Apocalypsis 01 - Kahayatle

terrible when you put it like that,” I said, a little disgusted with myself.   “Man, was I shallow or what?   I helped perpetuate the problem from the time I was like, ten or something.”
    “Don’t feel bad about it.   We all did.   It’s how we were raised.”
    “It’s dat theory of efolution.   The handsome specimens survive to make babies.   De ugly ones dat have less desirable thingks die off.   Nobody wants to make babies with dem.”
      “So your theory that women like conceit is true to some degree.   That’s sad.”
    “Yes, but it is good for the survifal of de human race.   You want to make babies with de ones who are strong and bold and fearless.   Dey are de ones dat will make it through the tough times.”
    I didn’t want to look at Peter because by Bodo’s definition, he was going to survive and Peter wasn’t.   Or at least, Bodo had better chances than Peter did.
    “Well, I’m not worried about making any babies,” said Peter, lying back down.
    “Yeah, he just wants someone to cuddle with,” I teased, nudging his leg.
    “What about you, Bryn.   Where is your boyfriend?   Why issn’t he with you and Peter and Buster.”
    “I don’t have one.”
    “I don’t belief dat,” said Bodo, smiling at me.
    “She’s telling the truth,” said Peter.   “I never saw one.”
    “What do you mean, you never saw one?” I demanded.
    “In the couple weeks I spied on you.   I never saw anyone at your house but you.”
    “You jerk,” I said nudging him with my foot.   “You didn’t tell me you were spying on me.”
    “Well, I had to make sure I wasn’t living behind a canner, didn’t I?”
    I obviously hadn’t given Peter enough credit.   The kid was sneaky.   I’d never seen or heard anything.   “That kind of makes me nervous that you were able to do that without me knowing.   It makes me wonder how many other people managed it.”
    “I never saw anyone spying on you, other than me, if that makes you feel any better.”
    “I’m not sure if it does or not.”
    Bodo was looking off over towards the gas stations.   “Dare’s a Cracker Barrel over dare.”
    “I saw that.   I used to love that place,” I said wistfully.  
    “They have cool candy,” said Peter.
    “That’s exactly what I was thinking,” I said, smiling.   “I haven’t had any candy in ages.”
    “Do you want to go over dare and see if dey haff any?”
    I shook my head.   “Too risky.   It’s not worth getting shot or eaten over some jaw breakers.”
    Bodo shrugged, but I saw him stealing glances over at it from time to time for the next few hours.   The sun was high and sapping the rest of my strength away.   Peter had fallen asleep and was snoring lightly, Buster sound asleep in his legs.
    “Don’t even think about it, Bodo,” I said, lying down, joining Peter.   “I don’t want you getting killed or captured.”
    “You don’t haff to worry about me.”
    “Whatever.   If you go over there and get caught, I’m not coming for you.”
    He didn’t answer and I fell asleep before I could bother to worry about it anymore.  
    ***
    The canners had me in their grip, pulling me by the shoulders towards their fire pit area.   I was struggling, but they had ropes around me and I couldn’t get free.
    “Bryn!   Bryn!” yelled Peter.  
    “Peter?   Where are you?”   I couldn’t see him anywhere.   It was too dark.  
    “Bryn!” came his voice, bouncing painfully off my eardrum and startling me out of my nightmare.
    I sat bolt upright, looking around me in a panic, trying to figure out for a second where I was.   It was dark for some reason.   I saw our trailer and Peter and Buster looking up at me curiously, their faces lit by the moonlight shining in sideways from the far horizon.   “What the hell?” I said, rubbing my face, my brain now coming into focus.   “Holy crap, I was having a terrible dream.   How long was I out?”
    “I know.   You woke me up talking in your sleep.   And it’s late.   Like after dinner time.   We all slept right through it.   Bodo’s not here. ”
    I sighed heavily, knowing exactly where he was.   “ Dammit , Bodo.”
    “Do you know where he is?”
    “Yes.   He went to that friggin Cracker Barrel.”
    “Did you tell him to go there?” asked Peter, obvious disapproval in his voice.
    “No, of course I didn’t.   In fact, I specifically told him not to go there.”
    Peter chuckled.   “He only listens to