“We wouldn’t,” Mercury spoke up before Janet could continue. “Plus, what’s the point? It’s not like you couldn’t disprove what we’re saying—but we can prove it.” She lifted the carrot that had already begun to sprout green tufts from its top. “Clearly, we’re not lying.”
The group murmured excitedly, but Mercury shushed them.
“Stella, Imani, Gemma, and I are leaving at dawn before the snowstorm that Sim told us about hits. You’re set up here with shelter and a nice amount of supplies, but you’re going to run out. Hilary’s blood grows things. Who else wants to test their blood?”
“Why are you leaving?” Marge asked. “And hell yes, I want to test my blood.”
“Good choice,” Gemma said as she retrieved the knife, alcohol wipes, and the bowl of veggies from Hilary and headed to Marge.
Mercury met Marge’s gaze and continued to tell the truth. “We’re leaving because Stella says we need to, and we trust her gut instinct.”
“Are you coming back?” asked another woman.
“I don’t know, but Tyler is removing the CB radio from Sim’s truck so we can take it with us. This morning he found the lodge’s radio that Bob told him about, which means we can stay in touch. You can’t leave. We already talked with Hilary about it.”
“No, it wouldn’t be wise to move any of you, not even those of you who aren’t badly wounded,” said Dr. Hilary. “Besides the coming storm, we really don’t know what out there is like. You may have to walk—or run—for your lives.”
“Or fight,” Mercury added. “But we’re heading to Madras. As Sim said, the mayor there has made it a sanctuary city. We’re hoping that we’ll be able to send help back after the storm.” She held up one of the knives. “Anyone else want to get tested?”
Hesitantly at first, and then more eagerly, every hand in the room went up. The testing went fast. If a veggie didn’t sprout within just a few minutes, it didn’t sprout at all.
“Only five grew anything?” Nathan asked and then grimaced and rubbed his taped ribs.
“Only five,” Mercury nodded. “But at least we know some things that are similar in everyone whose blood changed. All of us were outside and breathed in the green fog.”
“Yeah, and it hurt—like stinging bees,” said Gemma.
“Also each of us lost consciousness, if only for a minute or so,” added Hilary.
Nathan frowned and shook his head. “And it didn’t change the blood of even one man. That doesn’t seem fair.”
Marge looked at her partner. “I think you should be grateful our car didn’t come to a stop in the middle of that green stuff, because it seems every man who comes in contact with it dies.”
Nathan grinned at his partner. “Oh, honey, I am grateful. I also wish my blood could grow things.”
“So, do you think whoever engineered this particular biological agent made it to wipe out men?” Janet sounded equal parts pissed and skeptical.
“We can’t know for sure if it was created to be that specific or if it’s just a fortuitous byproduct.” Heads turned as Stella joined them in the foyer.
“Fortuitous?” said one of the other three men as he carefully sat up. His arm was in a sling, and his thigh and head were heavily bandaged. His age was hard to determine as the gauze wrapped around his forehead also covered the side of his face, but Mercury guessed he was somewhere between forty and fifty.
“Well, let’s see.” Stella tapped her chin with exaggerated contemplation. “Who’s been in charge of the world until now?”
“Men,” said Gemma.
“Exactly.” Stella put her fists on her waist and faced the wounded man. “Women saved you. Women bandaged you. Women will continue to be sure you heal. Remember that.”
“Is that a threat?” asked the man.
“What’s your name?” Stella countered with.
“Keith Carter.”
“Well, Keith, we’re not like that,” said Stella. “We’re simply speaking to you honestly. This new world is going to be different. We’re not going to tolerate misogyny. That’s not a threat. It’s the truth.”
“Exactly. We’re being truthful and making it clear more things have changed than our blood,” Mercury said.
“Guess it’s good you’re leaving,” muttered Keith.
“No, Keith.” Hilary spoke firmly. “We’ll have none of that. Mercury and Stella are correct. Our blood has changed and so has our world. We’re not going to bicker with you. And we’re not going to be bullied by you either. We will be compassionate. We will be truthful. We will be fair. And we will work together to survive this. If that is not how you want to live, you are free to go.”
“I—I can’t leave. I can barely walk,” said Keith as the part of his face not bandaged flushed scarlet.
Another man—the younger guy who had multiple cheek, shoulder, and leg lacerations—spoke up. “Well, dude, then I guess you’ll have to learn how to get along with people, and by people I mean women.”
“Good advice,” said Nathan as he reclined back with a sigh. “We do need to work together, and to tell you the truth, I’m glad I’m not in charge.”
“Oh, my love,” said Marge with a fond grin. “I’m glad you’re not in charge too.”