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“We had to shake off our grief and fear and confusion to face the grim facts that we must work for our survival. Three years into it, there was no department or agency to bring us emergency supplies or direct us to safe housing. We had to wake up, look around ourselves and start planning.”
History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss
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TILLY COUNTED HEADS coming up with a different number for the third time. Either she was more tired than she realized, or the kids kept moving around. There were seventeen or nineteen of them, looking to be between ten and fourteen years old. Her heart sank thinking of these kids out on their own. She had a grudging respect for Ted and the older girl Nixie. He looked exhausted, and she just ghosted around the edges of the room, seemingly unable to settle. Nixie had a scar on her face and a look in her eyes that spoke volumes to Tilly. She’d seen too many people with that look in the incipient days when the devastation from the flu was new and inconceivable. That girl had more than physical wounds to heal.
Lily hovered around the room watching the newcomers and skipping impatiently between her mother and the food line. Tilly beckoned her over. This group might be a bit more feral than Lily was accustomed to.
“Tilly, Tilly, all the new kids!” Lily said in a rush.
“Yes, but I think you need to let them get settled before meeting them.”
“Why?”
“Because some of them have been on their own a long time, and they might not be ready to make friends.”
Lily rolled her eyes. “Everybody knows about Unka Ted,” she said in a voice older than her years. “And I know Sooty and Nixie. And Toad. But I think he went back outside...”
Tilly was surprised. “How do you know these people?”
Lily raised thin shoulders in a shrug. “Everybody knows Unka Ted will feed you and give you a safe place to sleep.” She glanced over her shoulder before continuing in a softer voice. “After Mom got took, Iris and William and me stayed with Unka Ted for a little while. But the men came. He hid us all, but Iris said we needed to find a better place.” Lily hopped in place, too full of energy to stand still. “I’m gonna say hi.”
She was gone before Tilly could respond. Lily skipped across the room to plow into Ted with a bear hug. He patted her back, giving her a kind smile. Lily jabbered at him. Tilly saw a real smile cross Ted’s fatigued features. Lily pointed across the room to her family. Ted waved at William. More curious connections.
Rosa came through the door at a trot, Istvan a step behind her. Her face a mask of grief, a handkerchief hid her mouth. Tilly felt a moment of panic. Was there an attack? But no alarms had sounded. She scanned the room for Martin or Nick, and realized she hadn’t seen Nick at all.
Rosa howled a name, so twisted with emotion Tilly couldn’t sort it out, before dashing across the room toward Nixie. Tilly sucked in her breath seeing the similarities in hair and coloring but knowing that Nixie might not be ready for this reunion. Nixie backed up, slamming into the wall. Ted jerked to his feet, dashing across the room at a speed that belied his previous clumsiness. Istvan grabbed Rosa by the shoulders, holding her back from the girl. Tilly got there a heartbeat after Ted.
“What’s wrong? Who are you?” Ted asked as he put himself between Rosa and Nixie.
Rosa covered her face, sobbing. Istvan wrapped his arms around his wife, holding her still, but the pain was evident in his eyes, too.
“Softly,” Tilly said as she squeezed Rosa’s arm. “It’s a surprise. A shock. Let’s all take a breath.” She turned to Ted who stood with arms out blocking access to Nixie. “Let’s all sit down quietly and introduce ourselves.” Tilly looked around to see a group of people vacate the table nearest them. She gestured everyone over.
“I am Tilly. I run High Meadow. This is Rosa and Istvan, Travelers. They hired Wisp to find their daughter, Felicia.” Tilly saw Ted nodding, he’d picked up on her intent.
“I am Ted. I just got here. This is Nixie, my friend. She just got here, too. We brought some children, some...” Ted gave Tilly a shy look, “Ragamuffins...with us.”
Rosa mopped her face, sighing deeply. “I am Rosa,” she said in an uneven voice. She turned her gaze on Nixie. “Do you not know me?”
Nixie sat stiffly, her chair pulled back a little from the table. She studied her hands, knotted in her lap.
“We searched for you,” Istvan spoke in a rough whisper. “For days.” He rubbed his mouth, clearing his throat. “We camped there. Waiting. Hoping you would, could, come back. We stayed all winter. Searching.”
Nixie looked away.
“Nixie is my right hand,” Ted said proudly. “She takes care of the children and finds us a good camp every night.”
Tilly noticed that Ted didn’t try to touch Nixie despite his protective nature. That confirmed some of her speculation. Wherever Nixie had disappeared to, it had been bad.
“Well, I would certainly be grateful if you two could help me wrangle these children until they get settled in,” Tilly said with a nod at Ted and Nixie. “And of course, Rosa, you are welcome to rest here for as long as you need.”
Istvan met Tilly’s gaze, gratitude in his bloodshot eyes. “We are thankful. We will be in our camp in the tunnel. You have been very kind.” He took Rosa’s hands in his own, holding them tightly. “We will wait,” he said.