Redaction: Extinction Level Event (Part I) (22 page)

Manny eyed the lanterns and stove. Definitely necessary. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Well then, come along.” She tugged on his arm, pulling him out of the common area but south when the
niños
and Irina were north. “The others will be wondering what happened to me.”

Others? One old woman he could handle, but more people... He scanned the direction she pulled him in. Aside from the rats scampering across the street, no one seemed about. But she could still be bait, with her age to con him into making a mistake. He pulled back, nearly jerking her off her feet. “I—”

“Oh, that’s right.” Her nails dug into his arm as she teetered on her white granny shoes. Turning her lined face toward him, she blinked her cloudy eyes. “You came with companions, didn’t you?”

His heart skipped a few beats. She knew about the others? But how? According to his map, the houses around the one he’d picked should be empty. As for their arrival, the battle between the Aspero and the Marines should have disguised any sound they’d made.

She cocked her head to the side. Pink shown through the wispy curls swirling around her scalp. “Did you have anything to do with the noise last night?”

He started. How did she know what he was thinking? Popi always said blind folks were special. Could they be mind readers?

A smile smoothed the wrinkles from her lips. “Reminded me of my days in London during the war. That’s World War Two, not w-Wii.” She chuckled at the reference to the popular gaming system. “Although, my grandson tells me there’s lots of war games on it.”

Grief hung from the corners of her features.

So, she’d lost someone too. Who hadn’t? The government had said the Redaction had killed teens through to middle-aged adults, yet so many others seemed to be missing. Manny pulled himself from his thoughts. What had she been talking about? The fighting last night. He nodded. Dumb ass. She couldn’t see. “We weren’t involved in it, but we used the distraction to cross the street.”

“Smart, lad.” She patted his arm.

He straightened. For a moment, he felt like he had when he’d brought home straight A’s, before the car accident, before juvenile hall, before the Redaction.

“Guess you’d have to be pretty smart to have survived this long without your folks.” She thumped her cane. “Well, lead on. We’ll need to gather everyone up. There’s a lot to do today.”

Manny’s feet remained stuck on the sidewalk. Could he trust her? She didn’t seem to have an agenda. And besides she was old. He could easily overpower her and get away. Beating up old women... He shook his head. Why had he bothered to survive if he’d turned into a monster?

A breeze rattled the dried seed pods against the curb. He closed his eyes and the rising sun painted his lids pink. What choice did he have? He couldn’t leave her alone; she was blind. Shifting his arm, he tugged her north along the rows of cream-colored houses with terra cotta roofs. Weeds laid siege to the once pristine desert landscaping. The wagon’s wheels squeaked behind them.

“I do hope you didn’t choose one of the outer ring of houses.” Her cane scratched across the sidewalk and swished through the tufts of grass poking through the cracks. “Infested with rats, don’t you know?”

“Rats.” Manny watched a black one, the size of a well-fed house cat; clean its whiskers as it watched them from atop its garbage heap. Glancing down, he searched her face for a dirty Mexican slur. “Every place has rats since the city stopped collecting the garbage.”

She nodded and swept her hair out of her face again. “But the empty places have more than others.”

That was true. Certainly, the two houses he’d visited had been infested. Would the one he’d chosen be the same? Or worse? Instead of leaving Irina with the
niños
, he should have gone inside to check. Surely, breakfast could have waited a little longer. Manny followed the curve of the street and the two-story house came into view. Nothing stirred into the front windows. Good. Irina and the
niños
were hiding.

Too bad they’d already been discovered.

“Mildred and Henry had to move in with me because they were quite overrun.” Her cane thumped the fire hydrant. “Not that I mind the company, but they do move things about. And I’m used to having things just so. I’m sure you understand.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Not really. Slowing, he frowned at the house. Surely, someone should be looking out the windows to see if he was coming home. He stumbled over a rise in the sidewalk. Had something happened to them?

She patted his arm again. “I don’t like using the cane at home. And I don’t need to, as long as things don’t get moved about.”

“Uh-huh.” Manny stopped across the street. Should he leave her here while he went for the others?

“Oh, we’re here already?” She straightened the green jacket of her tracksuit. “Did you pick the Paiks’?” She point to the house on her right before aiming her cane at the two-story house across the street. His house. “Or the Schultzs’?”

How did she do that? He shifted his weight from foot-to-foot. And should he lie? What was the point? “The Schultzs’.”

“Oh, dear.” She held her hand over her mouth. “That house has been empty the longest. You children can’t stay there. It’s bound to be infested with vermin. Lots of vermin. Especially, since it backs up to the vacant lot. You’ll have to come home with me.”

She thumped her cane on the ground as if that ended any argument.

Manny licked his lips. Why should he argue? If he stayed with her, he’d have a legitimate reason to be here. No one would be able to force him to go. But what would she want from him in return? No one did something for nothing. Ever. He learned that in Juvie. “Why?”

“Why?” Her brow furrowed. “Why don’t I want you living with vermin? Because it’s unhealthy for one. And—”

“No, I mean why are you being so nice?” He braced the handle against the wagon’s body. “If its food you want, I’m willing to share. You just need to tell me which houses are empty so I can get supplies. I’ll even pick up your share from the soldiers.”

He snapped his mouth shut. Nice going, Manny. Next, you’ll be willing to trade her your food stuff just to stay in the neighborhood. He glanced at the brick wall leading to the field beyond. Maybe giving up a little of his rations wouldn’t be so bad.

“Oh, you dear boy.” She released his arm to cup his cheek. “Is it really so bad out there that people are... are...” She pursed her lips for a moment. “Yes, I suppose it is. People being people.” She dropped her hand to his shoulder and squeezed. “Well, that is why we need to band together. Separate, they can pick us off, but together, we can stand up to the thugs and other unpleasantness, pool our rations, share the chores, and keep each other company. Many hands make even the heaviest load, much lighter.”

Manny swayed. He’d said something similar in his own neighborhood, but they hadn’t listened. Perhaps... “How many of there are you?”

“In my house, there’s just the three of us. Mildred, Henry and I.” She gestured back the way they’d traveled. “But we have four others in the association. Although we’re scattered around the neighborhood, we look out for each other.”

Seven people plus the six of them. It was a practically a crowd.

A crowd had carried the Redaction.

He shook his head. The Redaction was over. Still, it was more than just him at stake. While the
niños
might not care, Irina could. Removing the woman’s hand from his shoulder, he placed it on the wagon’s handle. “I’ll need to check with the others.”

“Of course, I’ll stay here and guard the wagon.” With her free hand, she gripped her cane in the middle as if to use it as a club. “Hurry up. We have lots to do.”

Lots to do. No doubt, breaking into the rest of the houses in the neighborhood. Well, that’s fine with him. If he needed to earn his keep, so be it. At least, he had some experience at it. Looking both ways, he hustled across the street before glancing over his shoulder. She still hadn’t moved. He’d been right to trust her.

He hoped.

Ignoring the front door, Manny marched over the flagstone walk leading to the backyard. The wrought iron and wood gate swung open on silent hinges as he approached.

Shielded behind the fence, Irina clutched the edge of the gate. Her blue eyes were wide, her skin pale, and her knuckles, white tipped. “Who is that woman? Do we have to leave?”

“Her name is...” His mind blanked. Damn. He’d forgotten to get her name. Looking toward the street, he spied her green tracksuit and gray hair through the low hanging Ironwood branches. “I don’t know her name. Yet. And no, she doesn’t plan to report us.”

He stepped into the backyard and eased the gate closed. Footprints marred the inch of dust coating the patio running the length of the house. Rats popped in and out of the stuffing on the cedar lawn furniture cushions. Thirty cans, some with gnawed labels and others without any, were stacked on the glass-topped table. Bottles of cleaners, soaps and shampoos were lined up next to it.

Beyond the patio and patches of green grass, Lucia hung from the monkey bars connecting the two towers of the wooden jungle gym. Mary squealed as she slid down the red plastic slide. Mikey and Jose fought with sticks on the left tower.

“Thank God.” Sighing, Irina scratched at the red marks on her arms. “But Manny, we can’t stay here. The place is crawling with rats and fleas.”

Just like the woman had said it would be. “She said we could live with her.”

“Should we?” Irina sucked on her bottom lip. Her attention darted from the
niños
to him then back again. “We don’t know her. What if she’s a creeper or something?”

Creeper. Pedophiles. He hadn’t thought of them. Stepping away from Irina, he cleaned a spot on the arcadia door and peered inside the house. Despite the dim lighting, he could make out the roaches and rats freely roaming across the travertine floor. They couldn’t stay here; neither could they return to their neighborhood. “I don’t think we have a choice.”

She nodded before gently sweeping her fingers over her bruised face. “I got all that I could salvage from the house. But it’ll be mystery food for dinner.”

“I found a wagon full of stuff.” Manny shrugged off his pack and wedged a few small cans inside.

“It’s not going to fit, is it?”

He zipped it to the top before tucking one more in the pocket of teeth. “Did you see any bags inside?”

Irina shuddered. “None that didn’t already have residents.”

After donning the backpack, he looped the excess straps through the bottle handles and knotted them. The weight cut across his shoulders. His muscles trembled and his stomach growled. God, he was hungry. He eyed the pyramid of cans. Too many to carry in his arms. But he would be damned if he left any behind.

Irina shuffled next to him. “Maybe we can use Mary’s blanket to carry the rest.”

“Mary!” Manny winced as his voice carried across the yard. It’s all right. They were safe. The Aspero wouldn’t dare come here. Yet, they’d attacked the Marines.

“Manny!” The
niños
leapt, slid and jumped from the jungle gym, before scrambling back, grabbing their packs and sprinting toward him. Smiles wreathed their faces and red brushed their cheeks.

Crouching near the ground, he felt four sets of thin arms fold around him. He kissed each head smelling of sunshine and orange soap. Sighing, he leaned away from them and focused on the youngest. “Mary, do you think I could use your blanket to carry these things?”

Sticking her thumb in her mouth, she hugged the blanket tightly.

“I’ll give it back. I promise.” He resisted the urge to tug it from her hands. She had to give it to him. “I just need to use it to carry the food.”

She followed his hand as he pointed to the cans on the table.

Plucking her thumb out, she stared at the shiny metal. “Aren’t we going to eat?”

“Soon.”

“‘Kay.” She thrust the blanket at him.

Taking it from her, he ruffled her hair. “Thanks. Why don’t you guys play, while Irina and I pack this up?”

With a whoop, Jose and Mikey dropped their packs and raced back toward the jungle gym. Mary eyed her blanket before following.

Lucia jerked on his shirt. “I wanna go home, Manny.”

Fabric snapped flat before drifting down onto the table. “We’re going to get a new home, Luce.”

Ignoring them, Irina laid the large cans on their sides in the middle of the blanket.

Luce yanked harder. “Without rats?”

He glanced down at her.

She stuck her chin out and scratched at the red welts on her hands.

“Yes.” He clucked her under her chin.

She jerked away and narrowed her eyes. “It’d better be.”

Irina folded and knotted the ends of the blanket until she formed a sling. Ducking her head, she draped the cloth over her shoulder. “There. That should do it.”

“Maybe I should carry it. It’s bound to be heavy.” Manny reached for the strap.

Irina dodged his hand before slapping it back. “I can do it. Geez, Manny. I’m not a niño.”

“I never...” Manny closed his mouth when her bruised lips twitched. Still the troublemaker. “Pest.”

“And don’t forget it.” She drilled her finger into his shoulder before turning to the jungle gym and clapping her hands. “Alright, you monkeys let’s get going. The faster we get there, the faster we eat.”

Luce helped Mary into her pack while the boys raced to see who could put theirs on first. Manny’s brother slowed down when Mikey dropped his pack. Finally, they finished and fidgeted before him. Irina scooted around a rat waddling across the patio to stand behind the boys.

“Okay, same rules.” Flesh slapped flesh as they clasped their partner’s hand. “Follow me.”

Turning on his heel, he led them across the patio to the gate. God, please let him be doing the right thing. Taking a deep breath, he pushed the latch up and opened the gate. The old woman stood next to the wagon, swatting at the air with her cane. He pushed against the plank until Luce grabbed it with her free hand then walked through.

“Who’s that, Manny?” Luce spoke behind him as they walked down the flagstone path.

He brushed the low Ironwood branches out of the way, holding them until Luce could. “That’s the lady who invited us to stay with her.”