Rebels

by Jill Williamson

  “Shut up.” Another shake. “You’re an idiot, you know that?” He released Omar with a shove. “Shaylinn doesn’t love me. She loves you. Do you even get what that means?”

  What? No, he was wrong. Omar had seen the way she’d brightened when Nash had given her the flowers. “You said Shaylinn had a message for me?”

  Nash shot Omar one last dirty look, then grimaced. “She said, ‘Don’t you dare run away from me again.’ ”

  The words were like a punch to the gut. Omar closed his eyes, wanting to defend himself. He met Nash’s dark eyes. “I just thought she was better off with you, you know? Without me.”

  “Yeah, well, I do too. But you don’t get to decide that, unfortunately.” He opened the door to Levi’s house and pushed Omar back inside. “Be good to her.” And he slammed the door in Omar’s face.

  Well, then. That was nice and awkward. And so would be going back to Shay.

  So Omar didn’t go back. He stood, leaning against the front door, watching Joey and another boy play the Owl. Joey was the Owl, of course, and the other boy was an enforcer.

  “You won’t get away with this!” the boy said.

  “Enforcers can’t stop the Owl!” Joey said. “The Owl speaks the truth. Trust the Owl!”

  Omar smirked, a little twinge of pride swelling in his throat.

  A booming knock on the door made Omar jump. He turned and opened it.

  Ruston’s wife pushed past him. “Where is she?” The woman shook a crumpled piece of paper in his face. “Where is that girl?”

  “Which girl?” Omar asked.

  “Shaylinn. I will speak to her right now.”

  “She’s in bed like always,” Trevon said.

  The woman started toward the couch, but Omar grabbed her arm. “Wait. What do you want? Tell me first.”

  “Remove your hands from me this instant!”

  Omar let go, taken aback by the anger in the woman’s voice. She strode through the kitchen, past the couch, and knocked on the door to Shaylinn’s bedroom.

  Omar chased her.

  CHAPTER

  23

  A wave of aching pain pulsed through Shaylinn’s abdomen, starting in her back and ending at her belly button. She gritted her teeth and wondered what Nell had put in her oatmeal this morning that had given her such indigestion.

  Omar had better come back. She’d hoped for so long, and now he was here, back from the dead, but also back to being flighty. She wanted to talk to him. Needed to.

  Someone knocked on her door. Omar! Good. “Come in.” She smiled, glad that Nash had persuaded him to return.

  But when the door flung wide, it was Tova who came inside. Stormed inside was a better description. The woman’s face was red, her lips pinched in a snarl that bared her teeth.

  “Good morning.” Shaylinn caught sight of Omar behind Tova and her heart quickened. He had come back!

  Tova swept into the room until she stood over Shaylinn’s bed. She held up a crumpled piece of paper. She recognized the bits of blue handwriting. It was one of her messages. “Don’t be friendly with me, you little wretch.”

  “Hey! Don’t talk to her like that.” Omar wedged himself between Tova and Shaylinn’s bed, pushed the woman back. “Just calm down.”

  “She’s been writing letters to my son.” Tova shook her fist, the paper still clenched inside. “She has no right!”

  Omar looked down on Shaylinn. “You wrote to Nash?”

  “Yes,” Shaylinn said. “That was our agreement if he was going to deliver my messages. I needed someone to.”

  Tova walked to the foot of Shaylinn’s bed, uncrumpling the letter. “This is not to Katz.” She held it up, turned it so Shaylinn could see.

  Ah. “That’s to Tym.”

  “You have no business poisoning a thirteen-year-old boy’s mind with your worldly ideas,” Tova said.

  “I didn’t. I was very cautious in what I wrote. Nash asked me to do it. He even asked Ruston’s permission first, to make sure it was okay.”

  This only seemed to anger Tova further. “You encouraged Tym to write to Dathan!”

  “They’re brothers,” Shaylinn said.

  “Dathan has been exiled. He’s no longer a member of our family. We don’t communicate with him.”

  “Who’s Dathan?” Omar asked.

  “Dathan is Zane’s real name,” Shaylinn said to Omar, then addressed Tova. “From what I read of Kindred policy in the library, if a prodigal returns and asks forgiveness, he’s to be forgiven and welcomed back. It’s your law.”

  “The Old ways are not practiced here. Not when the thin plague is rampant. We cannot let offenders back into the community to spread the disease.”

  “I have the disease,” Omar said, setting his hand on Tova’s shoulder.

  The woman shrieked and flew back from Omar.

  Shaylinn tried not to laugh. “Tova, you can’t get the thin plague from touching someone.”

  “You have no right to meddle in my family’s business.”

  “You’re right. I’m sorry. I just figured that everyone has a right to know they are loved, especially around Christmas. And Tym wanted to tell Zane that he loved him. What’s wrong with — Ahh!”

  Another wave of pain surprised Shaylinn, squeezing, burning the back of her spine. She held her breath through it.

  Omar leaned over her. “Shay, what’s wrong?”

  “I have a bellyache,” Shaylinn said. “I think I ate something bad.”

  “What did you eat?” Tova asked.

  “Just oatmeal.”

  “The kids ate the same oatmeal and they seem fine,” Omar said.

  “But they’re not pregnant. Everything about me is strange right now.”

  “How long have you been hurting?” Tova asked.

  “Off and on since breakfast,” Shaylinn said.

  “Contractions,” Tova said.

  “No, it’s too early,” Shaylinn said.

  “They start in your back and wrap around you.”

  Cold fear made Shaylinn shiver. They couldn’t be contractions. She was only at week . . . She couldn’t remember what week it was, but she knew it was much too early. She tried to sit and reach for her journal.

  “What do you need?” Omar asked.

  She pointed. “That red book.”

  He handed it to her and she flipped to the calendar in the front, quickly located December 21. “Twenty-nine weeks.” Tears flooded her eyes. “It’s too early.”

  “I will help you, Shayleen,” Tova said. “Though I don’t have any obligation to do so.”

  Tova help her? Anything but that. “No, that’s okay. Omar? Will you go find Ciddah, please?”

  “You bet.” He turned and ran from the room.

  “You need crampbark and fennel,” Tova said. “We grow it in the greenhouse. I’ll send Katz to get some. Until then, roll onto your hands and knees. Rest your head on your arms. Put your backside up in the air. That will help the babies move closer to your lungs.”

  Shaylinn couldn’t help it. She giggled. “Gravity?”

  Tova nodded. “To be certain. Now do as I say. I’ll return shortly.”

  Tova left, but Shaylinn did not roll over and put her butt in the air. She wasn’t even certain she was in labor. It was likely only indigestion from the oatmeal.

  Omar returned with Naomi and Ciddah, both of whom shooed him right back out of the room.

  “Do not let anyone come in here until I say so,” Ciddah said. “Do you understand? I’m going to check her.”

  Omar looked past Ciddah and met Shaylinn’s gaze. “Check her for what?”

  “To see if the babies are coming,” Ciddah said.

  Omar’s face paled and he inched back a step. “What, uh . . . How long will it take?”

  “Not long. Now, out!”

  One more glance from Shaylinn and he pulled the door shut.

  “You poor dear.” Naomi sat on the edge of Shaylinn’s bed, swept the hair back from her forehead. “A
re you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” Shaylinn would never get to finish her conversation with Omar at this rate. “Ciddah, I really don’t think I’m in labor. Tova thought so, but — ”

  “Tova has birthed five children, Shaylinn,” Ciddah said. “I think that gives her some level of expertise.”

  “I guess.”

  Ciddah examined Shaylinn, and halfway through, another cramp seized her body. This one hurt more than the others.

  “Ohh, Shaylinn,” Ciddah said. “Yes, you’re in labor.”

  Shaylinn took long breaths through her nose to try and ignore the pain. “Really?”

  “I’m afraid so. Oh, I really need some meds! What if Levi took me to a Pharmco? We could steal some.”

  “If he won’t trade you for Jemma, he won’t take you out for meds,” Naomi said.

  “Then he’s a fool!” Ciddah tucked Shaylinn back under the blankets. “I’ve never tried to stop labor without meds and my equipment.”

  “I’ll fetch Chipeta,” Naomi said. “She might have some ideas. She’s miscarried several times.”

  “Miscarry!” The word shot fear through Shaylinn’s heart.

  “Don’t worry.” Naomi jumped up. “I’m simply hoping she remembers what Tamera tried to stop early labor.”

  A knock sounded on the door.

  Naomi was already halfway to the door and opened it herself. Tova swept inside, holding a fabric bundle. Omar was right behind her. Naomi left and shut the door behind her.

  “Why are you on your back?” Tova asked. “Roll over, Shayleen. Now!”

  “What do you mean roll over?” Ciddah asked.

  So Tova explained how the position could help the babies fall away from the birth canal.

  “It’s worth a try,” Ciddah said, nodding to Shaylinn. “If the babies come now, they’ll be too little, and I have no way to help them.”

  Tova instructed Ciddah and Omar to help Shaylinn roll onto her face, then supervised how to get her into the correct position. Shaylinn felt so fat and heavy and embarrassed that Omar was seeing her like this. She wanted him to leave, but she was afraid that saying so would hurt his feelings.

  “Fifteen minutes, four times a day,” Tova said. “I’m going to make you some tea that will also help.”

  “What kind of tea?” Ciddah asked.

  “Crampbark and fennel.”

  Ciddah frowned. “You grow those here?”

  “For medicinal purposes, yes.” And Tova left.

  “Omar, will you watch her?” Ciddah asked. “I need to find Levi. If he won’t get me any meds, he needs to get an incubator. Preferably two, but we could make do with one.”

  “What’s an incubator?” Omar asked.

  “It’s a special bed . . . box . . . for premature babies,” Ciddah said. “It helps them stay warm and finish growing. I hope that Tova can help slow the labor, but if not, we need to have a place ready for those babies.”

  Once Ciddah was gone, Omar came and sat on the edge of the bed. He had to duck his head to look into her eyes. “How do you feel?”

  “Stupid.”

  “You? Never! Why?”

  “Because I’m in a really strange position and all the blood is rushing to my head.”

  “I could draw you, Shayleen,” Omar said.

  She reached out and tried to poke him in the side. “Don’t you dare!”

  “I promise I’d make it favorable.”

  “Omar, no.”

  He chuckled. “Well, it would make you laugh, anyway. Things are way too serious in this room.”

  “Speaking of which, we never finished our conversation,” Shaylinn said.

  “The one about you dying?”

  “Yeah, that one.”

  He took a deep breath. “I don’t know if now is the best time.”

  “Of course it is!”

  He set his hand on the back of her head. “Hey, listen. We’re both really young, and weird things are happening to us. There’s no one I’d rather spend my life with than you, Shay, but we don’t need to rush into anything. Until we’re all free, we should just relax and not worry about the future.”

  “You have someone else? Someone in the Lowlands?” A thought occurred to her with a jolt. “Was Kendall there?”

  “Kendall is dead, Shay. There’s no one for me but you. And that’s how I want it.”

  “Really?”

  “Yeah. But what about you and Nash?”

  “I think he likes me. But he’s only my friend.”

  “Yeah, he likes you.” He gave her a strange smile. “Okay, then. I like you and you like me. So let’s get through this war they’re planning and get you and the babies safe, and then if you’re interested, maybe we can see if Levi will mentor us.”

  Again all she could say was, “Really?”

  “You may not want to after going through labor. I’ve heard my mom tell stories.”

  “As long as you give up the PV. Do you think you can?”

  “I already have.”

  “But for good?”

  He chuckled. “Am I so unbelievable today?”

  They sat together quietly for a time. Then the door opened and Tova came in with a mug that was steaming. “You can roll over now. It’s been fifteen minutes.”

  Omar helped Shaylinn get settled upright in the bed again.

  “Can I get you anything, Shay?” Omar asked.

  “An incubator, I guess.”

  He leaned close and kissed her forehead. “You got it.”

  CHAPTER

  24

  Well?” Cadell asked.

  Mason looked up from where he was stocking the cupboard with medical supplies. Cadell watched him, his expression curious, eyebrows wrinkled, lips pursed in a flat line.

  “We’re pretty sure he made it.”

  “Pretty sure?”

  Mason knew how that had sounded, but he could only guess what had happened with the balloon. From what he’d been able to see, Omar had gone too far. They’d tried to pull him back, but he’d cut the tether. He wouldn’t have done that unless he’d had to. “There’s nothing to do but wait and see.”

  “Wait.” Cadell’s posture slumped. “I’ll be sixty-two in three weeks. I’ve already been waiting a very long time.”

  “So what’s a few weeks more, right?” Mason said. “There’s more we can do, you know. We could try and find some answers.”

  “You said there hasn’t been a natural pregnancy in years?” Cadell asked.

  “That’s right. Not in the Safe Lands,” Mason said. “Ciddah said infertility started showing up five years ago and spread rapidly.”

  “What changed, do you think? The thin plague has been around since the Great Pandemic. Why, after so long, would fertility problems suddenly become rampant? Something must have happened five years ago. A new antibiotic, perhaps? Or a mutation in the disease?”

  Maybe that was when they had started putting stimulants in the meds. “I don’t know of anything. I’ll ask Lonn.”

  “Richark Lonn?”

  “He used to be a medic,” Mason said.

  “I know him. Fastest twenty rank in the history of medics. He’s here?”

  “In my bunkhouse. He was liberated a rebel, so that makes him a striker. I found out he tasks in the cattle slaughterhouse.”

  “Richark Lonn in a slaughterhouse.” Cadell shook his head. “That’s really something, you know. No one saved more lives than that man. Until he became a rebel, I suppose.”

  “He’s still trying to save lives.” Saved Mason’s life every night in their bunkhouse.

  “It was never reported why he was fired from the MC,” Cadell said. “But word got around. They wanted us to know his behavior wasn’t acceptable. Still, I used to dream about finding a cure. I was too scared, though. After what happened to Lonn. But I’m old, Mason. And I don’t care anymore. Before, there was the threat of premature liberation to keep me in line. Now, what can they do to me?”

  “Move you to the st
rikers’ bunkhouse and make you task in the cattle slaughterhouse,” Mason said.

  Cadell laughed. “True, that. I suppose they might.” He put his hands in his pockets. “I wish I would have taken more risks back then.”

  “It’s not too late,” Mason said. “If Omar made it . . . If he got word to the right people . . .”

  “I asked about compounding my own meds. I was told no.” Cadell withdrew a vial of meds from his pants pocket and set it on the counter. “Thought maybe you’d like to mix this with your blood and see what’s in it.”

  “Is it yours?”

  Cadell nodded. “You might set up shop in exam room two. We rarely use those rooms, so as long as we keep one open you should be safe. And you might prepare an extra vial of meds for the patient in bed five.” He gestured to the bed as if he were giving Mason instructions. “There’s an extra blood meter in the cupboard above the sink by bed six.”

  Mason stared at the man, shocked in more ways than one. “Thank you.”

  He started to walk away. “You just make sure you share your results. I’m curious to see what you find out.”

  Between patients, Mason set up his laboratory in exam room two. It wasn’t going to be easy to take his own blood, so he waited until his lunch break, got a sandwich from the GMC cafeteria, and brought it back to his lab. He spent the rest of his lunch drawing his own blood and eating his sandwich while he rested. By the time his lunch was over, he and his testing were in good shape.

  He made two mixtures: One with his blood and Cadell’s meds, and one with his blood and the meds of the patient in bed five. He tested Cadell’s blood first. The tick, tick, ticking of the blood meter drew out the suspense.

  Then it beeped. Mason read the display.

  Inergia.

  He’d never heard of it. He wrote it down on a slip of paper and tested the second sample. Xiaodrine, like Ciddah.

  He recorded his data, frustrated that he had nothing more to test today. He cleaned up his mess, stored his blood samples in the mini fridge, and went back to work.

  If he was going to do this well, he needed to get a lot more meds.