Apocalypsis 03 - Exodus

Americans; we can hardly hide that from anyone. And LaShay told us they have spies all over those neighborhoods, and most of them live in the area, so they know about the Miccosukee village and reservation. They probably saw us pulling up the minute we came near. It wouldn’t take long to put it all together with the direction we came from.”
    “Shit,” I said, the weight of his words sinking in. Our sanctuary has been compromised. “I’m so sorry.” I couldn’t think of anything else to say. It felt like it was all my doing.
    “It’s not your fault, so why are you apologizing?” said Kowi, sounding angry.
    “Because it feels like my fault, that’s why.”
    “So, you brought the canners to the area and forced them to hunt kids?” he said sarcastically.
    “No. But your lives were fine; everything was going well and then we showed up and the shit hit the fan.”
    “Coincidence. Just an unlucky coincidence.”
    I heard a hiss of breath behind me and turned to find Coli standing there, scowling.
    “Oh, Jesus,” I said, frustrated that I was going to have to deal with her. “Are you following me now?”
    “Coli, I’m not going to say it again,” warned Kowi. “You either get over your shit or don’t come in here anymore.”
    She glared at Kowi and then at me, looking like she was going to say something back; but instead she turned on her heel and left us all there. We watched her back fade into the trees.
    Kowi was shaking his head. “I honestly don’t know what to do with her.” He ran his fingers through his hair, making the tangles look even worse. “One minute she’s smiling and the next she looks like she wants to rip my face off.”
    I smiled. “I thought I was the only one she showered with affection like that.”
    Kowi laughed. “Hardly. Dealing with her mood swings is like being on an emotional roller coaster.”
    “Without a seatbelt,” added Peter.
    Kowi smiled but didn’t comment. “So, back to the journal.” He tapped it a few times on his lap. “I’m thinking we need to shore up our defenses. That’s how George put it.”
    “In what way? And what defenses, exactly?” asked Peter.
    “Well, to be honest, we don’t really have any defenses other than the natural ones like gators and stuff. So we need to put something together and try to anticipate what our enemy … I mean, the canners … might try to do.”
    My mind was racing with the possibilities, both of attack and defense. “We really could do something, I’m sure. To make it more difficult for them to get too close.”
    “That’s what I was thinking. So when do you think we can start working on it?”
    I held up my arm. “Well, I’m a little out of commission for building stuff, but I’m okay to discuss and plan.”
    “So long as you don’t overdo it,” said Peter. He looked at Kowi. “She passed out on the toilet yesterday.”
    I shoved Peter with my good arm. “Shut up, Peter!”
    Kowi laughed. “I heard.”
    I rolled my eyes. “Oh great. Paci’s gonna get punched.”
    “No,” said Kowi, shaking his head, “it wasn’t Paci.”
    I put my good hand on my hip. “Who was it, then?”
    Kowi lifted up an eyebrow but said nothing.
    “Oh, right. Yeah. Roller coaster whacko.”
    “Hey,” said Kowi. “Try not to forget she’s my girlfriend.”
    “Fine. Sorry. Whatever. She’s not the nicest girl in the world, though. You can’t blame me for being pissed at her.”
    “No, I don’t blame you. But Coli’s a complicated person. She’s just … a little lost right now.”
    “I can help her find herself …” I said, thinking about doing it with a nice upper cut to the jaw.
    “I’m sure she’ll do it on her own, eventually. But thanks for the offer,” said Kowi, winking at me.
    “So where’s Trip?” I asked, looking around the clinic. I knew he’d been hurt, but hadn’t seen him since we got back.
    “I don’t know,” said Kowi. “Haven’t seen him.”
    “He’s back at his hut,” said Peter. “Do you want him to come by? I’m going to see him later.”
    I looked at Peter confused. How come I didn’t know he was taking care of Trip? And what’s that all about, anyway?
    “Yeah,” said Kowi. “Tell him to come see me. I want to be sure he’s okay with all this. If he is, we can start planning tomorrow. I’m sure Nurse Coli will tell me I can’t do anything else today after this meeting.”
    “Sounds lame,” I said.
    “She’s just looking out for me,” he said,