Page 106 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

“Don’t worry about us, lit…” He stopped himself just short of calling her demon, as she’d warned him he would. “We’re hardy.” He touched her nose in a playful way, which was so out of keeping with the monumental event at hand.

Pulling on the coat at the front door, she said, “You seem in a good mood.”

Carnal grinned as he took it on himself to personally tie the hood under her chin. “I am in a good mood. We’re going to get my brother back.”

When he opened the door, Rosie could see that, even in the dark, through the pouring rain, unbelievable as it was, the settlement was already bustling with people preparing to muster for the pre-battle journey to Farsuitwail.

The motorcycle shed wasn’t far. Rosie had never been there. Seeing it for the first time, she realized that, like the Weavers’ Barn, it was misnamed. A hundred and forty-three motorcycles looked like a sea of bikes when they were all together in one place. Carnal walked right to his, while Rosie noted that he was parked in a prestigious spot near the entrance. His crew member, Yellow, was there, waiting next to Carnal’s bike, already astride his own. There were three dozen Exiled in the shed fueling bikes with hoses running from huge wooden drums.

“Am I ready?” Carnal asked one of them.

“Good to go, Carnal.”

“Will we be ready at the top of the hour?”

Rosie recognized the other hybrid from the bar, but he’d never been chatty and she didn’t know his name.

Carnal turned to look down at Rosie. “You get on first so I can make sure you’re protected.”

Without argument, Rosie swung her leg over the rear of the bike and pulled the sides of the coat over her legs. When Carnal was satisfied that she was settled, he mounted in front of her with a warning glance toward Yellow, who, though silent, was making a show of smirking about the way Carnal was fussing over Rosie. He started the bike and led the way out of the shed and into the night.

Rosie knew the bikes had headlights, but Carnal and Yellow didn’t switch them on. They rode side by side even though the rain must have felt punishing, and she marveled at their ability to see in the dark and navigate the rough spots in the road that hadn’t been repaired in decades.

Farsuitwail was dark except for a couple of lamp lights that stood out like beacons against the surrounding blackness. Carnal stopped in front of City Hall.

“Take her inside to wait,” he said to Yellow. “I’ll get the mayor.”

Without being told, Rosie swung off the bike and started up the steps to City Hall.

Yellow didn’t dismount, but ascended the steps on his bike and parked under the portico, which gave temporary shelter because it faced north and the rain was driving from the south. He was waiting for Rosie when she reached the top.

Without a word he strode purposefully toward the big wooden door. It was locked. Yellow looked at Rosie before shoving his shoulder into the door where it latched. The thick solid wood door flew open and she was amazed all over again by the incredible brute strength of the hybrids. She looked at Yellow, who smiled in return and motioned for her to enter.

He withdrew a box of matches he’d kept dry inside a lined breast pocket and lit one. Looking around, he found an oil lamp sconce on a nearby wall. Two matches later the lamp was lit and Rosie could make out shapes well enough to keep from tripping over things. Her shiver was a reminder that she did have a small fraction of human DNA always creating comfort issues. She gave her body a mental instruction to be warm and the chill receded instantly.

The large foyer was getting brighter as Yellow went around lighting lamps.

“You want help with that?” she asked.

“Not unless you can find another box of matches somewhere.”

Closing her eyes, she asked the question, and instantly knew where to find matches. She walked to a corner table, opened the left drawer and said, “Oh, look. Matches.”

Yellow stopped and eyed her curiously, but said nothing. She began to light the lamps on the other side of the room. When that was done, she said, “So what now? You want to play cards?”

He didn’t seem charmed by her effort at interjecting humor into a grim situation. His reply couldn’t possibly have been delivered with less feeling. “I know what that is. I don’t have cards. I don’t play cards.”

Rosie pressed her lips together and looked around the room. “Well, there you have it, sports fans.”

Concluding that Yellow wasn’t the talkative sort, she sat down on a padded leather chair that faced the door and leaned on one arm rest, prepared to wait in silence for Carnal and the mayor.

Carnal went to the nearest house that had a light burning. He figured he’d get better information faster if he found someone awake. After he began pounding on the door, he saw a shape move by the window.

“I’m coming in one way or another,” he shouted. “Open the door now.” A man opened the door a crack. “Where does the mayor live?”

When he realized the nocturnal visit had nothing to do with him, the man opened the door wider. “Two blocks down that way,” he pointed to Carnal’s right, “and one block east.”

“I’ll show you.”

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