“Derrek and Royce certainly ran into something. Unless you think they just took off without their bikes.”
The other said something back, but the reply was drowned in the roar of the bike engines as the two men sped away down the road. I watched them leave, until the rumble of machinery faded into the distance, the lights disappeared, and everything was quiet once more.
Slowly, the group came out of hiding, as if they were scared to make any noise.
“All right!” Jeb’s voice cut through the uncertainty. “Listen up! It’s no longer safe to use the roads. From now on, we avoid the main stretches. And I want double the guards on every shift! Zeke, you’re in charge of that.”
“Yes, sir.”
“We still have plenty of ground to cover tonight, so let’s move, people!” And Jeb started away through the waving grass, the rest of the group falling in line after him.
I wove my way to the front and fell into step beside Jebbadiah, who marched ahead without looking at me. “What was that?” I asked him. He continued to ignore me, but I wasn’t about to let him off the hook. “You knew those men,” I continued in a low voice. “Who are they? Why are they after you?”
“You meddle in things you know nothing about.”
“Well, yeah. That’s why I’m asking here. If I’m going to help you people, I want to know what I’m up against.”
“We don’t need your help,” Jeb said icily. “We didn’t ask for your help. This group has been through hell and back, and they have survived this long because they do not question those responsible for their safety.”
“Maybe they should,” I said, and Jeb fixed me with an unyielding gaze.
“Do not rock this boat, Allison,” he warned, raising one long, bony finger to my face. I wondered what would happen if I snapped it off like a twig. “You are here because I permit it, because I turn away none in need, but you are not part of this family. I have come too far, and we have been through too much, for someone like you to endanger that. You have already demonstrated your complete disregard for our way of life. You will not come here and question my authority. And you will not ask questions about things you do not understand.” He faced forward again, quickening his pace so that he started to leave me behind. “If you are unhappy with the way we do things, you are free to go,” he said without looking back. “But if you wish to remain with this group, you must accept and obey the rules, like everyone else.”
I glared after him, falling back with the rest of the sheep. The rules. I’d heard that before. Don’t ask questions. Don’t draw attention. Keep your head down and your mouth shut. Except I wasn’t much of a mindless follower, particularly with rules that made no sense. If Stick-up-the-ass Jebbadiah wasn’t going to give me answers, I would have to get them from someone else.
Casually, I lagged behind, letting the others pass me, until I fell back with Zeke, bringing up the rear. He gave me a wary look, as if he knew I was about to ask him something uncomfortable.
“Hey,” I said, and he nodded but didn’t say anything, as if waiting for the inevitable questions. He’d probably seen me talking with Jeb and knew I hadn’t gotten the answers I wanted. Friendly and unassuming as he was, Zeke wasn’t stupid.
“Listen,” I went on, looking away. “I…uh…wanted to talk to you. I didn’t get a chance to before the whole raider thing, so…thanks.”
I felt his puzzled frown. “For what?”
“Not leaving me behind.” I continued to stare at the horizon, watching a herd of those massive shaggy animals lumber away over a hill. “I heard what you said to Jeb and Ruth, earlier. Thanks for…standing up for me. No one’s ever done that before.” I fell silent, embarrassed.
Zeke sighed. “Jeb isn’t the…easiest…person to understand,” he admitted, and I resisted the urge to snort. “He wants to protect everyone, but he knows he’s taking us through dangerous territory, and not everyone will make it. He’s seen several of us…die, trying to get to Eden. We were a much larger group, once.” He hesitated, taking a quick breath. I wondered how much he had seen, how many friends he’d watched die.
“Jeb’s only concern now is getting to Eden with as many of us as he can.” Zeke gazed at me, unapologetic. “If that means leaving one behind to save the rest, it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make. His convictions are much stronger than mine, and sometimes I forget that.”
“You’re defending him because he’s willing to let people die, to leave them behind?”