That’s a true story. Not my uncle, but any number of other people’s uncles and aunts have been rounded up for minor crimes and fallen off the map completely.
The Central Cities pretends to be the heart of culture, order, and comfort in the world that remained after the asteroid hit forty-six years ago, but that semblance has been built on the back of tyrannical, oppressive leadership.
A government system only a few of us are willing to question.
“Come on,” the guard says, gesturing again with his weapon, a sloppy habit I would have had immediate words with him about had I been his supervisor. “You’ll need to walk in front of me for the rest of my patrol. Walk fast, single file. No talking or stopping.”
“Okay,” I say, acting hesitant as I move in front of him and look over my shoulder at him. “Just don’t hurt us. Like this?”
“Yeah.” His eyes move up and down my body appreciatively before I turn toward the front.
I assume he’s still leering as I follow Ben around the perimeter, but I’m looking ahead so I don’t see it.
2
Twenty-two minutes later,we’ve reached the main building of the outpost. It’s not very large. Just room enough for a service desk in the main room, a command station, a lounge, a separate jail cell, and some weapons and supplies storage.
The guard is joined by another as we approach, and they corral us inside and into the command station, where I huddle against Ben in a corner.
Neither one of us is armed with a weapon because there was a risk of being searched. But we haven’t been searched. The rest of the unit stationed here—including the supervisor—is as unconcerned about our intentions as the initial guard.
The supervisor is an older man with an impressive mustache, and he tells us to wait where we are because heneeds to finish the report he’s working on before he completes the paperwork necessary to deal with us.
The first guard comes over, meeting my eyes. “See? I told you it would be fine. Just wait here quietly, and he’ll take care of this without any fuss.”
“Okay.” I make my voice wobble. “Thank you so much.”
Ben is doing what he’s told but isn’t saying anything, which is the strategy we agreed on. If he reacts aggressively, they’ll up the force. If he behaves weak and spineless, they’ll be likely to bully him purely on principle. He needs to comply quietly so as not to trigger their macho instincts.
We wait in the corner for a few minutes. I’m plastered against Ben’s body, pressing my face against his shirt, and he’s got both arms around me protectively.
There are six guards in the room. Maybe one or two in the lounge on break. And there won’t be more than twelve in their stations on the perimeter, plus the two doing the patrols. Including the supervisor, that makes twenty-three.
We have a clear advantage in numbers. They have the advantage in position. A traditional attack, even with our numbers, might or might not have worked, and we’d have far more losses than is acceptable for a target of this size.
I’ve just checked the time when the sound of muffled gunshots comes from the south.
After a brief, urgent conversation on his radio, thesupervisor stands up. “South post. All but Harris. Go now.”
Harris must be the guard who first found us on his patrol because all the others rush out to support the perimeter guards. He doesn’t look happy about being left out of the action. He paces back and forth from the door to the corner where Ben and I are still huddled.
“Is everything all right?” I ask after a minute in a quavering voice. “Are we under attack? Should we hide somewhere?”
Ben has dropped his arms from around me. He’s standing straighter and feels tenser. He’s ready.
So am I.
The supervisor shushes us. His back is toward us as he handles reports from the perimeter guards and gives them instructions.
Harris returns to our corner. “It will be all right,” he murmurs very softly. “We’ve got it under control. No need to be scared.”
He’s talking to me, basically ignoring Ben’s existence.
I whimper and sway toward him with a trembling smile. “Oh, thank you.”
Then I grab the gun he’s still holding, easily removing it from his relaxed grip and pointing it at him instead.
Harris is so shocked he stands speechless.
