people worried. If we lose any more leaders things will start to deteriorate fast.”
There was a moment’s bleak silence. “We need a game changer,” I told Cody. He smiled slightly.
“I thought that’s why we sent Jesse chasing off after his brother – to get some idea where people are taken when they’re caught. Well, that, and because it got rid of him.”
I ignored the jibe. “We need something else. Something that’ll give us an edge.”
The mocking smile became more pronounced. “And here it comes. The real reason you wanted to talk to me.”
I ignored that as well. “We need to follow up on Glen’s plan.”
It took Cody a moment to figure out what I was talking about. “You mean setting up that GPS satellite locator he’s always getting you and Noah to bring up at council meetings? That’s what you want to pursue?”
“If we could contact people in the outside world, maybe even in America, we’d have a better idea what to do next. I mean, look around you…” I gestured at the paperwork covering every surface. “If we had more information about what things are like elsewhere, if wewere able to ask questions, then we’d be better prepared for what could be coming.”
He stood and thought for a long while, pacing back and forth. “Do you have a plan? One that would protect Glen?” he asked.
I smiled to myself. I had him. “Glen says the equipment is in Robert Gordon University, up in Garthdee. I thought that Blake, Glen and I could go along with one of Jeremy’s supply runs. I know he’s planning on heading up there soon to investigate the Asda. We could blend in and then sneak away to get it. There and back in a day, no problem.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. Shouldn’t we have a council meeting about this?”
“Glen and Noah already agree, Jeremy will be glad of the help and Blake is always up for a dangerous mission. Including you and me we’ve got a majority. There’d only be Deborah left, and as long as she’s looking after people she doesn’t really care.”
“What about Hazel?” he asked.
I cursed under my breath. I’d forgotten about her. “What about Hazel?” I asked him, one eyebrow raised.
He smiled that indecipherable smile again. “Fair enough. Then yes, you’ve got my support. Go for it as far as I’m concerned, but task Blake and his team with guarding Glen closely. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He walked over to a table and picked up a box. I tilted my head, squinting to see the lid.
“A chess set?” I asked him.
“Percy’s bored,” he said nonchalantly. “I’ve beenkeeping him company and trying to amuse him.”
“He plays chess?”
“I’ve been teaching him.”
I looked at Cody oddly. He didn’t usually go this far out of his way to be nice to people. More than that, there was something off about him, as if he’d been caught in a lie. I shook my head. Probably nothing.
I followed Cody out of the office and along the corridor. Just before we parted ways he turned to me, as if he’d forgotten something.
“I meant to ask. When will you be going on this mission?”
I smiled tightly at him. “Three days’ time,” I said. “Friday.”
CHAPTER 11
It was six in the morning when I woke Blake up by knocking on his door, and he was not happy. I’d just finished hammering on wood for the third time when the door was wrenched open and he stuck his head out, hair still tousled from sleep.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Rise and shine,” I said brightly. “We’ll be setting off with Jeremy and the scavenging crew in about an hour.”
“An hour?” Blake failed to stifle a yawn. “You said it would be tomorrow.”
“Change of plan. Jeremy thought the sooner we get there and back the better.”
That was a complete lie. Today was the day I’d told Jeremy we were leaving. He hadn’t been happy about the early start either. But that was the whole point. We had to leave early in the morning before the others
There was a moment’s bleak silence. “We need a game changer,” I told Cody. He smiled slightly.
“I thought that’s why we sent Jesse chasing off after his brother – to get some idea where people are taken when they’re caught. Well, that, and because it got rid of him.”
I ignored the jibe. “We need something else. Something that’ll give us an edge.”
The mocking smile became more pronounced. “And here it comes. The real reason you wanted to talk to me.”
I ignored that as well. “We need to follow up on Glen’s plan.”
It took Cody a moment to figure out what I was talking about. “You mean setting up that GPS satellite locator he’s always getting you and Noah to bring up at council meetings? That’s what you want to pursue?”
“If we could contact people in the outside world, maybe even in America, we’d have a better idea what to do next. I mean, look around you…” I gestured at the paperwork covering every surface. “If we had more information about what things are like elsewhere, if wewere able to ask questions, then we’d be better prepared for what could be coming.”
He stood and thought for a long while, pacing back and forth. “Do you have a plan? One that would protect Glen?” he asked.
I smiled to myself. I had him. “Glen says the equipment is in Robert Gordon University, up in Garthdee. I thought that Blake, Glen and I could go along with one of Jeremy’s supply runs. I know he’s planning on heading up there soon to investigate the Asda. We could blend in and then sneak away to get it. There and back in a day, no problem.”
“Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out. Shouldn’t we have a council meeting about this?”
“Glen and Noah already agree, Jeremy will be glad of the help and Blake is always up for a dangerous mission. Including you and me we’ve got a majority. There’d only be Deborah left, and as long as she’s looking after people she doesn’t really care.”
“What about Hazel?” he asked.
I cursed under my breath. I’d forgotten about her. “What about Hazel?” I asked him, one eyebrow raised.
He smiled that indecipherable smile again. “Fair enough. Then yes, you’ve got my support. Go for it as far as I’m concerned, but task Blake and his team with guarding Glen closely. Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He walked over to a table and picked up a box. I tilted my head, squinting to see the lid.
“A chess set?” I asked him.
“Percy’s bored,” he said nonchalantly. “I’ve beenkeeping him company and trying to amuse him.”
“He plays chess?”
“I’ve been teaching him.”
I looked at Cody oddly. He didn’t usually go this far out of his way to be nice to people. More than that, there was something off about him, as if he’d been caught in a lie. I shook my head. Probably nothing.
I followed Cody out of the office and along the corridor. Just before we parted ways he turned to me, as if he’d forgotten something.
“I meant to ask. When will you be going on this mission?”
I smiled tightly at him. “Three days’ time,” I said. “Friday.”
CHAPTER 11
It was six in the morning when I woke Blake up by knocking on his door, and he was not happy. I’d just finished hammering on wood for the third time when the door was wrenched open and he stuck his head out, hair still tousled from sleep.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Rise and shine,” I said brightly. “We’ll be setting off with Jeremy and the scavenging crew in about an hour.”
“An hour?” Blake failed to stifle a yawn. “You said it would be tomorrow.”
“Change of plan. Jeremy thought the sooner we get there and back the better.”
That was a complete lie. Today was the day I’d told Jeremy we were leaving. He hadn’t been happy about the early start either. But that was the whole point. We had to leave early in the morning before the others
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