“Seriously, though, he is lucky,” Stefani said. “After that bomb drop, no one is going to be thinking or talking about our unsymmetrical new friend.”
“Or what Horus is doing this far south,” Carlee said.
“We have an Apostle close to us, so why not go to the one place we know we can find another?” Stefani asked.
“She hasn’t led us astray yet,” Carlee said. “I trust her.”
“And what if she decides Jeff gets to stay in Dallas?”
“If he were so lucky, I wouldn’t fight it. Now, despite my nap, I’m tired. Stefani, can you show Jeff to a sleeping bag?” Carlee asked.
“Sure thing, boss,” Stefani said as Carlee walked away purposefully to her tent.
“I don’t think I understand her,” Jeff said.
“Oh, boy,” Stefani said. She turned toward their transport, and Jeff followed after her as best as he could. It was difficult to keep up with her because he was still getting used to his new leg.
“What?”
“Oh, come on, don’t what me.”
“Is this some more vagrant mind-reading junk?”
“I don’t need to be a vagrant to know what you’re thinking. Pressing, vagrants, Apostles, your home being destroyed and your family killed, and you are thinking about Carl.” She picked up a bag from their transport and slammed it into his chest, almost knocking him over.
“You can sleep wherever you want,” Stefani said. “And here’s some advice: don’t fall in love; it’ll just hurt worse when they die.”
“That’s real insightful.”
“Especially with her.”
He watched as Stefani stalked off into the darkness toward the tent she shared with Carlee. A pair of boulders not too far from the transport had a welcoming look, so Jeff hobbled over to them and set up his sleeping bag. It was a frustratingly difficult task with only one arm. He kept trying to use his left arm, which no longer existed.
The exhaustion he had been ignoring fully set in by the time he managed to crawl into his sleeping bag. The night air was warm, but it was comforting to be nestled in his bag. The stars were bright, but he had seen those before. Jeff rolled onto his side and looked over to the vagrants’ camp, which had settled down in a hurry.
Two men sat near the faux fire, sipping on drinks. Someone was sitting in front of a glowing panel of indicators on the back of one of the larger transports. All the other tents were dark and silent, except for Jane’s. It glowed weakly from the inside.
It was the first time that he had the opportunity to miss his home. Everything had happened so quickly since his fight with Canon. He didn’t mention it to Chad or Dane, but he had been proud of himself. The coalition ensured that no one excelled or had a better life than others. More importantly, the coalition engrained into everyone that prosperity was only to be sought for the community and species as a whole. But he had longed to be the best fighter. He had never wanted much out of life—expectations in this world only led to regrets at death—but he had wanted that.
A meaningful death had been the only thing he dared to aspire to, but now he was here, with the vagrants and safe for the time being—until the Apostles were able to track them down, or some warlord ran them through. Given the circumstances, a meaningful death still sounded like an attainable goal, but he foolishly let his mind wander to other possibilities.
He could go to Dallas, assuming they could get him there without getting themselves killed. Maybe he would find a woman and have some kids, hoping Petra didn’t turn on them or use them for some Apostolic experiment.
He could be Chad.
No. Chad was dead. Jeff didn’t have anyone to protect anymore. He didn’t have anyone to live for. He couldn’t sit around knowing that Dane, the mayor, Horus, and the white Apostle lived while his brother was dead. He would avenge them; he owed his brother that much.
The light went out in Jane’s tent, as if she had reached the answer at the same time Jeff had. The only way that vengeance was possible was if he became a vagrant.
6 LEADERSHIP
“HE DIDN’T TELL US THE entire story,” Jane said. “There is more to him than we understand. His motivations are unclear, his history muddled, and we can’t afford to be teaching anyone right now.”
“But Horus left him alive,” Carlee said.
“Jeff said there were other survivors,” Talon said.
“Sure, but why were the leeches around his body? That’s what I keep thinking about,” Carlee said. It was early in the morning, and the day was starting as they usually did, with Carlee discussing matters with Jane and Talon. They didn’t have a formal title for their leadership council; it had just developed naturally over time.
“What are you suggesting?” Jane asked.
“I don’t know what I’m suggesting. But it seems a little too convenient that the only survivor of the attack was someone with pressing tendencies. I saw it—he picked up on the ambush before me or Stefani. That doesn’t just happen.”
“If he has vagrant instincts, then the riddle is solved,” Talon said. He didn’t speak often, but his deep voice was impactful every time he did. Usually, he sat quietly while Jane bounced her thoughts off Carlee, but today, he clearly had an agenda. She didn’t want to have to compete with Talon, but Jeff needed them.
“I don’t think it’s that simple,” Carlee said.
“Are you suggesting that Horus has discovered a way to tell whether a person has developed the ability to press even in its more limited forms?” Jane asked.
“Is it unreasonable?”
“It is unreasonable,” Talon said.
“It is troubling. The paths that would occur from such an invention would be dark indeed for our kind. And all the more reason why it would be an unnecessary hazard to have the young man join us.”
“But if it’s true, we can’t leave him, especially in Dallas, where Petra might be able to discover his abilities. He wouldn’t live long.”
“I pondered this last night as I said I would. It has been a while since I let my mind wander along so many paths, trying to get an understanding of what our new friend is capable of.”
“He’s already been too much of a distraction, then,” Talon said.
“A distraction? People like him are exactly who we are trying to help. If we can’t help him, what are we even doing out here?”
“Please, I won’t have the two of you out of harmony,” Jane said. “Especially now, when unity is more important than ever. Paths exist for us all, and there are more for Jeff than for most, not all of which are on track to destinations we want to associate with. I don’t want to put the vagrants in any more danger than they are already in.”
“Jane, when I found him, I could—”
“We have more important things to discuss,” Talon said.
“For Jeff, this is the most important,” Carlee said.
“You are free to do as you wish at any time, Carlee. I hope you will stay with us—your presence is invaluable to our cause—but I will not fault you for leaving.”
“I’m not going to leave you,” Carlee said. Her frustration gave way to defeat. She knew that Jeff was meant to stay on the same path as them, at least for now, but there was no persuading Jane. She had promised herself that she would always follow Jane, ever since Jane had proven her wisdom in the most painful of ways. But it wasn’t always easy. And her heart begged her to try to convince her again, but she knew now wasn’t the time. Not with Talon set against her. She would try again after the meeting ended, when she could catch her alone.
“Then let us focus on other matters.” Jane took a deep breath and let it out slowly. It wasn’t going to be good news, but they hadn’t had much of that lately. “We now know the Apostle behind the leech forces streaming in from the north. Horus is apparently aiming to rekindle the Apostolic Wars.”