her.
Still, something about Fiona's manner seemed off. Was she sincere, or was she putting on some kind of a front for their benefit? Or had Sophie just gone back to her inability to trust?
Sophie marveled at the focused urgency that took over the camp as everyone immediately dropped what they were doing and began to go to their responsibilities, preparing to be mobile. Rowen stood next to her, also taking in with no small amount of respect the efficiency. Several of the community members led Fiona into an RV. Sophie started to worry about taking up space, standing around like this. She wanted to help, but these routines were clearly so practiced that she didn't want to be in the way. She placed her hand on Rowen's elbow and nodded toward the vehicle. It would be better if they didn't have to make someone stop mid-stride in order to give them instructions.
As they boarded, she heard Lot snapping off orders at everyone. "Pick up those loose tools! Get the cans stowed away under the RV and make sure it's locked this time. Get the kids inside, I want to be on the road in ten minutes!"
It was like watching a controlled storm. Nobody seemed to acknowledge hearing him, but still managed to do exactly what he told them. Lot watched everyone going about their tasks before pointing at several people to join him, where they leaned in for hushed conversation. Sophie carefully positioned herself nearby, trying to not be obvious but straining to hear what was said. She remembered meeting one of the other two men and thought his name was Clive.
"Are we sure we want to take off like this?" Clive asked. "Just turn tail and run away? We can't let something like this go unanswered."
Lot shrugged. "What are we supposed to do? It isn't like we know who did it. Fiona was pretty vague about what happened, and I doubt she'll be able to give us a better description. Three rovers attacked them. That's all we have to go on. Besides, what are the chances that they're actually alone and aren't just scouting out supplies for a larger group somewhere?"
"We don't know there are more of them," Clive insisted.
"We don't know there aren't, and that's enough for me. We don't know who these guys are, what they look like, or whether or not they have friends. We'd be walking into a situation that we know nothing about."
"Do you think Fiona's telling the truth?" the other one asked.
Lot didn't seem at all surprised by the question as he considered it. "It's harder to trust her, what with how withdrawn she is all the time and how stand-offish she can be, but I have a hard time imagining she would ever actually hurt anyone here, do you?"
"I guess not."
"I think that there's more to what she's telling us, but I don't think this is the time."
Clive suddenly looked up sharply at Sophie, as if he had sensed her listening in. She looked away for a moment, until she stopped feeling the scrutiny baking into the back of her neck. When she looked again, they had resumed talking, but more quietly and Clive positioned himself with his back to her to prevent her from hearing them as easily. She looked at the other RV and thought she could see Fiona, leaning against the window and sullenly staring off into space.
Sophie looked at Rowen as he followed James and Corrine up the steps and into the other vehicle. She would do whatever was necessary to protect them, even though what was left of her family pretty much despised her existence. All she could do was continue carrying on through their routines and hold on to the hope that one day the ice would thaw, and things would get better.
Fate had made that choice for her.
-17-
It was hard to tell from the back of the RV, but based on how fast they were driving and how long it had been, Sophie guessed that they had gone about twenty miles. They pulled off into a small roadside park. Everyone unloaded and began milling around while the RV's were moved into a thick grove of trees.
"We'll keep an eye out for
Still, something about Fiona's manner seemed off. Was she sincere, or was she putting on some kind of a front for their benefit? Or had Sophie just gone back to her inability to trust?
Sophie marveled at the focused urgency that took over the camp as everyone immediately dropped what they were doing and began to go to their responsibilities, preparing to be mobile. Rowen stood next to her, also taking in with no small amount of respect the efficiency. Several of the community members led Fiona into an RV. Sophie started to worry about taking up space, standing around like this. She wanted to help, but these routines were clearly so practiced that she didn't want to be in the way. She placed her hand on Rowen's elbow and nodded toward the vehicle. It would be better if they didn't have to make someone stop mid-stride in order to give them instructions.
As they boarded, she heard Lot snapping off orders at everyone. "Pick up those loose tools! Get the cans stowed away under the RV and make sure it's locked this time. Get the kids inside, I want to be on the road in ten minutes!"
It was like watching a controlled storm. Nobody seemed to acknowledge hearing him, but still managed to do exactly what he told them. Lot watched everyone going about their tasks before pointing at several people to join him, where they leaned in for hushed conversation. Sophie carefully positioned herself nearby, trying to not be obvious but straining to hear what was said. She remembered meeting one of the other two men and thought his name was Clive.
"Are we sure we want to take off like this?" Clive asked. "Just turn tail and run away? We can't let something like this go unanswered."
Lot shrugged. "What are we supposed to do? It isn't like we know who did it. Fiona was pretty vague about what happened, and I doubt she'll be able to give us a better description. Three rovers attacked them. That's all we have to go on. Besides, what are the chances that they're actually alone and aren't just scouting out supplies for a larger group somewhere?"
"We don't know there are more of them," Clive insisted.
"We don't know there aren't, and that's enough for me. We don't know who these guys are, what they look like, or whether or not they have friends. We'd be walking into a situation that we know nothing about."
"Do you think Fiona's telling the truth?" the other one asked.
Lot didn't seem at all surprised by the question as he considered it. "It's harder to trust her, what with how withdrawn she is all the time and how stand-offish she can be, but I have a hard time imagining she would ever actually hurt anyone here, do you?"
"I guess not."
"I think that there's more to what she's telling us, but I don't think this is the time."
Clive suddenly looked up sharply at Sophie, as if he had sensed her listening in. She looked away for a moment, until she stopped feeling the scrutiny baking into the back of her neck. When she looked again, they had resumed talking, but more quietly and Clive positioned himself with his back to her to prevent her from hearing them as easily. She looked at the other RV and thought she could see Fiona, leaning against the window and sullenly staring off into space.
Sophie looked at Rowen as he followed James and Corrine up the steps and into the other vehicle. She would do whatever was necessary to protect them, even though what was left of her family pretty much despised her existence. All she could do was continue carrying on through their routines and hold on to the hope that one day the ice would thaw, and things would get better.
Fate had made that choice for her.
-17-
It was hard to tell from the back of the RV, but based on how fast they were driving and how long it had been, Sophie guessed that they had gone about twenty miles. They pulled off into a small roadside park. Everyone unloaded and began milling around while the RV's were moved into a thick grove of trees.
"We'll keep an eye out for
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