by Scott McCord
26
Will
“I’ll get Tommy in the morning,” I say as we head for our tents.
“Hold up now, boys,” Ven sneers. “I haven’t dismissed you.”
My shoulders sag, and Starter bites his lip to control his temper. We turn back to face our new commander.
“Now there you go, that wasn’t so bad.” Ven smiles and his eyes sparkle with a hint of crazy. “Hero, I want you to get Tommy 14 before dawn…whatever time you need, so he’s out of here before daybreak. I’d rather skin that little turd than send him on this mission. You’d better sweet talk him right, because if he’s not on board, I’ll take it out of his hide piece by piece. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Excuse me, hero?”
“Yes sir,” I say.
“That’s better. You’re not very good at following orders, but you need to fall in line quick. There’s a price for disobedience, and most times people you don’t expect have to pay the debt.” Ven draws in a long breath.
“You, on the other hand,” he says to Starter, “are excellent at following orders. Be outside my quarters at daybreak. I want a briefing on your men and their readiness. We don’t have much time, so I hope you’ve been competent.”
“Yes sir,” Starter answers.
“Until then, you can…go to your room. Dismissed.”
The night is a restless one—a million years away from the day I thought Mim might be alive, when Ven told me he had friends in high places. I roll to my side. I guess Ven was right about his friends, and Mim surviving the move after the Grand Championship was only desperate thinking. There’s no way she’d stay gone this long if she were able to come home. I need to forget her. She’s gone like Ellie. I’m not even sure what gave me the idea she might not be. Things should have been different. I roll to my other side and kick to loosen the blanket at my feet.
I remember trying to sleep with all the guys in the dormitory in Group 14. I wasn’t good at it then, and I still have a hard time even with a place to myself. Too many thoughts run through my mind in the quiet times. They wait for me to relax my guard, then skitter about my brain like a mischief of rats. Blood-runs on shepherds, goose, goose, duck training, drilling my men to the point of collapse…I’m a long way from Will 14, and I doubt anyone who knew me before would recognize me now. Tommy doesn’t, and if Gas wasn’t so busy with his bridges, he wouldn’t either. My old teammates—my used-to-be friends—have no idea who I really am…what the loss of Ellie, Mim, and my parents has done to my insides…how alone it makes me…with only the ghost of who I once was coming to visit in the night. His company sucks.
I have to keep it narrow, stay strong, shed compassion, and focus on the job. That’s the only way to keep the pain and the guilt from eating me whole. If I’m not who I’ve become, I’ll die…and that can’t happen until someone pays…for everything. I don’t care about Ven’s promotion. It’s just bullshit politics. Besides, our new commander is exactly what we need—an ice cold snake. If he and Ayden are set on wiping out the Slitters, I’m in. Who knows, when it’s all said and done, I may be promoted over Starter as well.
I can’t sleep. I pull on my clothes, strap a blade to my thigh, and step outside.
The moon hangs low over the trees, bathing everything in silver light. Community seems smaller than when I was a kid…compressed, somehow, simpler…maybe. I look to the sky and yawn as a pale orb stares back from behind dark branches. My mind washes empty for a moment…and then I’m back. If I can’t sleep, I might as well get Tommy started.
There’s no hurry as I head for Group 14. It’s an uncomfortable place to be…filled with familiar faces I don’t know anymore, and who don’t know me right back. It’s better to go in the dark so my visit can be as easily forgotten as a middle-night dream. I don’t like asking Tommy to do this, and I’m already angry, anticipating his resistance to help.
Alert militia patrols signal when they see me walking by, and I wave back to let them know I’m friendly. They wait to identify me in the moonlight before going about their business. Ven has done a good job with the slumber guards. I wish he’d done it sooner.
I move beyond Group 13 and circle in toward the dormitory tent, avoiding the plot where my parent’s place used to stand. I float across the ground, disturbing nothing, giving no hint of my approach before coming to the foot of the dorm where Tommy sleeps. I pull my knife and use the blade to draw back the door.
The tent is black inside. I lean in to let my eyes adjust, managing a careful breath through my nose as shapes begin to present themselves in the dark. I slide in, but when I do, something sharp presses into my temple. A drawn bow creaks, whispering its threat to put an arrow through my brain. A soft exhale rushes over my teeth, emptying my lungs, but I know better than to move any more than that.
“Drop the knife, Will,” Tommy says. “Do it now before I slip and have to bury a dead Scorpion under a log somewhere.”
I let the blade slide from my hand and fall to the floor. Tommy steps around, keeping the arrow trained on my face. “You’re not as quiet as you think you are. Too much time in the company of dipshits has you slipping.”
He considers me a moment, but when I don’t respond to his insult, Tommy releases the tension on his bow and lets the string relax to neutral. The arrow slides gently up its seat, but remains nocked, as Tommy lowers the weapon to his side. There’s only a few feet between us, but he could still jerk that bow and put one in me if I rush him. He’s fast, so I swallow my temper, besides, I didn’t come here to fight.
“Where is everybody?”
“With their families. Why are you here, Will?”
“I haven’t seen you in a while.”
“I’ve been chopping wood.”
“I thought you’d be trapping Outside deer.”
“Why would I do anything to help you Scorpions.”
“Because we’re going to kill the people who killed your mom.”
“We’ve talked about that, Will, but you wouldn’t listen.” I vaguely remember a conversation I’ve tried to forget. “Everybody’s parents die in Community…usually because a Scorpion puts them on a culling post. You’re just using your folks as an excuse to do what you’ve always wanted…to be a big man. Well, you got what you wanted, big man, and people are afraid of you.”
“Tommy, it’s too much…I need…” I can’t find words that don’t sound angry. I’m furious, but I don’t want to say something that can’t be unsaid. “…to know you’re still my friend.”
“You sneak into my tent in the middle of the night with your knife pulled. The only reason you’re not dead is because you are my friend…but you have to make it easier than this. Why are you here?”
I ask him about the deep survey, but all he does is shake his head, refusing to help. I tell him, if he doesn’t go, he’ll be arrested, but Tommy doesn’t care.
“Please,” I beg, and despise the way it sounds. “I would go myself, but Starter said no. He was the one who suggested you, and Ayden agreed even though Ven was against the whole idea.”
“Ven doesn’t want me to go?”
“No.”
“I wonder why.”
“He hates you.”
“Maybe.”
“No, Ven really does hate you. He’s dangerous. You have to be careful of him.”
“Huh.” Tommy takes the arrow from his bow and places it in its quiver. I pick up my knife and sheathe it. “Dad told me once, a man is measured better by his enemies than his friends.”
“I don’t know what that’s supposed to mean, but if you don’t go, if you don’t help, something very bad is going to happen. I think—”
“Good morning, sunshine. Good morning, hero. How about you ladies stepping out to get your briefing.”
Ven is here, and I haven’t convinced Tommy yet. It’s weird. I’ve hardened myself against so much, wringing away every drop of empathy, but even so, the sound of Ven calling Tommy outside takes me
to the brink of panic. The feeling catches me by surprise.
“Tommy,” I whisper, as he pushes past and steps through the door. There’s nothing else to be done, so I put on my game face and follow him out.
The moon is big overhead, washing everything in light that doesn’t show color. Ven is standing with another Scorpion outfitted in new buckskin. I recognize Figg immediately.
“You’ve talked to our boy?” Ven asks.
I nod.
“And he’s onboard?”
“I am,” Tommy answers.
Ven looks at Tommy…and then to me. “Why do I get the feeling this wasn’t settled until just now?”
“He’s going,” I say.
Ven smirks. “Tough sell, huh, hero? Well, you said it would be.” He sniffs and turns to Tommy. “I want numbers, positions, and weaponry. Make no contact with the enemy and when you return, report only to me. If you breathe a word of what you find to anyone else, you’ll spend the remainder of your short life in a very deep hole. Do not get caught, but if you do, we won’t lift a finger to help, and I hope they peel you alive. Am I clear?”
“Yes,” Tommy answers.
“Good. You have five days to report.”
“Five days? This mission will take ten. He won’t get anywhere in five—”
Ven raises his hand, and I stop.
“Five days, sunshine. Tell me you’re my man.”
“I’m your man,” Tommy says.
“Excellent. Figg is also my man. He’s going too.”
Tommy looks to Figg. The tall Scorpion returns a silent smile in the gray light.
“He’ll slow Tommy down,” I say.
Ven ignores my protest. “Don’t let me hold you up. Get what you need and get out of here. You have five days.”
Tommy collects his gear and disappears down the construction path toward the bridges with his Scorpion escort following behind.
§
Three days later Figg returns, reporting Tommy slipped away the second night out. Ayden declares Tommy a traitor without any further testimony.
Tales of the villain Tommy 14’s collusion with the enemy, and how it ended in the death of his own mother and my parents, spread like wildfire. At first, the accusations are difficult to believe, but no one contradicts the rumors. Even old friends in Group 14 are unwilling to lift a voice in defense of the despicable traitor. Fruits of the war-effort are good…very good, and the quickest way to lose them is to challenge the government line. The Body giveth and The Body taketh away…or worse. Stories swirl and people swallow them whole.
Tommy is a criminal, accused of atrocities I know he didn’t commit, but that’s the price for the one he did. He lied to me. He took responsibility for a mission without intending to complete it. Tommy isn’t a Slitter spy like they say, but by running off, shirking his duty, he has compromised the safety of Community, and that isn’t something I can overlook. He spent my trust to avoid arrest, to thumb his nose at authority, and to make Scorpions appear inept. That brand of sedition and cowardice isn’t something I can easily forgive. When I catch Tommy…if I catch Tommy, I’ll toss his ass in a hole and let Ayden and Ven decide the rest. I guess we’re not friends after all…at least not anymore.
27
Will
BANG! Ven brings his fist down on Ayden’s table hard enough to shake the room. “I don’t know how we’ve survived as long as we have with you running the show, Captain. The level of your incompetence astounds beyond belief.”
Starter responds with gritted teeth, clenched fists, and restraint.
“Commander,” Ayden murmurs.
“What?” Ven snaps. His sharp response catches me by surprise.
“Please do not strike the furniture. It sets off my nerves, and I have to lie down before I can think clearly again.”
“My apologies, Supreme. I did not mean to rattle you, but Captain Starter and the failure of his idiotic plan has us in a strategic lurch. We don’t know anything about the Slitters, and as strong as we’ve become, if we march blind, we could very well be walking straight into disaster.”
“You’re the one who cut Tommy’s mission to five days when Will said it would take ten. You’re the one who sent Figg, an anchor for Tommy to drag through the woods. Those are the decisions that screwed this whole thing up,” Starter growls. “The plan was sound.”
“Watch your tone, Captain,” Ven snarls back.
“I wonder why you chose Figg. The mission was recon only, no engagement, so why send a knife guy with Tommy instead of a bowman?”
Ven glares across the table at Starter.
“I’ll bet a month’s pay, Will, your buddy is stuffed in a shallow grave somewhere,” Starter says.
“You’re feeling big for your britches aren’t you, Captain? Do not forget you’re talking to your superior officer, and if you want to avoid some very serious shit, you’d better shut your mouth and do your job.”
“Gentlemen,” Ayden wheezes, “we’re in dire circumstances and if my top officers cannot find a way to work together, I’ll promote Will to High Commander and have both of you kiss his ass in Community Center. Am I clear?” Ayden sits back in his chair to recoup from the strain.
“Yes, Supreme,” Starter says.
“Of course, Supreme,” Ven growls.
“Very good. Now, where do we go from here?”
The tent falls silent as Ven and Starter sort through the options.
“Another deep survey will be our best bet,” Starter says.
“Absolutely not. Tommy 14 was a miserable failure. We can’t waste time and resources on something that doesn’t work,” Ven argues.
“Well we can’t just stomp through the forest hoping to run into Slitters. We have to know where they are,” Starter counters.
Ayden shakes his head. “No more deep surveys. Find another way.”
The room goes silent again.
“What if we stock our forward groups with extra supplies and cut their defenses to bare bones…move the entire militia to the northern and southern flanks, and mass our Scorpion forces in Group 10?” Ven is thinking out the plan as he talks.
“You want to set the table and leave the front door open,” Starter comments.
Ven nods. “We’ll create a funnel, and when they take the bait, we’ll close the trap behind them. The militia will collapse the rear and cut off any chance of escape.”
“And the Scorpions in Group 10 will move in and wipe them out,” Starter finishes. “Could work…might take a while to draw the Slitters in, and, if they come with big numbers, we could have a problem with our forces spread out.” Starter isn’t saying no, he’s just going through it out loud.
“They won’t,” I say.
“Won’t what?” Starter asks.
“They won’t come with big numbers…a raiding party, maybe, but that’s it.” Ven glares at me across the table, but I keep going anyway. “Why would Slitters come at us any differently than they ever have, just because we dangle a piece of cheese?” I shake my head. “No, if anything, it will be a raiding party twenty or thirty strong, but no more.”
“He’s right.” Starter looks to Ayden and then over to Ven.
“Okay, we can still make it work,” Ven says. “We’ll leave the militia out on the flanks and load up Group 13 and 14 with more supplies than thirty men can carry. There will be no reason for raiders to come any deeper into Community. We’ll give them the two forward groups, and when they’ve taken all the bait they can hold, you and your woodland Scorpions track the Slitters back to their nest. I’ll be right behind you with the main force.”
Ayden sits silently in his chair, watching his top men hash out the plan.
“What do you mean, give them the two forward groups?” I ask.
“I’ll dump a few scrubs from the militia out there to put up some resistance—we don’t want the Slitters catching on too quick—but that’s all the protection Group 13 and 14 will get. Just enough to sell it.”
�
�You’re going to set them up and let them die?”
“Yeah, I am,” Ven says.
“It’s the cost of war,” Starter remarks.
“I notice it’s not costing Group 3 anything,” I mutter.
Ayden pushes up off his chair, takes a couple of shaky steps and leans on the table next to Ven. “This is a big undertaking. I’d never considered inviting the enemy here, to allow bloodshed within the borders of Community. I’d always envisioned eradicating them far away, in the place where they reside. If this plan is the best we have, I suppose I’ll have to reconsider my presuppositions. Are you sure there is no other way?”
The room goes quiet and my mind spins, trying to put new pieces together before sacrificing my home group becomes a necessary and acceptable loss. Once the decision is made, the deal is done, so if I’m going to stop this, I have to stop it now.
“There’s another way,” I say before I’ve got it all worked out.
All eyes turn to me as I try to think.
“We’re waiting,” Ayden says.
“Yes, well, the whole point of baiting the Slitters is to track them to their location, but I don’t think we have to give up weeks of supplies and dozens of lives to do that.”
“What are you thinking?” Starter asks.
“Slitters are thieves and kidnappers, so let’s give them something to kidnap.” I look around at stone faces waiting for me to explain. “Let me take a child into the woods, a little girl would be best. I’ll need three men. When the Slitters grab the girl, we’ll trail them to their camp. Once we have their location, we can marshal our attack, rescue the girl, and destroy the enemy far away from Community.”
“You want to use a child for bait?” Ven asks. “Have you become that cold, hero?” He shakes his head. “Supreme, I don’t think—”
Ayden raises a finger, silencing his commander. “I like it. It’s cheap, it’s clever, and it doesn’t happen here.” He rubs his hands together, looking for the downside of my plan without coming up with one. “We shall proceed as Will suggests. Make it happen. Now, leave me.”
Ven shoots me an unhappy glance as Starter puts his hand on my shoulder, steering me to the door.
