Hopeless Romance

Part Three: Old Evil, New Home. Chapter Seven

The next day I woke to a guy calling out, “Hey, new kid do you want to go get some chow?”  Pod started to bark.  I lifted my door blanket to Robert, leaning on one extended arm.  Great.  I’m not a morning person under the best conditions, but this?  Pod ran out and sniffed him.  He bent down, pet Pod, and said, “Hey there pup.”  Pod wagged her tail.  Stupid dog.

Robert was wearing a blue shirt that said “Too much awesome”.  It looked way too tight on his large biceps and chest.   As I hadn’t planned on being rescued, I had no change of clothes and I was wearing black, breathable mesh shorts with a draw string and a loose shirt from a WMC convention I went to a year before the war.  Yes, my attire screamed, “NERD!”  And, I was stuck in it for the foreseeable future.

“First, my name is Michael, not new kid.  And, my guide said..”

He laughed good naturedly, “I’m not really a morning person either man.  E. said to tell you that she waited for hours for you to wake up.  E rises really early- she’s got more energy in her pinky than most people do in their whole body!  But, she does like her coffee first thing.  She knows I sleep in so she told me to wake you up when I was ready to head to the cafeteria.”  Why did it bother me that he knew her morning habits?

“K, one second.”  I let the blanket drop.  I took off my clothes and shook them.  I told myself they were cleaner and less wrinkly.  We stopped in at the restroom.  I noticed today that there were a few little patches of grass in the corner and a sign read, “For Pod.”  I called Pod over and surprisingly she did her business quickly.

Robert and I walked in to the cafeteria.  Pod was the only dog I had seen in caves, the only pet come to think of it.  As Pod ran around “meeting” people, barking, I was happy to see that most everyone appeared excited to have a dog around and were petting her, laughing at her enthusiasm. 

I was surprised at the selection.  Strawberries, peaches, pancakes, venison sausage, assorted nuts.  Coffee and milk.  No sugar.  One of the cooks apologized for that, saying they were out right now but should get more soon.

Robert said, “The usual.”  A cook that looked about twenty, with long blond hair tied back in a tight ponytail, gave him a wink, three sausage patties and coffee, black.  Another cook was smiling widely at him.  Of course he was one of those high protein guys.  I mean, all that muscle needs crazy amounts of protein.

I ordered three peaches (they were incredibly small), one pancake, a sausage patty, coffee with cream.  I also asked for water with my food.  The blond cook gave me a cup.  I made a face after I took a sip.  It tasted weird.  She laughed, “No worries, we all get used to it.  Whatever you do, don’t get caught wasting even a drop or you might find that we are “out” of it often.  You don’t want us to be out of water when you need it, I assure you!”  She laughed, but I could see seriousness in her eyes. Cool, he gets a wink and I get a lecture. “If you are eating fruits and vegetables with a high water content, you might not need water to drink right then.  Those peaches might very well quench your thirst.  Remember, purifying all the water necessary for everyone is hard work- we gather it from the Spring, we strain it though cheese cloths, then we boil it.  Some people who work up top help add to our stores by taking water bottles up, filling them with Spring water, and leaving them out for the Sun’s ultraviolent rays to kill them over the length of the day.  Technically, any water that you find dripping down through the soil into our cave is purified and you might be able to drink it safely.  It has traveled though large rocks, then small pebbles, sand, fine sand, and clay.  At every level there are particles that can’t pass any further.  But, I wouldn’t recommend it personally!” 

Robert laughed.  “Neither would I, trust me I speak from personal experience.  Thanks Katie!”

“Sure Robert.  Come back soon sweetie.”  Gag.