42

Indistinct was the word Irene used to describe her communication with Caleb. Like trying to hear someone standing at a distance and shouting through a heavy storm. Even so, she emerged from that first connection knowing their destination. A tavern on the square fronting the university entrance.

They abandoned the truck in the chaos surrounding the city’s central market. People streamed about them, a steady flow with most faces covered against the rain. Kevin’s team unloaded and hefted their packs and started off. Three times he stopped at food stalls, buying meals for those who were hungry and asking directions. No one showed more than a passing interest.

It took them almost two hours to reach the square, long enough for the youngest and weakest to be groaning softly from carrying their sodden packs. Even Kevin was shivering from the rain. But he did not mind, for up ahead was his friend and, even more important, answers.

When they arrived, Caleb was there to greet them. Kevin’s gold secured them two comfortable chambers overlooking a tree-lined square and the university gates. They enjoyed a very fine meal of stew and fresh-baked bread and cheese and clay pitchers of lemonade spiced with honey from the inn’s own hives.

Eventually the last of the crew emerged from the showers. By sharing what they had, everyone wore dry clothing. The beds were covered with inert bodies, some sleeping, others propped up against stacks of pillows. Those who were awake watched Kevin and Pablo and Caleb intently. They might not fully understand what was at stake. But they could sense things. Kevin had noticed this about them. Small elements that, when woven together in such quiet reflective moments as this, revealed abilities that were not yet fully understood. One of these elements was how Kevin remained busy redefining the word team.

As though in response to Kevin’s thoughts, Caleb asked, “Tell me what you can do.”

Pablo replied, “Most of us only have a faint inkling of what might be possible.”

Caleb was seated in the chambers’ best chair. Pablo had drawn it away from the writing desk and positioned it near where Kevin stood, facing the main room and the double doors. Everyone could see Caleb clearly as he nodded his understanding. “You have survived this long by hiding. You’ve never had a chance to test your boundaries.”

Carla said, “This is as true for you as for any of us, yes?”

Caleb nodded again. “The one time I showed an outsider what I could do, I risked the safety of everyone and everything I hold dear. How did you find me and Maddie?”

“It was Kevin’s idea,” Carla said.

Pablo pointed to Forrest. “He found you, then tracked Maddie through that connection. Irene—that’s her over there—she tried to communicate directly.”

Irene spoke for the first time since Caleb had joined them. “Shouldn’t I try to tell Maddie we’re coming?”

“Not until we know the how and the when,” Caleb replied.

“But she’s so frightened.”

“I don’t think fear is the right word to describe what she sent our way,” Caleb replied.

“She’s scared, sure,” Forrest agreed. “But her urgent need for secrecy was louder.”

Caleb added, “Maddie sent us that layered burst because they are being monitored.”

“Layered burst,” Forrest said. “I like that.”

“We need to wait,” Caleb repeated.

“We can’t let anyone know we’re coming until we’re there,” Pablo agreed.

Caleb went on, “The question now is, how do we rescue them? It’s not enough to break them out.”

“If it was just about exploding a few walls, they’d already be gone by now,” Kevin said.

“I’ve been wondering about that too,” Pablo said.

“Freeing them from their prison is only step one.”

“And their families,” Forrest added.

“Stopping the militia from attacking us once they’re out and we’ve joined up, that’s two,” Pablo said.

“Breaking back through the Atlanta border fence, that’s three,” Kevin said.

“Stopping them from following us, four.” This from Hank, who was sprawled on the nearest bed and addressed his words to the ceiling.

“Which means we need more transport,” Kevin said.

“All this leads us to the biggest issue of all,” Caleb said.

This time no one spoke.

Caleb gave that a long moment, then said, “Where are we going? We need to decide that now. Because once we start moving, there won’t be a chance for further discussion. After we leave this room, speed will be our only friend.”

More of those lying atop the beds sat up. Several of those in the other room moved forward until they filled the doorway.

“Where can we find a safe haven?” Caleb looked around the room. “That needs to be our goal. A place where we can live and make choices for ourselves. And for all the other specials—”

“Adepts,” Pablo said.

“Adepts. That’s good. I like that.”

Kevin said, “You have an idea, don’t you.”

“I think so,” Caleb replied. “Half of one, anyway.”

Carla asked, “Did you have a far-seeing?”

Caleb leaned back in his chair. “I like that too. Far-seeing.”

“Did you?”

“Yes.”

“Will you tell us?”

“Yes,” Caleb replied. “I’ll tell you everything.”

The rain had stopped by the time they left the inn and headed for the university’s main gate. The sky remained veiled by thick clouds, and the air was very close and humid. Caleb sweated in the heat and worried over having so little to do. He found it hard to observe as others decided their fate. And up ahead, beyond the tall green barrier, Maddie waited.

“Steady,” Kevin said calmly. “Everyone just walk forward at your normal pace.”

“Pay attention to the man,” Pablo added. “We all belong. Or we should. And we will, soon as our mentats do their little job on these fellows up ahead.”

Caleb liked Kevin immensely and was coming to hold the same affection for the former militia sergeant, Pablo. As they approached the sentries manning the university gates, Caleb realized he had not seen Kevin limp once since they had met up. But now was not the time to ask, for right then Kevin said softly, “Everybody on target. Ready?”

“We are so far beyond ready,” Pablo replied. “We’ve been waiting for this all our lives.”

“Okay,” Kevin said. “One, two, three. Insert.”

That was the word the scraggly-haired man named Forrest had suggested. The mentats inserted mental images into the group of six guards, three by the gatehouse and three to either side of the barrier. They blanketed the group.

The six militia slumped as though caught in a somnolent web.

Kevin walked at the front of the group. He showed the lead guard an empty sheet of paper. Caleb doubted the soldier saw anything. The guard waved to his mates, and in response they silently raised the barrier. Caleb passed close enough to the senior trooper to touch him. Any question he might have had about the power of his team vanished with that one brief glimpse into those blank, unseeing eyes.

Inside the barrier, Caleb was tempted to pause and take stock. Most of the buildings he could see were uniform in design, red-brick and three stories and fronted by patios and numerous whitewashed pillars. They stood upon a lawn of emerald green, with ancient oaks lining the quiet lanes. It was a place of carefully guarded peace, except for what lay directly ahead of them.

Fifty paces inside the barrier, the lane ended in a T-junction. On the intersection’s other side rose the militia headquarters.

The Atlanta flag hung damp and defeated by the sultry day. The bottom floor was lined by four broad whitewashed garage doors. The three open doors revealed a pair of gleaming troop carriers and what could only have been a fire engine.

Pablo called softly, “Everyone keep moving. Don’t cluster. Caleb, which way?”

The map was clear in Caleb’s head. “We follow the street around to the left.” Then an idea took form. He slowed and studied the militia’s building.

Two guards, a man and a woman, stood just inside the central portal. They smoked cigarettes and watched the group’s passage with bored expressions. The woman spoke softly. The man laughed, then flicked his cigarette in a high spiral. It landed at Caleb’s feet and died with a hiss.

The man’s contempt added a further spark to Caleb’s idea. He waited until they had rounded a bend in the road, then said, “Let’s stop here a second.”

“Why?” Carla asked.

“Because we need transport.”

Kevin offered a wolfish grin. “I’ve been wondering the same thing.”

Pablo looked the most eager of all. “That makes three of us.”