Bloody Sunset by Gwendolyn Harper (classic books for 11 year olds TXT) 📗

It was the sudden shift in Seth’s posture that caught Caitlin’s eye. Just a millisecond of rigidness to his shoulders before he blinked and relaxed, smiling once again.

She felt like she was losing her mind, unable to determine if he was reacting or if it was just a trick of the light.

Taking a step back towards the tent, Seth nodded. “Can’t wait to hear more later.”

It didn’t take long for all the elected officials to gather in the main tent.

Booker unfolded the map on the dirt floor, explaining what each marked spot offered in terms of safe harbor and possibilities for farming come spring.

Caitlin read off her list as they went, giving them all the bullet points of pros, cons, and possible hazards.

Being too close to a city could become an issue if Geeks decided to roam. Being too far away would put them in a logistical jam if they needed supplies quickly.

Everyone listened attentively, weighing the options as they were given.

“Were any of these near a place with medical supplies?” Scott asked, glancing up from the map. “The one downside to being out of an Ark is less than adequate medicine stores.”

Booker tapped the red dot on the map—the high school.

“’Bout five miles down the road was a clinic,” he said. “Didn’t look too rough, but there were plenty of groaners in the parkin’ lot.”

Scott nodded. “That might be an advantage,” he said. “If people were too scared to go in, it might not be picked over yet.”

“That’s all the way in Kansas,” Trish commented. “How much fuel did it take to get there?”

“We had to syphon a few times,” Caitlin told her. “The buses will need more. We might want to consider consolidating vehicles if we move that way.”

Max looked over at them. “We’ve considered doing that in the past. It wouldn’t break us.”

“But losing people might,” Trish countered. “I’m not comfortable sending people in to clear out a huge place like a high school.”

Caitlin darted a knowing glance at Booker before saying, “I know. It’s a risk, for sure. But it might be the only space big enough for all of us.”

An uncomfortable shift in the atmosphere made Caitlin’s skin tingle.

Nathaniel crossed his arms. “You should know…” he started, glancing at the others. “There’s been some talks among some of the group. People are considering splitting off.”

Booker gaped. “What?”

“Apparently finding out there are survivors has given them all hope,” Nicole said. “Hope that their other family members are out there. A few have been thinking about going to look for them.”

Caitlin frowned deeply. “What, like breaking into another Ark camp?”

“I don’t know,” Nicole admitted. “They seem to just want to head back to where they’re from—the east coast, mostly.”

“The coast is overrun,” Booker said. “Can’t even get past Baltimore. The groaner population—”

“I know,” Nathaniel sighed. “And they know. But they want to try.”

“And we can’t force them to stay,” Luna said, pulling her thick hair over her shoulder. “We’re not an Ark. Our people can go as they please.”

“It’s dangerous to let them take off with only hope to feed ‘em,” Booker argued. “What if they run into a huge herd or a goon squad? Scavengers that will soon as murder ‘em for their gear as look at ‘em?”

Luna nodded slowly, weariness etching into her face. “I told them the exact same thing. But the possibility of reuniting with their families is too enticing.”

“Have they made a decision yet?” Caitlin asked.

“No, but they probably will soon,” Trish said. “They want to set out before we’re deep into autumn.”

Digging the end of his pen into the dirt, Booker took a deep breath. “How many?”

“About two dozen by our most lenient estimates.”

He cursed under his breath and shifted his weight where he was squatted.

“We can’t force them to stay but we might be able to convince them,” Caitlin said.

Trish shrugged. “If you think you can say something that’ll get through, go ahead.”

But don’t bet on it, was unspoken and yet very, very clear.

Max took half a step forward. “That still leaves this group with a hundred people in need of permanent shelter.”

It was a necessary reminder.

“I vote for the high school,” Caitlin said, looking up at the others. “I know it’s more work, but we could actually build a life there.”

Booker nodded. “I second that.”

Luna glanced at the other council members. “We should hold a vote tonight.”

Caitlin stared at Booker for a beat.

“Once we decide where we’re going, Booker and I had another proposition,” she started.

Booker lifted he brows in surprise. “Y’wanna tell ‘em now?”

“Might as well.”

Max frowned at them. “Tell us what?”

Booker leaned his elbow into this left knee, glancing from the map. “We thought… Iowa camp couldn’t’ve been the only place people didn’t wanna stay…”

“If your husband knew you were out here, I’m sure he’d want to leave whatever Ark he’s in,” Caitlin said to Max. “And you saw how people reacted to the chance of regaining their freedom. People deserve an option.”

Nathaniel’s mouth dropped. “Are you suggesting…”

“Once we got ourselves a solid place t’live,” Booker said. “Cae and I thought… We should go lookin’ for more folks who want out.”

An excited gleam danced in Nicole’s eyes. “You want to spring more people from Ark camps.”

Caitlin nodded. “Steve told us about the Ark in Kansas. It’s not as heavily guarded.”

“’Cause they weren’t trying to engineer a vaccine,” Scott commented.

“Exactly,” she said. “And we’re certain there are others. If we could find them, get a message inside…”

“You could free our families,” Max whispered, a hopeful tremor in his voice.

“That’s highly dangerous,” Trish said, nearly spitting the words out. “You want to go off, risking everything—”

“We would be smart about it,” Caitlin cut