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“We cannot teach what we do not know. There was a rumor of a type of biobot called a Font because they contained such a wealth of knowledge. They would be a priceless resource at this time.”
History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss
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WISP STOOD IN HIP HIGH grass around the back of the barn. Mist curled up from the ground sending tendrils through the trees, faint in the intermittent moonlight. The rain had finally slacked off, but a damp chill permeated the air. He was glad for his wool sweater. The others were setting up camp in a corner of the barn. He moved away from them to check the surroundings.
Nothing but the small flickers of animal minds in the near vicinity. Mice, maybe rabbits, scampered away from the unaccustomed sound and smell of humans. This barn must have been abandoned for awhile. Although he wasn’t sure about the length of memory for rodents, the tall grass blocking the entrance assured him it’d been a long time since people had been here.
The fields around him were losing the fight against encroaching saplings and weeds. In the morning, he’d check the area for any crops that survived. Gather any seeds that seemed useful. Maybe dig up some plants. Even if High Meadow didn’t need it, they could use it as barter.
He reached out once more for Nick. There had been a point today when he’d gotten worried. Nick had gone from anger to dread. Wisp left the van to concentrate on him but hadn’t gotten much more than that, but the dread had dwindled back into anger. They were still about three days out depending on the roads. He needed to know what kind of situation Nick was in. Right now, Nick felt like he was resting. He seemed somewhat content.
Wisp turned his mind toward his companions. Ted was uneasy. Nixie felt impatient. She had spent the day in silence, assessing the people and their relationships. There was a lot more to her than Wisp had originally assumed. Clay and Darrell had the feeling of old friends in familiar situations. Istvan fretted about his daughter with little thought of the mission. Everett was examining the barn, more interested in finding tools than making conversation. They were a disparate bunch that had not bonded yet.
The hinges creaked as someone left the barn . Ted approached hesitantly. “Am I disturbing you?” he whispered.
“No. I’m done.”
“Has the rain stopped?” he asked peering up at the dripping canopy.
“For the moment.”
Ted’s curiosity spiked. “Can you feel weather?”
Wisp scanned the skies. “Just the big storms. They give me a headache.”
“Nothing coming, I hope.”
“Not that I can feel. But the clouds say this might just be a short break.”
Ted nodded solemnly. “This is strange weather. What do you think it means?”
“That we need to adapt. We got used to the heat and super storms. Now we need to expect other things.”
“How will it impact High Meadow?”
“They will adapt also. Angus is smart. They have Fonts to guide and teach. They have strong hands and access to plenty of materials. They will build or devise new methods.”
“I would hate for them to lose the crops. It’s such a treat to have fresh food.”
“There is food everywhere. It’s too dark to forage now, but in the morning I’ll show you how to find it.”
“I would like that,” Ted said. “Would it be all right to bring Nixie?”
“Of course.”
“How’s Nick doing?”
“Resting.”
“Ah.” Ted ripped the tassels off a handful of grasses, shredding them in his hand.
“What are you seeking Ted?” Wisp asked in a soft voice.
“I don’t know. Can you feel...can you tell if there are any children around?”
“Just animals.”
“Can you keep an eye out for them? Or a thought, I guess?”
“I can try when we stop, but it isn’t easy to do in an enclosed vehicle with that many people so close to me.”
“Right. Sorry. I’m just used to moving slower. Kids would find me. I’m not sure how.”
“There’s a grapevine. I’d heard about Uncle Ted. Didn’t realize it was you, or I would have tracked you down to check on you. People meet, exchange information. Little ones hook up with older ones. They avoid the settlements and end up using similar camps. We can send out the word that you’re at High Meadow now.”
“No. That might be too far for some of them.”
“So you want to trek the country looking for lost children?”
“They are our future,” Ted said with an aching passion. “They are precious.”
Wisp could feel the solid conviction in his brother. “I think that Angus would agree with you. You should talk to Istvan. He and his family are Travelers. They cross the country every year. He could give you routes. Angus would give you gear I think.”
“Yes. That’s what I need to do.”
The scent of dinner wafted by them on an errant breeze. Wisp reached over to squeeze Ted’s shoulder. “It’s good to know what to do.”