with five minutes to spare, and with a few biscuits and a couple of apples. All of which Jeff insisted on carrying.
Seriously, she was a big girl and could carry her own things. But Jeff hadn’t given her a choice, and getting them back would have required an all-out fight. Not worth it. For now.
Wendy knocked, and Kev answered. He saw Jeff first.
“Hey, man.” He held out his hand.
“Hey.” Jeff shook Kev’s hand.
Kev’s eyes then dropped to Wendy. He jumped back, and brought his hands to his mouth. “Shrimp! I didn’t even see you there.”
Wendy walked in, pushing past him. “You’re hilarious. Really.”
The normal array of chairs was set out. Wendy noted the two extra—presumably for Jeff and Matt.
“Better sit in the front,” Kev called after her. “Or you might not be able to see.”
Wendy didn’t bother to answer. Jeff snorted.
Wendy took her customary spot on the back row. She used to sit there because she got to turn the machine more, but now they had a small generator, so they didn’t have to manually run the projector.
Still, Wendy liked to be between her friends and potential danger. The imaginary things that might come through the door.
“You don’t want to sit closer?” Jeff asked.
“No.” Wendy pointed at a metal table with three legs and a stack of boxes holding it up. “Put the treats there.”