Broken Lands (Benny Imura 6)

“Do we?” asked Morgie. “The Nine Towns got along pretty good since First Night. We survived, we got to grow up. We were safe.”

“Really?” said Nix, her voice suddenly going cold. “What about Charlie Pink-eye and the Motor City Hammer? What about Gameland? What about Preacher Jack? You call that safe? What about what they did to my mother? What about what they tried to do to all of us? They nearly killed you, Morgie. They did kill my mom. They put Benny and me in the zombie pits. Maybe I’m stupid or something, but how is that ‘safe’?”

“That’s not what I meant,” mumbled Morgie.

“I know what you meant,” said Nix, not letting up. “Why can’t you admit that you’re wrong?”

“Hey,” said Benny, “come on. We have enough problems without picking fights with each other.”

Nix glared hot molten death at him. “Sure. Fine. Whatever.” She muttered something under her breath that sounded like Boys are idiots, but Benny wasn’t sure.

Lilah said, “We have to do something. What good is it to just sit here?”

“Sitting here is better than going out to get killed,” said Riot.

They were, collectively, a powerful group. Skilled to varying degrees, experienced in combat, scarred inside and out by what they’d been through. They were still teenagers, though. Benny just wished that the adults in town had more of a clue what to do, but no one at the meeting had a good plan. Not even Solomon.

They all lapsed into silence again.

Again, Chong was the first to speak. “Tell me something, Morgie . . . if anyone decides to go, would you go too?”

Morgie bristled. “Why, because I didn’t go last time?”

“No,” said Chong. “Because you’re tough and we’re going to need all the muscle we can get out there.”

Everyone looked at him. “?‘We’?” asked Nix.

“Sure,” said Chong, “or haven’t you guys worked it out yet? The medicine I need to keep from going full zom is made in Reclamation, but the chemicals and stuff they need to make it come from Asheville. Dr. McReady, the scientist who figured it out, is in Asheville. I have enough of the drug to last maybe ten months. After that, which one of you is going to quiet me with a sliver in the back of my skull?”

No one spoke. The silence was crushing.

“So . . . yeah,” said Chong, “I’m going to Asheville. I’d rather die trying than to wait here and just . . . die.”

Lilah made a sound that might have been an agreement, or might simply have been a growl. Nix nodded, and for some reason she smiled. She was like that, Benny knew. Brave and a little crazy.

Riot gave an elaborate shrug and said, “Well, I guess I’m in for whatever. Heck, I never expected to live all that long anyway. Might as well go out having some fun.”

Benny saw Morgie mouth the word “fun.” It looked like the word hurt his mouth.

“You know I’m in,” said Benny. “I kind of have to be. I mean, you’re smart and all, Chong, but let’s face it, you get lost trying to find the bathroom in your own house.”

“This,” said Chong, “is true.”

One by one they all turned to Morgie. He opened his mouth two or three times to say something, stopped, shut it again. He leaned over and banged the side of his head against the tree.

Sighed.

Said, “When do we leave?”

Interlude One

KICKAPOO CAVERN STATE PARK

ONE WEEK AGO

THE HUNTER MOVED THROUGH THE forest.

His forest. He glided along, silent as a shadow, disturbing nothing, leaving no trace behind. Even animals rarely knew he was around. Sometimes he passed them by, leaving them to their ignorance. Sometimes they died without ever knowing that this was their last day.