Scavenger of Souls by Joshua David Bellin Page B

posts at least twenty feet high, the same light that had defeated Asunder’s warriors except on an immeasurably larger scale. It wasn’t torch or lamplight, wasn’t even, from what I could tell, like the electric lights that had beamed from Survival Colony 9’s trucks, back when we had trucks. It seemed to be a field of energy that either enclosed or was emitted by the fence, as if the metalwas a body and the light its blood flow. Within the fence, white spotlights illuminated every inch of the compound’s perimeter, spilling over squat white buildings, blinking from a guard tower double the height of the surrounding palisade. The compound was small, probably no more than a mile square, but I was convinced no city from the time before could have been this imposing. Together with the rhythmic pulse that emanated from the whole, the glowing compound seemed so otherworldly I could do nothing but stand and stare.
    The girl nudged me in the back. “Move.”
    I took a step, stumbled as my maimed feet touched soft, hot desert sand. She laughed, the same short sniff from breakfast.
    â€œAthan’s getting sloppy,” she said derisively. “Sending a pipsqueak like you on one of his precious missionary runs.”
    Athan. The name Aleka had given Asunder. “Who’s Athan?”
    The girl didn’t answer for a long time, and I figured her one outburst was going to be her last. Then she swore under her breath. “I beg your pardon. Asunder. The king of—what’s he call it?—the Shut-In Lands?”
    â€œI’ve been trying to tell you,” I said. “I’m not one of them.”
    â€œNo?” she said. “You’re sure as hell not one of us.”
    Her voice sounded so furious I almost felt sorry for her. But I’d had enough.
    â€œListen.” I stopped and turned, holding my hands infront of me. “For the last time: I’m not what you think.”
    The rifle dug into my stomach. “Keep moving.”
    â€œI’m not going anywhere,” I said. “At least not as your prisoner. We’ve got the same enemy, all right? Athan, Asunder, whatever you want to call him. I get it. He’s raided your colony too. Now he’s stolen half of mine. If you won’t let me go so I can find them, maybe you’ll work with me to put him out of business.”
    She grunted, her eyes never leaving mine. I had the uncomfortable feeling she was deciding whether to pull the trigger.
    But at last her gun relaxed ever so slightly, dipping toward the desert floor.
    â€œAll right,” she said. “But I swear to God, if this is another of his tricks, you’re going to pay.”
    â€œIt isn’t,” I said. “Trust me.”
    â€œI don’t trust anybody who tries to take my gun,” she said. “Speaking of which, I can’t very well walk you into camp without it. If you know so much about the survival colonies, you have to know that.”
    I nodded.
    â€œAfter we get your friends taken care of, I’ll talk to the commander,” she said. “Tell him what you told me. That’s the best I can offer.”
    â€œFair enough.”
    â€œDon’t get your hopes up,” she said. “I’m not exactly on his good side.”
    â€œAll right,” I said. “But can you tell me one more thing?”
    â€œWe’re persistent, aren’t we?”
    â€œYour name,” I said. “If you’re going to help us out, I’d like to know who to thank.” I held out my hand. “I’m Querry. From Survival Colony Nine.”
    She ignored the hand, but a look of surprise crossed her face. It was followed by the first hint of a smile I’d seen. “Mercy,” she said, her black eyes gleaming wickedly in the compound’s glow. “But don’t get the wrong idea about me from that.”

    We marched down the slope to the desert floor. Mercy let me relieve