Cruel World (The Tribe Book 1)

24. Twice!

We're all sat in the café, discussing what we're gonna do about the Tribal Gathering, after I've gotten Brady from her crib in mine and Martin's room.

"Dal's one of the people who guarded Ebony while she was in the cage. If she sticks to the agreement her and I have, if she see's him she either orders them to let him go, or play's along until their gone and hands him over," I think out loud.

"But she's untrustworthy! You know that!" Reg tries.

"Not with me!" I cut him off sternly, standing up to face the group. "Her and I have always had a mutual agreement that we don't cross each other, and if it came down to it, her and I would be a good team if we need to be. If she values our, dare I call it a friendship, she will stick to that."

"Then what do we do?" Lex asks.

"Even if I don't think it will come down to it, I still think we should be prepared for a bad scenario. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst, yeah? So Jack, we need to get that turbine ready in case we need to trade it at the Gathering, no other tribe has anything like it, or any way to produce electricity without car batteries, but those are running out, and no one else values science and engineering. If I find out anyone is giving Jack a hard time or trying to mess with the turbine, there will be serious consequences. Got it?" I announce to the group, and everyone nods.

"Hypothetically, what would happen if someone did either of those things?" Flynn asks, getting bashful from his spot next to Trudy as everyone turns to him, and then back to me.

"Well depending how much they're doing it, either a crap ton more chores, or potentially even a night in the cage," I decide, and that alone is enough to deter most people from the thought.

"A night in the cage, easy," Lex scoffs.

"Alone, with no light and no one to comfort you and hold your hand?" I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Never mind then," he mumbles, looking at his feet as the others snicker at him.

Jack decides there's nothing else important for him to hear and he heads down to start working on the turbine after giving me a hug. The others finish their breakfast and start heading off to do their chores or just mull around the mall until they find something to do.

"I'm not in trouble am I?" Trudy asks, slightly fearful.

"No Trude, we found a note that Dal left, and we realised the version of the story he wrote might not be the same as what you would tell us. Besides, we didn't think you'd leave your baby, or Flynn for that matter," I say, teasing the pair slightly at the end as Martin smirks beside me, both of them blushing in response.

"Before you both object, it is blatantly obvious, even to a blind man, that the two of you are made for each other and that you like each other, everyone is happy for you, just treat each other right," I smile at them.

They both look at each other, before Flynn takes a leap of faith and kisses him on the cheek, which she turns and pecks him on the lips before cuddling up to him, being mindful of Brady in her arms. Martin and I give each other a wink before we decide to leave the lovebirds alone.

"I'm gonna go help Jack with that turbine, give him an extra set of hands," Martin tells me. I nod and give him a quick kiss.

"I'll bring you guys some coffee," I tell him as he kisses me on the head, then heads down to Jack's place.

I wander into the kitchen and start making the coffees, eventually just having to wait for the kettle to boil. I spot KC sitting on the couch, keeping to himself and not really knowing what to do with himself.