There was no real talk as they slowly made their trek following the river back to the city.
There was no discussion of books, nor the silent murmurs of people reciting them over and over again. Only the distant silence and exhausted breathing of walking for hours.
He'd been hoping to tell them of the river, and the tree of life bearing twelve fruits. No, it wasn't the time.
It strangely began to get warmer as they got closer and closer to the city. And there was this smell...
There was a throaty sound and someone from the back threw up on a patch of dandelions on the ground. Everyone began to notice the incredible stench, and the sudden feeling of drowsiness that came along with it.
Was it such a good idea to go back?
"Granger," Montag caught up with him at the front of the group, "Granger. I can't—I mean, I don't think we should go on. Can't you sense something in the air? Or the ringing sound? Don't your hear the ringing?!"
Granger didn't look his way and kept walking forward. Montag, angered, grasped Granger by his shoulder and turned his around. "We could die."
"We are going back to the city."
"Why?" Montag asked, breathing exasperatedly.
"We just have to. It's out duty, our obligation."
Montag, at this moment, became sure that Granger was hiding something from everyone. Something that, if not uncovered, may kill them all.
He glared at the man he'd looked up to for the past forty eight hours.
"Granger, that is such bull—"
"LOOK!"
A woman screamed. Mothers covered their children's eyes.
It started with one, floating idly down the river. At first glance, someone would have thought a man was taking a morning swim.
Then they would see his face. An image of a frozen scream. His skin was greenish. Dried blood cracked from the open, black mouth. He floated away as they watched in silence.
Then the next one came. It was a little girl. There was no scream on her face. Just the wax-like portrayal of a sleeping doll.
Children began to cry as more and more bodies, along with debris and cries of horror floated towards the rising sun. People looked away. Some ran into the woods and vomited. Only few came back.
Through the debris and sickly-green bodies, Montag found himself instinctively reaching into the water. looking for supplies. Maybe he'd find a lighter, or even a basket of food. Hesitatingly, he stuck his hand into the cold, cold water, trying to see what he would find. Something slipped into his fingers, and he pulled it out.
A hand.
On one of the fingers was a small diamond ring, and a wedding band just above it.
No.
He pulled the hand, dragging out whatever body it was attached to.
No no.
For a second time in just two days, Montag cried.
"Millie. Oh, Millie". He stroked her flaccid cheek. An image of her, along with a rush of stampeding people running towards the river crept into his mind. They had heard and seen the planes coming, and sought the river for an escape route.
He never thought Mildred had it in her to leave the city.
Many sobbed silently, some just stared.
He felt arms take hold of his shoulders. He could hear Granger's far-away voice making a pitiful attempt to reassure him.
"There's nothing left for us here. She's dead, Montag. You're crying over milk that has already been spilt."
"You mean blood." Montag said, still holding on to his wife.
"Please. We have to get going."
Montag stared with surprise at Granger's still-paled face.
"Can't you see what's in front of your eyes?! Even people that weren'tin the city died! There's no way—"
Granger grabbed a thick book of physics from Einstein and hit Montag iercely in the back of the head.