Peter stayed back, stating he would be fine with whatever decision was made.
We gathered in the lower level of Hive Two, And I stood in the center.
“I know you guys are all wondering why I called you here,” I said. “I brought you here to make the final call on Clarisse. You probably weren’t even thinking about it…”
“I was,” Tony said.
“Me, too,” Tom added. “I was wondering what we were doing.”
“Me as well,” Craig said.
I looked at Melissa. “Were you wondering?”
“Yeah,” She crinkled her face. “I was. I mean we made a really big deal about kicking her out.”
I suggested we take a vote, and we did. It was evenly split.
“No vote…” Tony said. “We made a decision and we should stick to it. Give her what she needs and send her on her way.”
“I don’t know, Tony.” I rebutted. “It seems like too much time has passed.”
“There are no statutes of limitations here, Anna.”
“But I feel bad.”
“And you can’t,” Tony argued. “You can’t let emotions get in the way of this decision.”
Gil spoke up. “How about logic?”
“You,” Tony pointed. “Really have no say so in this matter. We lost a man. A man was killed.”
“Did she do it?”
“Her people did.”
“Did she do it?” Gil repeated.
“You aren’t standing before the jury, here counselor,” Tony said. “She knew of the plan. She was part of the plan. She didn’t cut off his head, but damn well knew they would kill us all.”
My hands went to my face. I thought, ‘Oh God, here we go again.’
“You’re right,” Gil said. “I don’t have a say so. But if I can speak from a new perspective. You failed in sending her on her way two months ago. Whatever the reason, she didn’t go. You suspended her sentence, so to speak. During this time, she has taken care of her child and worked as part of the community. She has lived as part of the community. Has she done anything to suggest she can’t be trusted anymore? Perhaps, she is trying to regain your trust. It is viably possible that she will be grateful and not ever do anything bad again? Plus, we need to remember, she’s a woman. A woman with a child. Women, will be needed in this world. If she makes a mistake again, then throw her out. But give her a second chance. You all have already done so. You just don’t realize it.”
I saw among the faces in the room, that everyone listened to what he said. Gil always spoke passionately and convincingly. This was no different. “We’ll take another vote.”
“Before you do,” Gil said.
Tony groaned.
Gil ignored him. “I’ll take her with me if she stays. The government bunker has offered to send transportation up here, and I’ll bring her there with me. Her and her child.”
Hearing him say that shocked me. “You’re leaving?”
“I think it’s for the best.”
As soon as he said that, everyone in the room erupted in disagreement.
“You can’t go.”
“No, you have to stay.”
“Anna needs you.”
“Anna…” Tony said sternly. “Doesn’t need him. But I agree, he should stay. Take your vote, Anna.” He folded his arms and backed up.
It was overwhelming for Clarisse to stay, with Tony being the only vote to cast her out. Tony quickly left after the vote and Melissa was the one to tell Clarisse her fate.
I followed Tony. I expected him to be sulking somewhere. Instead, he was with Joie in their room. She was working on her long term project, her new collage.
“Can I speak to you?” I asked.
He told Joie he’d be right back and walked into my room with me.
“What’s up?”
“I need to ask you something,” I said.
“No, I expected the vote. I’m not mad. And I expected you to change your mind. That’s just who you are.”
“That’s not it. When Gil announced he was leaving, you said he should stay. That surprised me.”
“Even though I said you didn’t need him. You do. More than you realize, you need him in your life. Not in any romantic way, and honestly, I’m not threatened in that way by him.”
“So because of me, you think he should stay?”
“No, for all of us. Like I stayed close to you in the beginning, I think we need to stay close to Gil to see what he’s up to.”
“Makes sense. Who knows? Maybe you’ll start to like him.”
“Ha! Doubt it. But… stranger things have happened. Who knows, maybe I’ll fall in love with him, too.” Tony smiled, kissed me then went back into the room with Joie.
I know, deep down, he was disappointed we voted to allow Clarisse to stay. It had nothing to do with who she was, but rather with sticking to our decision.
Tony was over looking one thing.
The change of heart on Clarisse was a unanimously humane vote. To me, it was the first meaningful thing we did as a group. It showed me that together we could do little things that would positively impact a life. There had to be more to after-comet life than sitting in a bunker biding our time. There had to be.
48 – EASTER EGG
November 2
Peter announced, “Eighteen degrees. Wind chill temperature, minus five. Doable. And I think it’s a good time, because winter is setting in.”
“Seriously?” Tony asked. “Winter is coming? What is this now?”
“Um… autumn?” Peter said.
“Funny. Funny. Fifteen minutes.” Tony told me, “I already waited a week.”
And he did. I really wanted to go into town with him. I needed to step out of the bunker to see what was around. To have a purpose. Peter kept advising against it, especially without transportation. We had passed the ten degree mark and it took a week to get there.
Our original mission was to go to town, find transportation and take supplies, in case we ran into anyone who was in need.
Everyone wanted to go. Everyone except Nelly. She was content to stay inside. Tony and I went by default and a draw of straws gave the honors to Duke and Spencer.
It surprised me with all the things Gil prepared and planned for that he didn’t think of transportation.
That wasn’t so. He did plan on us arriving in a vehicle. Plus he had his people stash a vehicle.
That was one of the Easter Eggs at the bunker.
There were many.
We found two. A game system and movie player. Both would work when plugged into the picture window. But they were useless because any movies or games were still hidden in the bunker. It was Gil’s idea to give Jackson something to pass the time.
Nelly and the kids were on a mission to find those Easter Eggs.
The keys, along with a battery charger, were located in the boiler room. Duke found them earlier, but didn’t think anything of them. And even if he did know what they were for, we didn’t know where the car was hidden.
Apparently, it wasn’t in the bunker.
It was a mile away.
Down the road, right before the drug store, was a concrete garage. We’d find it, Gil said. In a slightly underground bunker of its own, was the old Jeep. It was possible it wouldn’t run.
Duke was confident he was a good enough mechanic that if it could be fixed, he’d get it running.
I hoped that he was right. We needed transportation to get to Elwood City. We could make it on foot, but getting back would be a difficult task, considering the weather.
It was time to go and I was filled with excitement and nervousness.
I went to the radio room to say goodbye, and was surprised that Gil was there.
“Thank you very much Mr. President, I will be in touch soon.” He ended a radio call.