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There is so much that we take for granted in the modern world−clean water, sanitation, manufacturing. Modern systems rely on the society that drives it. Adequate workforce and maintenance are essential. Once abandoned, even the best-designed system will coast to a halt eventually.
History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss
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WISP KNEW THE MAN WITH the shotgun wouldn’t fire at him but sensed that Martin had his doubts. They’d been searching along the road for hours, but this was the first group of people that Wisp had located. “He won’t hurt us,” Wisp murmured. Despite the frown narrowing Martin’s brown eyes, he lowered his own weapon.
“Sorry, neighbor,” Martin said in a calm, soothing voice. “You understand that we meet all kinds.”
The man hesitated to lower the shotgun, but his face showed his willingness to listen. A big black van full of armed men was enough to alarm anyone. “I don’t have anything for you,” he said firmly.
Wisp could taste the sharpness of his fear.
“We’re not looking for anything but information,” Martin said. He waved at Tall Joe who brought one of Tilly’s Greeting Baskets. “This is a token from us at High Meadow. We are putting together a coalition of everyone in the area. There’s an army forming to the west of us.”
“Slow down,” Wisp said softly.
The man’s eyes got larger, but he stood his ground. Wisp could feel at least three other people, two of which were very young, hidden in the old farmhouse further up the lane.
Martin walked forward slowly and placed the basket on the ground between them. He gave the man a courteous nod before returning to his previous position. “We all want the freedom to live our lives as we wish. But it looks like we can’t do that without joining together for safety. There’s a flyer in there about a meeting. It’ll happen two days after the next full moon at High Meadow. We’d like everybody to attend.
“We’ve got food and medicine up there. Anyone is welcome,” Wisp added. He knew the man didn’t believe them. He could only hope that they wouldn’t throw away Tilly’s food for fear it was poisoned. There was a wedge of cheese from Creamery, a sack of oats from Holly Hill farm and Eunice’s bread from the High Meadow kitchen. It wasn’t that they had food to spare, but it made a very convincing gift.
The man watched them as they returned to the van and drove back up the overgrown driveway. Martin grumbled under his breath, but Wisp knew he was pleased to have found another family. They pulled out onto the main road, mud fanning off the tires. About a mile later, Martin stopped the car.
Wisp got out to scan the thickly forested area. They had been doing this on and off for weeks now. Seeking out anyone hidden in the area that Angus now claimed as part of the Survivors’ Alliance. Every couple of days he was needed back at High Meadow, to vet the latest group of refugees that were filling up the storm shelters. High Meadow was growing at a much faster rate than Angus had foreseen. When Wisp finished helping out with the refugees, he was back out on the road mapping and cataloging with Martin and his men. A part of him wanted to disappear. Just vanish into the woods with no trace left behind. He’d done it before. But a greater part of him was starting to become attached to these people. If he walked away, he knew that he would disappoint Tilly and Angus and Nick. And his brothers were here now. It was so hard to be around so many people and yet despite the discomfort, he stayed. The situation had become extremely complicated.
He hurried up the road away from the van as if he could leave those clamoring thoughts behind. As he opened his senses, a faint ripple of pain teased at him. Wisp concentrated, searching for the source, but it feathered away as if the person had fallen asleep. He opened himself carefully. Martin and Tall Joe were familiar bundles of emotions behind him. The man and his family, simpler blots further back. The pale flickers of animal minds showed him a healthy population in this section of woods. Two, no three people were up on a ridge watching the road. He narrowed his focus on them poking through their emotions searching for ill intent. There was a jumble of feelings among them, and he realized they were probably teenagers. Hunger was the top note for all three of them. More refugees desperate for food and shelter. Wisp gestured to Martin for a food basket. Maybe they could coax them down. In another place, at another time, he would have hidden from them. Now he sought them out.