Free A City Called Smoke: The Territory 2 by Justin Woolley Page B

come with us.”
    “No,” Lynn said without needing to give it a second thought.
    “Lynn,” Squid said, “maybe we could help each other.”
    “We don’t need his help, Squid.”
    Once again it had come down to her having to be cautious enough for the both of them.
    “Probably you could use my help,” Nim interjected.
    “Oh,” Lynn said, feigning surprise, “and why is that?”
    “You’re Dwellers,” the Nomad boy said. “You can only steal rides on bio-trucks so far.”
    “I told you, we paid our way.”
    “Still,” Nim continued, “sooner or later you’re gonna have to make it on your own.”
    “Yeah, so?” Lynn said. “We can handle it.”
    “Do you know how to find water in the desert?” Nim asked. “Do you know which plants you can eat and which you can boil to help heal cuts? Do you know how to catch a kowari?”
    Lynn didn’t say anything.
    “What’s a kowari?” Squid asked.
    “A desert mouse,” Nim said. “Good tucker if you can catch one. You’ve never traveled in the desert, have you? Not proper traveled, where you have to rely on the land to provide for you.”
    “We’re going to carry food and water with us,” Lynn said, feeling defensive. Of course she knew they would need food and water. How stupid did this boy think she was?
    “That won’t last you very long,” Nim said. “Plus, where will you get more food and water once you’re past the fence? There aren’t any towns for you to stop at and pick up supplies.”
    Lynn stared at him. His dark eyes appraised her.
    “I don’t know about the Storm Man,” Squid said, “but we are going to find a way to destroy the ghouls. If you help us through the desert you can come with us to Big Smoke.”
    Lynn didn’t like this but she knew Squid was right. She really didn’t know how to survive in the desert alone, and had thought they’d just figure it out, or perhaps she hadn’t really thought about it at all. In fact, she wasn’t sure they’d make it to the fence, let alone beyond it. She wasn’t even sure there was any point trying.
    Nim looked from Squid to Lynn. “All right,” Nim said. “We help each other.”
    “Are you sure about this, Squid?” Lynn said.
    Squid smiled. “I’ve never eaten a mouse before.”
    Lynn couldn’t do anything but sigh.

CHAPTER 10
    Not long after they’d agreed to let Nim join them Squid woke from a doze to find the Nomad boy sitting a short distance away. He was holding something in his hand, turning it over and examining it. Squid’s hand shot to his neck. His key was gone.
    “That’s mine,” Squid said, quickly climbing to his feet.
    “I know,” Nim said without moving. “I was just having a look. I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
    Squid lunged for his key but Nim pulled his hand back, moving it out of Squid’s reach. He stood, holding the key aloft as Squid made a second attempt to grab it.
    “Give it back!” Squid knew his voice betrayed the desperation he felt.
    “Hey, hey,” Nim said, almost smiling. “You need to calm down, mate. I’m not gonna hurt it. I’m only having a look.”
    “I didn’t say you could look at it, did I?” Squid said.
    “What’s going on?” Lynn asked, turning to look at them from where she sat, legs dangling out the door. Her eyes flicked to the green key dangling tauntingly from Nim’s hand. “Come on, Nim,” she said. “That was his mother’s, give it back.”
    “How did you even get it?” Squid asked.
    “You sleep too soundly,” Nim said. “Not the safest way to sleep out here.”
    Squid reached for his key once more but again Nim moved it away teasingly. Squid stared at him, his face turning hot. He had wanted to like this boy, wanted to learn more about the Nomads from him, and had stupidly thought that maybe Nim would be a friend, but he just seemed like the other kids in Dust and the other Scants at the Academy. At this moment he reminded Squid of Darius, how he was when they’d first met, not the