Apocalypsis 02 - Warpaint

around it all the time.”
    The other guys in the circle were nodding.
    “Well, fuck you too , Kowi,” he said, storming off. It went suddenly quiet and the atmosphere was more than a little bit awkward.
    The rest of us just stood there, staring at Bodo who was walking over to stand by me. “Do you haff any more of that cloth to wipe my face?” he asked Peter.
    Peter shoved some in Bodo’s hand and then took off, running on tiptoes in the direction Trip had gone.
    “Where are you going?!” I yelled, completely confused.
    “B-R-B!” Peter yelled, not even looking back.
    BRB? Holy crap. How long has it been since I’ve heard that? I smiled, thinking about my poor little friend getting his heart broken by Trip - the last guy on earth who’d be inclined to give Peter the time of day. Oh well. I can’t protect everyone from everything. Peter’s just going to have to learn the hard way.
    “I wouldn’t worry about him,” said Kowi, quietly.
    I looked at him curiously. “Why do you say that?”
    “Trip had a little brother. He died.”
    “What’s that got to do with anything?”
    “Maybe nothing. But I’m just saying that I don’t think he’ll mind Peter talking to him or following him. You won’t have to worry about Trip kicking his ass, basically.”
    I didn’t know exactly what he was getting at, but I let it drop. I’m sure Peter would figure out the connection if there was any to figure out at all.
    “So getting back to our issue,” I said, as Bodo stepped closer to me. He smelled of swamp water, which wasn’t the most pleasant scent in the world. I ignored both it and him. “I plan to go after those kids. Soon. Are you guys going to be with me or not?”
    “We’ll be with you. I’ll talk to Trip, but you can plan on it. Who do you want to take?”
    “Let me watch the groups in the training and I’ll let you know. I’ll pick a core group and start their training right away. I need to talk to Celia too. She said she’d give me intel that will help me figure out how many we’ll need on our side and what exactly we’re up against.”
    “Good. I’ve already talked to her some. I’m guessing you’ll need about ten guys, but we’ll see.”
    “Fine. Peter and I will start evaluating tomorrow and the rest of the tribes can hold off on their training until we get back.”
    “And me,” added Bodo. “I’m gonna help, too.”
    “And Bodo,” I said, not even looking at him. He was still a part of my family, even though I was pissed at him. I wasn’t going to call him out in front of Kowi or anyone else.
    “Okay, then. I’ll come see you tomorrow at dinner. We can talk details then.”
    “Fine.”
    Kowi and the rest of his group left me alone with Bodo, and I looked around at a loss for what to say, wondering what I could do to pass the rest of the time. It was too early to sleep, and I didn’t want to organize the messed up cans, because Peter would have a fit.
    Bodo walked over to our backpacks and pulled out a t-shirt and some shorts. “I haff to take a shower. Do you want to walk with me?”
    “No.”
    “I feel a little dizzy. Maybe it’s better if you go to help me. I could fall down and break my face or something.”
    I wasn’t sure if I believed him, but I didn’t want him wandering around the swamp if he’d taken too many hits to the cranium. It had been a pretty tough fight, even if a little sloppy for my taste. “Fine. I’ll escort you, but that’s it.”
    “No talking? I haff to walk all very quiet?”
    I sighed, frustrated with my inability to express my feelings. “No, I’ll talk. Come on.” I didn’t wait for him, heading straight for the showers and trying to stay mad. But the thought of him defending my honor kept intruding on my mad thoughts, working to convince me to forgive him. I didn’t want to do that, though; I wasn’t ready. I was still upset over the secrets he was keeping, and I was pretty sure that even if Trip had loosened a few screws in Bodo’s thick head, he still wasn’t going to share them with me. That was enough to keep me angry and fuming all the way to our destination.
    ***
    Bodo stepped behind the screen and took his clothes off. I could hear the zipper going down on his pants and then a jingling bell sound. A couple seconds later, I heard him yelling.
    “Aarrgh, no. Demmet!”
    I smiled at the attempt at a curse word. Bodo never did that.
    “Bryn. I needt your helping in here,” he said, frustrated.
    “Nice try,