The escapees have been privately detained. The grand commander has yet to set up a prison or a set of basic laws for his men, but these women are jailed for only trying to get their freedom back. This is a cold, hard world we are entering.
—The journal of Isaac Ryland
It was colder than Andrew had expected. With the sun down there was nothing to counteract the wind. He was grateful that the mountains blocked some of the breeze, but he still scooted closer to the fire. They set up makeshift beds with the clothing and even brought the agent to join them.
“So what’s the deal with the doctor?” Carter asked. “And you said earlier my dad was part of Affinity? Who are these inside people?”
“We shouldn’t talk in front of the agent,” Zack said.
“By the time this is all over it won’t matter what he has to say,” Andrew said.
Zack gave Andrew a half smile. Andrew recognized the gesture of approval. It seemed like Andrew and Zack were on the same page again. Their team would destroy the service list and the master Registry, putting an end to the American way of life. Andrew was sure of that.
“There are thousands of us,” Zack said.
“But did you know him?” Carter asked.
“No,” Zack said. “I checked in with headquarters and informed them of the situation. They contacted the nearest member with medical training.”
“The population of America is close to four million people,” Agent Quillian said. “The thousands who are behind your cause are nothing.”
“What would you do?” Andrew asked. “If mandatory service and the Registry were no more?”
“That’s impossible,” Agent Quillian said.
“Pretend it’s not,” Andrew said. “You know about our plans.”
The agent rolled his eyes and shook his head.
“I would get out of the country,” Carter said. “Spend some time with my dad and come back after the dust settled.”
Andrew watched Zack stare at Carter with narrowed eyes. “Rescuing Roderick is not part of the protocol,” Zack said. “I’m sorry, Carter, but your father is as good as dead.”
“Fine,” Carter said. “Then I would stay and rebuild. I think I would like to open a school. Teach some of the abandoned youths what my dad taught me, or maybe dedicate my time to reuniting families.”
Andrew was relieved Carter didn’t react to Zack’s comment. Zack didn’t seem interested in the fact that Carter had moved ahead without protesting. Carter had Andrew’s word and that meant something. He felt a sting at the way he’d betrayed Mia by failing to stick to it; that mistake would never happen again.
“I’d head home,” Zack said. “Wait for my next assignment.”
“What if you chose your own assignment then?” Carter asked.
“Fine,” Zack said. “I would like to reorganize the armed services. America will still need an army, only a voluntary one. I’d help with the restructuring.”
“Andrew?” Carter asked.
“I would marry Mia,” Andrew said.
As soon as the words left his mouth he wished he could take them back. That was too personal of a thought to share; he was so tired his brain wasn’t filtering right. He expected the other men to laugh at him, but instead they nodded their heads. Even Agent Quillian didn’t laugh.
“As long as everyone else is sharing,” the agent said, “if your half-brained plan were to come to fruition I would spend every waking minute of my time meeting every girl who came across my path.”
Andrew raised his chin. Zack and Carter looked just as perturbed.
“What?” the agent asked. “When I was overseas I did quite well with the ladies. I don’t know if you gentlemen noticed, but I’m quite the looker.”
Carter burst out laughing first and soon they all joined in; even Agent Quillian laughed at himself. It was surreal; Andrew was in so much danger but felt safe for a moment, as if nothing huge was looming over them. It would have been perfect if Mia were there. He felt a pang in his gut and reached into his pocket to check his phone.
“I wouldn’t bother,” Agent Quillian said. “No service out here. That’s the only reason you three are still free. Once you exit the mountains every RAG agent in the country will be looking for you.”
“They don’t have our pictures,” Carter said. “We used fake ones.”
“It’s not RAG agents I’m worried about,” Andrew said.
Even if they managed to fool the American government, there was no way Grant hadn’t put two and two together by now.
“You should be worried about being out here,” Agent Quillian said.
“We’ve heard you complain all night,” Zack said. “We’re alone and I think it’s time we went to bed.”
“Can you untie me?” Agent Quillian asked. He puffed out his chest and wiggled his hands, which were secured behind his back.
“Sleep on your stomach,” Andrew said.
“That’s not fair,” Agent Quillian said. “At least move my hands to my front.”
Andrew followed Zack’s lead and lay down on the pile of clothes he was using as a pillow. He let his hands slip inside his suit coat and settled down for the night. His eyelids closed and Agent Quillian faded out. Andrew’s sleep came quickly.