We fill Dino in about what happened, including Caden’s nightmares that have only gotten worse. It seems that Unity has picked up on something strange happening in High Hope, though communication with the city is unstable. The last they heard was that the king was missing, which I take as a positive sign that Lyla’s plan may have worked.
“Where are you heading now?” Dino asks.
“To Denver,” River says.
“The hell you are. Return to Unity so we can discuss our next steps.”
“I can’t wait that long. They have Josh!”
Dino takes a breath. “Listen to me, River. I cared about that boy years before you even met him, and I will do anything I can to bring him and Caden back safely. Unlike you, Iknowwhat is waiting in Denver and how prepared they are for an attack. Don’t be a hero just to end up as a corpse.”
River crosses his arms. “I’ll figure something out. My people know I need their help; they will come.”
“I’m glad we have your people’s support, but I won’t allow Finn and Timothy to join you on a suicide mission.”
River looks at me as if I’m about to betray him, but I understand the urgency, and I can’t do this without him.
“I won’t return to Unity without River,” I say, my stomach swirling.
“Finn, you work for the assembly and for me. I need you back here.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m sorry, sir, but River saved my life before I was a part of Unity. I’ll keep you updated whenever I can and share anything we might discover. I’m also not looking for a suicide mission.”
“Goddamn your stubbornness. Timothy?”
“I will stay and protect Finn.”
“You do that. Finn, you better remember tothinkbefore you act. Taking action is always easier than planning, and people tend to forget that one needs the other to succeed.”
Not Hector, though. He’s been planning everything perfectly so far.“I understand, sir.”
I feel drained when we disconnect the call, hoping I won’t regret my decision.
River says, “If you want to leave and go back—”
“—I don’t, but I’m not letting you storm Denver. I agree with Dino—it’s all about planning.”
“I know how to plan.”
“Okay, then let’s find supplies for the road.”
We pick up things from Hank, and he doesn’t ask us to pay. Back in the diner, Roberta gives us bottles of water and some food for the road. She makes River swear to only return with Josh.
We step outside and begin walking, but we slow our steps at the sight of a man standing with his back to a tree, wearing a long coat and dark sunglasses. I noticed him earlier at the diner. He gestures for us to approach as if he’s been waiting for us.
I would have been more hesitant if I didn’t have River with me. We walk closer, and the stranger says, “I couldn’t help but hear you talking earlier. Seems like you lost two people.”
“Maybe,” I say. “You know anything?”
“Not of two, just the one who was saved by Buck and his team.”
River quickly moves in front of the stranger and grabs his shirt. “Buck the mutant?”
“That’s right.” The stranger raises his sunglasses, revealing a single eye right above his nose.
“Who’s the person Buck saved?” River asks.
“Don’t know. Just heard he rescued someone while he was out hunting Raiders. Big guyloveshunting.”
