by Michael Ford
“There’ll be a back door,” he said. “Less Chokers maybe.”
Asha nodded grimly, then the boy groaned, clutching his stomach. Asha ran to him. “Fionn?”
Fionn looked at her, eyes tinged with desperation.
“It’s the Waste,” Asha explained, an arm around Fionn’s shoulder. “He suffers worse than us. The Guardians were carrying extra shots—there might be some still on the transport.”
The boy was clearly ill, so there didn’t seem to be a choice. Kobi wondered what their “shots” contained. And if they had a vehicle, they might have other useful tech too.
“Lead the way,” said Niki.
They took the stairs, Kobi up front, with Asha and Fionn behind, and Niki at the rear. The silent boy seemed to have recovered enough to walk, but every so often he’d grimace in pain. Was he mute? Or just scared? Kobi had so many questions, but they could wait.
They reached the rear exit on the ground floor and stopped in front of it. The door was plastic, covered in mold. Thick ivy on the other side of the glass blocked any view out. Kobi thought the other kids looked unsure now.
“How often have you traveled outside?” Kobi asked.
Asha looked around at the others, and Niki glared back silently. “Never before today,” said the tall girl.
“We don’t need to go outside,” said Niki. “Why would we want to?”
Kobi was momentarily shocked. They’ve never been outside? “Okay, I’m going to give you a crash course, then,” he said. “We need to keep spaced out, single file, at least ten yards apart. Move one at a time and signal to each other when you see it’s clear. Look up, down, all around you. Look again. Always be looking. Use all your senses, too. Trust your instincts.” It felt odd explaining all this stuff. He was usually the one being lectured. “If in doubt, don’t move. Stay as still as you can. But if a predator appears, run like you’ve never run in your life. Head for the nearest place you can barricade yourself in, and if there’s nowhere to hide, then climb the nearest tree and wait it out. Unless it’s a cougar. They can climb trees. Then, well . . .” He trailed off. Niki chewed her lip, agitated. Asha was staring at Kobi. The young boy nodded at him. He seemed the least afraid. “Stay beneath the canopy where you can,” Kobi added. “Snatchers have infrared vision and heat detection. They work better at night.”
“Let’s just go,” snapped Niki.
Kobi pulled open the door. It led into an alleyway that ran behind the apartment building. Trash cans were moss-covered lumps, and trees crossed above them, growing in and out of walls. But there were no Chokerplants.
Kobi held up his hand. “Okay, go. Now.” They scurried up to the next intersection, then took turns to dart across the road to where an old railway overpass crossed. It had collapsed in the center, crushing cars beneath it. The soft undergrowth cushioned their steps.
Asha paused beside a leaning row of vine-coated streetlights, frowning as she looked up and down the road. “Which way?” she whispered to Niki.
The girl pointed south. “Up there . . . I think.”
Kobi’s eyes searched the trees. The sun was just beginning to come up, a faint pale haze through the canopy. Some predators preferred to hunt at dawn, so it wasn’t much of a relief. With so many in the party, anything could go wrong. Too many variables. Too many risks.
Asha gave a signal with her hand and then began to move again. Kobi followed.
The vehicle they called the transport was sitting right in the middle of the street—it was about the size of one of the Bill Gates school buses, but it looked a lot more high-tech. Shaped like a squat bullet, it had two stubby wings extending from each side.
“That thing flies?” whispered Kobi, amazed. He wondered how anyone could have built it. Or was it scavenged from some kind of military base?
Asha went to the door and pulled at the handle. It didn’t open. She pulled again.
“No, no, no!” she said.
“It’s palm print–activated,” exclaimed Niki in a loud exasperated voice. “What did you expect?”
“Shhh!” hissed Kobi.
“Great,” said Niki. “What now?”
Fionn looked on, his eyes wide.
“Let me try,” said Kobi, moving up to the door.
“It’s locked,” said Asha. “The Guardians are the only ones who can open it. I guess Krenner didn’t make it after all.”
Kobi took hold of the handle, gripping tightly.
“It’s locked,” repeated Niki.
Kobi tugged on the handle. He felt his sinews cracking as he tried to pull the door open. The metal dug into his palm, but he gritted his teeth and strained harder. Come on. . . .
With a shriek of metal, the handle broke away, and he fell backward into Asha.
“Well, aren’t you strong!” she said. “Is that the Waste?”
“I guess so,” said Kobi. He couldn’t tell if she was impressed or not.
“Good for him,” said Niki. “But now we’re never getting inside.”
Kobi had to admit she was right. He felt stupid, annoyed with himself.
“We have to wait,” said Niki.
“But for how long?” said Asha. “We weren’t due back for hours. By the time they realize we’re in trouble and scramble another transport, then get here . . .” She trailed off, eyes flicking toward Fionn. Kobi recognized the waxy look to the pale boy’s skin and the sheen of sweat. Waste exposure. His dad had looked the same way in the early stages of contamination, when the cleansers were wearing off. Fionn didn’t seem afraid, though, staring around at the Waste wilderness with wonder. He’d seemed the most natural at moving through the undergrowth, and Kobi had often lost sight of him scurrying ahead. The young boy raised his hand in the air. A giant butterfly with multicolored patterns on its wings landed on his sleeve.
“Whoa,” said Niki, backing away. Fionn suddenly doubled over in a fit of coughing, and the insect flapped away.
Kobi took a deep breath, thinking over the options. It really wasn’t safe to linger in the city much longer, especially considering none of the others were trained to survive out there and one of the team was already suffering. He felt reluctant to leave, though. He could push on to his dad’s labs—they were only a couple of hours away. But Fionn’s condition would only worsen, and Kobi wanted to keep these people on his side, if they could help him find his dad. “I have anti-Waste cleansers back at my base.”
“Where’s that?” asked Asha.
“West of the city,” said Kobi. “A few hours from here.” He glanced at Fionn. The boy wouldn’t be able to travel all that fast, he realized. “Depending on how quick we can move.”
“No way,” said Niki. “I’m staying right here and waiting for the Guardians.”
Asha stepped up closer to her. “Nik, we have to stick together. Fionn might not last until the Guardians get here.”
Kobi saw the other girl’s jaw tighten. She’s just scared too.
“How do we even know we can trust him?” she said, cocking her head toward Kobi.
Kobi felt a flash of annoyance. “Hey! I’m right here!” he said. Doesn’t she get it? I’d rather be looking for my dad than looking after them!
“We don’t have a choice,” said Asha. “Fionn needs a boost. And we can’t just wait out here in the open.”
Niki made a grunting noise, which Kobi understood to mean “Fine.”
Asha turned to him. “Lead the way, Kobi.”
7
NO ONE SPOKE MUCH for the next ninety minutes or so, communicating only with hand signals and occasional mutterings. This way. Stop. Go. Watch the angles. In some ways, Kobi found it easier than using words. At least he knew he wasn’t missing anything in the others’ tones, or glances, or the hundred other ways the three friends could understand one another that he seemed separated from.
Sometimes Fionn would drop back behind the others, worrying Asha. But he soon reappeared, like a pale ghost in the foliage. They reached the bridge just as the sun w
as drifting above the giant sycamores. With every thirty feet of progress, Kobi began to calm. We’re going to make it. We’re nearly home.
By the time they made it to the other side, he felt relaxed enough to speak properly. With Asha sticking close to Fionn, he dropped back until he was next to Niki.
“You said you were looking for survivors,” he said. “Why?”
“How do I know?” she said. “Trust me, I wish I’d never agreed to come.”
Asha must have heard because she edged nearer with Fionn. “All the Guardians told us is that there could be people in the city,” she said before pausing. “They knew we could help find them.” There seemed something left unsaid, but she didn’t offer anything more.
“And you’re from somewhere called Healhome?” continued Kobi. “So it isn’t inside the city somewhere?”
Niki laughed, like he’d said something funny. “It isn’t in a Seattle high school, if that’s what you mean.”
“No,” said Asha, giving Niki a light shove. “It’s a quarantined facility.”
A facility. What did that mean? He pictured a compound protected with fences and guards in masks. Or was it a group of buildings, more like a town? “And you flew here in one of those transports?”
“No, we took the bus!” said Niki. Kobi was taken aback.
“Niki, he’s just curious,” said Asha.
“I know, but let’s save the questions. Seriously, how much farther is this base of yours?”
“Not far,” said Kobi. He didn’t want to irritate Niki, but he couldn’t help asking, “The Guardians—if they’re not your parents, who are they?”
Niki puffed out her cheeks. Asha shot her a look. “Scientists mostly,” Asha said. “Some teachers. They’re looking for a cure.”
“And have they found one?”
“Not yet,” said Asha sadly. Then she smiled. “But they will!”
Kobi smiled back. He couldn’t believe it, and neither would his dad. There were others working to fight the Waste! After so long, thinking they were alone. Who knew what new breakthroughs might be just around the corner? “How many of you are there?”
“Kids?” said Asha. “Thirteen, ranging from eleven to sixteen. Guardians—I don’t know—maybe ten times that.”
“And you all live in Healhome? What about outside?”
“There is no outside,” said Niki impatiently. “Well, there is, but it’s all like this.” She jerked her chin at the view, wearing a look of disgust.
“They don’t let us out,” said Asha. “The risk of contagion is too great.”
Kobi remembered the strange disparity between the suited adults and the kids. “But you’re here now, breathing the air, touching things. You must get infected.”
“We’re already infected,” said Asha matter-of-factly. “For some reason we’re noncontagious, though. The Guardians think it’s because we were exposed while our mothers were pregnant. Maybe that’s what happened to you too?”
Kobi nodded. “Yes! That’s what my dad thinks.”
“So where do you think he is now?”
Kobi paused a moment before answering. They’d reached the place where the Chokers had nearly pulled him underground after his stupid attempt at a long-jump record. “I don’t know,” he said. “He went to visit his lab in the city to do tests. He’s looking for a cure too.”
“For himself?”
“Yes,” said Kobi. “He’s managed to take some of my antibodies and synthesize them to create medication. It’s not one hundred percent, but it helps him. I guess he always hoped there’d be others too.”
Asha seemed to be thinking hard for a moment. “You’ve been living out here in the Wastelands all your life? Just you and your dad?”
Kobi nodded.
“He sounds like a cool guy,” Asha continued.
Kobi felt a flush of pride. “Yeah, he is. Cool.”
They took the longer route to bypass the Choker chasm, and soon they were passing through the trees, toward the school. Fresh plants had already sprouted from the roots and plants he’d cut away. As they went, Kobi felt his steps quicken a little and realized that he was letting a new hope creep into his head. What if my dad’s made it back while I was away? He forced himself to slow. And as they broke through the tree line in front of the overgrown front steps, Kobi saw the padlocks were still in place on the outside of the door. His heart sank. It was a silly thought anyway.
“This is it?” said Niki, sounding distinctly unimpressed as Kobi stooped to unfasten the lower lock. From the corner of his eye, he saw Asha shove her and mouth something. He felt himself liking the tall girl more and more.
He twisted the key in the second padlock, then peeled away the tape. “Stay close to me,” he said. “There are traps inside.”
Fionn doubled up with a gasp. “We need to hurry,” said Asha.
Kobi opened the door and the other two half carried the sick boy inside. Kobi hurriedly completed the door-sealing and decontaminating protocols. Asha turned and watched him with a concerned frown. Niki sighed loudly. “Really?” she said.
Kobi ignored her. He finished in a few moments, and they passed along the corridor to the fridges in the science rooms. Despite the circumstances, it felt good to be back. He noticed Niki casting her gaze about the place, but Kobi couldn’t read her expression.
Kobi passed a length of rubber tubing to Asha. “Extend his right arm and tie this above his elbow.” He’d administered his dad’s shots a hundred times—a training precaution in case his father was ever incapable. He knew what he was doing. Asha laid out Fionn’s arm and tied the ligature while Kobi went to the fridge and took out a vial of Waste cleanser, then unwrapped a syringe from a sterile package. He suctioned up the clear liquid, then pressed the excess air out. Fionn’s eyes were rolling back in his head.
“Hurry!” said Asha.
“Are you sure this will work?” asked Niki suspiciously.
“I hope so,” said Kobi. He located a blue vein and concentrated, with his tongue between his teeth. Fionn didn’t react as the needle pierced his skin. Kobi pressed home the syringe’s plunger.
The effect was almost instantaneous. Fionn blinked rapidly and sat up with a deep breath. His eyes were alert, and color rushed into his cheeks. He seemed a little unsure where he was at first but offered a shy smile when his eyes landed on Asha. Kobi smiled and felt a small pang of jealousy. Fionn and Asha seemed almost like brother and sister. Niki nodded with a kind of begrudging satisfaction.
“You did it!” said Asha.
Kobi breathed a long sigh of relief. But his dad’s voice kicked in almost at once.
“Follow the protocols, Kobi. No slacking.”
“We need to decontaminate before we head out again,” he said. “We’ll all be carrying Waste spores on our clothes. We can refuel and have a bit of a rest.”
Fionn stood up a little shakily.
“Where’s the decon chamber?” said Niki.
“School showers are fourth door down on the left, in the changing rooms,” said Kobi.
“And the girls?” said Asha.
Kobi frowned, confused.
“The girls’ changing rooms?” said Niki.
“Oh, I never . . . erm . . .”
“We’ll find them,” said Asha. “Don’t worry.”
Niki rolled her eyes.
“I’ll get some bags to seal your clothes for the laundry,” said Kobi, trying not to get angry. “There’s all kinds of stuff in the lost and found. Something will fit.”
“Great!” said Niki, sounding like she couldn’t have meant it less.
As he showered, Kobi couldn’t help his thoughts carrying him away. Survivors. His dad had always told him the chances of ever coming into contact with any, even if they walked a thousand miles, or crossed the ocean, were close to zero, but here they were. Flesh and blood. At least, he thought they were. After his strange dream in the hospital, what if this was just his mind playing tricks as well? Maybe he’d wake up
and be back in the empty school. It felt a bit dumb, but he closed his eyes and said to himself, Wake up.
Nope. Still here. Still real.
And they weren’t any old survivors. Not just desperate people toughing it out like him and his dad. They seemed organized. Comfortable, by the sounds of it. They had technology and transports, medical care and proper research in this place they called Healhome. Surely they could help him track down his father. And what then? Life would change completely, without a doubt. Food, safety, medicine for his dad. Asha seemed nice, and Fionn too, even if he didn’t speak. Niki wasn’t very friendly, but two out of three wasn’t bad. And anyway, she was probably just scared, her first time away from the quarantine facility.
Kobi dried himself, changed into clean clothes, and was waiting in the corridor as the others emerged. Asha had managed to find a Bill Gates sports uniform of blue shorts and a white T-shirt, plus some tennis shoes, while Fionn had gone for cargo shorts and a shirt that hung practically down to his knees. He wore high-tops with the laces hanging out. Of the three of them, Niki seemed to have done best—with a pair of jeans, a cheerleading jacket, and sneakers.
“You hungry?” he asked them.
“Sure!” said Asha.
“Then follow me,” said Kobi.
The newcomers gazed around in wonder as he led them through the school, past the huge cafeteria, the music rooms, and the library. He guessed they’d never been in one before. He and his dad had always slept in the old gym—they’d moved some beds from the nurse’s office, and there were two comfy couches to relax on and a camping stove for cooking. Old mats were spread across the floor, providing some insulation.
The cabinets were pretty empty—especially after his last aborted forage. He thought about more Barkz, but he could just imagine Niki’s face, so instead he went to the special-occasion cabinet, taking out two large cans of sausages and baked beans. He figured that soon food wouldn’t be an issue anyway. Healhome—wherever it was—must have enough food to support all the kids and adults there. Asha and Niki didn’t look malnourished.
“Take a seat,” he said as he poured the cans into a pan on the camp stove. He lit the gas with a flint and steel, and soon mouthwatering smells filled the room. Fionn nudged Kobi, smiling. The young boy raised his hands and made a shape with them. On the back wall of the gym a shadow butterfly fluttered in the glow from the gas fire.