The Catalyst: (Book One) Page 21
“Ma’am?” the soldier questioned.
Robin fastened her gaze on her face. “I don’t know how that got there. I did have a run in with some unsavory characters…” she let her voice trail off.
The soldier nodded. “I understand. I’ll just keep this.”
Robin nodded silently. She waited beside the car, while the soldier left her side to speak with two soldiers standing at the side of the road. The remaining men and women continued to watch her. Robin shivered when a cold breeze drifted past her. She tipped her head back to look up at the dark sky.
“Come with me, ma’am.”
Robin forced a small smile and followed the soldier around the roadblock. She glanced over her shoulder to see the soldiers pulling her backpack from the car and searching the interior.
“What about my bag?” Robin asked.
“It will be returned to you once it’s been searched,” the soldier said, without stopping. The small lantern in her hand cast a faint glow around the two of them.
They walked down the dark highway for a little less than half a mile, before the road came to a small rise. On the other side, a camp spread out on either side of the highway. The dark green tents blended into the darkness where they were not illuminated by lanterns.
“It’s so dark,” Robin muttered.
“We’re conserving energy.”
Robin nodded at the soldier’s curt reply. “Where am I staying?”
“There.”
Robin followed the line of the other woman’s hand to a cluster of tents in the middle of the field. She nodded.
“Stick to the path. Find an empty bunk and I’ll see you at first light.”
Robin watched the soldier turn and start back the way she had come. When she was gone, the road was dark and silent. Robin stood alone for several minutes, listening to the sounds of the night. Crickets humming and the distant screech of an owl. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, her gaze rose to the empty sky.
Somewhere out there, Addar was with his people plotting the destruction of her own. Yet, he had given her a warning. Had taken the time to slip it into her pocket before he let her escape the town’s destruction. Was he the enemy? Robin raised her hands to rub her face. She was too exhausted to think logically.
Heading for the cluster of tents, she stepped onto a dimly lit path through the cornfield. The path twisted and turned dozens of times, before she arrived at the tent. Robin quietly shifted aside the flap on the first tent to peek in. A cloud of warm air escaped past her along with the sound of quiet snoring. The cots were arranged along the three walls, leaving the center for a small camp fire.
All three of the cots were taken. Robin closed the flap and moved to the next one. The cot along the right wall was taken by two small children. The older one curled around the smaller child. It was impossible to tell gender in the firelight. The cot across the tent held two lean figures. One looked like a young man and the other a young woman. The one furthest from the fire shook with the cold air that slipped past Robin to enter the tent.
Robin stepped into the warmth and let the tent flap fall closed behind her. Through the dancing tendril of smoke from the fire, she caught a glimpse of the empty cot along the back wall. Robin tiptoed around the small fire and sat on the edge of the cot. She sighed. The fire was mostly embers that glowed weakly.
She slid off the cot to scoot closer to the fire. Just outside the ring of stones that surrounded the embers, someone had stacked a few small logs. Robin reached for one. The hand that landed on her wrist made her nearly shriek. She followed the small hand to a thin arm and finally a pale face. A teenage girl met her gaze and shook her head.
Robin watched the girl reach for the smaller sticks in the pile. She carefully nudged at the fire, adding the kindling until the embers glowed brightly and a few flames lapped at the wood near the center. Robin turned her head from the warmth to give the girl a smile.
“Rose,” the girl whispered, holding out her hand.
“Robin.”
The two of them stared at each other for a few seconds, before the girl rose to her feet and shuffled to the bed that held the young man. Robin watched until the girl’s eyes closed. Then, she moved to her own cot and lay down on her back. The fabric was rough and her feet hung over the end. She rolled onto her side to face the fire.
…
“The chief assassin of Indiana calls.”
Addar looked up from the map to nod at Vanor. “Go ahead.”
The screen on the wall filled with a scowling female face.
“Tunis,” Addar greeted.
Her scowl faded to a blank look when she saw him. “I was unaware you were leading the attack on Illinois.”
Addar raised an eyebrow. “You require something?”
Tunis’ gaze shifted. “No, nothing.”
“How goes the attack on Indiana?”
Tunis relaxed into her chair. “Well. We will move to ground troops in two days’ time.”
Addar hid his surprise behind a tight smile. “Very well.”
“And you?”
“Same,” Addar said.
A tense silence fell, as those working on the bridge of both ships tried to pretend they were not listening to the conversation. Finally, Addar turned to snap at his people to vacate the premises. They rushed to do his bidding. He turned back to the screen to see the room behind Tunis empty, as well.
“You have a question,” Addar told her.
She raised her chin, but her gaze did not meet his. “It is not my place to question—”
“Ask,” he cut her off. “This grows tedious.”
“There is a human base located on the border of our two states.”
“I am aware,” Addar said.
“I would have destroyed it, but it is just out of my jurisdiction.”
“Correct.”
Tunis cleared her throat. “Do you intend to strike the base?”
Addar waited to answer until she met his gaze. “In time.”
She wanted to ask for details, he could see it in the lines of her face. Slowly, she regained control of herself and the scowl faded to leave her expression blank.
“Understood.”
Addar cut off the communication and sat back in his chair. He would not be able to stall the attack for much longer without raising suspicions. As it was, Ilan was whispering in impressionable ears. It was only his record and position that kept the questions quiet mutters instead of yelled demands. Addar reached out to turn the computer’s attention to the nearby base.
It was the last military installment in the state. Tunis had already neutralized the military presence in Indiana. He had to destroy it. Addar leaned forward to study the arrangement of the base. Perhaps there was a way to destroy the weapons cache without striking the civilians. Without harming Robin.
He stared at the image of the base and rubbed his temples. There had to be a way. The door behind him slid open and quiet footsteps approached. Addar sat back in his chair, as Vanor came to a stop beside him. He looked up to see her gaze on the layout of the base.
“We attack?”
“No.”
Her eyes rose to meet his. “No?”
Addar stared at her.
Vanor’s gaze moved from his face to the computer screen and back. She licked her lips.
“Brother.”
Addar frowned at her tone.
She stepped between him and the computer and slowly sank to her knees. Vanor tossed her long, dark hair back over her shoulders and looked up at him.
“What ails you?”
Addar raised one eyebrow, as she laid her hand on his knee. “Nothing.”
“I could aid you,” she murmured.
“No.”
When Vanor did not immediately stand, Addar grabbed her wrist and moved her hand from his knee.
“I wish to be alone.”
Her burgundy gaze scanned his face. Finally, she nodded. “As you say.”
In some way, it was Ilan’s fault. He could see the assassin’s influence in Vanor’s actions. Addar sighed and pushed up from the chair. Ilan’s doing or not, Vanor let herself be manipulated. He expected better from her. Addar stalked from the ship’s bridge and made his way to the dining hall. At the late hour, it would be full.
He pushed open the doors and stood in the doorway, scanning for his second. Vanor sat near the back wall. Her eyes rose from her tray of food to fasten on him. Her pale face turned ashen. Addar let the dining hall doors fall closed behind him and advanced on her. He ignored the scrambling movements of the others in the room, as everyone hurried to move out of the way.
Vanor’s eyes were wide, but not afraid. No. She did not fear anything. Part of why she was his second. Addar unfurled his power until it filled most of the large room. He was vaguely aware of someone gasping for breath, clearly more sensitive to his power than the others. He ignored it and sent a tendril whipping toward Vanor.
Her power met his, forming a weak instinctual shield. With a slight push, the wall gave way and his power wrapped around her until she was fully cocooned inside the darkness. He drained the energy from her until there was only the slightest trace left. Addar checked to be sure her pulse was strong, before he let her fall to the floor.
As he turned to leave, he caught sight of the stoic faces of the others.
“Do not question me.”
He received silent nods.
“Ever.”
Addar left the room, leaving the others to tend to Vanor. The warning should assuage the doubts for a short time. Such a show of strength, would bring to mind his victories of the past. He hoped it was enough.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Robin woke to the sound of whispering. She rolled over and opened one eye to scan the tent. Off to her left, the two children were awake. The oldest, a girl, was braiding the younger girl’s hair. Robin watched them for a moment, before she looked to the other side of the tent. The cot was empty.
The tent flap flew back and a soldier ducked inside. It was only when the fire light hit their face that Robin recognized the female soldier from the night before. Robin gave her a faint smile. The soldier did not return it.
“Come with me, ma’am.”
Robin frowned, but rose from the cot. Her back popped as she straightened her spine. One of the children giggled. Robin did not take her eyes off the soldier to see which one. She followed the woman from the tent and into the cold winter morning. The soldier gave her a quick glance when she shivered.
“We may have a coat to fit you,” she muttered.
Robin nodded. “Thank you.”
The soldier grunted and walked away. Robin hurried to follow her. They took the same winding path through the cornfield to a large tent at the edge of the highway. The soldier held open the tent flap for her and Robin cautiously stepped into the warm interior. She scanned the tent. It was over twice the size of the one she slept in.
Three folding card tables made up a large flat surface in the middle of the space. Maps and papers were spread across it. The soldier nudged Robin and gestured for her to follow her across the room. They passed a group of soldiers playing cards. Robin’s gaze drifted to a line of electric heaters along the tent wall. She frowned.
They came to a stop in front of another card table. An older man sat behind it in a folding chair. He was sipping something out of a chipped coffee mug. From the strong alcohol scent, Robin doubted it contained any coffee. He took a large swallow of the liquid and looked up at her.
“Dismissed, Johnson.”
The female soldier walked away leaving Robin standing alone.
“Now,” the man said, pulling out a sheet of paper.
Robin glanced at it long enough to see a list of names.
“What is your name and city?”
“I’m from Chicago,” Robin answered.
She watched him write something in one of the columns.
“And your name?”
Robin cleared her throat. “Ann. Ann Addar.”
The man glanced up at the exotic last name, but wrote it down. “Good. That’s good.”
Robin mentally berated herself for using Addar’s name. At least she had used her middle name. She was not a complete liar.
“I believe that’s your backpack.”
She followed the man’s gaze to a bag wadded up in the corner. It looked empty.
“My supplies?” she asked.
The man gave her a tight smile. “Added to the rest.”
Robin fought not to frown. That was not going to help her if they came under attack. She sighed. When they came under attack. She picked up her empty backpack and slung it over her shoulder.
“Can I go?”
The man was already focused on the paperwork, again. He nodded.
Robin turned to leave and was almost to the door when he called out to her. She turned to face him, trying to ignore the eyes watching them.
“You’re the one with the note, right?”
Robin shrugged.
“Yeah, well.” He waved her off. “Go on back to your tent, Ms. Addar.”
A shiver went down her spine. Robin gave him a curt nod and walked out of the tent. The cold immediately wrapped around her.
“Coat, right?”
Robin turned her head to see the female soldier waiting for her. “Yes, please.”
The soldier gave her a barely there smile and led the way to another tent. It was small, about the size of the one Robin had shared with four other people, and the interior was as cold as the outside air. The woman gestured to a pile of clothing on a table near one wall and Robin crossed the room to look it over.
Aside from the table, the room was crammed with canned food, MRE’s, and bottled water. Robin glanced at it from the corner of her eye.
“Find anything?”
At the soldier’s sharp tone, Robin focused on finding a coat. Near the bottom of the stack, she found a dark gray peacoat. It was missing one of the buttons at the bottom, but it was thick and sturdy. Robin slipped off her expensive jacket and put on the coat. It fastened without any trouble. After a moment of thought, Robin grabbed a pair of gloves and left her jacket in the stack of clothing.
“Done?”
“Yes,” Robin murmured.
She flipped up the collar of the coat and followed the soldier back into the cold wind. The woman left her once they were away from the supply tent and Robin returned to her tent. The two children were gone, leaving the tent empty. Robin sat on the edge of her cot and stared at the dying fire. She should feed it. She did not move.
What was wrong with Indiana? There had to be a reason for Addar to warn her away. She scooted off the cot to sit on the ground beside the fire. Indiana would have to be worse off than Illinois. That was the only logical reason to tell her not to go. Unless, there were reinforcements there. Maybe, humanity was winning in Indiana. Doing better than they were in their summer camp tents.
Robin looked up when the tent flap drew back. Three soldiers entered, weapons fastened on her. She stared at them.
“Commander wants a word.”
It was phrased politely, coming from a man so young he barely grew stubble, but the underlying order was obvious. Robin nodded and rose to her feet. She did not miss the way their guns followed her. They were twitchy. As soon as she stepped out of the tent, she looked up at the gray sky. There was nothing but clouds promising more snow.
She let the three soldiers lead her back to the large tent. The mood was more hostile than the first time. The card game had been suspended and the all of the soldiers watched her like she was liable to attack them at any moment. Robin frowned.
“What is the meaning of this?�
��
The man who had taken her name, the commander she assumed, stepped forward to stand directly in front of her. His eyes narrowed on her face.
“Who gave you the note?”
Robin sighed. “I already told them—”
“I know what you said,” he snapped, cutting her off. “Now, I want the truth.”
“I’m not sure what you mean, sir.”
Robin kept her spine perfectly straight and refused to break eye contact. There was no way for them to know about Addar.
“Ma’am.” His tone was a warning.
“Why are you asking me this? I’ve already told you—”
“We’ve lost contact with the base at Terre Haute. It was the last base in Indiana.” He took a step closer to her and his breath smelled strongly of alcohol. “Now, I want to know where you got the information.”
Robin took a step back and bumped into the large table covered in maps. She looked over her shoulder. A tight grip on her arm pulled her away from the table. The commander shoved her into a folding chair and leaned over to glare into her face.
“You know more than you let on.”
“Are you sure the base is gone?” She winced when he slammed his palm down on the table.
“How long do you think you’ll last out there by yourself? No shelter, no car, no food or water.”
Robin frowned at him. “I said, I don’t know how it got there.”
He let out a bark of laughter. “That’s it. Get out.”
“Sir?” one of the soldier’s questioned.
The commander turned on him. “You got a problem, Jenkins?”
“I-I don’t think—”
A solid crack cut off his stumbling words. The tent erupted into shouting, as the commander began to pummel the younger man. Robin took the chance to run. She slipped out of the tent and ran for the supplies. The yelling grew in volume, as she grabbed two water bottles and a few MRE’s. The base had issues, but the people would need the food. She would just have to scavenge for more later.
Robin ran from the tent with her armful and charged into the cornfield. She ran between the rows, searching for her tent. After several minutes, she had to stop to catch her breath. She looked up at the sky. Without the sun, it was impossible to tell which direction she had run. The tent could be anywhere.