The Boss Is Dead

Chp: 17 The poison

As the night deepened, Tom tried to rest but found sleep elusive. Every crackle of the fire or creak of the tent made him jump, his mind was conjuring threats where none existed. He had been awake for nearly two hours now and all he could do was stare at the glowing embers on the wood, as if they might provide some answers that would help him fall asleep. They did not.

A short time later, Tom heard footsteps approaching his tent. Grabbing his torch, he peered out cautiously, half-expecting to see a wild animal drawn by the fire's glow. A wolf maybe. Instead, he was surprised to see Ben's tall silhouette standing at the tent entrance, a bundle of blankets tucked under one arm.

"May I join you?" Ben asked, his breath fogging in the chill air.

Tom nodded silently, moving back to allow Ben to enter the space. They sat across the small fire from each other, feeding more sticks to the flames to build it back up. For a time they simply sat in quiet companionship, the crackling fire filling the silence between them.

Finally, Ben spoke. "I wanted to check on you, make sure you were coping alright out here alone."

Tom shrugged, wrapping his blanket tighter. "As well as can be expected, I suppose."

Ben nodded understandingly. "What happened today... it's a difficult situation. I know you didn't mean for any harm."

"But my actions put you all at risk. Fido could have died because of me," Tom said bitterly.

"Yes, it was irresponsible. But punishing yourself endlessly won't change what happened," Ben said gently. "The important thing now is that you've learned from this mistake, and ...will be more careful going forward."

Tom sighed. "I hope the others see it that way. Amanda still looks at me like I'm some sort of monster."

"Give them time. People are scared, and lashing out comes easily. But their anger will fade," Ben assured him. "You've been an important part of our group since the beginning...since the office. We won't turn our backs on you over one irresponsible act."

Tom finally met Ben's face across the fire, feeling the tiniest spark of hope rising in his chest. "Thank you, Ben. For not judging me too harshly."

After some moment, Ben spoke. "Do you miss your family, Tom?"

Tom considered the question carefully. "Sometimes. But only when I think about how much I've lost."

Ben nodded understandingly. "That was always my experience. At times...I even feel guilty that I survived, when so many people who cared for me didn't."

"I think that's normal. What really makes us human is the fact that we try harder than anyone else to preserve the ones we love. That goes against nature, doesn't it? But, humans aren't monsters."

"Not monsters," Ben agreed. "People just want to protect their loved ones no matter the cost. I think we're better suited to be a species, don't you?"

Tom laughed. "I guess that depends on how far down the evolutionary ladder you place your value on 'human.'"

"Fair enough," Ben conceded. "I'd say we should consider ourselves as an advanced level of evolution. As we evolve more and more complex social structures, our capacity to care for and ...protect those closest to us increases exponentially."

"We'll never get that close to humanity," Tom pointed out. "At least not without a lot of work."

Ben looked thoughtful. "Perhaps. Or...perhaps not. Well I forgot, I brought you some food. Here-" he pulled out a wrapped sandwich from underneath his cloak. "-it's probably cold already but you're welcome to it."