Free American Apocalypse Wastelands by Nova Page A

arrest, I didn’t see much of a threat.
    Night didn’t want to bother with them. If she had stepped just a little further back into the bushes, they might have trudged past us. Then again, I doubt if the kid who had seen her would have kept silent.
    The kid stopped and was almost run over by the woman behind her. She pointed at Night and said, “Hey, Mom! Look at the woman with the gun!”
    The G word got everyone’s attention. The entire Mover flock stumbled to a halt. We advanced to support Night
with our weapons ready. Cardiac Dad put his hand on the butt of his pistol. I saw Night give him the look and shake her head. By then Max and I were facing them, and Ninja was somewhere behind us watching our backs.
    The leader was the first to speak. “Hi there! What can we do for you?” This was accompanied by a wide grin.
    Max answered for us. “Nothing. We’re just passing through. Same as you.”
    The rest of the Movers eyed us with a mix of exhaustion, apathy, and curiosity. I would say they were all glad for the chance to take a breather. One of the women certainly was.
    She let the handle of her suitcase drop and sat down on it with a plop. I heard her mutter, “Thank you, Jeebus.” It was as if she’d given a signal to the rest of the herd. Everyone dropped handles, packs and plopped down, too.
    â€œOkay, everyone, let’s take a break,” the leader announced. I had to grin at that. One of the women, perhaps his wife, rolled her eyes and began fanning herself.
    She looked over at Night. “Hey, honey. You wouldn’t have a Pepsi or a beer inside that pack, would ya?”
    â€œNo.” Night moved past them, watching them out of the corner of her eye, as she took up position a little further down the trail.
    â€œI didn’t think so. Damn.”
    â€œDon’t mind her,” Leader man said, indicating the woman. “You wouldn’t have any extra water”—he saw the look in our eyes—“for the kids, of course.”
    In the back was a twelve-year-old boy with long brown hair. I watched as he cringed when the Leader added “for the kids.” Interesting , I thought. Probably his stepfather. Hopefully .

    Max just stared at Leader man. “Hey, kids, you thirsty?”
    The little girl piped up, “No, but Mr. Bunny is.”
    â€œOkay. Bring Mr. Bunny over here. How about you, kid?”
    The boy nodded his head.
    â€œYou got a bottle or canteen?”
    â€œWe appreciate this,” Leader man told Max, who ignored him.
    â€œHere,” said the woman sitting next to Cardiac Man. She reached in her pack and pulled out a two-liter bottle of Pepsi. She drained the little bit that was left and handed the bottle to the boy. “Freaking Pepsi is for shit as a cure for thirst.”
    The little girl took Mr. Bunny out of her pack and held him up to Max. Max uncapped his water bottle and held the opening up to Mr. Bunny’s lips for a minute until the girl pulled him away.
    â€œMr. Bunny says, ‘Thank you!’”
    â€œYou’re welcome, Mr. Bunny. Do you want a drink too?”
    She nodded her head yes. “All we have is Pepsi and Mrs. Slarmy isn’t sharing.”
    â€œIt’s Slarami , and yes I have been sharing, you little—” She cut off whatever she was going to say when she saw Max’s look.
    We had two Camelbacks that we weren’t using. The problem here wasn’t finding water; it was filtering it. Max took the two-liter bottle from the boy and poured about a liter of water into it.
    â€œKeep it. Make sure you and the girl drink a lot before you let anyone else have some.”
    The boy nodded.

    Leader man decided he needed to assert himself. “Look, you guys are going the wrong way.”
    Max smiled. “Is that so?”
    â€œYou should come with us. That’s it!” He looked around at his group. “Nobody here would mind, right?” He