Free Rage Within by Jeyn Roberts Page A

asked.
    “Got something, maybe,” Brandi said. “I was telling it to Nathan and Eve here. Ran into another guy this morning. Bit flaky and didn’t smell very good, but that didn’t seem to bother him. He’s in a safe house over by the London Drugs on Forty-first. Said they’ve got a doctor. Can you believe it? A doctor! I’m dreaming. I’m going to try and head out there tomorrow. If I can find them, do you want me to see if he’ll come and check out your friend Jack?”
    “That would be wonderful,” Aries said.
    “You’ve got it,” Brandi said. “But I’m not going to hold my breath, and I wouldn’t either if I were you. Like I said, the guy was kinda odd. Smoked away too many brain cells if you ask me. Graham tends to believe most of the doctors have been rounded up already. I kinda agree with him.”
    “Why do you think they’re rounding up people like the doctors specifically?” Nathan asked as he unzipped his jackethalfway. Inside was just as cold as outside these days and winter coats had become the lounging norm for the living room.
    “I don’t know,” Brandi said. “But they’re not asking people to go downtown for the good of their health, regardless of what that damn message says. I think they’re looking for people of certain skills. If you’ve got it, you’re good enough to live. Or not.”
    “Clementine said something about that,” Aries agreed. “When she was in Seattle she ran into a guy at the university. He said that the Baggers came and rounded up a bunch of people. The rest they killed.”
    “But what makes someone good enough to live?” Eve asked. “I mean, what are the qualifications? I can’t do anything. I’m pretty useless.”
    “Don’t say that, sweetie,” Brandi said. “Everyone has their good points. I’ll bet yours are better than most.”
    Eve nodded, but Aries could tell she wasn’t convinced.
    “My guess is the younger you are, the better your chances,” Brandi continued. “Youth is easier to mold. Aside from Graham’s kid, I haven’t come across any young ones since this all started. That means something in my book.”
    “Of course doctors would be useful,” Nathan said. “And people with certain skills, like electricians, welders, carpenters, stuff like that. If they’re planning on fixing things. I’m sure it’s just a matter of time before the Baggers decide to turn the power back on.”
    “And get the phones and Internet working,” Aries said, thinking of Clementine’s brother, Heath, who was studying computer programming. “Don’t forget the hot water. I’m sure I’m not the only one who would kill to have a shower.”
    “My father wanted me to be a plumber,” Brandi said. “When he was drunk he used to make cracks about howeveryone would want to hire a gal named Brandi to fix their pipes.” She laughed when Colin looked up from his video game, a look of shock on his face. “Yeah, he was a bit of a sexist pig.”
    “Either way,” Aries said as she stifled a yawn. “We can’t make it easy for them. We can’t let the Baggers find us.”
    “Amen, sister,” Brandi said. “And on that note, I should head home. Don’t want to turn into a pumpkin. The gals will get mad if I’m not back exactly when I said I would be. Say hello to the others. And you, my dear, should take a nap. You look exhausted.”
    “Will do,” Aries said. She got up to follow Brandi to the door, but the older woman shook her off.
    “Don’t need guest status,” she said. “I can find my own way out.”
    Aries hung out in the living room for a few more minutes, but no one had anything new to report. Clementine and Michael were still at the university, but they probably wouldn’t be back for a few more hours. No need to worry just yet.
    Finally excusing herself, she went upstairs to the bedroom where Jack sat alone in the dark.
    “Hey,” she said from the door.
    A few weeks ago, Jack had taken a baseball bat to the head during a Bagger fight.