Two Alive, стр. 75
What if we lose another group?
Who’s going this time?
Kick those kids out!
Lesly continued in a soft soprano. “I know this is all very unexpected and there are many events happening left and right. But we, as your appointed committee, are taking this all in stride and meeting each new development with clear motives. Julia, Dr. Manson and a few soldiers will go with one of the boys to find our people. We’ll find them and bring them back.”
Are they even still alive?
Did those boys kill them?
Are the freaks gone for good? Can we leave the store?
Carver stepped forward again and this time made his presence more known, lifting his big hands above his head to get everyone’s attention. “Things may sound frightening or even confusing but let me tell you firsthand, we’re still safe in the store if we stay in the store.” He coughed hard through his teeth. “The monsters outside can’t get in. We’re safe inside here. But every time someone goes out that door, they’re risking their life. It’s a dangerous world.”
Carver watched as a wave of understanding washed over the masses. Families clutched their children and couples grabbed each other. Many of them still remembered what the infected were capable of and the memory made them thankful they were locked inside this store. The store was their sanctuary and Carver stood at the head of it. The major was adored by this audience, respected for the position he held and revered for his leadership. Carver looked back at Antonio and Miles and they both looked annoyed at how long this was all taking.
The major chuckled but went back into his militant frame when he was addressing his people. “Even after the quarantine site in front of the store fell and those bikers tried breaking in, we’ve survived here for a long time. This is our home and we’re blessed to have this place in these hellish times. When our new search team finds our missing people, whatever conditions they’re in, they’ll bring them back here. Back home.” He covered his mouth to cough. “Thank you all for coming here.” The major turned around, unceremoniously, and went to join his waiting soldiers who were standing by. Lesly tried to better wrap up his closing statements.
“What the hell was this all about?” Antonio yawned and scratched the top of his head. Standing in a new pair of Nike sweatpants and a long white Michael Jordan t-shirt. The boy looked like he had just rolled out of bed on a Saturday morning.
“They have to do morning announcements. They have to make their morning announcements.” Miles tried to make sense of it himself but wasn’t exactly sure. He was too busy making sure the straps on his chest plate were tight enough. In his full combat regalia, Miles looked like a child size G.I. Joe. He was clad in what looked like armor over a long sleeve turtleneck and dark jeans. Heavy boots were on each foot and aside from the clumps of mud in the ridges, he looked washing machine clean.
Antonio scoffed, “They makin’ up some wack ass story of why we here. Sayin’ you didn’t kill that one dude. Why they hella lyin’?”
“We have to tell the people something to relax them from yesterday.” Captain Baker leaned down to the boys’ level. “If they think you killed someone, why would we trust you?”
“Duh. I get that part. I’m talkin’ bout why they sayin’ we was scared kids and y’all saved us.” Antonio turned up his lip. “If anything, we saved y’all. Y’all’d be dead wit out us.”
“They gonna give us supplies. We did it so we can get the supplies.” Miles knelt to retie his boot.
“This is hella boring.” Antonio shoved his hands in his pockets, expecting to find something there but didn’t. Then he tightened the straps of his new gray backpack that he found outside taking care of the hive. He wasn’t taking it off or leaving it anywhere and letting Carver take it. You find it, it’s yours. Just like the old man would say. The end of an aluminum bat poked out from the zipped top. Antonio wasn’t letting that go either.
“Sorry our community meetings aren’t as exciting as taking on a hive.” Baker chuckled.
Lesly was wrapping up in store manager fashion, “So, like Major Carver said, remember that we’re safe here in the store and we’ll continue to make it work here if we all do it together.” She was using team-building catch phrases and affirmations. “We all have to do our part in the community. Remember if there’s a task that anybody can do, and nobody does it, somebody will get angry, and everybody loses. Let’s be great today, tomorrow and beyond.” She smiled big and stood a little taller in front of the audience, beaming.
The gathering slowly began to disperse and Lesly went to work asking people to take their plates to either the garbage or the designated table for dirty dishes. It was a tedious thing that read clearly on the faces of those participating, but they did it anyway like a routine. While this was going on, tempers were flaring between an irate Julia and a calm Carver. They were off to the side on their own, speaking a few feet away from everyone else and the other committee members.
“You piece of shit.” Julia was livid.
Carver stood in front of the psychologist with little empathy on his face. “I’m sorry Julia,