That morning Austin and Michael were placed in a group of teenagers on crop detail. After leaving camp and walking to a nearby corn field, they were ordered to pick whatever crops had been passed over during the fall harvest. They were joined by four Yellow Jackets who kept a close eye on the group.
“I’m going to get out of here,” Austin said to Michael as the two of them searched for corn. Every so often they’d stumble upon a dried-up cob lying in the dirt. One of them would pick it up and drop it into a backpack hanging from his shoulder.
“What do you mean?”
“My mom needs medicine,” said Austin. “If the Yellow Jackets won’t help her, then I guess I have to.”
“Kind of risky, don’t you think?”
“I’m not sure I have any other choice,” said Austin.
They continued to walk the rows of picked corn.
“Where are you going to find medicine?” asked Michael.
“The nearest town is just a few miles away. Burlington,” he said. “I’ll try there. If I skip dinner I can be back before curfew.”
“Keep moving!” shouted a Yellow Jacket. “Less talk and more work! That corn won’t pick itself!”
“I’m coming with you,” said Michael.
Austin stopped walking and looked at him.
“I’m from Burlington. I know where the pharmacy is. I can show you the way.”
Austin shook his head. “You sure you want to risk it? What if Forrester’s stories about the dangers on the outside are true?”
Michael laughed. “Come on.”
“Won’t your parents notice if you leave?”
“It’ll be fine,” said Michael. “This trip should take us a few hours at most. If we’re careful, my parents won’t even know I’ve been gone. Besides, how do you think I’d I feel if your mom got really sick, or worse, and I did nothing to help?”
Austin nodded. “Okay, you can come,” he said. “We’ll leave this afternoon.”