Ashes, Ashes by Jo Treggiari

Author:Jo Treggiari [Treggiari, Jo]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Fantasy, Young Adult, Romance, Science Fiction, Dystopian & Post-apocalyptic
ISBN: 9780545255639
Google: jWEp-CAcq7IC
Amazon: 0545255635
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Published: 2011-06-01T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWELVE

THE RETURN

Two days of hauling and digging helped keep the fear at bay, but the frustration was eating her alive. Lucy had agreed to every duty Grammalie gave her as long as the job took her away from people and the camp. And as far away as possible from Aidan.

She carried in the last load of cabbages and dumped the tub on the floor by the long table. She stretched, easing the cramped muscles along her spine. She’d been stooped over for so long, her back protested. She stifled a yelp.

Henry looked up from peeling onions. His blackened eye had turned shades of purple and yellow, and tears leaked from between the swollen eyelids. He wiped his nose on the sleeve of his shirt. He smiled at her.

“Thanks. Haven’t seen much of you lately.”

Lucy jumped up on the edge of the table and swung her legs, noting that her injured ankle had swelled again. “Been out in the fields mostly.” She picked gravel out of her knee.

He nodded as if he understood. “Normally I’d do anything before peeling onions, but it feels good to keep my hands busy.”

They were both quiet for a few seconds. Slowly, shockingly, things had started to feel like normal again. The busy pace of days spent worrying about food, water, tending fires, and rebuilding shelters didn’t leave much room for anything else. Still, Lucy felt guilty every time she thought of Leo and Del.

“Need any help?” she asked.

“You can go check the soup. We’re eating at the big tables since the rain’s holding off. Grammalie Rose thought we needed a group night.”

She nodded and wandered outside. The lanterns were lit, casting wavering shadows and filling the air with stinky smoke. The sun sank down behind the Great Hill in a flush of crimson clouds.

In the square, the awnings were rolled back and tied with lengths of rope. Long tables and benches had been moved out into the open and arranged around the fire pit. It was piled high with roughly chopped wood salvaged from the Sweeper-leveled houses all around, and more fuel lay stacked nearby. The flames roared. The big black cooking pot hung above it in a welded cradle. Even from where she stood, Lucy could smell the mouthwatering combination of root vegetables and browning meat. From the opposite corner of the square she caught sight of Aidan hauling more water. She paused, waiting to see if he would notice her. He responded to a few greetings. His eyes seemed to wander in her direction, but she couldn’t be sure. Lucy watched as he crossed over to the pot and set his jugs down. He emptied one in, then another. Steam rose in great billows, his forehead shone with sweat. She moved toward him, a conciliatory smile pasted on her face, but then, before she’d made it to his side, Aidan was gone, crossing quickly and disappearing into one of the side alleys that ran like a maze around the dilapidated houses. She stared after him.

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