The Risks

March: Chapter 43

The Zone seemed different since the last time we'd been here. Lighter, like the tension behind the walls had suddenly evaporated. George and Deacon were no longer here to cast the shadow of their sinister, dark cloud over the community. And honestly, it was a welcome change.

Raleigh greeted us as we parked, assaulting Parker with a tight hug just as he got out of the truck.

"Hey, Raleigh," Parker said, taking the hug good naturedly.

"Hey, Claire," Raleigh called to me before stepping back. "Missed you guys during the last visit. Charlotte said there had been some sort of incident, and that's why you guys didn't come. I was worried something had happened."

Parker shook his head. "We're fine. We'll talk about it during the meeting." He turned and gestured toward the two other men who came with us. "This is Lance and Xavier."

"Hey. Good to see you again," Raleigh grinned, and they all shook hands. "No Charlotte today?"

"Not this time," Lance said. "She doesn't like to be gone for long. Which reminds me, someone is going to need to take notes during the meeting. She wants to stay updated."

"Done," Raleigh agreed, then glanced back at the buildings further into the Zone. "You guys hungry? It's almost lunch time."

"Yes," I answered. I didn't have much of an appetite after my conversation with Chris, so I hadn't been able to finish my breakfast. I was dying for a meal.

"Alright, alright. Jeez," Raleigh chuckled, then turned and waved to us. "Let's go."

...

After a lunch of canned veggies and boiled rice, Parker and I followed Raleigh to a conference room. Raleigh was not really the leader of this community, per se. Rather, a group of them -which he called the Council- collectively made the decisions around here. There was Ruth, a dark haired woman with serious eyes; Gene, a man who used a cane and was probably in his mid-sixties; and Paula, the tall, blonde woman who had brought us here in restraints.

I tensed when I saw her, but Raleigh assured us that she had turned sides and had been one of his most loyal members and friends. I'd believe it when I saw it, but for now, I'd just have to take his word for it.

There wasn't an incredibly long list of things to discuss as it turned out. Raleigh asked Ruth to take notes, and we quickly dove in.

First topic of discussion was the Zone's new members. Since the change in leadership, they began going on daily "radius checks", where a group of them would drive around the area outside the walls looking for supplies, clearing out roaming Ferals, and even sometimes finding survivors. They'd taken in nearly twenty new members in the past several months, which apparently barely made up for the loss they'd experienced during the change of management. I'd asked if Gene could elaborate on that, in which Raleigh answered. When they'd taken over, there had been some conflict with a handful of die-hard Deacon followers. Raleigh gave them the option to leave and take their chances outside, and while some did, most were too afraid to give up the safety and comfort of the Zone's walls. The ones who chose to stay were warned that if they caused any serious trouble, they would serve time in a cell. They'd had to enforce that threat only twice, but a week of imprisonment –being fed three times a day and given water to keep them healthy and hydrated- had seemed to straighten them out, and things had stayed peaceful since.

Next, Paula commented on the lack of Feral activity they'd experienced during their radius checks. Parker chimed in then, talking about the changed behavior we'd seen during the colder months. How the Ferals would seek shelter, or even huddle together in groups as a source of heat. This seemed to surprise the Council, but Parker took it a step further when he told them about the possibility of them dying out. After the initial surprise and a few questions from the Council about how sure he was about that possibility –and after explaining his discussion with the father of the virus, George Lyons himself- their reactions had been the same as Parker's. Joy, amazement, hope. I bit my cheek, and looked down at the table, knowing I'd soon be taking it away from them.