Apocalypsis 04 - Haven

around.
    Yokci solved the temporary problem of my inability to form a semi-intelligent sentence by speaking up. “Are we going to let them in, or what?”
    Peter jingled the keys behind us. “If I could get through, I could do that. Excuse me.”
    The group behind me shuffled around, making room for the key master.
    Peter stopped when he was next to me. “Ready?” he asked, lifting an eyebrow at me.
    It was like time stood still for a few seconds. Peter was sending me all kinds of vibes, and several unspoken questions danced between us. I had a feeling I was in for some serious girl-chat after this, and I wasn’t feeling bad about that at all. I needed to talk to someone about it, and it couldn’t be Bodo. Peter was the only one I could trust to not only give me good advice but also keep my secrets to himself. The time would come for me to tell Bodo what had happened with Paci, but that was not now.
    “Yeah, I’m ready.” I looked at Paci. “Who are these other people?”
    “Stragglers I found on the road.” He gestured with a jerk of his head over his shoulder. “They used to live near the canner place. Said they were part of a network dedicated to giving them false recon.”
    I nodded. “I heard about them.” I looked over at Bodo. “From Alejandro.”
    “Ah. Da sexy man-meat guy. He wass dare neighbor maybe.”
    I looked at Paci again. “As long as you vouch for them, I’m okay with letting them in.”
    There were two guys and one girl. None of them looked starving but neither did they seem like canner barbecue attendees either. How will I know if I’m letting a canner in, other than to weigh them on a scale of starving to cannibal-size? I shook my head at the awfulness of it. I was sickened by the idea that I could end up sharing my home with a man-eater who had snuck in under the cover of friendship.
    Peter opened the lock and Bodo and Jamal rolled the heavy gate open to admit the newcomers.
    I stepped back with everyone else to give them room.
    I was planning to just let them walk to the lobby, but Ronald stopped them from proceeding any farther with a hand held up and a wide-legged stance.
    “Wait. Stop right there.” He turned to me. “Bryn, aren’t you going to have them say the oath first?”
    “Yeah. They have to say the oath,” said Derek. “We did. Everyone should have to.”
    “Oh. Yeah. Okay, I guess.” I looked to Peter and he nodded.
    “Oath? What oath?” asked the girl. She had a sour look on her face that instantly put me on edge. It reminded me of Coli. Her hair was thin and stringy, very greasy. Her eyes were small and her nose sharp. She looked like an angry, mangey bird.
    “It’s a promise to help and not eat your fellow man,” said Flick. It should have been funny, but no one laughed.
    I separated from the pack and moved to the empty space between them and the front door. I raised my voice so they could hear me over the sound of muttering coming from my friends.
    “Anyone who comes to Haven must be willing to sacrifice what he needs and wants for the good of our group. We promise to keep you safe, fed, sheltered, and cared for - to the best of our ability. But anyone who messes with us or tries to hurt us will pay the price.”
    “What’s the price exactly?” asked the girl. “Death? Are you guys killing kids who refuse to live in a dictatorship?”
    One of the guys nudged her. “Shut up, Gail.”
    “No, I don’t have to shut up. It’s a legitimate question.”
    Peter walked around the outside of the crowd to stand next to me. Whispering out of the side of his mouth, he said, “Everyone’s watching. Don’t take any crap from her.”
    I jabbed him with my elbow, whispering back, “I got that. Thanks.”
    I lifted my chin a little. “This isn’t a dictatorship exactly. But for now, I’m in charge. You don’t like it, stay out. It’s your choice. But if you come in, you have to accept that.”
    “Without holding back,” added Derek. “Just like the rest of us. No one’s any better than anyone else here.”
    The entire group was nodding, and none of them looked happy. I had to doubt the intelligence of a chick who’d walk up to a place like this and make such a terrible first impression. I was almost hoping she’d walk away when she finally spoke.
    “Fine. I accept your terms. At least for now.”
    I was actually okay with her response, so I moved forward to join the others.
    “No. Huh-uh. No way does that work for me,” said Gretchen,