Chapter 2
The city lay before him like a great jungle as he stood on one of the hills that surrounded it. The hot midday sun beat down uncomfortably and his luggage was heavy on his back.
It had been such a long time since he'd been here, so many long years.
He squinted hard at the streets and buildings below him, but nothing showed a sign of life. There was no smoke, no steam, and no artificial light. Nothing moved in the streets, be it vehicle or person. The city seemed dead, more dead than it had ever been, even right after the first virus.
Of course he hadn't been here when it had happened, that second disaster. He'd been many miles away, on another continent nearly. He'd heard about it though, very soon after. The refugees had fled as far as possible. They'd brought with them news of his home, and more importantly, of his family.
Amber had been alive when they'd fled. Amber had defeated the Technos (twice!) and Amber had organized the evacuation of the city. Amber had lived and fought and he was so glad. So many nights he'd cried himself to sleep thinking he'd left her and their baby to die in that barn.
But the news had come with a bitter blow. No one had news of his son and no one knew if Amber had escaped from the second deadly virus with her life.
He had waited for months and had questioned every refugee. But the longer he waited the fewer came and the more the news dried up.
Everything within a five mile radius of the city was dead; from the wildlife to the plants. The virus truly had been the ultimate killing machine. Those who'd approached the city had become ill and died within days.
So two years had passed in waiting, and no more refugees came. There was no news of any of the Mall Rats, and in desperation and mourning he chose to travel as far from that place as he could. He'd crossed half of the world and seen many wonderful sites and met many wonderful tribes. But he'd been in mourning the whole time, his last hope dashed. He'd lived for Amber and that city, but search the world as he might he simply couldn't find another purpose to live for.
So for 5 years he travelled where he could walk, or where those with transport would take him. He'd eat as he'd find food, and work for it where he couldn't. He never stayed anywhere more than a week.
Until last month when he'd found himself back where the Technos had dumped him all that time ago, and where he'd waited fruitlessly for so long. But after a week of resting there he made the decision to go back, and to scout out that city for himself.
Even if Amber had died there, at least he could mourn her and move on.
Deep in his heart though he knew she must be alive. She'd always been alive before and he wasn't ready to mourn again until he'd seen proof of her death.
Bray strode purposefully towards the city.
Dead as it was, coming to the city felt oddly like coming home.
Amber sat at the scrubbed kitchen table and looked around at her tribe.
Jack and Ellie had never ceased to work together, although both had struggled with the severe lack of technology outside of the city. Nevertheless Jack had rigged together a system for hot water and for electricity and had made their life in the countryside as comfortable as possible.
Gal hadn't taken to life on a farm in the least. Eventually she'd worked out that if she did the work indoors then she would be asked to go outside too often. Much as she hated any sort of labour, cooking and cleaning had become her job.
Sammy had, despite the not so positive influences around him, grown up into a happy young man. He loved to help Jack with any technical problems with the water and electricity systems. He was also trying to court and oblivious Lottie.
With the careful discipline provided by Ruby, Lottie had grown into a vibrant young woman, full of life, and finally able to control her hoarding habit. She'd taken Salene, May and Ruby as adoptive mothers, and was known to change rooms regularly, sleeping on her airbed in the room of whichever of her "mothers" she wanted to be close to at the time.
Ebony was as arrogant and lazy as ever. Amber had long given up fighting with her, and had decided simply to let her be. Slade did his best to keep her in line, and rather unfairly did all her work share as well as his own. He never complained, and so she supposed she had no real reason to. It didn't stop her wanting to though.
After his fall from power Ram had slowly learned the true value of hard work. He'd managed to worm his way into everyone's favour with his simpering smile and sound reason. He wasn't necessarily liked, but he stayed away from everyone as much as possible and as long as he did his work no fights broke out. He'd often go off alone for days at a time. No one really minded as long as he was out of the way.
Lex too was self-confident as ever, but he'd worked hard to make this new home work. He did seem a little lost without a woman around to adore him, and Amber strongly suspected that this was why he was so eager to return to the city
Finally Amber's eyes rested on her lover. Jay smiled at her encouragingly. Jay had supported her through everything. He'd diplomatically broken up all fights. He'd helped her to raise her son. If it wasn't for Jay, Amber knew that they wouldn't be alive. They'd have killed each other long ago with their petty squabbling.
Only Trudy was absent; she was supervising the little ones as they fed the chickens in the yard.
"Thank you for all coming so quickly when we called," Amber announced, and she couldn't help but grin. "Lex and I have some fantastic news."
You could see the atmosphere in the farmhouse change. Suddenly the kitchen was filled with fresh hope. No one had to be told what the news was. They all knew from the smile on Amber's face. But she told them anyway.
"We reached the mall," she said, trying hard to keep the hysterical excitement out of her voice.
Someone cheered, Lex wooped, May looked like she was about to cry with joy. There was an explosion of excitement in the kitchen, and everyone began to talk at once.
Amber grinned happily and waited for the noise to settle down. It did quite quickly. Everyone wanted to know what would happen next.
"It's in a state of disrepair, much worse than it's ever been before. We'll have to take everything from here that we can to make it as safe and comfortable. But there's no reason we won't be as safe as we ever were there."
Jack spoke up first. "Is my water system still working, or my wind turbines? I could build them again, but I'd need to know what needs to be repaired. I don't want to have to transport materials I don't need all the way to the city."
"We didn't get a chance to check," Lex answered. "But we can always send out another scouting party to check that out before we go."
"What do we need another scouting party for?" Gal asked. "If we know it's safe we should just take everything."
"For once I have to agree with her," said Ellie. "We won't be coming back here, we should just take everything."
"We don't need everything," Lex argued. "The city has better things, or don't you remember? We don't need this farmyard junk."
"I think you'll find we do," Ram insisted. "The city may have been looted, most of the food will have rotted, and we won't have any electricity or supplies unless we sort it out ourselves."
Jay nodded his agreement. "We'll need to take everything, even the livestock."
"Especially the livestock," Amber agreed. "But I do think we need to send a couple more scouting parties."
"We need to check that there's no danger from other tribes," Lex explained.
"And make it safe for Bray and Brady," Lottie added.
Amber smiled at the young girl. "It will be safe for them, I'm sure. After all, they're going home."
Chickens scattered before him as Bray stomped through the yard, throwing the grain around as angrily as he could.
"Stupid Amber, stupid city, stupid stupid stupid!" he muttered.
Brady stood in his path. "Stop being so angry, you'll scare the chickens!"
"They're just chickens," he muttered but he stopped kicking at them all the same. He looked up to where aunty was, staring up at the sky and not paying them any attention. "Aunt Trudy can we go back inside yet?" he called.
"Not yet," she shouted back, still giving them no attention. "Finish your chores."
Rolling her eyes, Brady went to show her mother the empty seed bag. "Please can we go inside?"
Trudy looked down at the children. "Not while Amber's holding a meeting."
Brady looked hurt. "I'm eleven years old now Mum!"
"So you are. And when you're thirteen you can sit in on the meetings. You know the rules."
The Mallrats had brought in the age rule on voting in movements and attending meetings when Brady learned to talk. It had been a given that everyone could vote in their early days; everyone was kids, and those who lived were forced to grow up to survive. Brady and Bray were only children, and their mothers wanted to keep them as so for as long as possible. So it was decided that thirteen was the age at which they'd be considered adults by the tribe, because thirteen was Sammy's age at the time.
"Can't we just listen?" Brady asked. "We'll be super quiet."
"I'll believe that when I see it," laughed Trudy. "No, no, it's best if you stay outside. The two years will fly Brady, and then you can sit in boring meetings all you like."
Bray scowled and nothing in particular. "I don't want to go inside anyway."
Both children knew what was being talked about in the kitchen. They knew that Amber and Lex had made it safely into the city. They also knew that it would mean the end of their stay in the countryside.
"Will they vote that we go home, mum?" Brady asked softly.
Trudy smiled. "That won't even be voted upon. Everybody wants to go home sweetie."
Brady frowned, but Bray said what she was thinking. "We are home," he whispered.
Trudy frowned at him. "I know you don't remember, Bray. And that you barely remember, Brady. But you really will love the city. It is your home."
"What if it isn't?" asked Bray. "Here feels like home. I like trees and I like animals and I like the farmhouse. The city is full of war and germs. I like it here."
Brady nodded her agreement, looking at her mother for reassurance.
"Brady, you were born in that city. You were so happy there. You used to play in the mall all day. I know you'll love it, because I did, and you're a lot like me. And you're not much younger than I was when I first found happiness there.
"Bray, that city is in your blood. Your father and mother fought so hard for that city, to keep it for you. You'll want to fight for it too, the moment you see it. I promise." She looked at the children, so young, and yet had they only been a generation younger they'd have been considered almost old now.
He didn't argue with her, but Bray didn't believe a word. He couldn't love any home but this. If his mother had ever bothered to get to know him she'd realise that he didn't want her to fight for the city, not for him or for anyone.
"Go play you two; you finished all your chores."
Wordlessly Bray followed a shouting Brady into the woods.
