Page 51 of Everything Under the Sun

“Take it with you,” I said sharply, “because you’ll need it.”

I stepped around her then, slid the lock back, swung open the door, and left.

THAIS

In suffocating silence, I stared at the door for a long time until my gaze dropped to the gun in my hand. And I decided in that moment to do the only thing I could do.

18

ATTICUS

Marion and his scouting party were full of questions and accusations when I finally joined Peter on the steps of the old museum. They tested my patience for ten minutes, until I knew I had to set an example, or become one.

I drew my gun and shot one of Marion’s mouthy men in the foot. The man dropped onto the concrete, writhing in pain, his hands gripping the toe of his boot. Every mouth in the crowd snapped shut, leaving only a wave of whispers and the shuffling of clothing as the soldiers stepped away from me all at once, a mass of camouflage and sweat and boots dispersing in a backward motion.

“If any other person here,” I announced as two men came forth and took the wounded soldier away to be treated, “would like to question my authority, my responsibilities, or the way I choose to run things in Rafe’s absence, then step forward!”

I waited.

No one moved, but there were many dark eyes filled with aversion staring back at me. Marion and Private Masters were among them. Next to Marion, the defiant girl stood with a rifle hung from a leather strap at her back; her long, dark hair was pulled into a ponytail at the base of her neck. She too shared the hate-filled looks of the men. She had conformed, given up what little she had left that made her human—despite the fight she fought when she first arrived in Lexington City, she was one of them now.

“Private Whitman,” I said to Peter, standing in the crowd, “take six men and escort the new citizens into the building.”

Without a word, Peter did as ordered, and I holstered my gun.

I looked out at dozens of eyes staring back at me, and I raised my voice to make sure each one of them heard me loud and clear.

“From now on, while I’m Overseer, the placement of new citizens in Lexington will be done in private—”

“But what of the wives?” shouted a soldier from the crowd. “The top of the list is supposed to get first pick!”

A ripple of shouts, all in agreement, rose over the crowd.

I raised an arm into the air and the volume ceased again.

“The choosing of wives,” I began, “will be put on hold until I’ve had a discussion with Overlord Wolf.”

Marion stepped up from the front of the crowd; his bronzed face framed by dark hair was filled with reprimand. His movements were bold and confident and intimidating to everyone but me.

“You were appointed to fill in for Overseer Rafe,” Marion said, “to take his place by doing everything he himself does, not just the parts you choose to do.”

Gap-toothed Private Masters stepped up next to Marion, but remained quiet.

“The details of my job as temporary Overseer,” I shot back, “are between Rafe and myself, and not for you decide.” I went down two steps boldly toward Marion, and glared into his deepening gaze. “You’re more than welcome to take up any concerns or complaints you have on the matter with Rafe when he returns, but my order stands, and I will not be swayed. Or intimidated.”

With narrowed eyes, Marion rounded his chin. “Then why don’t you explain to all of us your reasons? Or your…excuses,” he challenged, turned and waved his hand at the crowd to get them riled. “All of us would love to hear them!”

Heads nodded in unison behind Marion, followed by another wave of whispers and shouts of agreement.

For the first time since I left Thais in my room with a gun in her hand, I felt my nerves unraveling. She led my weakness; her wellbeing had tilted the scales. The things Evelyn had tried to warn me about rolled over in my mind more than ever now: “They’re going to kill you if they see that weakness in you; they’ll pounce on you like lions on a wounded animal.” I had to think fast—thankfully, thinking fast in stressful situations was something I was good at.

“All I will say on the matter,” I began, looking out at everyone once more, “is that it has to do with the security of this city”—I pointed into the crowd—“and all of your goddamned heads.” I remained confident, my leadership unshaken.

The men appeared confused, but most accepted my answer, given that, apparently, their lives were at stake. Marion and Private Masters didn’t seem so convinced, but being unsure, they left the matter alone. For the time being.

After the new inventory was catalogued and the crowd thinned, I left with Peter Whitman at my side. I could feel Marion’s eyes on me as I drifted farther away from the city center.

Marion was the threat. Marion was the one person in Lexington City who I knew I should be the most focused on. But the girl occupied my thoughts; Thais’ face had taken up residence in my mind no matter how hard I tried to evict it. As I walked with Peter toward the bar, and as the sun dimmed in the approaching evening, I thought that Thais might be dead by now. And, in a way, I hoped she was, because death would be much kinder to her than a life in this world, on the run and alone.

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