Thumbs

Strangers

They started walking past the statue and around the corner where Katie had first entered the Ramshackle village. She frowned at the prospect of her completely overlooking the building that she had been searching for. As they walked, Katie stole some glances at the man who was walking beside her. He was tall, but not as tall as Maurice, and his arms were not as thick either. He also had dark lines under his eyes and quite a few  black dots of all sizes on his face and arms. He gave her a sideways look as she stared at him and pondered why he looked the way he did. Embarrassed that he caught her staring, Katie looked away. But the man didn't say anything about it, so Katie looked at him again when she was sure that he was no longer looking at her.

"Um. . ." Katie began.

The man turned to look at her questioningly when she didn't finish her sentence.

"Uh, whats your name?" She asked timidly. Katie couldnt remember the last time she had to ask that question. She didn't even ask Maurice what his name was. In fact, now that she thought about it, she was the one who gave him his name.

The man didn't reply right away, but eventually answered abruptly, "Jason."

Katie looked down at the pavement again, then back to Jason.

"I like that name." She said, trying to get him to talk more. Katie wasn't used to having a conversation with someone. It was entertaining.

Jason grinned a little, but said nothing else. Frustrated that he hadn't asked her what her name was yet, she decided just to tell him. Maybe he forgot that was what you were supposed to do when you meet somebody nice.

"My name is Katie." She stated proudly.

Jason looked down at her, almost as if he was surprised by her comment, "Katie?" He asked.

Katie nodded, "Yep. Katie: K. A.T. I. E." She announced.

That was the only word she could spell or write. Maurice had tried to teach her how to spell other things, but he had a hard time explaining to her the alphabet when he couldn't even sound them out himself. Feeling saddened again with thoughts of Maurice, Katie watched her feet as she followed Jason through the Ramshackles.

Jason had been looking at Katie's depressed expression curiously, but hadn't slowed his pace.

"So, is your friend sick?" Jason asked.

"No, he's hurt." Katie sighed. He asked a lot of questions.

"Badly?" He continued.

"I dont know. His leg was shot by people. He was sleeping when I left to go get the medicine."

Jason's eyebrows furrowed a little, but his expression wasn't a look of concern. It was something else.

"Katie, are you sure that he was actually sleeping?" He asked.

"Yeah. He was." Katie answered angrily.

"Look, kid, after we get the medicine, how about I take you to my camp? There are other twees your age there. You can wait with them while I go out with a few of my friends to go get your friend for you. We have doctors who can help him." Jason offered.

Katie didn't want to go anywhere near a person camp, even if they were not infected. People were not to be trusted, especially in groups. Then. . . Jason shouldn't be trusted either, right? But he seemed nice enough. He gave her food and was showing her where the medicine was. Katie frowned as she became conflicted.

Jason noticed her silence, "My camp is made of mostly refugees and outcasts from Euphoria. There are parents there too. You might find someone you know."