Parchman
have will not last that long. Not to mention we haven’t comeacross a fresh water supply in the two weekswe’ve been travelling. Two weeks Chad! At least by sending off a group we can hope to make contactwith people we know are friendly.’‘Friendly when it’s a few kids, but will they still be sofriendly when it’san extra nine hundred mouths to feed? I think perhaps that might be adifferent story altogether,’ said Carlgren.
‘These men had no obligation to help Logan, but they did. They offeredsupport, their vehicles, they saved my life,’ butted in Tallulah.
‘Let’s not forget these men are still criminals though,’ reminded Carlgren.
‘Were criminals,’ said Tallulah. Carlgren scoffed.‘Let’s not also forget two weeks ago we were living amongst criminalswho wanted to kill half of the population,’ Nathaniel interjected angrily.
‘Under the current circumstances I think I’d prefer that,’ Pitkin spoke up.
Everyone in the tent started standing and throwing insults at each other, whilst outside anyone within any sort of distance looking at the tent wouldsee it was visibly shaking. Every insult drifted out the tent and carried onthe wind for anyone who cared to hear.
‘Stop,’ said Nathaniel. ‘This is not getting us anywhere. We either sit hereand wait to kill each other or we do something about it. We try and moveeveryone in one go and we make it maybe twenty or thirty miles furtherand we’re done. We send a group ahead and we stand a slight chance of atleast making it to the nearest city. I agree with Tallulah. This is our onlyoption. We send Logan and a team to Parchman for help.’
Carlgren reluctantly nodded. ‘But Gradel goes with them,’ he added.
Nathaniel looked to CaptainGradel who lifted his head in agreement. ‘OK.Let’s get Logan and the boys in.’
Outside Logan had been listening to much of the conversation in the tentwith Chuck, who was rooting for Tallulah, animatedly shaking his fist atanything Carlgren said. ‘Your dad’s a douche,’ he shouted over to Xanderwho was lighting up a cigarette. ‘Don’t I know it,’ he replied.
Logan stood and beckoned the other boys around to the entrance of thetent, all of whom were all anxiously waiting for this signal. Logan thenstuck his head through the door.‘Knock Knock,’ he said.
‘Come on in son,’ said Nathaniel. ‘Find a space and take a seat. I assumeyou heard most of that?’
‘All of the camp heard most of that,’ said Logan. The Mean twins, Scottand Sethchuckled. ‘But I think I speak on behalf of the lads when I saythis is the right decision. Look outside. We’re dying out there. I don’t meanliterally dying, but there’s going to come a point where we turn on eachother. I can’t see any other choice than to reach out to Mendez at theprison. If we can’t contact them from here then we go to them. I’mconfident they can and will help.’
‘They better had,’ said Carlgren snidely.
‘These are good men. Not the men they were when they went into thatprison. The consequences of The Cure rehabilitated them. It made themrealize that they could have a new start and that they could add value tothe world we now live in. You say we’re bringing more mouths to feed butwe’re also bringing more brain power. Look around the camp. ProfessorBrittle revolutionized that prison by using his knowledge and experience.We’ve got a hundred more Brittles here that can help build on what theyhave already achieved at the prison. Who would turn away that sort ofasset?’
‘I agree son,’ said Nathaniel. ‘So, what’s the plan? I assume you alreadyhave one?’ he smiled.
‘Funny you should say that,’ he smiled back. ‘Chuck, get the maps.’
Over the next four hours no-one moved from the tent. The boys wentthrough the maps and the routes they would take, relaying everything back to Captain Gradel.
Logan had reported to Captain Gradel at the base and knew he was oneman who could be trusted implicitly. Logan looked up to him and CaptainGradel had his full respect. He was also relieved that he would have someone else with him with experience in helping to make the toughdecisions and with some serious military background. Captain Gradel puthis hand on Logan’s shoulder ‘This could work Logan. Great job.’
‘So,’ said Nathaniel. ‘you and your team will leave for Parchmantomorrow morning. All of you try and get some sleep and we’ll reconveneat six hundred hours.’
Tallulah and the boys finally left the tent and walked away towards theirsmall designated area of beds and a roaring campfire. Nathaniel and theother men went to their tents. No-one was going to sleep tonight though.‘You really think we can get back to Parchman?’ said Jay to Logan.
‘We’ve done it once before, why not again?’ he replied.
‘Are you forgetting we lost Brad and Faye along the way? This time is notgoing to be any easier. In fact, this time we have less food supplies, barelyany water and practically no weapons,’ said Jay. You could hear the worryreflected in his voice.
Having been the one member of the team who didn’t even make it off thebase last time out he had his doubts about whether he had what it took togo through with Logan’s plans.
‘If we don’t do it, then we all die. It’s that simple. Now, if I’m right thenwe’re not far outside of San Antonio. With enough fuel we can make itthere and regroup. Search the town and then make for Parchman throughMississippi,’ said Logan. ‘This time we won’t have a mole in the grouplike last time to slow us down. It shouldbe a clear run.’
‘Assuming we don’t run into any Savages on the way?’ said Jay.
‘We’ll have Captain Gradel along for the trip too. I heard that he singlehandedly went back into Baltimore to save his family when The Cure wentsideways. That’s a man you want on your side,’ said Chuck happily.
‘Exactly,’ said