Men of Truth (The Wasteland Soldier #4)

Cali spotted the blond-haired guy in the food line and her opinion of the community ramped up a few notches. That piece of shit Bobby had remarked that he was the wrong shade for the place but she’d seen a real mixed bag since spending the day with Yuan’s people. In Kiven, it was hunger that divided, not colour. There were those that felt it and those that didn’t, so the rest was all shit to her. Jeremiah would have liked this place. He would’ve fitted in. He was an expert at it. She didn’t blend. She wasn’t another face in the crowd. She stuck out. She caught a few men looking at her but then she was used to that.

She’d already told the story a hundred times over; the girl’s suicide, the shootout, the hanging.

A place like this was what she needed right now. Since the refuge, she’d carried more than the heavy weight of the coins. Jeremiah had left her a great burden and although her shoulders were strong they were sagging a little. His words had inspired her and she wanted to hear them once more. The world saw one side of her but Jeremiah had seen more, tapping into thoughts and dreams she never realised existed within her. She knew Stone was beginning to see a different side to her as well and she wondered if the crazy dude was going to live. He’d taken on the mission of a dead man without even knowing it. Cali was a fighter and she knew it would come down to that but Stone was a warrior and that would make all the difference. He’d wiped out the Triple Death crew twice now, without breaking sweat. Only the two gunmen from the store had got one up on him and that worried her.

Stone had to pull through. She couldn’t do this shit alone. She needed him. But she wanted the blond-haired guy. She was nineteen years old and there were urges that had to be sorted.

Cali leaned from the line, swept back her hair with one hand, and finally caught his attention. She grinned at him. The young man flashed a sheepish smile. Then his blue eyes went past her and his smile widened.

Cali realised he was looking at Yuan.

“What’s his name?” she asked.

“Who? Oh, that’s Travis.”

“Travis,” repeated Cali.

He was a few years older, hair cropped, beard trimmed, with an easy going manner about him as he shifted from one foot to the other, waiting patiently in the food line, not grumbling like most of them. He was tall and muscular and clearly worked on what he had, that much she could tell, and definitely appreciate. He wore a plain shirt buttoned at the throat and tucked into plain, loose-fitting trousers and a short jacket with wooden toggle buttons. There appeared to be a community dress code and Travis wasn’t one to rebel against it. A bolt-action rifle was slung over his shoulder and the tray he carried looked child-sized in his large hands.

The line shuffled slowly toward a makeshift kitchen area. There were brick-built fires with hot plates and grills. Utensils banged, conversation buzzed, and the cook had a gunshot voice. The spacious hangar was filled with the sound and taste of food. A large number of adults sat at scattered tables, already tucking into an evening meal.

Travis suddenly laughed as something was said to him. His laugh was deep, from the stomach. Cali shut out the moans and groans all around and ran her eyes over him, roaming across his cropped hair, firm back, strong looking legs and that fine ass in those dull trousers.

He glanced back for a second time, offered her a half-smile, and then looked past her once again and directly at Yuan. The dark-haired girl was too consumed to even notice.

“You and Travis got a thing?”

The words came out harsher than she’d meant them. Cali regretted her tone but a shake of the head from Yuan wasn’t answer enough.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“How many men do you think I’m sleeping with?”

Yuan had spoken too loud. A woman glared back at her. Yuan twisted her head, knowing the rumours had spread fast through the day. Cali kept her eyes firm and the woman backed down without a word.

“I didn’t mean nothing like that,” said Cali.

“Then what did you mean?”

“Look, I just wanted to know …”

“Please, stop talking. I am so tired of all this.”

She was tired? Cali suppressed the urge to erupt. The line nudged forward a few more paces.

“What is it with you?” said Cali, her voice a low hiss. “You should be happy that wasn’t your cousin we found out there this morning. You should have seen that poor girl. That cocksucker was pulling her along on a fucking lead. She’d been beaten and cut and …”

“I am glad it wasn’t Suyin. But I still knew her. Her name was Jia. Her parents are devastated by this.”

“Then maybe this lot should have looked for her when she disappeared.”

“That isn’t my decision.”

“Perhaps it should be.”

Cali looked away. She swore about the slowness of the food line. It edged forward a touch more.

“Was she your friend?” she asked, over her shoulder.

“I know everyone.”

“Yeah, but was she your friend?”

“No.”

Cali whirled round. “And she wasn’t your cousin. So it’s all good. For you I mean. Girl, you need to buck the fuck up.”

“Buck up? Jia killed herself. That’s terrible.”

“I know. I was there.” She paused. “Take what happened today as a lesson.”

Yuan stared at her, incredulous. “A lesson? What do you mean?”

“I mean that life can go just like that.” She snapped her fingers. “So you need to do shit and not wait around feeling sorry for yourself.”

Yuan pushed out of the line, dropping her tray against the cement floor. It clattered loudly and all the talking ceased. Travis jogged after her. He grabbed hold of her arm before she could leave. She flattened herself against him, her racking sobs echoing through the hangar. Cali looked around and saw the shame. These people were weak, getting picked on by any group that rolled through. They were hurting but content to sit around and do nothing about it.

Travis raised a hand, mouthed a silent she’ll be OK. He led Yuan to an empty table, sat her down and trotted back to fetch two cups of coffee. The patter of conversation steadily rose. Cali looked on unsmiling as he held Yuan’s hand across the table. She turned her back on them, filled her plate without interest. She took the table behind them, sliding onto the long wooden bench with an agitated grunt.

There was a couple at the other end, a man and a woman sitting opposite, tucking into pan bread and eggs served sunny side up. A man with wrinkled olive skin and jet black hair sat beside them, sipping coffee, his plate already empty. The three of them smiled as she sat down but she looked at them blankly.

She wondered if Travis knew that the girl from the wanted poster was sitting right behind him. Had he been one of the men to fight back when the Triple Death convoy turned up? Had he torched the vehicle out front? It was strange because no one she had spoken to was claiming responsibility for it.

Her plate was empty. She didn’t remember eating the food. She licked it clean and sucked her greasy hands.

A man with a cup of coffee stared across at her, a ball hammer and a pair of gloves beside him.

Did he recognise her?

She flashed him the finger.

Fuck him and fuck Travis.

The man shook his head, got to his feet.

She’d rushed back here without even thinking of the consequences. She owed Stone that much for getting her this far. But he still carried the wanted poster in his pocket and as the day had dragged on, and he’d remained out cold from the gunshot wound, she began to wonder about someone finding it and realising who she really was.

Cali Lopez, the wanted girl. But what would they do? Yeah, nothing …

She was alone at the table. She burped, wiped her mouth on her sleeve, and tried to push away the image of the girl taking her own life. She heard the gunshot, banging inside her skull, over and over, the spray of blood and brain.

She sought refuge in the conversation between Travis and Yuan.

“Thank you, Travis, but I’m OK.”

A pause.

“I have something for you,” he said.

Another pause.

“It’s an hourglass. Do you like it?”

“Yes. It’s very nice.”

“I want you to have it.”

“But it’s yours, Travis.”

“I got it for you. It’s a gift.”

“Deshi wouldn’t like me taking gifts from you.”

“I thought you were done with him, Yuan.”

“I am. I don’t know. I don’t know what to do. I keep thinking of Jia.”

“He was just using you. Look, I want you to have it.”

“Will Suyin turn up one day looking like her?”

A pause.

“Don’t you like it?”

“Yes, it’s beautiful. But I can’t accept it.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want you think it will be more than friendship between us.”

“I know. I don’t. I promise. But I’d still like you to have it.”

“There are other girls my age that are fond of you.”

“I’m not interested in them.”

“Then you do want more from me?”

“But you don’t, Yuan, and I respect that.”

“Hmm.”

“Please take the gift.”

“I will. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

Cali heard Yuan get to her feet.

“I have to go.”

“Please, stay. I missed you today.”

“I need to check on him.”

“Right, I understand.”

“Do you?”

“Sure, I get it. You’ve made your choice, right?”

“I haven’t made any choice. The man saved my life.”

“Fine. You go to him then.”

“Travis, it isn’t like that.”

“He’s twice your age. But then Deshi is twice your age. Is that your scene?”

She left without another word.

“Hey, dummy,” called Cali. “Travis, man.”

His head twitched. He spun around on the bench.

“Fella, I need to teach you some shit.”