New Birds

I'll Right This Part 33

Wells, the soldier who was driving, had a tattoo on his wrist that read Sharon. The second soldier, Bon, sat with his back against the passenger side door. His hands were clasped behind his head, elbows marking the distance between console and seat. His dark sunglasses shielding his eyes completely. Louis assumed he was watching them, but it was difficult to say for sure, for he was so still he could have been asleep. His semi-automatic resting in his lap.

The three of them sat in the backseat without ties or restraints. It irked Louis that Bon wasn't concerned that one of them might reach for his gun. As if they weren't capable. Or perhaps he hoped they would. Or he thought they were all naive enough to believe that nonsense about letting them out once they passed Pine Grove. But could Louis say for sure it was nonsense? If he was to risk grabbing up the gun and getting them all killed, when not truly knowing, well, it seemed reckless. It was best to wait. Think a little longer on it. Try to come up with something with better survival odds. But to remain complacent, when such a chance might not rise again, had Louis biting down hard on the inside of his mouth and pressing his hands into his thighs.

He knew Tilly most likely wrestled with similar thoughts. She was even more inclined to take such a risk. As she had back at the ark. He shouldn't have intruded then. He should have allowed her to shoot the bastard. She would have died protecting her ark. She would have died near her beloved trees. He forced her hand on the meagre hope that Mr. Davies spoke true. If he didn't, and they were to die today far from her trees, then he had done her a great disservice.

As they passed the market in Smoke Junction, its double doors stood wide open, while three soldiers unloaded what must have been vat meat from the back of a half-ton. Louis glanced over at Tilly, to see her impression regarding this invasion on their market, but she was keeping her sight on the opposite side of the road as they drove through town. Her thoughts well-guarded, her chin up, lips tight. Keitin sat sober and silent between them. His hands resting on his knees. The mingling of their body odour was strong, outright pungent, in such a confined space. Fear had layered its distinct smell on all of them. Rather thickly, while they had waited all those hours on the ark. Even though the water pump sat directly in front of them, Louis never thought to remove the sour that was accumulating. The trees kept them in pine scent until they all piled into the car. There was, however, a faint smell of tobacco on Keitin that saved the situation some.

Once outside Smoke Junction, the brown of the landscape ran in rivets. There were no houses, huts or hovels for the next thirty miles, and the road, which was usually quiet, with little to no traffic, appeared now more solemn then quiet. As they approached the once tiny hamlet of Pine Grove, he noticed a jeep parked sideways across the road. A soldier sat on the hood, his legs sprayed, his thick black boots on the grill. These days a roadblock required little incentive for people to avoid them. A single person dressed in fatigues was enough to make most people turn around, and the reason for the roadblock rarely asked. It was simply easier to take another route, return another day, or pay the fee that 's requested.

The soldier didn't move his vehicle for them. He didn't have to, for they turned off the main road just before reaching him and started down another. This one, Louis was sure would take them into Pine Grove. A large stone appeared on their right. Across it, in hot pink, was sprayed, Village of Pine Grove EST. 2023. Abandoned 2124

The vehicle came to a stop at an old storage facility. Keitin put his large hands to his face and let out a whoosh of air into his palms. Tilly finally faced Louis, her eyes wide and questioning. Louis patted Keitin on the shoulder and gave her a glint of a smile. She placed a hand on Keitin's opposite shoulder and adjusted her position to sit a little straighter.

Wells and Bon exited the vehicle. Wells walked a few metres away to stand at the edge of the empty roadway. He lit a cigarette, facing away from them. His jacket sleeve fell over the word Sharon as he shook out his match. This was not about standing lookout, it was about not wanting to witness what was to take place. Louis could tell by his stance. Bon made a motion with his gun, signalling Louis to get out of the car. Louis got out; hands raised.