Free Revolution by Shelly Crane

8
     
    Merrick
                 
                 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
                  The snow was long gone by the time we started to load the vans. The mush and sludge of the sandy mud was making the trip back and forth from the door interesting. We had a little assembly line going and things were getting done quickly. Miguel and Jeff were both standing guard with rifles in hand and eye s to the sky. Whatever that thing had been, that Graphter, it wasn't something I wanted to meet again.
                  Miguel interrupted my thoughts. "Oi, I've got a bad feeling, mate."
                  "About what? This whole thing?" I guessed and he kind of nodded. "We've all got a bad feeling, Miguel."
                  "But this one's in my guts," he justified and tapped his belly. "I got a feeling like…like this might be the turning point. Like the last wave of the war is headed our way and it's make it or break it time."
                  "I think you're right about that." I stop ped loading bags and boxes for a second, using the end of my shirt to wipe the sweat from my face. "I think that whatever happens next will determine everything."
                  "Straight from the Keeper's mouth, eh?" he mused and chuckled, his accent extra thick when he laughed. "So, hey, uh….I'm glad you're not dead and all that."'              
                  "Thanks," I said wryly. "That just means the world, Miguel."
                  "Look, don't have a piff. I'm just saying is all. Things would be less… interesting without you around. Cain and Danny wouldn't have anyone to pickle with."
                  "That's true." I glanced at him sideways. "They do like to…pickle me."
                  "You know what I gettin ' at. Come off it!" he feigned anger and punched my arm. "I'm not about to cry on your shoulder, mate, I'm just saying…glad you're not dead."
                  "Well, I'm glad I'm not dead, too. Thanks." I hoisted another box and aske d, "So, that Rylee is a hellcat , huh?"
                  "Hellcat?" he scoffed. "Pfft. She's a pussycat, that one. All meow and no bite."
                  "Her teeth looked pretty sharp to me," I ventured and peeked at him to see his look of pondering.
                  "Well, I guess she's all right. She's prickly, but aren’t all gingers that way?"
                  "Never met a redhead except for Kay before. I have no idea."
                  "Well, I've met loads of them and it's all in the genes. Like I said, she's harmless-" Miguel "oomphed" when a box slammed into his chest.
                  "Standing around doing nothing , Aussie? Wow." Rylee clapped. "I won the bet. Chivalry is dead. Hey, Jethro!" she yelled, cupping her mouth with her hands. "You owe me five bucks!"
                  "Listen here, Red, I'm doing plenty." He shoved the box into the back of the van all crooked and out of order. I rolled my eyes and fixed it as he went back to bantering with Rylee. "I'm keeping my eyes glued to the sky watching for something that might come and take your pretty little head off."
                  "Aw, you think my head is pretty," she said in her best girly voice and batted her eyelashes. Miguel was turned from me so I couldn't see his face, but he didn't say anything. Eventually her playful smile turned down and then she…blushed! She turned quickly and practically ran back inside the store.
                  Miguel looked at me with awe etched on his face. "Did you see that! Her cheeks were as red as that gorgeous hair."
                  "What did you do?"
                  He coughed. "Nothing. Just, uh, I was thinking of what to say, is all."
                  "And what did you come up with?"