Coal shrugged. "After those first few years, the changes stopped happening. It was like rapid evolution, everything that changed stayed different but didn't continue to develop after that. Maybe the chemicals are gone now, or maybe they just stopped effecting us, I don't know. But I do know that people don't suddenly die or become something different just by being out here, or eating the food."
"But why do we still live inside The Wall then? They could let us out."
"Our best guess: power. There are a lot of people who have a very comfortable lifestyle living in the tops of those buildings and that would all change if everyone beneath them was suddenly free to go and make a life for themselves outside."
"But that's awful, they can't just lock everyone away because it suits their lifestyle," I said, outraged.
"There are plenty of things to be afraid of out here other than contamination." He shrugged again.
"Like what?"
"You'll find out before long." Coal stood up and held out a hand to me. "We should get moving." He helped me up then dropped my hand and stepped back. He crossed the cave quickly and lifted Taylor into the makeshift litter without another glance at me. Kaloo appeared at his side and stood patiently while she was strapped back onto it.
I took a deep breath and turned away, hoping he couldn't tell how much he affected me.
Chapter Eighteen
We headed back into the forest. I shuddered, remembering the screeches from the night before but the trees looked peaceful enough swaying in a slight breeze, high above our heads. The humidity had returned with force and I could feel the heat of the sun, punching its way down into the leafy cavern that surrounded us. The water that had soaked my clothes on my way through the waterfall rose off me in waves of steam.
"Did you see anything strange out here last night?" I asked Laurie as we followed Coal through the trees.
"Everything out here is strange," she hissed back. I took that to mean she hadn't seen the shape watching us from the bank and let it drop. Laurie didn't seem to be taking to the changes as easily as I was.
"Are you feeling okay?" I asked her.
"In the physical sense, yes. But other than that... I've left my whole world behind. I don't even know what to think about all of this, I spent my entire life trying to become a Warden and now I know I'll never be allowed back amongst them." She shook her head, looking defeated.
"It doesn't have to be all bad, our world was confined within a Wall before. Now it stretches out without boundaries for us to explore." I couldn't keep the grin from my face as I thought about the possibilities this world presented to me.
Laurie smiled at me. "It makes it a bit easier to take in if I think about it like that I suppose."
"Try not to think about what's ending so much as what's just beginning." I nodded enthusiastically, glad to have cheered her up.
"Speaking of which." She nudged me and gave Coal a meaningful look. "What's going on with you two then?"
"Nothing," I protested, feeling my cheeks turn a violent shade of beetroot. "Besides, he doesn't even notice me," I added, dropping my voice to be sure Coal didn't overhear us.
"He doesn't stop noticing you. I'm surprised he doesn't fall over his feet from staring in your direction instead of looking where he's heading."
"That's not true. And anyway he moves away from me like I'm contagious or something any time I get too close so you're way off," I said, hoping the hurt in my voice wasn't too obvious.
"Well maybe there's a reason for that. Like he doesn't think you feel the same or... he might be in a relationship with someone else at his camp," Laurie said, casting about for excuses.
"I don't doubt he has someone waiting for him," I replied.
"With a body like that," Laurie added as we both checked him out and burst out laughing. Coal looked over his shoulder at us.
"What's so funny?" he asked and we laughed harder. Coal scowled and moved on, picking up the pace so that we struggled to keep up.
The day wore on and the dappled light filtering through the canopy overhead shifted, making our shadows stretch out before us. My feet were throbbing, I yearned for a soft bed and to take off my boots.
"It's not much further, maybe another hour," Coal told us as he took in our clearly exhausted expressions.
I was pretty sure we were holding him up though he didn't say it outright.
"It's getting dark already - is it safe?" I asked, narrowing my eyes at the trees around us.
"It won't be fully dark for a while, it's generally still safe at this time," he reassured me but his eyes, which were darting back and forth around the trees constantly, betrayed his real feelings.