They all said good bye to me as if I had lived among them for a long time. They wished me well, pleading with me to return. Claudette made me a ‘care package’ with goodies for the trip. Josh gave me a walking stick for the on foot part of my journey into Angeles City.
While I felt good about it, I also felt guilty. I wanted to tell them, “The Ancients will be wiping out the rebels into extinction, but have no fear, you will be spared.”
If I told them I was an Ancient, Princess High Nito, they’d laugh at me. Surely a princess would not be quite so frumpy, plain, or eat cooked flesh from a squawking feathered beast.
I knew the mechanics of the sun powered vehicles. We used them to transport from village to village and around La Sveg As. Yet another thing I could not tell Burt.
He talked about the ‘cars’ and how he had only four hours of travel time, that was why he couldn’t take me all the way to Angeles City. It had to be placed back on the charger panel.
“I hate to see you leave,” Burt told me. “I mean, yeah, we just met, but I kinda thought you’d stay. I just don’t understand why someone would choose a life of hardship and fighting over peace and good.”
“Is that the way you see it?”
“Yeah. We have a couple of people that were traveling East to find civilization and ended up with us. Now, I hear they have it together some in Angeles City. Still, it’s nothing but fighting and defending against the black demon birds.”
“Savage beasts, that is what they are called. Vicious killers.”
“We don’t have them here.”
“You are too close to the City of the Ancients.”
Burt looked at me sharply. “How do you know?”
I hesitated in answering, figuring I’d make something up. “I have been there.”
“Then it confirms what we thought,” Burt said with a nod. “I think we know what happened to you.”
“You do?”
“Yeah, we know your story.”
“You do?” I asked again.
“Nothing to be ashamed of, Madge. Really, we all kind of put two and two together.”
“Tell me, Burt. What do you know?”
“You’ve been to the Ancient City, you were one of them chosen women, made to be a slave, used for feeding. Am I on the right track?”
“Yes” I said, thankful he was devising my story for me.
“We can tell because you didn’t have a look of struggle to you. I think you escaped, and the Mercers got a hold of you… maybe had their way with you and left you for dead, naked in the desert.”
“The Mercers, is that what they are called?”
“Yep. Those dirty sons of bitches that take it upon themselves to kill the chosen that escape. They didn’t kill you though, so that’s a good thing. We’ve had our run-ins with them. They are as savage as those beasts, in some ways worse.”
“Filthy bastards.”
“Sorry for what they did to you.”
“I am a survivor.”
“You are.”
“There was a time when the world was good.”
“Yeah, and I think we all thought it bad then.”
The car slowed down and that was when I noticed all the green around me. I had been so engrossed in our conversation, I didn’t see when we emerged from the desert.
“This is where we part,” Burt said and opened the car door, stepping out. He waited until I emerged, and I gathered my belongings.
“You have your map and that compass. Follow the needle west and you’ll hit one of their towns.” He held out his hand. “Won’t say goodbye, just see ya soon.”
I stared at his hand.
“What’s the matter?” he asked.
I didn’t say anything.
“I get it. Well, I didn’t want to assume so…” Burt yanked me forward and planted his lips to mine.
To say I was surprised would be an understatement. His kiss took me by surprise. I had forgotten that humans kissed. It wasn’t a long one, just enough to give me a message that conveyed his intentions toward me. He smiled and gave a swat to my rear end. “You be careful, Madge.”
“You placed your hand against my buttocks in a firm, yet playful manner.”
“I did.” He raised his eyebrows a few times. “You are such a card.”
“So long Burt from Hopeland.”
“So long Madge soon to be back in Hopeland. Follow the path.”
I nodded, glanced at him once more, then, walking stick in hand feeling confused, I ventured forward, focusing on what was important, finding Angeles City.