First Draft Sneak Peak: Outside Chapter 5.2
Chapter 5.2: The Market
While Sam lay on his back in the Abode camp three men jumped over him. They were armed and lightly provisioned. Tyre sent them to keep an eye out for Roverbots. Tyre didn’t believe the Roverbots would reach their position just yet. He believed they were following the Spybots and the Spybots were looking for evidence of life inside the city. But it was best to be safe. Yes, best to be safe, he thought, as if he’d always played things safe.
Sylvia dropped a canteen next to Sam. “Here. You need to drink this. You’re dehydrated from the run and the vomiting.”
Sam forced the fluid into his stomach. “Sylvia, I’m sorry. I’m new to this stuff.”
“It’s OK, but you’re going to have to learn how to survive out here. You are part of a community, now.”
“Am I really a part of the community?” Sam huffed.
Sylvia hesitated. “Well, you are with the community. The people of Abode are very accepting outwardly but tend to be suspicious inwardly. You will have to make a place for yourself with the Abode Community before you are truly accepted.”
When Sam awoke, he did not immediately open his eyes. Opening his eyes, he knew, would reveal to him a legion of Roverbots hovering over him. The torn and burning bodies of his newfound acquaintances would be strewn about the ground, crows and buzzards and dogs pulling on their flesh, sucking down their offal. His nightmares were replete with such images. When one’s nightmares match one’s realities…then opening one’s eyes in the morning becomes a matter of contention.
Soon he made out the sound of footsteps. The footstep sounds were stealthy and unhurried. He figured he would take the chance to open his eyes. Was it better to face your fears with open eyes? He wasn’t convinced one way or the other. He did so with a start and a jump sideways. Iza was standing over him, ready to kick him in the ribs.
“It’s time to go,” Iza said.
“OK.” Sam shook himself into reality and lifted his aching frame onto his elbows. “Where are we going?”
Iza offered a half smile, “to market.”
Sam accepted the term, to market, without criticism. His mind was still too frazzled and his body was stiff and aching.
His fingers resisted tying his shoes as they fumbled about the laces. He still had to get used to lacing his shoes. These were tough leather boots donated to him from a family within Abode. His normal slippers did not survive the explosion. The thromping sound of authoritarian footsteps outside his tent caused his fingers to tremble, making it more difficult to flip the laces around each other. It was as if his body could perceive Tyre’s presence and vouched the appropriate physical response.
“You say you’re an ag guy.” Tyre’s terrifying voice dropped on Sam.
“Um…well…my job was officially Agricultural Specialist. I was about to get promoted, though to Greenhouse Sup…”
“Yeah, that’s great…You’re going with us to The Farm.”
“OK.”
“You got five minutes.”
Sam never looked up, but he could feel Tyre’s scowl on the back of his neck.
In five minutes, Sam met Tyre, Sylvia, Iza, Doc, Philippa and another woman whom he did not know.
“Susan, Sam.” Tyre pointed at the woman, then at Sam. “We know each other, let’s go.”
The group proceeded down a path through a stand of trees. The stand of trees opened abruptly onto a broad, grassy field. Resting on the flat, yellow plain were half a dozen great glass buildings.
Sam stared at the great glass buildings, the sun shimmering from the panes in delicate, gold rays. “Are…are these…greenhouses.”
Doc clasped Sam’s arm. “We call them The Farm, or the Market, but yes, they are greenhouses.”
“I’ve never seen one from the outside.” The gleaming glass frame was shaped like a prism and sparkled like giant crystals laying the grass. “They are beautiful.”
“They are.” Doc agreed.
Tyre motioned the group to squat. He scanned the field to the corners of the greenhouse with hawk eyes slit and brow furrowed. He then waved everyone to move forward.
In a quick shuffle the group slid up next to the closest greenhouse. Tyre rubbed the joints of the glass panes that made up the base of the greenhouse. He pressed his fingers against the panes until one of them slipped inward with the pressure. Tapping the loose pane two or three times caused it to fall out. Tyre slid the glass square against the greenhouse, looked around and rotated his arm to indicate the group should shimmy inside. Sylvia was directed to stand guard at the opening.
