All The Dark Places

31. The Symphony Of The Click Click Boom

    Checking off a list, Hannah made her rounds of the castle grounds, and no one questioned her authority on matters. She just made sense. She held a notebook and pen, tapping the end of the pen against her teeth when she was thinking. Rosalind followed her, marveling at the girl's ability to mobilize people. Everything was "Rosalind says this" and "Rosalind says that" which did a lot to make people think she was the leader of this community. It was a post she had never really signed on for, but was falling into with a natural fit. They checked on the progress of the garden, a greenhouse, the rabbit hutches, the chicken coops, the goat pen, the salting box and the butchering station.

"We need a lot more seeds," she stated.

"Check. I thought we could send a raiding party out to Athelgate..."

"Whoa, Hannah. Slow down. We aren't 'raiding' anything. Not yet anyway. However, a trade mission would be a smart move."

"The kid is right, Roz." Ethan's voice startled them. He was carrying a bundle of lumber to the greenhouse. "Athelgate is more than half empty and I know they have a feed and grain store, plus the nurseries that the gardening clubs use. It would be stupid not to see at least if there is anything left."

"And it would be stealing," she said but felt weak in her conviction. "If that's even a thing anymore."

"Maybe so, but I've heard you don't have too much of a problem stealing. How about that little package you have on the roof, eh?"

"That was traded. Big difference."

So, Ethan knew about her stash of food on the roof. She bit her lip and resisted going immediately to kick Noel's ass.

"Athelgate has mostly cleared out. I think people worried about the Crush and if it would hit all the towns. People went to family farms and even smaller villages. Some snuck into Thornwood. You'll see them around, trying to pretend they don't exist. We're running out of food. People are hungry. We need seeds, nutrient solutions for the garden, food, more supplies than trade is going to allow us."

"A raiding party. I just can't. I can't allow that."

"Who said it was your call?" Ethan dropped the load of lumber and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his jeans.

"Oh, OK. So, it's my job to get things done around here but when it is about raiding villages, I have no say in the matter?"

"We need an official leader. I'm all for Rosalind being the leader, but it hasn't been made official." Hannah said, looking slightly apologetic.

"And besides, you're not the only person getting shit done around here." Ethan stuck his ground.

"Hmm? Who else?"

"Winston Abrams is putting together a militia."

"A militia? We have a patrol guard." she objected.

"I know, but he has managed to round up a dozen hunting rifles and some ammo. Apparently, your patrol is just running around with sticks and playing at sword fighting. He's put together a team of fifteen, maybe sixteen people. They're having their first training session this morning out at the Easton field."

She couldn't argue with the idea. It was a good one. The only problem was Winston Abrams. There was something about the man that made her not trust him, and it wasn't just what Martin had said about him. Book deals and contracts were all in the past. It was something deep seeded, a feeling of foreboding when she looked at him.

"And who is on this team of gunmen?"

"Robert Cloy, Nathan Taskitt, Melanie Fornell, Noel Leeky..."