Jo sees my look of surprise. “I told you that the scavengers had been here.”
“Where did they take it all?”
“Most is probably underground, in Deacon City, but some got carted off and bartered all over this region.” She pushes past us and starts up the stairs.
“Julia. Evan, up here.” Reece calls down.
We find him in an empty bedroom with two windows, both with intact glass, which is more than most of the houses in this neighborhood can claim. Reece has spread out several blankets so that they are partially inside a small closet. He looks up at us as he spreads out another one. “This is the best possible place. The windows will keep out the wind, and they face the south so you’ll get sunshine to help warm up the space. But they aren’t UV-coated like the windows in the truck, so be sure to stay out of the rays.”
Evan starts to say something then stops and smiles. “Good point.”
We all know that Evan knows this, but this is Reece’s way of making sure Evan is okay.
“I’m going to bring up enough water and food to last you for several days, but we’ll be back by tomorrow afternoon. And I’m leaving most of the guns with you in that bag.” He motions to a large duffle bag next to the wall. “Jo’s going to set up an alarm so if someone tries to get into the shed, you’ll hear them. You can see them from up here and shoot them if necessary. But if there are too many, let them have the vehicle. It’s not worth getting killed over.”
Evan leans against the wall and nods. His face is grayer than I’ve seen, and he looks like he’s about to pass out. He’s done too much, and now he’s paying for it.
“Evan, you need to sit down. You need to rest.”
“I’ll have plenty of time to rest after you’re gone.”
“I’m going to move the truck and get the water.” Reece takes off down the stairs. Jo watches us for a moment then follows.
I stand in front of him. “I want to look at your leg. Without your pants on.”
Evan flashes an impish grin. “Every guy wants to hear his girl tell him that.”
“Very funny. I’ll help you take them off.”
“Again…” he starts to laugh, but it quickly turns into a cough. He fumbles with the button on his pants, but his hand shakes. He’s in even worse shape, and he has no business being alone. Damn Jo for making me leave him.
“Let me do it.” My eyes find his as my fingers feel for the button.
He gazes at me with an intensity I’m unprepared for, and I’m sure he’s about to kiss me, but I can’t have the distraction. I need to focus on getting a good look at Evan’s wound.
After his pants are undone, I gently tug them over his hips and down his thighs, careful to keep the fabric from touching his gash. Once the waistband reaches his knees, I let the fabric fall then drop to my knees to get a better look.
What I find catches my breath. The original wound was the size of a quarter, a small gouge from a rock. What I see is much larger, with white and green pus that smells foul. Angry red streaks shoot up his swollen thigh. “Oh, Evan.”
“I know it’s bad.”
“Maybe I should try to clean it before we go.”
“Jules, there’s no time.”
“The hell there’s not.” I stand, struggling not to cry. “Reece is bringing water and Jo won’t leave without me. We’re planning on arriving after dark, so what’s the hurry?”
He sighs, too exhausted to argue. “Okay. But if I sit down on the floor, I won’t get back up.”
“Let’s go into the bathroom. You can sit on the toilet.”
He nods and starts to shuffle with his pants at his ankles. I help him step out of them and then lead him down the hall. For a second, I wonder if the toilet will still be there since everything else is gone. When we discover the tiny bathroom, I close my eyes in brief thanks. The toilet, tub and sink are still attached, even if the water doesn’t work.
By the time Evan eases himself on the toilet lid, beads of sweat dot his upper lip. His eyes catch mine, and his face is blurry through my tears.
“I can’t leave you, Evan.”
His hand lifts to my face, and he pulls my lips to his. He gives me the softest of kisses. Our lips still touching, he murmurs, “It’s okay. You can stay. It’s probably a longshot trying to get the medicine and I’d rather spend my time with you than worried if you’re safe or not.”
If Evan is admitting the situation is dire, I’m more scared than ever. His words are meant to give me a reprieve from leaving, but they only convince me that I have to go. No matter how much it kills me.
The stairs creak, and I look toward the door and find Jo watching us with narrowed eyes. Reece comes up behind her and I’m left to wonder how long she had been watching us.
“Reece, can you give me some of the water? Evan’s leg needs to be cleaned again before we go.”
He brings a small bottle and takes a look at Evan’s wound, biting his lip to hide his reaction. He had to be prepared before he saw it. The stench of the infection fills the small space.
“There’s nothing else we can use to clean it?” The answer will be the same as it was two days ago when we had only water. No. But something deep and desperate inside me needs to ask anyway.
“I have something.” Jo says, pulling her pack off her shoulders. She opens the top and pulls out a small container. “It’s not much, and it will burn like hell. Honestly, his infection is so bad, I’m not sure it will do any good, but it’s better than nothing until we get him some antibiotics.”
“Great bedside manner,” Reece growls.
While I don’t appreciate her bluntness, I do appreciate her willingness to share. A small amount of hope wedges between my despair and sorrow.
Jo ignores him and opens the container, pulling out a small square of cloth and handing it to me. “I only have two, so make them work.”
Evan slides back on the seat, extending his leg more and giving me better access.
The cloth is soaked in alcohol, and the skin on my finger and thumb begin to pucker at the contact. I hope that means the alcohol is strong. Strong enough to disinfect Evan’s leg. I lean over his wound, nearly gagging on the sickening sweet smell. I tenderly swipe at the edge of the wound and his leg tenses. “I’m sorry.”
“You can’t be gentle, Jules,” he says through gritted teeth. “You’re going to have to really clean it.”
I nod, biting the insides of my cheeks. I can’t bear to hurt him, yet know it has to be done. I hold the cloth over his leg and hesitate.
“I’ll do it.” Jo’s voice is low. “I’ve done this many times before.”
I almost let her. I don’t want to hurt Evan any more, but for some reason, I want loving hands to clean his wound, not Jo’s insensitive ones. With renewed determination, I swipe Evan’s cut with the cloth.
He cries out in pain and his leg jerks. He grabs the counter next to him with one hand and the windowsill on the other side.
I stop. “I’m sorry.”
“Keep going.”
Reece steps over and holds Evan’s leg down. I use both wipes to scrub away the pus, but there’s still more and I can’t help wondering if Jo was right. That it was a wasted effort. Evan looks worse than he ever has. His face is dusky and he sways on the toilet as though he’s about to fall off.
“Reece,” I choke out as I stand.
“I got him.”
Reece helps Evan up and leads him to the pallet in the bedroom.
“Shouldn’t we put his pants on first?” I ask, picking them up off the floor where I tossed them.
“No,” Evan croaks out. “The blankets will keep me warm and it’s better if the wound gets air.”
“You’re weak from the infection and sitting in a radiation cesspool,” Reece says. “That can’t be good.” He takes the pill bottle out of his coat pocket and pours one into his hand. “Here. Take this now, an extra dose might help.”
Evan reaches for the pill, then stops.
R
eece presses it into his palm. “We have plenty with the thugs’ stash. In fact, I think it’s better if we leave most of them here with you. They might search us and find them.”
“You have to take some for you and Julia.” His eyes lift. “And Jo. Several days’ worth.” He puts the pill in his mouth and Reece hands him water to drink. When Evan lies down and closes his eyes, he looks so still and pale, my stomach flip-flops.
Reece takes off his watch and puts it on Evan’s wrist. “I’ve set the alarm to go off every three hours. I want you to drink something every time it goes off. Okay?”
“Yeah,” Evan mumbles.
“I mean it, Evan.” Reece’s voice is gruff, and I hear his fear.
“I heard you the first time. Remember the angels.” But Evan’s eyes are still closed and he sounds like he’s half asleep.
The angels reference is from the old movie It’s a Wonderful Life, and the idea that every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings. It’s Reece and Evan’s code for “only God can get us out of this mess.” Reece said it had gotten them out of every mess they’d gotten into. Why do I worry it won’t work this time?
I clear my throat. “You don’t need angels. You have us.”
“Yeah.” I hear pride in Evan’s voice.
Reece stands and moves closer to Jo and me by the door. We watch him for a moment, then I go to him and drop to my knees, leaning over until my mouth brushes his ear. “I’m coming back with antibiotics, so you have to stay strong for me until then, okay?”
He’s quiet so long I don’t think he’s going to answer so I raise my face and the corners of his mouth lift into the smallest of grins. “You’re not going to leave without kissing me goodbye, are you?”
A laugh muffles the sob in my throat and I kiss him gently, scared he’s so fragile that he’ll break. Then I realize he’s already broken and it’s up to me to save him. “Don’t you die on me, Evan Whittaker. I didn’t cross a universe to let you die on me.”
His eyes flicker open. “Jules, there’s something I have to tell you…” His voice fades.
“Save it for when I come back.” I place another kiss on his lips, then stand. “Let’s go.”
It takes everything within me not to throttle Jo as I walk past her.
Chapter Seven
“Julia, wait up.” Reece clomps down the stairs after me. “I have to give you your pack.”
He leads me into the kitchen. Almost everything has been ripped from the walls with the exception of one small section of cabinets. Our bags are on the counter, assorted bottles of water and food pouches spread around them.
“Jo picked out several things to trade. We’ve split everything up so we’re each carrying some of the most important items. Just in case.”
I nod with a quick jerk, afraid of what I might say to Jo if I open my mouth.
“Jo says the guys we’re going to deal with might be pretty rough. This might get touchy, but we can’t bring any of our government weapons. If they search and find them…they’re bound to ask quite a few questions we don’t want to answer.”
I nod again.
Reece divides up the water and food packs and puts them in both bags. “I left everything else of value in a bag upstairs with Evan, including the weapons. At least he can defend himself.”
The mention of Evan’s name makes me feel helpless all over again, and helplessness is the last feeling I need at the moment. “Can we leave now?”
“Yeah…sure.”
I’m the first out the door, pulling my hood over my head and tugging the front of my coat closed. The wool of Evan’s collar scratches the front of my neck and I catch a faint whiff of him and close my eyes. We’ll get the medicine. We’ll save him.
We walk for miles in silence. Reece and I could be discussing our plans for after we leave Kansas City, but I feel uncomfortable talking in front of Jo. I have to wonder about her real motivation for insisting that I come. Does she know who I am and plans to turn me in? Does the Deacon even care who I am?
In a society whose entire monetary system relies on bartering, I could garner a prosperous trade.
I want to confront her, but it would be pointless. It’s probably better that she doesn’t know I’m more suspicious of her than I already appear. And she’ll never admit to anything. Subterfuge has never been my strong suit, but I have to wonder if it’s my best course of action.
The sun is low in the sky when we reach the top of a hill and see the bridge below us. A scattered stream of about twenty people head toward it and I’m amazed to see so many people in this godforsaken land. The bridge itself is rusted and visible holes dot the roadway. A barricade has been set up on our side.
Panic seizes my lungs, and I have to push out a breath. “How do we pay the toll?”
Jo grins, shifting her weight. “Relax, Chipper. I’ve got it covered.”
“I didn’t ask if you had it covered. I asked how much it was.” My words sound hateful, but I don’t care. I know I risk her deciding not to take us inside the city, but instinct tells me she wants to go inside as badly as we do. That’s what worries me.
Jo gives me a smug smile. “Well, look you at Region-baby. Growing up already.”
Her attitude stokes my growing irritation. “You didn’t answer my question.”
She smirks as we begin to walk. “Different foods have different values. Bread products are the cheapest. The toll is inexpensive so it’s usually a roll or hunk of bread.”
“And you have bread?”
“Yep.”
“So why are you paying our toll?”
“Do you have any bread?”
“Well… no…”
“Anyone who’s spent more than three days out here knows the bartering hierarchy. If you show up at that tollbooth without bread, you’ll be flashing a sign that says I’m from Springfield. And trust me, you do not want that.”
So she can turn us in to the Deacon herself? But I bite my tongue. The only options I see are to turn around, or head into the underground city and get Evan’s medicine. When I look at it that way, there is no decision. I keep my anger simmering below the surface.
As we tromp down the hill, I catch a glimpse of Reece. His hood covers most of his face and the fading light casts shadows across his lower features. His hands are stuffed inside his coat pockets.
Mine are too, but my fingers are freezing. I take them out and cup my hands in front of my mouth to warm them up with my breath.
Reece moves closer and gently takes my hand, placing it between his own.
I stiffen and begin to pull away, but he holds tight and lowers his voice. “Relax. I’m not making a move on you. I’m only trying to help. It’s not any different than the hot tea I gave you after you nearly froze to death in the trunk of my car.”
The muscles in my back loosen, although not entirely. I’ve never been a fan of the cold and neither is my body. And the situation with the hot tea didn’t end as platonically as it began.
As I let him rub my fingers, the memory of that morning rushes in full force, only to have another sweep in behind it. I’m outside with a group of kids. We’re on a playground and my hands and toes are freezing. I stomp my feet, but my hands are bare, and the pain in my fingers brings tears to my eyes. A little boy with a mop of brown hair and emerald green eyes takes my hands in his.
“Where’s Evan?”
“He’s…home…sick.” I push out through my shivers.
His lips curl into a scowl, but his hands are gentle as he rubs my fingers. “Where’s your mittens?”
“I…for…got them.”
“Your stupid hands are always cold. You need to keep an extra pair for when Evan’s not here. I’ve got better things to do.” But he stays in front of me, blocking the wind until the bell rings to go back inside.
The memory fades, and I stumble.
Reece grabs my elbow and helps me stay upright. “You’ve got to watch where you’re going in the dark.”
“I remem
ber,” I whisper, fear soaking every cell of my body.
“The tea? I should hope so. That only happened a few days ago.”
I keep my distress to myself. If I tell Reece, he might change his mind about going into Deacon City, and Evan will die. Whatever’s going on in my head can wait another day or so. I need to concentrate on getting into the city and getting back out. I hope Reece has a plan if things go wrong. A plan other than run.
I need something else to think about other than multiple doomsday scenarios. I take my hands from Reece and move next to Jo. “So this hierarchy of bartering you mentioned. What is it? We should probably know it in case we need to trade on our own.”
“Good point.” She searches my face for a moment, then faces the bridge. “Bread is the lowest, unless it’s sweet, like a cake or cookies. Those need sugar and cost more to make. Meat and dairy are second. Next is fruit and vegetables.”
“Then things with sugar?”
“Yeah, and finally, things that are practically nonexistent.”
“Like coffee?”
“Yes, and tea.”
“What about clothes?”
“A lot of people trade those. They’re often used and threadbare. It’s rare for someone to get new clothes. The fabric has to be made.”
“What’s your life like? What do you do?” I ask, now desperate to talk and not let my imagination run wild over what might happen in those caves. Maybe if I get a better understanding of her life, I’ll be able to get her to empathize with us.
“Do? We survive.”
“What do you do for fun?”
“Fun?” Jo scoffs. “No one does anything for fun.”
“What about reading?” I can’t imagine a world without books, but I only found one print book in Reece’s bedroom, and I know he’s well educated.
She’s silent for a moment. “My mother had a few books. That’s what she used to teach us how to read.”
“So you’ve only read a couple of books in your entire life?”
“There’s not much time for sitting around, playing with books. Books won’t put food in your gut or keep you warm in the winter.”
We trudge in silence and the wind picks up, an icy bite nipping at my face. My fingers and toes are numb. The bridge is getting closer, offering the promise of a place out of the cold on the other side, but I still worry what else we’ll find.
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