Scavenger Blood by Janet Edwards

Author:Janet Edwards
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Science Fiction, Dystopia, Coming of age, Alien, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic
Publisher: Wallam-Crane Press
Published: 2019-06-08T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-one

Tad and I did our best to be quiet as we walked down the main staircase of the Resistance wing, but our footsteps still sounded unnervingly loud. When we reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw Machico was sitting on a chair by the curtained entrance to Reception. He glanced at us, and lifted a hand in what seemed to be a gesture of good wishes.

Tad and I hurried on to the Resistance back door. Donnell was already there waiting for us, with a group of four unlit lanterns standing on the floor next to him. One of the expanding poles that we used to check for hazards under snow was leaning against the wall. Next to it, weirdly, was a broom that had been painted white.

Donnell gave our knife belts to Tad and me. As we buckled them around our waists, Weston and Vijay arrived. They already had their knife belts, were also armed with both swords and bows, and had peculiarly thin, white cloaks over their coats. Weston handed cloaks to Tad and me as well, and I saw they’d been roughly fashioned out of white sheets.

“Even at midnight, someone might be looking out of a window,” said Weston. “We don’t want any of Cage’s supporters to see us leaving and wonder what we’re doing. White sheets aren’t perfect camouflage, but they’ll make us less visible against the snow.”

Tad and I put on the cloaks and tried to adjust them to cover as much of our dark coats as possible.

“I’ve got both lanterns and flashlights for you.” Donnell handed flashlights to everyone. “Blaze is in charge,” he said, in a meaningful voice, “but I’m sure she’ll listen to helpful advice from Weston and Vijay.”

“Of course,” I said.

“Good luck with your exploring.” Donnell put his hand on the door plate to unlock the back door. “I’d like you to be back here by an hour before dawn.”

He stepped forward to give me a hesitant, fleeting hug, then I picked up a lantern, and walked out into icy air. It was brighter outside than I’d expected, because it was a clear night, and the light of an almost full moon was reflecting off the white blanket of snow. There was slush on the ground where I was standing, because of the warmth of the building, but I only needed to take two steps further forward to find myself in snow that came near to the top of my boots.

I turned to face the others and saw they’d all picked up lanterns too. Weston was holding the expanding pole, which he’d pulled out to its full length, while Vijay had the broom. The two of them were exchanging worried looks. They didn’t seem to have much faith in my leadership ability.

“I thought we should cut straight across the vegetable garden to the old security outpost,” I said, eager to show that I wasn’t totally useless.

Weston nodded. “You’re thinking that if anyone notices footprints heading for the old security post,

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