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“We had gone from crowded cities to a collapse of the society to nomads in a handful of years. Our politicians were soon scrambling for survival like the rest of us. But as the population settles into its new order, the need for a centralized government becomes known.”
History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss
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WISP ARRIVED AT THE kitchen before the food for breakfast had been put in the serving trays. Martin had asked him to evaluate the newcomers. Observing them in the cafeteria seemed like the best time. The white kitten sat by the back door meticulously washing a paw. Wisp felt a small bubble of smug pleasure from it. He got a vague flash of a dropped tidbit pounced on and relished. It was the strongest sending he’d felt from an animal.
The kitchen felt understaffed with just Tilly, Sara and Eunice working. He stayed in the hallway, to avoid being in the way. Tilly came in from the storeroom and saw him.
“Good morning, Wisp. Would you like some breakfast?” Tilly beamed at him.
“Yes, please.”
She glanced down at the kitten. “Shoo you sneaky little beast,” she said without an ounce of anger in her voice. “She learned when to beg for scraps pretty fast.”
The kitten yawned showing a pink tongue and sharp teeth. Then it sauntered out, fluffy tail aloft.
“Mary had a baby girl last night,” Tilly informed him.
“All is well?”
“Mother and child are fine. Not sure how Joshua is this morning.”
“He is joyful,” Wisp said. The beacon of delight pouring out from the new parents was nearly palpable to Wisp. It radiated through the center like the heartening fragrance of bread baking.
“Good.” Tilly headed into the kitchen. “The chickens must like this weather, they laid more than usual. We’re using up the last of the cheese and potatoes for a sort of frittata. And Eunice has made some flatbread.”
Wisp felt Eunice react to the sound of her name. She came from the work area with a look of concern. “Do you need me, Tilly?” She had the fragile hope of many of the refugees. They didn’t believe that High Meadow was all that it seemed to be. All of them awaited betrayal with a bitter resignation. But Wisp could feel the budding bond she felt for Tilly. She loved being in the kitchen. She belonged here. This newcomer was an easy and pleasant read.
“Eunice, come meet Wisp.” Tilly beckoned her closer.
Eunice studied his white hair before her gaze slid over his pale eyes to the tattoo on his neck. He felt her unease waver on the edge of fear. Her thin shoulders hunched and her brown eyes narrowed.
“Wisp does some foraging for us. So you’ll see him around the kitchen. He also doesn’t like crowds.”
Eunice’s emotions stumbled into confusion. “Oh. Foraging?”
“Mushrooms, greens, depends on the time of year,” Tilly explained. “He lives over in the field house if you ever need him. He’s also a Finder.”
“He’s, um, he lives here?”
“We have several Biobots living here, dear. I know it’s a shock for some people, but they’re human too.”
Wisp could sense that Eunice didn’t know what to think about him. She expected him to be something other than what Tilly had described. He gave her a polite bow before turning back to Tilly. “We’ll be leaving this afternoon. Could you supply some food for the trip?”
“Of course. How long and how many?” Tilly pulled a notepad from her apron pocket.
“Eight including myself. I estimate a maximum of two weeks, but we can do some foraging on the way.”
“I can give you train food as back up. The fresh food won’t last more than a few days.”
Wisp mumbled agreement. Tilly became preoccupied, her thoughts going fuzzy to Wisp as she focused on her task. He glanced at Eunice who was still off-kilter. She might be unsure of him, but she was an excellent match for the kitchen. “I’ll get out of your way,” he said with a courteous nod.
“Eunice, let him fill a plate off the stove,” Tilly said over her shoulder as she headed back into the storeroom.
Eunice flashed him a nervous smile. “I, um, shall I...”
“I’ll get a plate,” Wisp said. He gathered a tray, plate and flatware.
Sara pulled a big rectangle pan out of the oven as he approached. “Hey Wisp,” she greeted him. “Try some of this. Bruno found some oregano.”
He felt Eunice relax a bit at Sara’s familiarity. He held out the plate for Sara to serve. It was always better to have someone else decide the proper portion. “Thanks. It smells very good.”
She winked at him. “Thank goodness for Bruno! It’s great to have some herbs back in the kitchen!”
“I should warn you there is a young man, named Toad. He’s staying in the field house, too. Not sure if he’ll come inside for food. He’s a little odd, but he isn’t dangerous. If he doesn’t come in, maybe one of Ted’s kids could take him something?”
“I’ll let Tilly know. We’ll keep an eye out for him, thanks.”
Wisp took his food into the nearly empty cafeteria. A few early risers were sipping mint tea, waiting for the food to be loaded into the warming tables on the serving line. He sat at a table for four with his back to the wall. He wanted to eat before he began the assessment of the newcomers. Eunice was done. He’d let Tilly know when he picked up the supplies for the trip.
Martin came in, scanned the room then waved. He got a cup of tea and joined Wisp. “Have you seen anybody yet?”
“Eunice is good.”
“I wasn’t worried about her.”
Wisp acknowledged Martin’s gibe but kept eating. He could tell that Martin was antsy to join the mission but caught by his loyalty to Tilly. Although he might think he wanted to be on the road, Wisp knew he would worry about High Meadow every step of the way. It made more sense for him to stay.
A small, slender man stuck his head into the room. He took in the various people relaxing at tables, but hesitated on the threshold. Wisp could feel a muddle of emotions in him. He’d need to get closer to get a better read. There were a few more voices in the kitchen which meant that the serving and cleanup volunteers had arrived. Sara came through the swinging doors with the first tray. She thumped it down into the warming table and bustled back for another. Eunice followed her, and Harold right after. People stood, meandering over to the stack of trays. That seemed to be the cue the man was waiting for. He studiously joined the end of the line.
Wisp caught Martin’s eye and directed him to the man. “Is he one of the new ones?”
“Yes.” Martin checked his clipboard. “Name’s Claude.”
Claude mimicked the others, taking a tray, a fork, a napkin. He ran his fingers over the edges of the cloth. A spike of simple happiness came from him. Wisp looked at Martin. “That napkin made him very happy.”
“Huh.” Martin’s brows gathered in a puzzled frown. He looked back down at his notes. “Says he’s a tailor.”
Claude paused until he could accept a filled plate from a female server. Wisp was surprised to see Lottie on the food line, but since it was raining again, she couldn’t work in the fields.
“Who made these amazing napkins?” Claude asked in a soft voice.
“That’d be old Agnes,” Lottie said.
“Her work is amazing.”
Lottie gave him a warm smile. “It’d make her day that you noticed.”
“I’d love to speak to her.”
“She’s in the knitting group. They meet under the center skylight most days.” She pointed off to her left. “Follow the main corridor back. There’s a group of sofas.”
“Thank you.” Claude bobbed his head, beaming at her. He turned toward the tables and saw them watching. His smile slipped.
Martin waved. “Claude, come join us.”
Wisp felt the small man’s fear as he approached the two larger and stronger men. “He’s afraid of us,” he murmured to Martin.
Claude gingerly placed his tray on the table opposite Martin, but remained standing, watching, poised to flee.
“Sit,” Martin said. “You’re up early.”
“I didn’t, um, are there rules about eating?” he asked in a hoarse whisper but sat as ordered.
“No.” Martin tried to give him a reassuring smile, but Wisp thought it looked a bit predatory. “I’m Martin. I’m the head of the Watch. This is Wisp. He’s um, in the Watch.”
“The Watch.” Claude looked at his breakfast, but folded his hands in his lap. “Does everyone join the Watch?”
Wisp could make his assessment of Claude as easily as Eunice. “No. Angus prefers people to work to their strengths. So you should be working in The Wardrobe.”
That fragile, fluttering hope rose in Claude. He shot nervous glances at Martin. “I would like that. It’s what I’m good at.”
“Eat, Claude,” Wisp said gently. “This is a good place. Martin’s men keep it safe.”
Claude reached for his fork, eyes on Martin, but the head of the Watch was looking at the food line.
“Do you know the guys that came in with you?” Martin asked.
Claude took a small bite of his eggs, his eyes widening as he chewed. “This is amazing.” He looked at Martin, then over to the food line which had gotten longer. “Oh, um, no. I met them at the dairy. Such nice people there. I didn’t want to leave, but they were right. This is a better place for me. And I can be helpful here.”
Martin nodded absently as he kept his eyes on the room.
“Claude will be an excellent asset for High Meadow,” Wisp said.
Martin shot him a look. “Uh huh.”
Claude wolfed down his food and excused himself. Wisp could feel the pressure on his senses as more people came into the cafeteria. Martin waved over two more men, a big broad-shoulder redhead and a tall, slender Asian. He did a similar introduction.
“I’m Rusty,” said the redhead. He took the seat opposite Martin, making his companion sit with his back to the room. “This is Billy.” He gave Wisp a once over, then pointedly ignored him. “Nice place you got here.”
Billy grinned, pointing at his tray. “Great food.”
Wisp shifted his chair away from the table. Rusty hated so viscerally it made Wisp physically sick. He slammed up his barriers, tightening them. That man would not be a good match for a place that now had five biobots. Martin looked over to him. Wisp raised his mug. “More tea.” He walked over to the tea urn, feeling the toxic emotion lessen with each step. Someone touched his arm, startling him.
“Are you okay?” Jean asked. “You don’t look good.”
Wisp lowered his barriers just a fraction to feel Jean’s concern. She was a friend. It felt good to have her worry focused on his wellbeing. “Thank you. A slight headache.” He looked back at Rusty to find the man glaring at him or possibly Jean.
She put her hand on Wisp’s arm again. “That son of a bitch has propositioned every female still in her childbearing years.” She leaned closer, speaking in an undertone. “And not in a nice way.”
Wisp felt a thread of fear in her. He touched her hand. “He won’t be staying.”
Jean let out a big breath. “Thanks.”
Wisp went back to the table trying to block Rusty but focus on Billy. He angled through the tables so that he’d need to pass behind Billy’s chair. He slowed, taking a second to send a feeler out to the Asian man. He was a bright tumble of emotions, like most people, happy to be here, anxious it might be a dream and delighted with the food. A strand of dread twisted his emotions darker. As Wisp sat down, Billy grinned at Rusty, his lips stretched but no humor reached his eyes.
Rusty gave the room a proprietary inspection. “You guys are awful loose with discipline around here.”
The strand of dread exploded into a spike of fear. Billy’s eyes darted around the room.
Martin slouched in a relaxed position. Wisp could feel his readiness and simmering anger. “Oh, we do just fine.”
Wisp felt the intent before Rusty moved a muscle. There was a weapon on him somewhere, and he was itching to kill a biobot. Wisp reached for the man’s arm as he drew the pistol from beneath his jacket. Wisp grabbed him at wrist and bicep, with a maneuver that locked the elbow while aiming the gun straight up. Rusty fired twice before Wisp disarmed him. He twisted the big man’s arm in a wrist lock a little harder than needed. Rusty howled, swinging a meaty fist at Wisp’s head.
Martin blocked the blow then pulled his arm behind his back. Tall Joe and Clay were there in a heartbeat, looking to Martin for orders. “Take this bastard outside the perimeter. If he tries to get back in, shoot him.”
Wisp stepped away, shaky from the seething hate and fury. He had his barriers shut as tightly as he could, but the foul emotions leaked through during physical contact. He took a deep breath feeling like he might lose his breakfast. It was always tougher when it was aimed at him. He looked around the room. A dozen members of the Watch had stationed themselves in a fan pattern, watching. Six were mere feet away, all on duty and armed. The other six had gathered the rest of the people in the room at the exits, ready to send them running if needed. He was impressed with the Watch’s efficiency.
Martin beckoned to two more men. Tall Joe and Clay dragged Rusty from the cafeteria with the other armed men walking guard.
As Rusty’s venomous emotions faded with distance, Wisp felt a trembling spear of fear wobbling on the edge of hysteria. Billy huddled on his knees with his back to the wall. He raised a pale face to Wisp. “Please don’t make me go with him.”
Wisp glanced over to where Martin was giving orders to the rest of the Watch. Looked like he might be a few minutes. “How long have you been with him?”
Billy hugged himself, hanging his head. “I dunno. Feels like a long time. He got me out of a bad place, but I didn’t realize being with him was gonna be worse.”
“Are you actually a mechanic?” Wisp asked. It was obvious to him that Rusty had no skills. He lied to get himself into a good place. The man was a leech, nothing more, but Billy felt a little more solid, despite his current terror.
Billy raised desperate eyes to him. A thin string of hope wound through the bleakness of his fear and desperation. “I can fix all kinds of stuff.”
“Sewing machines?” Wisp asked, thinking of Claude.
“Sure. If it’s got a motor, I bet I can figure it out.” The hope increased, followed by a peppering of bright flecks of pleasure.
Martin came over. He scowled at Billy before turning to Wisp with an eyebrow raised in question.
“Billy likes working on motors of all kinds. I think he should get a probationary trial,” Wisp said.
Martin grunted acknowledgment.
Billy bit his lip, eyes wide with apprehension. “What does that mean? I’m not a bad person, honest.”
“It means we’re going to give you a chance,” Martin grumbled. “Finish your breakfast.” He started away, indicating that Wisp should join him. “That’ll do it, I think. I’m not worried about the kid.” He led as they left the cafeteria, heading down the corridor to the amphitheatre. “Time to see who’s going with you.”