Free Flowertown by S. G. Redling Page B

be seen in the sky. “I thinkat least three. That’s what it sounded like. Don’t bother trying to call out. I think that one of the explosions knocked out the cell tower.” Bing swore as his phone buzzed the busy signal. “Let’s check the news. Maybe’s there’s something on by now.”
    “If the phones are down, the cable is too.”
    “No.” Ellie shook her head. “The cable was on at the power station. I checked before I left. All the channels were on.”
    “That’s impossible.” Bing tossed his useless phone onto a nearby table. “The phones and the cable run on the same power relay. If one goes down, they both do.”
    “Well, the cable was on when I left and my phone wasn’t working. There was nothing on the news, but that was just a few minutes after the explosion at the supply depot. Besides, how do you know what ‘power relay’ the phones and cable are on? What does that even mean?” When Bing said nothing, just shrugged and lit a cigarette, Ellie laughed. The weed was making her lips feel fat and soft. “Let me guess. You’ve downloaded the schematics for the resistance, right?”
    “Think that’s funny?” Bing leaned far out the window. “Look around you, Ellie. What do you think is happening out here?” The smell of bitter smoke still drifted by in waves. “You think it’s a coincidence that buildings just start blowing up? That the military is losing control of Flowertown? That supplies have been cut off and the government is turning a blind eye to us?”
    His bird image had returned, which always made Ellie struggle not to laugh. She was tired and she was very high. “Maybe you’re right, Bing. Maybe this is it, but to tell you the truth, after a day like this, I don’t really give a shit.” When hereared up for the obligatory impassioned Bing retort, she waved him down. “No, don’t. Please, not tonight. I’m too high and way too tired to fight with you.”
    “The fight’s not with me, Ellie. Look out there. What do you see?”
    Night was fully upon them, and with the fires almost extinguished and the emergency vehicles shutting off their lights, there was very little to see. Rather than put her mind at ease, the darkness, the invisibility of the small world of Flowertown, sent a new wave of anxiety and disorientation over her, and she had to steady herself against the window frame.
    “There’s not much to see out there.”
    “No, but there’s plenty going on. Trust me.”
    Ellie sighed and closed her eyes, trying to stop a building sensation of dizziness. “What’s the endgame, Bing? I mean, what’s the point of it all? If someone inside really did blow up the buildings, what are they trying to achieve? To get the army to withdraw? And leave us with no supplies? It doesn’t make any sense.”
    “It’s complicated, Ellie. There are a lot of factors at play.”
    “Well, who’s controlling it all?” She snatched a cigarette from the pack in Bing’s pocket, as much to bring more light to the darkness as to keep her awake. She could see Bing gnawing on a fingernail, staring out into the night. “You keep telling me that some kind of shit is going down, but whose shit? And why? The army? Why would the army blow up Feno buildings? Why would Feno? Why would anyone living here blow up the only buildings we have access to?” She could feel the logic of her argument evaporating as fatigueand weed weighed down on her mind. Bing reached across the sill in the darkness and took her free hand.
    “We live in a world where I can legally sell weed but I’ll be put in detention if I litter. Are you really looking for logic here?” They both knew the answer and sat together in silence until the last flashing light went out.
    Ellie woke with a jolt when her leg cramped from its bent position in the easy chair. Swearing before her eyes were open, she threw herself to the floor trying to straighten out her suffering limb. The power was still out, the candles long burned out,