“Who?” Flush asked.
“Everyone. Brown Shirts, Hunters, Crazies. Why do they all want us dead?”
“You know what they say,” Twitch said. “There are three reasons to hate someone. Either we have something they want.”
“Yeah, right,” Flush said sarcastically.
“Or we’re a threat.”
“Not likely.”
“Or we’re just different.”
Flush didn’t respond to that one. No one did.
“But why the Hunters?” I asked. “I mean, I can maybe understand the Crazies not liking us—they’re just crazy. And the Brown Shirts have somehow been indoctrinated to think we’re evil. But what do the Hunters have against us? What’s their deal?”
“Maybe they just like shooting defenseless people,” Cat said.
“Yeah, maybe.” But we all knew there was more to it than that.
By the fifth day after leaving Libertyville, our pace had become glacial—a combination of fatigue and lack of food. Although Hope often returned with a rabbit or a squirrel, sometimes even a porcupine, it wasn’t enough. Not to fill over seventy bellies. We were slowly starving to death.
Our rest breaks dragged out. We covered fewer miles. Each day started later and ended sooner. Although the sun brought warmth, its sharp rays bit our skin, chapped our lips, burned our cheeks red. Our eyes formed a permanent squint from staring into sunlight.
It was obvious we couldn’t go on like this.
“We need to go to the Compound,” I said on the sixth afternoon, as we were gathering wood.
“What’re you talking about?” Flush asked.
“The Compound—where we were held captive by the Skull People.”
“I know what it is.”
“We need to return there.”
Everyone around me stopped what they were doing.
“But that’s, like, miles and miles out of the way,” Flush said.
“I know.”
“The fastest way to Dodge’s is if we cut across the river and head east, not go south to the Compound. And for the sake of the sick, for the sake of all of us, we need to get to Dodge’s as soon as possible.”
“I don’t disagree.”
“Not to mention the fact that the last time we were at the Compound, the Hunters and Crazies were having a field day massacring the Skullies.”
“I remember.”
“So why do you think—”
“There might be food there.” That was the magic word: food. “You’re right, the Compound was attacked. But that place was so well stocked, there have gotta be some hidden rooms where there’s still food. Just imagine what that could do for us.”
The thought of eating smoked meats and canned vegetables made my mouth water.
“But Book, we don’t know who controls the Compound,” Twitch said.
“True, but what if the Hunters and Crazies just attacked and left? What if they’re not there anymore? Not only that”—here I hesitated—“what if there are survivors? Skull People, still alive. If so, we could bring ’em with us.”
Flush cleared his throat before speaking. “I don’t mean to sound heartless or anything, but why would you want to do that?”
“First of all, because they helped us escape.”
“After they locked us up.”
“And secondly, because they have skills. They’re smart—they can help us.”
“If you’re thinking of your little friend Miranda,” Diana said, “don’t forget she was a traitor.”
It was the first time anyone had uttered her name in months. Miranda. The girl who’d kissed my cheek as we watched the sun set. The same girl who’d been spying for her father.
“At first she was, yeah. But if it wasn’t for her, we wouldn’t have gotten out of those caves. She created the diversion.” No one responded—not Diana, certainly not Hope—and I went on. “Listen, we’re not going to make it out of this territory unless we get some food. Like, soon. And the Compound is the only possibility I can think of.”
“But if the Crazies are still around—” Flush began.
“We take that chance. We don’t have a choice.”
The silence stretched, and it was a long time before anyone else spoke. I squinted into the distance. The setting sun erupted in an explosion of orange.
“I love it,” Sunshine said. “We’re screwed if we go, we’re screwed if we don’t. Welcome to the life of a Less Than.” He brayed like a donkey.
“What’re you thinking, Book?” Cat asked.
“It wouldn’t be everyone,” I said. “Just a small group. Whoever wants to join me. The rest of you go on to Dodge’s and we’ll meet up there. Hopefully with a whole mess of food.”
Now I needed volunteers. I shot a look to Hope, hoping she would say yes. She met my stare with narrowed eyes.
“Go,” she said. “We’ll continue on without you.”
“That’s what I’m suggesting,” I said.
“Then do it. You don’t need my permission.”
“Fine.”
“Fine.”
