Zanele watched as the dirty white airplane shrank into the sky. She whispered a good-luck charm to Maya, Tongana and the thirteen other brave souls who had been chosen to go with them.
The rest of the eighty-two survivors stood around the abandoned Mauve camp, holding each other as they watched the plane go. Only Zanele stood alone, her arms folded against the chill in the air and in her heart.
Long after the plane was out of sight, people began to move again. Flashlights clicked on, though not many, as battery power was precious. The most religious of the group prayed, and a few children made hushed conversation with their parents.
Zanele clenched her fists. "We have to do something."
A few people stared at her. In all the crowd, there were no survivors from the police force, and Mari Maldashi's mercenaries had abandoned the fight now that the tide of the war had turned against them. With Tongana and Maya gone, there was no one left more qualified to lead than Zanele.
"We have to save our friends," she went on. "It could be months before Maya and Tongana get back. Do you want to spend that time sitting here?
A hush spread over the rocky expanse of the Mauve camp.
"And think of the people inside that town. Do you want to let them think we've abandoned them?" She got up on a boulder, just as Tongana had. "If you were in there, what would you want? Would you want your friends to do nothing while you suffer?"
Most of the crowd didn't need convincing. Restless energy turned into hopeful whispers.
"We've already penetrated the eastern border once," said Zanele. "They'll have put up more guards by now. So we need to look for another weak point." She slid down from the rock to get closer to the people. "I'm going to find it. Any volunteers to help me?"
Five people stepped forward. Morgan was one of them, and so was Adwoa, whom Zanele knew from a class she had taken years ago. The other two were from Sami's Dozen, both lanky but grizzled-- from the coastal regions, Zanele guessed.
"Adwoa," said Zanele. "You're with me. Morgan..." her shoulders fell. "Morgan, I thought you were done fighting."
"I was," said Morgan. "But with how bad things have gotten, I don't have a choice. I know how to fight, Zanele. Take me with you."
"You go with someone else. Go the other way around town and see what you can."
"But..." his face crumpled. "Why would you pick Adwoa and not me?"
"That's final, Morgan. If you-"
"Zanele, you've been doing this to me for weeks!" He stepped out of line. "You've been pushing me away! Why? Why won't you spend time with me anymore?"
Zanele clamped her lips shut, wishing she could become anyone else. "Morgan," she said slowly. "Not. Now."
"Then when?"
"We'll talk about this later. You go with them..." Zanele pointed to the two from Sami's Dozen, who looked like they could keep him in check. "And all three of you, start west and go clockwise. Adwoa and I will take the other direction. See everything you can, but be safe. And watch out for the Sabertooth camp unless you like the taste of steel. Understand?"
One of the Dozen raised her hand like a student in a class.
"Yes?" said Zanele.
"Do we get radios?" she asked. "I don't have one."
With a chill, Zanele realized that she had forgotten that. She patted her own radio, assuring herself that it was still there, then called out, "We need radios. Four more."
