by Ann Pino
Was Marsha right and she had driven Jay away for something he didn’t do? Cassie drew her knees to her chest and hugged herself. What an idiot she was! She said she loved him, but what kind of love had no faith?
Out of the darkness, a flicker of candle flame bobbed toward her. A pale face appeared, dusted with powder, and big eyes searched Cassie’s own. “Hi,” the girl said. She was short and thin, her lace-trimmed taffeta gown dragging the floor. She fumbled in a pocket and took out a deck of cards. “Want to play?”
* * *
It was nearly dawn before Sid and Griffin decided they had done enough with the Fresnels and needed some rest. Wordlessly, Cassie guarded Sid’s return through the gray stillness of early morning. The streets were quiet, with only a few early-rising urchins watching from doorways or pausing in the work of setting up for their daily hustle. A girl rattled a tambourine ominously as they passed and the smell of toxic smoke stung their noses as they walked past an enterprising teen burning treated scrap lumber for cooking. When they got to the hotel they found it quiet too, although the vibe felt off somehow, like something wasn’t right.
“You’re wanted in the conference suite,” a guard told Cassie.
She shoved back the hood of her cloak. “What for? That’s a weird place to meet when it’s this hot out.”
“It’s an important discussion. Mundo wants total privacy.”
“Why would he want that?” Cassie murmured, more to herself than with any expectation of an answer. They had discussed everything up to and including battle strategy in the outdoor office by the pool. Why this sudden need for closed doors?
Treating the question as if a response was required, the guard said, “May is back. She escaped.”
Cassie hurried to Conference Suite A, where she was let in right away. She found Doc, Mundo, Kayleen, Alex and Julilla huddled in front of the window. They moved aside so she could squeeze in, and she stifled a gasp of shock at the wan form on the sofa.
May was almost unrecognizable. Her hair was chopped in a ragged fringe close to her scalp, and in one spot someone had gotten too enthusiastic with the shears and left a gash which wasn’t healing as it should and oozed a pale yellow fluid. What Cassie found truly alarming, though, were the red, puffy blotches all over May’s face, neck and hands.
“It’s mostly second-degree,” Doc explained. “But some of it’s from chemicals and might as well be third-degree, in terms of health risk.”
“What happened?”
May said nothing and closed her eyes.
“She created a lab explosion in order to escape,” Mundo said. “They were making her run experiments for them.”
“When they weren’t experimenting on her,” Julilla muttered. “We need to clear those fuckers out.”
“Glad you finally agree with me,” Alex said.
“Enough.” Mundo glared at each of them. “We don’t do ‘I told you so’ around here, and anyone who doesn’t like that rule can join another group. Besides, until now Julilla’s point was valid. We had no details of location, numbers, or alliances, but now we do.” He bent to take May’s hand, but it was so badly blistered that he simply thanked her instead. “You’ve done brave work and we won’t forget it. You’ll get the best medical care we can offer. After that, anything you want; a new shop, a new lab…just tell us and we’ll make it happen.”
May nodded, but didn’t open her eyes.
“I’d like to move her to the clinic now,” Doc said. “She needs fluids and rest. You can quiz her again later.”
Alex and Julilla improvised a stretcher and carried May to the clinic. They gave her a private corner of the treatment room rather than put her on the ward, so she wouldn’t become an object of curiosity.
Once May was resting as comfortably as could be expected, Doc and Cassie went through his manuals in search of useful information about burn treatments. “We have no aloe, no calendula, and we sure as hell don’t have any drugs.” Doc threw up his hands in frustration.
“Vitamin C and aspirin?” Cassie suggested.
“Maybe a band-aid, too. One with Mickey Mouse on it, to represent the ridiculous level of care we’re providing.”
“Well, we can’t do magic. We need proper drugs, but if we try to barter with the Pharms, they’ll know why we’re doing it.” Cassie sighed and closed the book. “We’ll be lucky if they don’t come looking for her. Maybe another group in the alliance can make a trade for us. We could give them a list of what we need.”
“Someone might have some drugs from an earlier trade,” Doc said thoughtfully. “I’ve heard the St. Catherine’s girls are pretty aggressive about storing antibiotics.”
“And the Thespians would probably have pain-killers.”
“They always seem to be high on something.”
“Actually, I think for a lot of them that’s their natural state.”
“Scary thought.”
“Make me a list and I’ll take it to Mundo so he can send someone to make inquiries.”
Doc fumbled among his papers for a pen, then sat down and began writing.
EXCERPT FROM CASSIE’S JOURNAL:
May is back and she’s pretty bad off. At first we thought the burns were her biggest problem and we sent people to try and collect medicine without alerting the Pharms. But when Doc and I undressed her to rinse the burns with cold water, we found something else. At first Doc thought it was menstrual blood and got embarrassed, but something Julilla said earlier made me suspicious and I made him give me a flashlight.
You’d think after helping birth a baby, it wouldn’t be so embarrassing to go examining up there, but it is. I’m glad I did, though, because something’s very wrong. I don’t know if we can fix it. Without pain killers there’s no way we can stitch her up, and there appears to be deeper bleeding from inside that we have no idea what to do about. In the end, all we could do was clean her up and pad her with rags in the hope that the bleeding would stop on its own.
I almost didn’t tell Julilla, since I knew how she would react. She didn’t disappoint me. She stomped around the penthouse, ranting about misogynists and rape as a terror tactic, then she attacked the punching bag like she was going to put a fist through it. When she had finally worked off some of her anger, she said, “She’s going to need counseling.”
“We’ll sit and talk with her,” I said. “We’ll make sure she knows she’s loved and safe. What else can we do? Hire a Thespian to play Sigmund Freud?”
“They’d like that.” Julilla paced the room, tapping her boxing gloves together. “Actually, I was wondering if we could bring her up here. It’s pretty and quiet, and away from all the bullshit that goes on downstairs.”
“True,” I said, “But then we’d need to let Doc up here to treat her, and Mundo and Alex to debrief her, and next thing you know it’s not our place any more. And once it’s everyone’s place, they’ll trash it like everything else.”
Julilla stopped pacing. “I guess you’re right. It would do no good to get her up here only to have it turn into more of what’s down there.”
“Besides,” I said, “After what I’ve seen, it doesn’t look like she’s up for climbing all those stairs. I’m surprised she made it here at all.”
“Adrenaline. Fear is an amazing motivator.”
Julilla went on to tell me some of Alex’s ROTC stories about the heroics of wounded soldiers under survival conditions. I guess this is why neither of them was surprised that May walked nearly five miles to get to us after she blew up her lab and escaped. It took her nearly twenty-four hours of hiding in buildings and sneaking through side streets, but she did it.
She says the Pharms know all about our Telo research. They’re firmly in alliance with the Obits, but are hedging their bets by trying to find the cure on their own, since the Obits cannot or will not give it to them. Of course, a few questions remain. Is Jay still with the Obits, and if so, whose side is he on? If we fight the Obits, will we have to fight the Pharms, too? And final
ly, how many grownups are left alive?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Alex stepped up preparations for the attack, sending messengers to the allied groups throughout the day and night. He gave the twins the address to the rural lab where the children were being taken, allotting them some of their precious gasoline so they could ride their stolen motorcycles. Their investigation resulted in detailed information about the facility, its layout and the number of guards. Even better, Danny produced a series of maps and diagrams from memory, with Danica confirming their accuracy. These they turned over to Alex and Julilla, who pored over them, debating the merits of pincer movements vs. frontal assault. They discussed how the Fresnels could best be deployed, or if they should be used at all. They analyzed the skills and supplies of their soldiers and allies until their heads hurt and they begged Rochelle for something stronger than willow drops.
But their best pain-killers were going to May, now that they had acquired a few from the Thespians. Although May’s blisters were deflating and her bleeding had slowed to a spotting, a sullen listlessness had taken hold. She spoke only when spoken to, murmuring no more than a word or two when she chose to answer at all. She refused to eat until pestered, even though they gave her the best food they had. Instead, she spent most of her time staring at the wall, pretending to sleep when anyone came near.
Cassie and Julilla were flummoxed. They sat with May when they could and tried to draw her into conversation, to no avail. They enlisted Alaina’s help, thinking maybe they could talk fashion and jewelry together. But although May listened patiently, she answered in monosyllables and showed no interest in anything related to art. Frustrated, Alaina assigned her students to practice their reading on her, bringing the first sign of emotion anyone had seen when May cursed the little boy stuttering through Green Eggs and Ham and told Alaina she’d rather go back to the Pharms than endure any more “kiddie bedtime stories.” Insulted, Alaina quit sending children to read to her and May got a little of the peace she craved.
Finally there came a day when decisions had to be made. Mundo called a meeting on the patio and this time David was included so the issue of battlefield supply could be addressed. Cassie tried to ignore the way he stared at her and wondered, as she often did, why he had told her about Trina. Marsha the Thespian had planted suspicions in her mind, but confronting David was out of the question since every time she tried to have a few words with him, he turned it into an attempt to get her into bed. Cassie had too much else going on to need that hassle.
“If the bunker is forty miles away,” David told Alex, “No way can we supply you from here. We’ve got just the one shuttle and not nearly enough gas.”
“It’s too dangerous, anyway,” Julilla said. “Bring war material with you from home, but forage on the enemy.”
“I wish you’d quit quoting that damn book,” Alex said.
“You’re the one who recommended it.”
“Not so you could memorize it and go around quoting it all the time.”
Mundo silenced them. “No fighting. If you can’t save it for the enemy, one of you needs to resign. I won’t have my co-commanders arguing.”
Julilla and Alex exchanged sullen looks and returned to examining the maps. This time David leaned forward and traced a few paths with a finger. “Acrefield Mall looks like it’s about fifteen miles away. Did the twins get a sense of what condition it was in?”
“Burnt,” Alex said.
“Any schools that maybe still have cafeteria supplies?”
Julilla shrugged. “Who knows?”
“So even if we tried to supply you locally, we wouldn’t know until we got there if it could be done.”
“How is that different from now?” Kayleen looked up from doodling on her notepad with a purple felt tip.
David glared, but Mundo seized on her point. “There’s some truth to that. Supplies are getting harder to find in the city, so it’s not like you’d be working any harder out the sticks. We’ll lay in stock here so your team can go with us and work the vicinity.”
“Look,” David said, sitting up straight. “I don’t mind dying, as long as it’s fast and not from the Telo. Getting blown up in an Obit ambush would suit me fine. But where does that leave you guys? Any form of supply that depends on driving in plain sight on known roads is going to be a problem.”
“Supply chain is an army’s weak point,” Alex agreed. “It’s what got Napoleon.”
“I thought winter got Napoleon,” Kayleen said.
“That too, but it was really—”
“Enough.” Mundo held out his hand for the map. “I know it’s rural, but there’s got to be a way to make this work.”
“Attack fast and get the Obits’ food,” Julilla said, to Alex’s nod of agreement. “It’s the only way.”
“Unless there’s a grain elevator still full somewhere nearby,” Cassie pointed out. “Or livestock still alive—cows or goats or something.”
A slow smile broke over Mundo’s face. “That’s right. You’re the eco-girl with the wilderness skills. How’d we manage to forget that?”
“I don’t have farm skills. I know wild plants and animals, and a little about vegetable gardening, but not food crops and chickens.”
“Plants are plants,” Julilla said. “Right? ”
“I guess.” Cassie frowned in thought. “In the garden, seeds often get left behind and grow on their own the next season, so I bet it’s the same with big fields of crops. They’re probably hybrids, but the second generation usually sprouts okay. It’s the third generation that’s the problem.” Getting blank stares from the group, she clarified. “There may be some wild crops growing, like corn and tomatoes. And then there’s the farm houses and barns. Barns would’ve had oats and corn before the Telo, if the mice didn’t get it all by now.”
Mundo nodded enthusiastically. “So it’s not crazy that we could forage out there.” He turned to David. “We’ll vet this plan with our allies, but I propose that all allied non-combatants stay here with a guard and as much as we can lay by for them in the way of supplies. You’ll come with us and lead the allied foragers in local scavenging.”
David rubbed his face in frustration. “I’m telling you, man, I wouldn’t know an edible plant from poison ivy.”
“There’s also grain elevators, animals and farmhouses, like Cassie said.”
“And if there’s not?” A wicked grin spread across his face. “Maybe Cassie should be on my forage team.”
“No,” Cassie said, before Mundo had a chance to speak. She fumbled for an answer to his inquisitive look, but could only shake her head.
Julilla came to her rescue. “She’s my lieutenant and I’ve gone to a lot of trouble to train her. Anyone can tell corn from dandelions. Ask around the alliance for an outdoorsy sort to partner with David.”
“But I want her.”
Cassie felt David’s gaze boring into her. “Forget it.”
She said it with such firm contempt that Mundo motioned for David to let the matter drop. “We’ll find someone to accompany the foragers as a subject matter expert. In the meantime, we need to call the alliance together and finalize our plans.” He looked at Kayleen, who appeared to be more interested in applying sunscreen than writing anything down. “Have you been taking notes, babe?”
Kayleen set the Coppertone aside and picked up her notepad. “Farmhouses, barns, grain elevators and tomatoes. I pay attention.”
“Good. I need you to write the schedule for the final pre-battle meeting of the alliance. Plans to be voted on include the following….”
* * *
Although she was hot and out of sorts after sparring with David, Cassie stopped at the clinic to check on how things were going. She found Doc making the ward rounds alone. “What’s the matter?” she said. “Did you scare all your nurses off today?”
“Rochelle is here.” He motioned Cassie nearer and lowered his voice. “She seems to have gotten through to May. I took over ward duty so
she can keep doing whatever it is she’s doing in there.”
Cassie glanced toward the door. “Can I go in?”
Doc shrugged. “It’s been an hour, so it’s worth a try, I guess.”
“I’ll pretend like I’m looking for aspirin.”
The air in the treatment room was stultifying and smelled vaguely of old urine overlaid with alcohol and herbs. It was a confusing odor, not pleasant but not so distasteful that Cassie wanted to bolt. She pretended to look for something in the cabinet, glancing occasionally toward the back wall where May lay propped against a stack of pillows with Rochelle beside her nursing the baby. To Cassie’s relief, both girls returned her smile. Rochelle’s was broad and welcoming, and May’s was strained, but it was all the encouragement she needed to join them.
Wisely, Cassie didn’t comment on May’s change in behavior and instead offered her opinion on the weather, the state of the potato garden, and the general stuffiness of the hotel. Conversation drifted aimlessly, centered on light, inoffensive topics.
Finally the baby grew fussy and Rochelle gathered him close. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to take him to the patio where it’s cooler.” She looked at May, a question in her eyes.
“Go ahead. I’m fine.”
After Rochelle was gone, Cassie asked if she should leave.
May shook her head. “I hear they’re making plans. Tell me.”
Cassie told what she knew of the attack strategy, apologizing that it was so vague. “We’re going to try to get the alliance leaders together tonight to agree on the final plan. I think we’ll move pretty fast after that. We might be mobilizing as soon as tomorrow.”
“Good. Don’t give those bastards a chance to get stronger.”