Katrina nodded and then climbed into the cab of the truck. She handed the blindfolds to Dreya and Mia. Then she made a big circle in the open desert before heading back the way they came from. At the highway, she sounded the horn. The 1st Sgt. drove back towards Hawthorne and Katrina headed north to the mountains.
Chapter 20
She drove in silence with the girls still blindfolded. Dreya was fast asleep and Katrina’s eyes were heavy as she struggled to keep them open.
“You still awake Mia?” Katrina’s voice sounded loud to her own ears.
“Yes,” Mia scooted forward across the floor. “What’s up?”
“I just need you to talk to me for a bit, so I don’t pass out.”
Mia told Katrina all about her first mission. She said she was so nervous until the helicopter touched down and then from somewhere deep in her brain the training kicked in. Her eyes were blazing with excitement and she blocked everything else out. The minute she landed on her ankle and heard the crunch, it was like the most embarrassing day of her life.
Katrina laughed and looked fondly at the girl. For all they had been through, she had come to think of Mia as her own little sister and she was proud of her. Katrina was going to miss the two of them so much. And the baby? Not that she ever liked kids, but she wanted to see what Dreya and Jayden’s baby looked like.
It had all seemed so simple that first night in the shelter. Leave everyone behind and get to the cabin. Now that this was exactly what she had to do, she wasn’t so sure she wanted to be alone anymore. What if I never see James again? What if I lose them all? A lump formed in her throat and she swallowed to clear it. I’ll deal with this later, she told herself once again. I don’t have another choice.
*
“Dreya,” Katrina said softly as she tried to wake her friend. The girl stirred. “You can both take your blindfolds off now. We are going to stop.” She pulled the semitruck onto the extended shoulder of the road and turned off the engine.
“Where are we?” Dreya asked as she removed the material from her face and untangled her hair from the knot.
“I used to live around here,” Katrina said as she searched the glove compartment for a paper and pen. “My dad said the area was abandoned.”
The girls looked out at the handful of buildings that lined Hwy 395 making up the small Eastern Sierra town. A light snow had fallen, dusting the roofs and the roads but allowing the bright lines of yellow to show through.
“Are we going to your old house?” Mia asked in amazement.
“No.” Katrina shook her head. “There is nothing there for me anymore.”
“Well why did we stop then?” Dreya raised an eyebrow as Katrina found what she was looking for. She hastily sketched a map onto the page.
“This is where I stop,” Katrina sighed. “This is how you get to the base in Arizona.” She put the map into Dreya’s hands. “I have to go up into the mountains.”
“Katrina,” Dreya cried. “This isn’t fair! You can’t just abandon us because you want to go to your stupid cabin.”
“It’s not that.” Katrina stared out at the ghost town. “I’m not even sure if I want to go to the cabin anymore but I have to. I can’t risk getting captured. Maybe when my dad gets done with what he has to do, he’ll come get me and I can tell him where we moved the stuff. But for now, I have to keep the secret safe.”
“You don’t know how long that will take though.” Dreya rubbed her hands over her eyes. “You don’t even know if that will ever happen.”
“I don’t understand.” Mia looked at the two of them. “I thought we were going to the cabin anyway. What’s the big deal?”
Katrina saw the worry roll over her friend’s face and she tried to backtrack to save her. “The Resistance will need you two. They’ll need you to fight.”
“Oh,” Mia dramatically dragged out the word. “Yeah that’s dumb. You’ll need us too and we can’t abandon you.”
“I’ll be fine Mia,” Katrina said through clenched teeth. “I need you to get your sister to the base in Arizona.”
“I’m missing something here, aren’t I?” Mia looked to her sister’s teary eyes and to Katrina’s white knuckles gripping the door handle. “Tell her she is being stupid, Dreya. We stick together as a group.”
Dreya exhaled loudly as she turned to face the window. “I need to get to the hospital. I’m pregnant.”
Katrina flinched at the word and felt the sharp intake of air as the younger sister’s anger began rising.
“You… have… got… to… be kidding me!” Mia screamed. “What is wrong with you? Why would you do this right now?” Every syllable came out a louder shriek.
The tears rolled down Dreya’s cheeks. “It’s not like I planned this.”
“But they have stuff to prevent this from happening!” Mia’s emotions filled the cab.
“Right. Because there is a gas station open on every corner during the apocalypse.”
“You are supposed to be the responsible one!”
Katrina opened the door.
“Where do you think you are going?” Mia turned her rage to Katrina.
“I’m just getting some fresh air. I’ll let you two talk for a minute.” Dreya’s eyes were pleading as Katrina shut the door behind her. She leaned against the side of the truck and inhaled the crisp fall mountain air.
Winter was hanging on autumn’s tail. There would be a lot of work to do at the cabin in order to get ready for the season, Katrina thought as she walked across the street. A Toyota 4Runner sat parked beside the local coffee shop. She opened the unlocked door but couldn’t find the keys.
Hoping the owner left them inside, she walked underneath the A-frame shaped sloping porch cover and entered the building. It was cold inside and empty of human trace, almost like an abandoned museum.
There were rows of decorative shelves containing artwork. Katrina noticed boxes of flies for fishing arranged delicately on one counter. She thumbed through the flies, carefully picking up a few to check the craftsmanship. One fly caught her attention because of the blue and black threads.
James might like this, Katrina thought as she put it in her pocket. He’ll come find me. I know he won’t leave me alone. Her heart hurt, but she raised her chin and set off to find the keys.
In the managers drawer, she found a set on a lanyard chain. She walked outside just as Mia was slamming the door to the semi shut.
“My niece or nephew is not growing up in a war zone,” Mia screamed as she marched across the street. “And that is final!”
A weight lifted from Katrina’s chest as she watched the little firecracker storm over to her. When she saw Dreya climb gingerly down from the truck and shrug, she knew that Mia had decided for them all.
“Find anything good in there?” Mia asked while looking over Katrina’s shoulder. She touched her pocket to make sure the fly was safely inside and then held up the car keys. “Let’s hope this one has gas,” Mia huffed as she climbed into the backseat.
Dreya gave Katrina a half smile as she slid into the passenger seat, avoiding eye contact with her little sister. Katrina looked to the snowpack on the mountain range behind her and let the wind dry the tears of gratitude that formed in her eyes.
“We need books,” Dreya mumbled as Katrina got behind the wheel. “Medical books. Childbirth books.” Mia groaned from the backseat.
“I, um.” Katrina started the engine. Three-quarters tank of gas she read. More than enough. “I don’t think we have childbirth books at the cabin, but there is a little library down the road. Let’s stop there.”
They drove down the unlined road and parked in a gravel lot. The library was locked, so Katrina threw a rock through the back window. She hoisted Mia inside and then ran to the front door to meet her.
While Dreya searched the medical textbooks, Katrina and Mia filled a bag of What to Expect books from the parenting shelves. Mia looked the other way as Katrina tossed in a few fiction novels.
“
Is this stealing?” Dreya asked as she carried a stack of books to the vehicle.
“No.” Katrina put her bag in the back. “It’s borrowing. I have a library card somewhere.” The sound of breaking glass came from the front hall of the building. “That’s stealing though,” Katrina smirked as Mia raided the broken vending machine.
Dreya glared at her sister as she carried the snacks to the 4Runner and tossed them in the back.
“What?” Mia asked as she went back for the rest.
“Nothing,” Dreya snapped as she took a bag of cookies from her sister’s hand.
Chapter 21
They rode in the 4Runner through the winding canyon road and up Hwy 395 to the peak of the mountain ridge. The pine trees here were coated in a heavier snow and the road showed no sign of travel. Without the plows this year, they’d be trapped in the cabin for the winter.
Katrina sighed as she explained the long season ahead of them. It would be dangerous and hard to survive, but they could do it. The girls silently stared out the windows at the river running past.
“Do you mind if we make a pit stop?” Mia finally spoke. “I’d like to go see how Tom and his family are. See if they made it.”
Dreya rolled her eyes. “You just want to go see how Tripp is.”
Mia glared at the back of her sister’s head. “So, what if I do? You are the last person on earth who should be lecturing me on boys right now.” Dreya tried to jump out of her seat to reach Mia but the belt held her in place.
“Hang on,” Katrina laughed. “That might not be a bad idea. It’d be nice to talk to Sophie and ask her some questions, don’t you think?” Dreya crossed her arms and mumbled “yes” as she went back to watching the river.
An hour later, they drove up the same mountain pass road that they’d driven down in the Humvee on their way back to the shelter. Katrina looked over to the ridge that hid her cabin. Five months had passed since she laid there beaten in the street. She remembered the choice to turn back for her friends and James’ face as it all happened. It was a split second decision, but one she clung to ever since.
The 4Runner crept slowly down the main street. Katrina parked in front of the Cape Cod style home that was built into the mountain. Nothing in the area moved.
“It looks abandoned,” Dreya whispered.
“We thought that once before. Maybe we are wrong again.” Katrina opened the door and stepped outside. It was easily ten degrees colder up here than it was back at the town. She zipped her thin jacket up to her chin and put her hands in her pockets.
“What do we do?” Mia asked as she came to stand beside her.
“Knock I guess.” Katrina shivered. “And hope that someone is home.” The girls crossed the sidewalk and climbed up the steep driveway to the front door.
“Well I’ll be damned,” a man’s voice called out before they reached the porch.
Katrina turned to see Tom holding his rifle in one hand and a string of dead rabbits in the other. Ziggy leaned against the tree beside him.
“The dandelions survived,” Ziggy said with a smile on his lips. He wore a coonskin hat with a tail over his dreadlocks. “Some of you at least. Where are the rest?”
“We have so much to tell you,” Dreya gushed. Her foul mood had lifted at the sight of the men. “I’m so happy you both are okay. Is Sophie here?”
“She is downstairs with Claire I presume.” Tom’s eyes sparkled. “She is going to be so happy to see you too. It tore her up how you kids had to leave, and she won’t quit blaming herself.”
“It wasn’t her fault,” Katrina said. “It wasn’t any of your faults. We don’t blame you in the slightest.”
“She’ll be happy to hear that.” Tom walked up to the porch. “Come on inside. You girls look like you’re freezing out here.”
Tom led them through the house, a museum of a woman who no longer lived here, and down the wooden steps into the cellar. Katrina saw a golden haired little girl rocking on her feet as she tried to stand. The baby fell down on her backside as Tom entered the room and squealed as she clapped for him.
“Aye!” Sophie made a high pitched primal noise as she saw the girls come in. Claire looked to her mother and let out a fearful cry at the sound. Sophie threw her stitching to the side and scooped up the baby as she rushed to wrap Dreya in a hug with her free arm. Tears rolled down Dreya’s cheeks and Sophie wiped them away.
“What’s wrong love?” Sophie’s face was full of concern. “Are you okay?”
“I’m just so happy,” Dreya sobbed. Katrina and Mia looked at her like she had two heads. Ziggy pushed past them and walked over to the seating area. He laid down on one of the floor pillows. Sophie gave Dreya a knowing smile and led her over to the kitchen area.
The room looked mostly the same as it did when they had last seen it. Pillows were scattered about the dirt floor, camping lanterns casted pockets of light, and the screen dividers sectioned off the sleeping quarters. The main section now had a small kerosene heater, but the rest looked unchanged.
“You guys probably don’t have to live down here anymore if you don’t want to,” Katrina said.
“We know.” Tom took a seat next to Ziggy on the ground. “A month or so ago, some military guys with the Resistance came to offer us assistance. They said we could leave if we want to, but we are doing just fine without them. We like what we have here.”
Katrina nodded. “I figured that was the case. It’s good to know you are doing well. I was worried that we brought the government to your doorstep.”
Tom waved his hand in a dismissive motion. “Tell me what has been happening with you all. Where are the boys that were here with you? Jayden, and what was that paranoid kid’s name?”
Katrina smiled as she remembered how standoffish he had been. “James,” she said quietly. “And we hope they are okay. We haven’t heard from them. They are off fighting with the Resistance.”
“Ah, the Resistance.” Ziggy sat up. “A bunch of traitors fighting against the government. I like them. But why are you here instead of there?”
Katrina looked over to Dreya and Sophie whispering in the corner. “The base we were at got blown up. The new government pushed their way through Southern California and took out the military installation down there. But most of the troops were fighting in Washington on a mission.”
“I see,” Ziggy said as he put his hands in his lap. “That still doesn’t answer my question. Why are you here instead of there?”
Mia looked to Katrina as she answered. “I had to do something for the Resistance and now I have to go into hiding. My dad and I have a cabin over the next mountain ridge. We will be staying there for a while.”
Ziggy pushed his lips together and nodded, staring with his bright eyes into Katrina’s soul. She uncomfortably shifted on the pillow and looked to the floor. “And what you had to do was dangerous enough to warrant going into isolation?” he continued to probe.
Katrina nodded.
“So much for these dandelions doing what they were told.” Ziggy put his hand under his chin. “Do these girls know you are putting them in danger by bringing them along?”
“We do,” Mia retorted. “We are in this together and we would never leave Katrina alone.”
“And does the pregnant one feel the same?” Ziggy glanced over to Dreya.
“Is he a psychic or something?” Mia angrily whispered into Katrina’s ear.
“No,” she sighed. “He’s a shrink remember?”
“A shrink with abnormally good hearing.” Ziggy winked.
“I’m fine with it.” Dreya glared from across the room. Ziggy laughed as he laid back down.
“Fascinating,” he said.
“We don’t want any trouble.” Tom looked to his friend. “But what can we do to help?”
“Nothing right now.” Katrina smiled. “We will be on our way soon and we wouldn’t put your family in harm’s way. But would you mind if we popped in from time to time? And possibly borrowed Sophie fo
r a bit if we are still here in nine months?”
“Of course,” Sophie answered for Tom. “I’ll do anything I can to help. But there has to be something else we can do for you.”
“Actually, there is.” Mia leaned forward, her eyes never leaving Ziggy. “Could you tell me where Tripp is? I’d like to see him.” The old hippie on the floor burst out laughing. “What’s so funny?” she asked.
“It’s just the way of life.” Ziggy wiped the tears from his eyes as he chuckled. “Teenage hormones. That’s a whole world of trouble.”
Tom smiled at the girls. “He will be back soon. Do you want to wait here?”
“Of course they will wait,” Sophie said. “They need something to eat and we need to find them some warmer clothes.”
*
Sophie loaded the 4Runner with jackets and sleeping bags they had scavenged from the abandoned homes. The Levi man’s family came out to meet them and offered gallons of water from their well.
“We do have supplies at the cabin,” Katrina remarked, feeling uncomfortable with all the attention. “But we could always use more. Thank you for this.”
Tripp came home just as the girls were leaving. His hair was still a shaggy mess, but his chest and shoulders were wider. Katrina smiled as she saw Mia’s cheeks flush while she walked to greet him.
“Not too far,” Dreya called after her. Mia turned and pointed to her sister’s stomach before flipping her hair as she closed in on the nervous boy. Katrina laughed, but her heart felt hollow. She reached down and touched the fly in her pocket.
Dreya and Katrina climbed into the 4Runner to wait.
“Should we pull her away?” Katrina finally asked.
“Give her a few more minutes,” Dreya said as she watched her sister awkwardly trying to flirt. “I can’t believe we are actually doing this. Like we are actually going to the cabin right now. It feels so surreal.”
“I know,” Katrina said. “Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
Project Dandelion: Resistance Page 9