Chapter 64

“As the elders die off and the young take over the running of this damaged world, will they remember any of our achievements? Democracy, health care, space travel, literature, music, will any of these things be relevant in their future?”

History of a Changed World, Angus T. Moss

TILLY WROTE OUT A REQUEST on Bruno’s latest form. She added her paper to the pile in Bruno’s bin then started her rounds. They needed fabric for clothes, but most urgently, diaper material. Sadie had gone into labor last night, another new member of High Meadow on its way. But Sadie had been so emaciated, Tilly worried that the delivery would not go well.

The kitchen crew had lunch underway in the kitchen. Food carts had been pulled out of storage and parked in the back hallway. They would deliver a hot meal to the refugees waiting in the storm shelter. Angus praised her on how quickly she’d gotten it set up and people sorted out. He’d been equally amazed at how willing people were to wait out their allotted time while they were vetted. It would go much faster once Wisp came back.

Tilly found herself in the hallway to the classrooms, lingering. But there wasn’t any music right now. Coco sat on a bench by the 5 to 10 year olds classroom, stick-thin arms braced her upright. Tilly worried that she should still be in the infirmary. She had been suffering from a deep depression since the loss of her child.

Coco swung her head toward the classroom. “He found me. Came right over to me. My Willy.” Tears slid down her face. “I thought he was gone, too.”

The door cracked open just wide enough for Willboy to slip out. He halted abruptly at the sight of Tilly, but he turned to Coco. “Ma?” She pulled him into her arms. He supported her as much as hugging her back.

A profound pain tightened in Tilly’s chest. Beneath her gladness at their reunion was a bitter envy and anger for all the other loved ones that would not be coming back.

Forcing herself back to work, she headed for the Wardrobe. Claude had made tremendous progress. Martin had sent Billy to check out all the sewing machines. He’d fixed the ones Claude had chosen. The others he’d taken to the metals workshop for spares. She’d known by the gleam in his eyes that he’d found his place. Like Claude and Eunice, they were doing what they loved to do and that would turn them into model residents.

Claude had set up an assembly line of machines and work. He divided it up by skill required, so anyone could drop by to do a bit of work. Claude had politely requisitioned an electric kettle, large tea pot and mugs, insisting the work went more quickly when the workers were properly attended. He also managed to get Eunice to bake him a stash of tea cakes. Old Agnes joined him most days now. She and Claude had become best friends in a matter of hours.

Tilly stayed in the front room, glancing into the workroom, to make sure everything was going well. Machines were humming, and people were talking. The smell of mint tea and hot fabric wafted out the door. Claude stood at the ironing board. Three women and two men were at machines. Someone must have told a joke, because they all laughed, a lovely sound that raised Tilly’s spirits. She eyed the racks full of clothing. There were more of them and greater variety. Claude was working out well.

Her next stop could be the infirmary. She wanted to check on Sadie and maybe hear some good news. She forced herself to stop there. If the news was bad, fretting wouldn’t make it go away. Three men from the Watch trotted past her toward the school entrance.

Toby turned to answer her, walking backwards a few steps. He had one arm in a sling, but otherwise seemed recovered from his gunshot wound. “Nick’s back.”

Tilly quickened her pace to follow. She wanted to dash with the rest of them, but her dignity and tired legs, required a more stately approach.

There were two vans parked at the bottom of the stairs. Tilly wondered how he kept acquiring them. She scanned the people unloading them, noting new faces. Two women were gingerly helped out, they looked little better than Sadie, Pat and Coco had when they’d shown up. A jittery man with a bandaged arm paced from one van to the next. She saw a long white braid in the vegetable beds, Wisp headed to his rooms. Rosa came around the side of the building, leading her people to greet Istvan. Nixie didn’t seem quite as distant from her father, but that could be Tilly’s wishful thinking.

Tilly scanned the crowd again, hoping that Ted had gotten mixed up. “No. Where’s Clay?”

Ted pivoted, stumbling in his rush down the stairs. “Nick! Jean isn’t here!”

Tilly followed, taking the stairs more slowly. Nick had been talking to Martin as they unloaded the van. His head came up at the sound of his name. Then his eyes found Tilly. “Jean didn’t get here?”

“No.” Nick looked around as if to catch Tilly in a lie. “Wisp left her at a farm with Clay. Flu took out almost the whole family. They’ll need help to keep it running. Wisp said that he told her to come back here with the kids and speak to Angus.”

“She’s not here,” Tilly said, knowing she stated the obvious, but needing to speak.

“Wait,” Tilly grabbed his arm. “You can’t go back out right away. Angus needs to hear your report. And lunch is almost ready.” She didn’t want to let go. Things ran better with Wisp and Nick at home. It was such a relief to have them back. She didn’t want him leaving again.

Tilly could hear the concern in his voice, although he smoothed it from his face as she stared at him. “She couldn’t know when you’d be back. Maybe she hasn’t left yet.” She was rewarded with a raised brow and a nod of concession.

“It’s possible she didn’t want to take the boys away from their uncle so soon.”

Nick tipped his head, the frown creeping back. “Well, I guess they thought that the boys would be safer here.”