Not long after noon, as work crews moved away from the makeshift community kitchen to resume their afternoon chores, Helene sat under a tree near the gym, checking again the inventory on her tablet, her scowl deepening.
It doesn’t add up. A box of chips here, a bundle of notepads there. Those she could account for, in part because she’d seen Scott take them. But today’s inspection of the main storeroom revealed a gap, crudely hidden behind a pile of office supplies. A gap where there used to stand a pile of crates—all the candy bars retrieved from the 7-11 store.
Scott brushed me off when I asked to have a security cam installed. But this is the worst night-raid yet.
Two minutes later Helene was climbing the stairs toward the faculty lounge—meeting place of the Emergency Committee and various sub-groups. Helene served on most of them. With no meetings scheduled she was surprised to see Kaleb Glaser, a varsity wrestler and one of Colin Gornet’s security guys, standing outside the door. He looked bored … then alarmed when he saw her.
“Hey Kaleb. What’s going on? I need to see Scott.”
She reached for the handle but Kaleb stopped her. He looked nervous.
“Uh, sorry Helene. Scott doesn’t want to be disturbed right now. He’s, um, busy.”
“It’s okay. It’ll just be a minute.”
Kaleb didn’t budge. “He said I shouldn’t let anyone in.”
“That’s just too bad.” She pushed past Kaleb and opened the door before he could react.
The room was dark, the blinds closed. For a second she thought the room was empty. But then, in a far corner, she heard soft moaning noises and saw two people lying on one of the couches. One had his shirt off.
Scott.
Helene must have gasped, and suddenly Scott was on his feet, casually pulling his shirt over his head.
“What are you doing here, Helene?”
Ellen Cartwright sat up from the couch, tugging her own blouse down to her waist and smiling as if nothing was wrong.
“Why …?” Helene managed. Her chest was so tight she could barely speak.
Scott looked like he was about to say something, but it was Ellen who spoke first.
“Lighten up, Helene. Scott and I are just having a little fun. It’s not like you own him or anything.” She turned and gave Scott a kiss, then breezed past Helene, pausing at the door.
“You should know better than anyone else, Helene. The best stuff is in short supply. And those of us who want it may just have to share.”
Helene watched her go, still too stunned to say anything. When she turned her gaze to Scott, he was already almost dressed, answering her stare with a shrug.
“Ellen’s right you know, Helene. In case you haven’t noticed, things have changed. I’ve got lot on my mind, and right now I need someone who can take my mind off of things, instead of adding to my stress.”
“But it’s me, Scott! I thought we were in this together.”
“Oh come on, Helene! All you talk about anymore is the damn inventory. ‘Calories’ this and ‘supplies’ that. It’s boring.”
“Scott. These supplies are everything right now. I’m going frantic trying to keep it all straight, while you’re up here fooling around with Ellen Cartwright!”
“Yeah, and that’s all it was, okay? Fooling around. You can’t tell me you’ve never done it.”
She blinked at him, unable to believe this.
“No, Scott. I haven’t. I’ve always been loyal to you. To us.”
“Huh, really? I appreciate that, Helene. Really, I do.”
“Well, you have a funny way of showing it.”
“Helene. Look.” He reached out, causing her to sway toward him out of habit … before hurriedly backing away a step. His hand dropped. “Look, I’ve been watching some of those videos Castro sent us, about how past societies organized themselves when times were harsh and tight. Most of them had no time for committees and inventories and democracy and all that. When you’re living on the very edge, most of our ancestors went with command leadership by the strong and decisive.”
“You … you’re changing the subject.”
“Am I? Look at the way marriage worked in most of those feudal times and places, nearly every time and place when humans lived harsh and close to the edge. It almost never was pure monogamy at the top. Though the top wife got all the power and privileges of a queen.”
Top … wife … privileges of a queen …
Was that just an offer? A proposal, even? My God, he’s turning this into … into a negotiation!
And so, Helene, another part of her answered. Are you really in any kind of strong bargaining position, considering the condition you may be in?
“Scott, I think you ought to know … that I suspect that I’m—”
Just then Kaleb rushed in, a grin on his face. “Scott! Good news. It’s—”
“Kaleb!” Scott interrupted. “That’s the second time you failed as my guard. What is it now?”
Kaleb’s smile vanished in a grimace. Helene actually felt badly for him.
“Sorry, Scott.” Kaleb looked back and forth. “Uh, I’m sorry too, Helene. But listen, guys—”
“You’re relieved of duty, Kaleb. Tell Colin I want someone else on that door.”
“But—”
“No,” Helene said. “What’s going on, Kaleb?”
“Uh, Penny sent word. The Bamford-Behr expedition is back … and they signal success.”
“There’s a way to bring water? That’s wonderful!” Helene couldn’t resist an illogical relief she wouldn’t have to tell Scott her own news. Not quite yet.
But no, this couldn’t wait.
Come on, girl. Bear down. Get on with this.
Helene turned back to the confrontation. Only too late, as Scott was already heading for the door.
“We’ll continue where we left off, tonight,” Scott said. It sounded midway between a promise and a threat. Then he was gone, leaving her alone in the lounge with her inventory tablet and her disbelief.