Apocalypsis 03 - Exodus

kids living here hadn’t turned my family away; no way was I turning Ronald and Jamal away. We needed to build our community, not isolate it. And this was the first step - letting settlers join us.
    ***
    The canoe pulled up and Trip sent out a birdcall to whoever was listening. I couldn’t remember what it meant, but nobody showed up with guns or other weapons, so I guessed it wasn’t the attack call. We all got out and walked to the ceremonial hut. Everyone in the two tribes was waiting.
    “Wow. Word travels fast,” I said to Paci.
    “Yeah.” He looked down at me. “Listen … I have to go stand with Kowi, but I’m with you in spirit, okay? Don’t let Trip intimidate you.”
    I smiled. “Don’t worry. I won’t.”
    Before I realized what he was going to do, he bent over and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. I was momentarily stunned, giving him time to walk away before I could react. I was left standing there like a dumb statue.
    Peter caught my attention from across the crowded space, giving me bug-eyes and raised eyebrows. I knew exactly what he meant, and didn’t need to hear what he had to say on the matter. He was making his way over to me, shoving through the people as politely as he could. I prayed he wouldn’t want to talk to me about that kiss right now. We had bigger fish to fry.
    Trip and Paci were talking to Kowi now, and he was listening intently. The crowd was murmuring, everyone whispering or talking in low tones with each other. The only ones missing were the kids we’d rescued from the canner place. Must be considered tribe business only. I wonder why they let Peter come if that’s the case. I was glad they had, though. At least I had two people on my side.
    Winky waved at me from across the hut and I waved back, trying to smile my thanks for her support; but I’m afraid it came off as more of a grimace because she frowned, her hand dropping. She whispered to the person next to her -Mandy, if I were seeing properly-and they both started pushing through the crowd headed my way.
    A few seconds later, Winky was next to me, casting furtive glances at Jamal and Ronald who were standing just a foot away.
    “What the heck is going on?” she asked. Mandy stood next to her waiting for my answer.
    “These guys heard about me from someone we met on the road, on our way down here. They’re asking to stay.”
    “Is Trip going to let them?” asked Mandy.
    “He doesn’t want to.”
    “I was going to say …,” said Mandy. “He’s not usually the welcoming type.”
    “So what’s the deal? If Trip said no, why are they still here?” asked Winky.
    “Because I said yes,” I said simply.
    Mandy and Winky took one look at each other and started giggling.
    “What’s so funny?” I asked, feeling uncomfortable that I was being laughed at.
    Winky put her hand on my arm. “We’re not laughing at you. Get that look off your face. We’re laughing because we know how pissed Trip is right now. He’s going to be a miserable beast for days now, you know.”
    I smiled. “It’s not my fault he’s a pain in the ass who won’t see reason.”
    “What’d you do? How’d you convince him to give them a chance?” asked Mandy.
    “Nothing much.”
    Yokci leaned over my shoulder and filled them in. “She jumped out of the canoe and refused to get back in until he agreed to let them come and talk to Kowi.”
    Winky’s eyes bugged out. “No friggin way!”
    I nodded. “My leg’s killing me, too. Don’t tell Trip, though.”
    Mandy looked down. “You idiot. That thing’s gonna get infected. You’d better go get it cleaned right now.”
    “I will when this is over. Looks like I’m up, anyway,” I said, watching Kowi detach himself from Trip’s angry diatribe and come over slowly to where we were standing in our small group. Peter had made it to my side finally and grabbed my hand, squeezing it in support.
    “So, Bryn. You’ve brought some visitors into Kahayatle,” Kowi said soberly, looking first at Ronald and then Jamal.
    The two brothers stood up straighter, maybe not even realizing they’d done it. They looked so full of both pride and fear, my heart ached for them. I knew what it meant, to finally find a home after feeling so alone and scared. It made me even more resolved to do the right thing.
    “Yes. I have. And I’d like for them to be able to stay.”
    “Why should we let them? Trip makes several good points. We don’t know who they are. They bring two more mouths