Two Alive, стр. 80
“No. I found it. I found it a long time ago. You find it, it’s yours. And I found it.” Miles was giddy, posing and flexing, trying to impress Alana.
“Can we go find some stuff like that and go with them, dad?” Alana’s eyes were pleading.
Ben cleared his throat and sighed deeply. He addressed Julia, answering his daughter’s question. “Uh… no. We’re not going out.” He looked down at Alana. “It’s dangerous out there. Even with gear like that, you could still end up getting hurt, or infected, or worse. You heard what happened to those soldiers yesterday, honey, and they were trained military.”
“They weren’t very good though,” Miles broke in. “They weren’t very good. They just didn’t study good enough.” The boy pointed at Torrez with his thumb. “He studied good.”
Torrez’s thin moustache turned up as he smiled at the compliment. He checked the strings on his sweatpants and brushed some lint from his jacket.
Ben swallowed hard. “I think it’s best that I stay here and smooth things over anyway. After yesterday, Carver has things pretty hectic here.”
Julia was confused. “Smooth things over?”
“Yeah. With everything that went down yesterday, I think someone with a more level head should stay back and work with Carver to ease everyone’s tensions.” Ben cleared his throat again.
“I told him that’s bullshit!” Alana threw in.
Miles giggled.
“Alana.” Ben gave his daughter a look.
Alana kept on, “I said we have to go with Julia and find our people and bring them back!”
“Ben, what are you talking about?” Julia spoke over the angsty teen. “Things will be fine here. Carver’s only going to do his usual propaganda talk.”
“You know that this can’t keep going on.” Ben clinched his jaw. “Carver’s controlling the people here, more and more, like a cult. Don’t leave the store. Everything outside will kill you. We can’t stay in this store forever.”
Alana scoffed and crossed her arms, “You say all that, but you don’t want to go out there with Julia.”
“Alana, please.” Ben looked down at his daughter. “It’s still not safe enough for a kid out there!”
“What about this kid?!” Alana pointed at Miles. “He’s younger than me! If he can survive out there, I can too!”
“I can protect her.” Miles puffed out his chest and tried to sound courageous. But when she eyed him, he tensed up. “I can… I can watch you. I can keep you safe. I’m the map. It’s my responsibility.”
Alana raised an eyebrow, a little confused. Miles tried not to look like a weirdo as he gave her a once over. She looked cute but if she wanted to leave she’d have to change her outfit. She had too much skin showing. She’d have to do something with her hair too. Tie it up or wear a hat to avoid getting it caught on a branch or something. Miles would hate to see a lurker grab a handful of her curls.
Julia put her hands on her hips and continued with Ben. “What is it? What’s making you stay? You stepped down as a committee member, but you keep wanting to pick and choose what decisions you have a part in. You started this when you let these boys in here, Ben. Even before that when you let in Joshua and Karen. Now, you’re too scared to finish it?”
Ben flinched under her green gaze and stared at the floor. “I’m responsible for what happened to those people, Julia. I’m the one who said we should send them out to search for Karen and her kid. I sent our people out there and no matter what shape they’re in, I’m responsible.” He started shaking and couldn’t lift his head. “I can’t go out there and see them… and see that I sent them out there to die.”
“They made their own choice.” Lance spoke up. “But it was your fault they had to make that choice at all. You and Carver and all this committee bullshit.” His teeth were grit and bared as he stared daggers at Manson, then he went to Ben and finally landed on Julia. “Can we go and find my wife now?”
Julia sighed, “Sorry Miles. We should get going,” She told Castle and Burrows to start pulling the chains to open the shutter doors
“But I can’t leave without my rifle. I can’t go that deep in the woods without my weapon.” Miles tapped his foot.
“I know but, we have to--”
“There he is!” Miles blurted out.
Captain Baker was making his way down the large center aisle that led straight to the entrance of the store, the dragunov rifle slung over his shoulder. Miles looked at the weapon like a gift on Christmas morning.
“Miles.” Captain Baker held out the rifle and the small boy lit up.
Miles took the gun and immediately went to work, taking it apart and checking to make sure it was operating with no issue. He was so fast and proficient that Captain Baker was even more impressed with the young boy. Miles disassembled his rifle with the skill of a veteran sniper. After all the clicking and cocking and pulling, the weapon was in pieces on the floor that Miles individually inspected.
“That’s quite the skill, Miles. You took that apart so quick.” Baker laughed and put his hands on the belt around his waist.
“Yeah, you always gotta check your weapon. Cuz you always gotta check it to make sure it works.” Miles pulled out parts and springs and laid them out on the floor in meticulous fashion. Then began reassembling the weapon.
Miles was a child on the floor, talking to himself and humming as he played with the separate parts like action figures with names he had made up. After he cleaned Mr. Receiver