The Free City

Chapter Twenty-Four : Falling Behind

We got home without incident. By then it was nearly dinner time, and we hadn't had a proper lunch so we all fell on whatever ready-made foods we could find in the pantry. I sat on the couch for a while and listened to my friends exist together. The way they laughed, and spoke, and made jokes. I had so much to learn.

Sometimes it feels like I'm missing half of the conversation. Like there are words left unsaid that I'm just supposed to know, but I don't know them.

Sam and I trained that night, but we kept the mood light. Maybe my last private discussion with him made me nervous, but he respected it. He respected me, which I appreciated more than he knew.

The next day, we woke up early for day two of driving. Just like the day before, we checked the news radio station for updates on Khan's army. They were still in Lonesome City, and hadn't gone south to Karmen or north to us.

Mr. Sato was able to tune in to the SuperCorps station, and their chatter said much the same. There hadn't been any major movement from Khan since he took Lonesome City.

What's he waiting for? I wasn't sure if he was really waiting for anything. Maybe he only wanted one city. But some part of me felt like this was only the beginning, and Khan knew exactly what his next step would be.

The buses were loaded, the same as before. I was in front again, and accepted the thanks, prayers, and a few flowers from young girls. The engine roared, we surged forward, and I watched the road anxiously for something that might put us in danger.

Paula was on the second bus, and she had a short-distance radio just like our bus did, so I'd have some measure of warning. But I still felt on edge.

But I needn't have worried. After another four hour drive, we pulled to a stop at the Noman City gate without any problems. The same Super woman came to check us over. Her glowing eyes didn't see anything amiss, and we were ushered inside.

I didn't see Kenna and Johnny again, but for all I knew they'd been in one of the buses yesterday and I'd never see them again.

"See you tomorrow, Miss." The driver waved at me as I climbed down the steps to join my friends.

"Sure thing," I called over my shoulder. When I hopped out of the bus, I took a breath of ozone-rich air.

It was a gray, overcast day and it smelled like rain. The wind felt gusty and uneven, as if a front was blowing in. It wasn't cold enough that I wanted a jacket, but I felt the chill in the damp air. For a second, I thought the sound of the buses restarting their water engines was thunder booming overhead.

"Dianna! Come on!" Zuri called me over. I pulled my attention away from the foreboding weather and jogged to the open bus door.

The novelty of having an entire row of seats to ourselves had worn off, and we clustered together near the rear of the vehicle so we could all talk without yelling over the engine.

Mr. Sato climbed on board.

"Everybody here?" he asked, doing a quick count with his eyes.

"Yes," Hank answered for the class. "All ten of us."

"Good, I'll be on the first bus again," Mr. Sato said. "Stay sharp. Paula, keep looking and keep the radio close."

Paula held up the short-distance radio to show him she had it, and he nodded at her, then he left.

"Are you all ready?" The driver, a middle-aged woman with a gruff voice but a happy smile, asked us over her shoulder.

"Yes, ma'am," I said.