Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110757 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“I can make spears,” I say. “I know it’ll be hard, but it’s my choice to make.”
She shakes her head, her brows pulled together in a look of disgust. “You wouldn’t say that if Marcus was standing here making the call. He wouldn’t want us bringing them into our camp and you know it.”
“That has nothing to do with me helping them.”
She scoffs. “He’ll have my fucking head if I let you go off with them.”
“You won’t be letting me do anything. I make my own choices.”
After a heavy sigh, she says, “We’ll take the kids.”
“Everyone,” I say.
She turns away from me and walks a few steps, then returns, giving me an accusatory look. “You’re putting me in an impossible situation.”
“I didn’t do this, Nova. The volcano erupted. I’m not playing mind games with you. If you don’t want to take them in, don’t. I understand. But I’m going to do what I can to help them.”
She raises her palms in a gesture of surrender. “Fine. Bring them all in. Just remember this when they’re killing our people in their sleep.”
Pax doesn’t look happy. He still has the vacant look of someone who had to go numb just to survive.
“We have ground rules,” I tell him. “None of you are allowed in our secure area. Anyone who tries to get into it will be shot immediately. We’ll take our shield offline so you guys can come in, but if anyone in your group kills one of our people or tries to stage a coup, we’ll turn the shield back on and it will probably kill every Tider in camp immediately.”
He nods, looking resigned. “I understand.”
“Make that very clear to your people. Anyone who can work has to, and they’ll be working hard. We make people earn their place. They have to respect everyone in camp. If they’re unclear on what respect means, they shouldn’t be there. And no lying to our leaders.”
“That’s all reasonable.”
“We’re already rationing, and we’ll have to cut back more. Rationing means equal portions for all. No one gets special treatment.”
“Okay.”
I look at Nova, who won’t even meet my eyes. I turn back to Pax.
“Talk to your people about the rules. Bring everyone who wants to come in back here in about an hour.”
“Can you bring some water for me and Theron?”
“You guys can both come in if you want to. He has to stay in our holding cell and you need to help with cleanup and managing your people.”
Pax rocks back on his feet, his expression stunned.
“Thank you.” His voice breaks and he clears his throat. “I’ll do whatever you need me to.”
“Tell Theron that if he even twitches suspiciously, he’s dead. He won’t be able to see everyone we have watching him, starting when we meet up back here.”
“I get it. I’ll make sure everyone knows your rules.”
“Okay. I’ll see you in an hour.”
Nova is silently seething next to me. I think she feels played by me, which wasn’t my intent.
We start the walk back. Once Pax is out of earshot, I say, “I’m sorry.”
She scoffs. “Oh, you will be. I hope Marcus comes back and fries them all with our shield.”
“You really hope that?”
Nova’s cutthroat, but that’s cruel. I can’t believe gentle, compassionate Ellison would have a partner so merciless.
“No.” She admits it begrudgingly. “I know it’s the right thing to do. It’s just that we’re still knocked on our ass from the volcano, and now this.”
“I know. I’m not looking forward to telling everyone about it.”
“I’ll do it. We’ll do it together, but let me do the talking. They’ll take it better coming from me.”
I glance over at her. “You’re not going to tell them you’re against it?”
“Marcus and I have a rule. We only disagree in private. Once something is settled, we both get behind it, no matter how hard we fought over it.”
I know why Marcus values her so much. Nova doesn’t mince words, but she’s also deeply loyal.
“Thank you, Nova. I won’t forget this.”
A couple seconds of silence pass before she says, “I’m not sure Marcus would’ve turned them away.”
“I don’t know either. I guess we can ask him when he gets back.”
Hopefully it’ll be soon. Things just got exponentially harder for our camp, and also for me and Nova. I came up with the best rules I could think of, but if we have to activate the shield and kill all the Tiders—even the kids—I don’t think I’ll be able to forgive myself.
When things are heavy, it’s good to have Marcus’s broad shoulders to help carry the load. It’s not that I can’t get by without him, but now that I’m used to his strong, steady presence, I don’t want to.
23
“I’ve just established an office of repopulation. Greg Zimmerman is in charge. Reach out to him for help finding women to procreate with.” - Excerpt from a message from New America President Soren Whitman to all military officers