“We travel at the end of the day round here. Have some rest. Have somethin' to eat and drink. I'll take ya to see my friends at sundown,” said Mick.
He took a long swig of his tea, Alice, sitting beside him, stuck her pinkie finger out as she mimicked him.
Chapter Fifteen
By the afternoon I was sick of sitting in the hot box that was Mick's home. The tin walls emanated a wobbly ray of heat and my mouth was dry and sticky. Dirt stuck to my sweaty arms and the more I attempted to wipe them clean the dirtier they became. Dad was sleeping in the corner as were Lark and Domino, the rest of us sat in a half dazed state wondering how much longer we had to endure the heat. Sure, we weren't getting sunburnt, but sweat soaked through my shirt and my own odour was starting to make me queasy.
“I need a shower. I stink,” I groaned pulling at my damp singlet. The motion sent a waft of my stench through the air making me cringe.
“No need to share it around.” Fletcher pinched the bridge of his nose. “That's not attractive.”
“I wasn't trying to be.” I wiped at my dusty arms again making them dirtier. “Argh, I'm disgusting.”
“Me too. I swear I've lost ten kilos' sitting in here.” Vega wiped at the sweat beading on her forehead. “Maybe Mick's plan is to slow cook us so he can eat us for dinner.”
“You'll be fine. It'll start dropping off cooler soon and you'll all be whining it's too cold,” said Braven.
“Look at you being Mr Positive,” I gave him a nudge then screwed up my nose. “I don't like it.”
“Maybe I have plenty to be positive about,” he wriggled his eyebrows towards Vega who blushed.
“You two got yourselves together?” asked Fletcher.
“Let's say I can stand to be around him for longer than five minutes now. I'm waiting to see how long it lasts,” replied Vega.
“That's not what you said last night.” Braven puffed out his chest. “Just tell them you want me. I can tell by the lust in your eyes,” Braven growled at Vega who punched him hard in the chest.
“Gross. I think I liked it better when you two were mean to each other.” I stuck my tongue out fake gagging.
“Yeah, my apple from lunch is trying to come back up,” added Fletcher.
“Like you two can talk. Holding hands, sleeping beside each other at night…” Braven stopped with a sharp shoulder barge from Vega. “What?”
“We weren't going to say anything,” she said.
“Well they're happy to talk about us. Why shouldn't we talk about them?” he asked.
I was sick of them pushing us. It was different for them, they'd been together before and broke up for silly reasons. Fletcher and I had been friends for as long as I could remember. “Because there is no them… us. We're…”
“Friends.” All three of them said in unison. Braven rolled his eyes and Fletcher swallowed hard looking to the dirt floor.
The sound of scraping and banging sounded outside and a struggling boy was thrust through the doorway with Molly growling at his heels and Mick with a fist full of the back of his shirt. The commotion awoke the others and we all jumped up in defence. I reached for the handle of my knife in my utility belt.
“Anyone know who this fella is?” asked Mick.
The boy looked up, his green eyes meeting mine in a glare. His reddish hair should've given him away instantly. It was Seth. The Freedom camp had found us.
“Seth, what the hell are you doing here?” asked Tyler striding over to him.
“Tyler, no cuss words,” snapped Alice.
Tyler ignored her zeroing in on Seth and taking him from Mick. Seth responded by swinging his arm back and punching him in the face.
Tyler fell back to the dirt floor, clutching his right cheek. “You son of a…”
“Tyler,” Alice raced to her brother's side hugging him tight.
“What were you thinking Tyler? Taking Alice and disappearing with these outlaws without saying a word to Brent. How do you expect to look after her out here?” Seth's concern laced his words.
Tyler rose to his feet ignoring the bright red shiner on his cheek. “I'm looking after her. Me. Her family. Her brother. What did you expect me to do? Walk up to Brent and be like, 'Hey Brent, I hate you and your stupid camp. I'm taking my sister who you've claimed as your daughter and leaving with the random people who showed up weeks ago?' Don't think it would've gone down well.”
“You could've told me. We were like family once,” said Seth.
“Yeah. We were once. But people grow up and go their own ways. I went my way and you followed Brent.”
“What about Lula? She's devastated. Alice was like a daughter to her,” asked Seth.
Maya went to Alice peeling her off Tyler's leg and lifting Alice into her arms. Alice turned into her to hold her tight.
Mick held out his arms for Maya to pass him Alice. “Let's go for a walk little one, let this mob sort out their problems.”
Maya looked to Tyler who nodded his approval and she placed Alice in Micks arms.
Mick lowered her to stand on the ground and took her hand. “Molly stay,” was all he said and he led Alice outside while Molly stayed poised at Seth's heel.
I shifted, moving forward, attracting Seth's attention.
“You. This is all your fault. Everything was fine until you turned up.” Seth pointed towards me and I stepped forward.
“Watch it buddy.” Fletcher arrived at my side. “The only reason she turned up in your camp was because you kidnapped her and Braven.”
“We didn't kidnap her,” Seth retaliated.
“Enough!” Dad's voice echoed through the shack and everyone fell silent. “This argument could go around in circles for days. Did you track us or follow us Seth?”
Dad's authorative tone made Seth stand to attention. “Followed you. After these two knocked me out at the hole I knew you couldn't have gotten far. I saw you sneaking out of the outer cave the day after the cyclone and decided to follow you.”
“Does Brent know you're following us?” Dad asked.
“No. He probably thinks I disappeared with all of you.” Disappointment shone in his eyes. He'd let Brent down and it was killing him.
“It's not like you to do something without Brent's permission. Do you expect me to believe he has no idea you followed us?” questioned Tyler.
“I wanted to go back and tell him, but I thought it was more important to keep an eye on you. I didn't want to lose sight of you. Especially after I saw the pendant was real.” His eyes went to my throat as I placed my hand on the pendant.
“Does he know about the pendant?” asked Dad.
“No.” Molly nipped at his heels making him jump. “Dammit, can't you get this mongrel to back off?”
“Sorry, she only answers to Mick.” I crossed my arms over my chest.
He gave Molly an evil glare earning himself another deep growl.
“Do we believe him?” asked Braven looking between Tyler and Dad.
“I do.” I said. “He didn't want to go back to Brent and tell him he'd lost the pendant again. He'd already failed once, he didn't want to fail again. My guess is he was hoping to find our camp and go back to tell Brent where we were so he could get his pat on the back and be told he was a good boy.”
Seth glared at me. “Who do you think you are?”
I shrugged. “You're worst nightmare.” Those were the words he'd told Lark when we'd asked who he was before he captured Braven and me.
“And my names Mick. This is my shack you're standin' in, and this here is my guard dog Molly. Alice wanted to come back and make sure you weren't hurting her brother.” Mick stepped through the doorway with Alice in tow. Molly's growl disappeared and she wagged her tail. “Good job girl.” He patted Molly on the head followed by Alice.
“Are you friends again?” asked Alice expectantly.
Seth knelt down to Alice's height. “Do you miss Mama Alice? She misses you.”
Tyler swept Alice up into his arms. “Alic
e doesn't have a Mama. She had a mum but she passed away when Alice was little.”
“Is Lula okay?” asked Alice concerned.
“She'll be fine,” replied Tyler.
“She's sad,” added Seth with puppy dog eyes.
“Enough Seth. If you don't leave the girl be we'll get Mick here to shoot you in the leg and leave you outside for the dingoes to find,” threatened Dad.
Seth straightened his back and remained silent.
“What do we do with him?” I asked.
“We could do what your dad suggested. Then technically we didn't kill him but don't have to worry anymore,” replied Braven. “Or maybe we could stun him? Domino, do you still have the stun gun?”
Seth's face paled. “I promise I mean no harm. I was doing my job. Let me go and I won't say a word to Brent.”
“Are you kidding me? You think we'd believe you?” scoffed Tyler.
“No. But it was worth a try. You can't kill me. You can't take me with you…” Seth began.
“But I can stun him. Come on Domino, for old time's sake?” begged Braven.
“No one is stunning anyone.” Lark arrived behind us and we parted so he could step closer to Seth. “Part of me thinks we should take you with us. You found us so interesting you had to follow us. Come with us and see what we're trying to do. You and your little camp think you're changing the world by going to church and telling yourselves you're happy in your little bubble. All you're doing is pretending.”
“Do you believe someone who tortures prisoners, sticks them in the hole and separates them from the people they love is a good person? Brent is trying to control everyone and you know what happens if you don't do what he wants,” Tyler asked Seth.
“No. Because I appreciate everything Brent has given us. Before him I had nothing. My parents had died and I was living off any scrap or berry I could find in the rainforest. He took me in, fed me, clothed me and trained me. Some of us didn't get the privilege of being evacuated to a floating city. We had to stay down here and do what we could to survive. And if it wasn't for Brent, I'm not sure I would've,” Seth glared at Dad and me.
Guilt crept in tightening my chest. Thousands of people were left to either perish or struggle to survive while the rest of us were saved and put out of harm's way on floating cities. Could we blame Seth for trying to stay alive? I didn't trust him as far as I could throw him, but I understood why he was loyal to Brent.
“All Brent did was train you to do his bidding. You were young and easy to manipulate. I get it, I understand why you worship the ground he walks on. But you've also seen the horrible things he's capable of, do you think he's a good person?” asked Tyler.
Seth squared his jaw. “Brent's the prophet of God and sometimes the prophet has to do unpleasant things to do God's work.”
“Are you listening to yourself? You sound just like him.” Tyler threw his hands in the air.
“Enough Tyler,” interrupted Dad.
Tyler let out a frustrated breath and carried Alice to the other side of the room where Maya met them.
Dad continued. “I don't agree with Brent, or what he's doing in his camp. But he is the least of my concerns. We have a job to do and if you go telling Brent where we are, all it will do is cause delays. Delays we can't afford. You'll come with us, willingly, and in return we'll let you go when we get to the camp Mick is taking us to. Then it's your choice if you stay with us or go back to Brent.” My dad's words confused me. I didn't understand why he and Lark thought taking Seth with us was a good idea.
Seth eyed him. “Why should I trust you? You lied to Brent for the past few years, why wouldn't you lie to me.”
“I think you of all people would understand the measures you need to take to survive down here. There are things Brent couldn't be trusted with and I believe there's more reasons than wanting to impress Brent that brought you all this way,” replied Dad.
Seth paled, remaining silent. What other motivation would he have to follow us?
A loud clap made us all jump and Mick stood in the doorway. “Well, now that's sorted let's go find my friends. Its sundown, best time to travel.”
Chapter Sixteen
We hiked well into the night, until the glint of the moonlight shone off the base of Eden once again. The coolness quickened our pace and made it much easier to travel with our heavy packs. Alice did her best to keep pace but she began to slow and give in to her tired limbs. Tyler scooped her up in his arms and she fell asleep on his shoulder.
“You want me to carry her for a bit?” I fell back to let him catch up.
“She's heavy but these are the moments that remind me why I took her out of the Freedom camp. She's so young and innocent, they were turning her into someone like Seth.” He stare ahead where Seth kept stride with my dad.
“What's his story anyway? Why does he think Brent is so amazing?” I asked.
Tyler shifted Alice a little. “He was six when Brent and Lula found him. His parents had been murdered by survivors while he hid in the rainforest, and when Brent and Lula discovered him shivering under a bush they took him in. He helped them build the camp, and find the people who lived in it. People who were lost and had nowhere else to turn. Brent prays on the weak by making them believe they're stronger because of him.”
“So why not take Seth in like his child?”
“They did for a time, but Brent didn't want him as a child. He was grooming him to do his dirty work. You couldn't have the prophet drugging and hurting people, could you?” he said.
“They manipulated him?” I couldn't help but feel sorry for six-year-old Seth. Losing his parents must've been terrible, then to only have Brent to rely on. He didn't know any better. But there must've been points in his life where he knew what Brent was doing was wrong.
“Same way they did my parents. Seth and I were good friends when we were younger. But when mum turned from the church she helped me see Brent for who he was. I tried talking to Seth but he wouldn't listen, Brent had gotten too deep into his mind. Then my mum died and our friendship was over.”
“Then your mum rebelled and they got rid of her.” I corrected him.
“Yes.”
“Sun'll be risin' soon. Let's find a spot under those two Mulga trees there to get some rest and sit out the heat.
“How much further to your friend's camp?” asked Lark.
Domino was pale and leant heavily on Lark's arm. Mick looked her over before answering.
“Not far, but in your wife's condition she won't make it far in the heat,” he replied.
“Condition? What's wrong Domino?” Maya arrived at her side looking her over.
Lark and Domino exchanged a worried glance.
“Tummy bug I reckon,” replied Mick. “Bit of rest, food and water will help it along.”
“Thank you,” replied Lark, and he and Maya helped Domino over to the trees. The sun was already trying to peek above the horizon ready to drain away the coolness of the night.
When we arrived we all plonked our bags around the tree and I took a long swig of water. Rolling my bed out, I lay down enjoying the sensation of my muscles melting into the foam of the mattress.
“How did you get out here Mick?” asked Vega. “Do you have any family?”
“I've been in these parts for a while now. Back when the floods came my family retreated to the hills and waited them out. Lotsa fellas did but one got sick, and soon enough the people around us were dropping like flies. I decided to take my wife and son back down to the bush.” Micks gaze grew unfocused as he looked past us. “I'd grown up in the outback see and I thought surviving in the bush was my best bet. I built us the hut and we were happy for a long time. Others came and went, but nobody bothered us much. The fires destroyed lotsa the bushland but it soon regrew. We lived off the land like our ancestors had years before us.” He smiled at the memory.
“What happened to your family?” asked Vega.
Mick was silent for a moment before speaking. “My bo
y went out gathering one day and didn't come home at sundown. My wife and I searched for him all over but when we found him it was too late. He'd drowned in a gully and we couldn't save him. My wife wasn't the same after. She was there but her spirit had passed over with the boy. One day I came back from hunting and she was gone.”
“Did you find her?” asked Vega.
Mick shook his head.
“I'm so sorry for your loss,” said Vega. “What were their names?”
“I appreciate you wanting to know Vega but in my culture we don't speak of those who've passed.” His tone became more upbeat as he changed the subject. “Enough about boring old Mick. Get some sleep, the sun will rise soon and you'll be too hot to get any.”
I settled down on my bed beside Fletcher and turned to face him.
“Can I join you two?” Maya hugged her bedroll to her chest. “Despite all this time we spend together I haven't had a chance to talk to you guys. I miss my little bro.”
Maya scruffed up Fletcher's blonde hair that'd grown shaggy since we'd left Utopia.
“Stop touching my hair and I'll say yes,” Fletcher swatted at her hands.
“You don't have to worry about your hair down here Fletch. No girls to impress.” She didn't notice the small smirk Fletcher gave me as she rolled her bed out beside him.
“You've been spending a lot of time with Tyler and Alice. That's why you haven't had time for us.” Fletcher pushed out his bottom lip.
“I'm surprised you noticed. He's a sweet guy, and a bit cute don't you think?” Maya looked over to where Tyler was settling down with Alice. “How could I not find him attractive?”
“He is a good guy,” I agreed.
“You two seemed so close at the Freedom camp I thought you might snatch him before I got a chance to introduce myself.” Her eyes didn't leave Tyler and his sister.
“He's all yours. He is a great guy, and Alice is an amazing little girl,” I said.
“Hello, did you two girls want me to leave you to talk about this stuff on your own?” asked Fletcher.
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