“Tell him,” said Stella.
Mercury sighed. “A few of us—Stella, Imani, Gemma, and I—can make plants grow with our blood. We also heal faster than normal.”
Ford blinked several times before he said, “Are you messing with me?”
“Nope,” said Stella. “Tell him the rest.”
“Stella knows things now. She’s always had great intuition, but since the green fog, it’s been supersized. She’s saved us a bunch of times already.”
“I didn’t save y’all. We have saved ourselves. I just gave us a heads-up,” explained Stella.
“Huh. That’s good to know. Also will come in handy in the future.” Ford nodded. “What about Gemma and Imani?”
“They can make plants grow, and small cuts heal fast with them, but we’re not sure about what else they can do,” said Mercury.
“Gemma’s a healer,” said Ford. “That’s obvious. Not only is she good at it, but now that I know more, I realize it wasn’t my imagination. As long as she was touching my forehead, it didn’t hurt at all for her to stitch me up—my cut didn’t ache or anything. It’s only when she wasn’t touching me that it hurt.” He reached up and pressed his fingers to the bandage and grimaced. “Like now.”
“I believe Oxford is correct about Gemma,” said Stella.
“Do you know what’s up with Imani?” asked Mercury.
Stella moved her shoulder. “I can’t tell yet, but I promise you there’s more than just the ‘my-blood-grows-plants’ thing.”
“What about Karen? Did the green fog not touch her?”
“It did,” said Mercury. “She was with us when it covered us, but her blood hasn’t changed—or at least not in a way we can tell yet. There was another woman with us who survived the first blast but whose blood also doesn’t grow plants.”
“Did she die?” Ford asked quietly.
“No, she stayed at Timberline with a doctor and the survivors,” said Stella.
Ford turned his head quickly to look at Stella. “Timberline’s still there? I’ve skied Mt. Hood many times from that lodge.”
“It’s there—partially,” said Mercury. “Half of it’s gone, but what’s left makes a pretty good shelter. And they have plenty of supplies.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t stay there,” said Ford.
“Blame Stella. Her new spidey senses said we needed to leave,” said Mercury.
“If we hadn’t left, those kids and Ford would’ve died.” Stella pressed her lips together.
“Wait, what?” said Ford.
Mercury patted his knee. “It’s probably better if you don’t ask.”
“She’s not wrong,” Stella muttered. “Gate girl!”
“Got it!” It only took a few minutes for Mercury to cut through and discard the chain and open the gate. Then she was back inside the cab, wiping rain from her face again. She turned to look at the man beside her. “So, Oxford, you said you know the area?”
“Yep, well.”
“And also Madras?”
He nodded. “I’ve been there many times. They have—well, I suppose it’s had now—a few excellent local restaurants in the heart of the town. I like to treat myself to a nice meal before I leave on a backpack trip, and again right after.”
“We need to hide the truck,” said Stella. “Do you know where we can do that and still not be so far from town that it’ll be tough for the kids to walk it?”
“Hmm, from what Sim told me, the mayor has set up shelters in the center of town. So, yeah, I think know where we can stash the truck.”