"I may only be 19 but you know Im smarter than that!"
"Im sorry shuga, I am not letting you go with her."
"That is ridiculous."
I have been arguing with Hall all morning to let me go out on a run with Briel. He likes to think he is a father figure to me. Truth is my daddy died before the war even started up and it has been a long time since someone cared for me like he does. I wanted to get some things for my collection. I have been on the hunt to find any and all things from the old world so I never forget. I have a few things and lately I have been glued to a highschool chemistry text book. Hall wont let me go out because Skins have been spotted about 30 miles to the west of us about 3 days ago. He doesnt have the slightest clue where they are anymore. With that I walked back over to my tent and started reading one of my old books.
"Hey Darling." Says Lacey. "How is everything Doc?" I say not really paying attention to him.
"Everything is fine. I heard you were rather tossed about having to stay in." " I am."
"Well you understand he is just looking out for you?"
"I do."
"Well, If it makes you feel better I told Briel to keep her eyes open for anything special. Like one of those text books. A girl as smart as you should be spending time getting smarter." he claimed. " I guess so. Have you heard anything from Goldy about the new comers?"
"Yessum. I think he is letting them stay. Its a Mother and her son. They both looked like they had some tough luck out there. Though the boy looks strong and knows how to handle a gun. Goldy might send him Ankars way. The mom was a nurse so Ill get to have an assistant, Hehe."
"Go on you dirty stinker, Make them feel welcome. I have got to finish up with that throat medicine for Jules daughter."
New comers werent uncommon around here. We set up about 100 miles away from a major colony of the south. We do a lot of trading with the Yulers.When people get fed up or bored of that life they come to us. We would take over but Hall doesnt have the desire to govern peoples lives like they try to over there. Hall also says they help keep the Skins away cause they wouldnt attack a colony of that size. Our camp is pretty large. We have about 90 something people here and most would say we are a small colony but people come and go as they please. Whereas a colony gives you a lot of land after living there for a certain amount of time. After you decide to leave, you have to give up the land to some other person and leave. With a camp, you just set up where ever.
People prefer large camps but the walls of a colony are more defensive than a small barricade. Lots of folk dont like to be governed by a peon who thinks he knows the whole story. I never made sense of the colonies and why the do things the way they do. They all want to try and "restore balance to the lost". But what if people arent lost, they just want to be safe? I heard a noise from behind me and drew my gun and pointed it that way.
"Whoa, whoa. Easy. I am just here to get some 'grease eater' for Andrea."
"You the new boy? They using you as an errand runner? Well I'll be. They've gotten more rude over time."
"Your people have been the kindest so far."
"I am Darla. I deal with all the herbs and such. What did you say you needed?"
"Uh, 'grease eater'? My name is Dylan, Nice to meet you."
"Ah, for Andrea I suppose. It'll be a minute, I have to mix it up. Where did you and your mother I presume, come from?"
"Yeah, thats my mom. We came from the east. We were at a colony on the Coast. It got flattened by a hurricane, so we came further west."
"Was it a big colony? One that I would know? My sister is somewhere East. Hope she wasnt at that one."
"Everyone evacuated before hand. We could see it getting nasty before it made shore. It was the liners. But it wasnt very well known, just established about a month or two age. I wouldnt expect word to travel that fast."
"You're right, it didnt. Well here it is."
"Thanks. I mean for uh the chat. You guys are very welcoming."
I nodded him out and sat down for a moment. I analyzed Dylan in my head. He was tall and he had strength to him. He had dark hair and light eyes. He was well spoken and couldnt have been a day over 20. He smelled of grattitude even long after he left the room.
