Survivalist Plot: All That Scarcity Promotes is Desperate Men and Tyrants

[meat_mooks]

Day 3 and 4

The remaining hours of the night are tense and ugly, marred by the smell of blood and the complete distrust sewn by Bridge's death. When the sun finally rises, it feels as if the night's been far too long and yet their chance to rest was cruelly short.

The sun peeks over the horizon and onto the parched desert. In the bright sky, if one squints, it's possible to make out that lights are still flashing on the radio tower. The rest of the town is dead, as usual.

Comments

[bequiet_hescreamed]

"What do you mean by 'drastic?'" Clef asks.

After all, killing Bridge had been something drastic. That isn't what he has in mind, though - rather, he's looking at the blinking lights off in the distance and wondering what they are and what's making them blink like that. He has no concept of what a radio tower is, but he has grasped the basic principle behind electricity - that is, if you don't have any, the lights don't work. So far, most of the town's lights don't seem to be working. What makes the ones way over there so different? Maybe he can work going and finding out the answer to that into whatever definition of 'drastic' Cedric comes up with.

[theboywhodied]

"I mean that we have to change the course of what we're doing," Cedric whispers, looking out at the barren landscape. "There's not much left for us here. If we don't find a way out in days...we die."

He looks ahead, then back at those tower lights. He doesn't realise their significance, but maybe...

[windwitch]

Maxine is quiet while they speak, tagging along and doing her best to keep her eyes open, but otherwise unsure of what to say or contribute. At least the heat had passed, making it easier on all of them.

But the radio tower is bugging her, too. Finally, she says, "Maybe we should go up there." Her head is tilted up, towards the distant object. "If it's what it looks like... maybe we could get a signal out." She's not sure she trusts that. But do they have a choice?

[bequiet_hescreamed]

Clef nods.

"I think you're both right. Something on that tower must be working to make those lights blink like that," he says. "It's no guarantee that we'll find what we need there, but it's worth looking into."

[theboywhodied]

"Right. You both know more about that than I do, but...maybe you can teach me."

Cedric bites his lip, looking back in the direction of the others. Are they all right? Why does he still care?

No matter. They need to press onward...

(The guilt's coming. Just wait, he'll go back.)

[windwitch]

Maxine notices Cedric looking away, and frowns faintly. She moves over to him quietly and briefly-- and gently-- lays her hand on his arm.

"Well, there's gotta be something, right? And hopefully stuff we understand," she smiles at Cedric, nods at Clef. "I mean, there's not really much in the way of choice, right?"

oh god you guys sorry it's been so long

[bequiet_hescreamed]

Clef nods quietly, afraid to add anything to that. He doesn't want to get hopes up or risk saying anything 'stupid' again.

"Well," he says, turning to start off towards the tower, "shall we?"

[theboywhodied]

"We...shall." Cedric took his first tentative steps forward. The tower was a sign of hope, but...he'd be useless, he knew. He had no knowledge of any of these Muggle things. And worse...

"And when you get a signal, what happens then?"

[windwitch]

Maxine nods in agreement, and starts heading that way, quietly leading the way. But she has to try and explain. And to figure things out in her head, in the mean time.

"Um, I guess we hope that we can get it locked on-- so to speak-- to the ship. If we can get a signal to the crew, then they can hopefully come and get us. I dunno if we can get anything more explicit than a basic signal to alert them, though, so we might not be able to warn them..."

And she really doesn't like the thought of essentially sending them into a trap. Her face falls further than before.

[bequiet_hescreamed]

All this pre-planning is pointless as far as Clef is concerned. They might be able to transmit as much information as they want but have no way of knowing if someone's listening. Or they might only be able to send out a generic signal. Or they might get a hold of one of the supply ships that supposedly delivered essentials to the colony. Or...

"There are a lot of possibilities," he says quietly. "We won't know until we get there."

[theboywhodied]

And who knows how long until they get there. Cedric turns his head back, wondering about the others they've left behind. Will they ever know? It'd be much better if they had the others...they have to get them at some point.

"...maybe I should go back," he mused.

[windwitch]

"I guess so," Maxine says, quiet, to Clef, looking pointedly at the ground.

But when Cedric speaks again, Maxine looks up at him, uncertain.

"I..." She's uncertain, honestly. She's torn between not wanting him to go anywhere near there, and wanting him to do what he's okay with.

Eventually, she says, "if you think so."

[bequiet_hescreamed]

"For what?" Clef asks automatically, glancing back at Cedric. But when he sees the boy's expression he frowns and looks away again. 'If you think so' pretty much sums it up in his opinion - he doesn't want to sound heartless, but those bastards killed Bridge. What sane reason had any of them to go back there?

"If you have to go," he says finally, "please be careful, Cedric."

[theboywhodied]

It's their saying it aloud that cements it in Cedric's mind. He has to go.

Swinging his small bag over his shoulder, he gives them a wave. "I will...believe me, I know what we're up against. See you soon."

He sounds uneasy, but part of that is from not knowing how the others are. He has to find out.