Jackson Hole Airport

Dad is one who always saw the good in everything, I think the word mom had used to describe him was optimist. Even when he found out I had been bit and was now a fucking runner, he still loved me and told me everyday that everything will work out for the best. Pftt, yeah right. Maybe dad wasn't an optimist, sometimes I think he is just an idiot.

Not that I would ever tell him that he was stupid, because he wasn't when it came to 99 percent of things in this world. He has always been my hero, being a mushroom head hasn't change that at all. It was dad that got us out of Green Bay, track across Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota and into Wyoming during the winter. It was him who kept us fed, warm, and safe. It surely wasn't those other true idiots that were tagging along with us. None of them could have made it past those goons back in Green Bay, if it hadn't been for dad's insider information.

Dad had kept in touch with some folks that he never allow Sam or me to meet, like ever. They lived outside the wall and outside the law. Dad called them honest hard-working survivors who got a bum rap or didn't quite adjust to the new world as easily as they had. Mom just called them old friends from the early days of the Zone. Heather's parents called them criminals and smugglers. No matter what you called them, dad was able to get an idea of what route to take out of the city as well as get the rifles, pistols and ammo.

It's not like we could just walk down to the closest shop and buy them off the shelve. The Military kept those kinds of stuff to themselves. They even did sweeps in the building looking for contra ban items like that as well as for other things. They taught us in school to report to the Military if we ever saw anything on the list in our homes. It was one of the reasons we never knew about his hidden supply until we were like twelve. Dad didn't want to risk us, so he says. Considering how many of our classmates' parents ended up in trouble when we were younger, it was probably a smart move on his part.

As I have said, my dad is only an idiot when it come to me.

And well, he wasn't very bright for taking on these others with us out into the wild. I have watched some of these men nearly shoot off their own feet with their pistols. Dad equipped them, gave them some ammo and strict orders not to shoot anything unless he told them too. Sam, mom, and I have all had some training for the weapons from dad, just enough to not kill ourselves and to hit whatever we're aiming at. He used to sneak us into different areas of the old town to practice shooting. Sometimes at bottles, sometimes at rats, a few times at the Infected who had heard us shooting. Sam and I have both killed Infected, from screaming runners to those stupid clickers. Which is more than I can say about the others with us.

Dad even taught us some basic hand to hand as well as how to fight with a knife. I asked him once, why would I bother learning to fight with a knife when I had a pistol? He just smirked and reminded me that ammo was in short supply but knives were forever, just like diamonds.

Dad is weird.

Until I got bit, I considered my self really lucky. Dad gave me a knife to carry when I turned twelve since they were not illegal, but I never had to defend myself or Heather from normal people. Still, I've heard stories, from time to time, about girls and women getting pulled off the street at night or even broad daylight in certain sectors and being gang raped. I had a couple of classmates that had that happen to them, it wasn't pretty. Sam was always willing to traveled with Heather and I when we left the building we all lived in, so I never felt unsafe. I don't know if having him around that actually help or not but why mess with a good thing. Plus, Heather had always like having him around.

I looked around the small airport from the tower, to make sure no one was approaching our camp. Mom and dad are both worried about our neighbors, as they called them, and wanted to leave as soon as possible. We would have left already if the rest of our group wasn't made up of a bunch of pussies. It was like this every time we had to move out, someone would whine to dad about some asinine complaint; so and so was too tired, or it was too cold outside or God know what else. I swear this trip was taking three times ...

I swung my rifle off my shoulder without even thinking about it when I saw him … or her … standing just inside the wood line to the South. I didn't have a scope on the rifle, dad couldn't afford them. Even though dad, Sam and I each carried binoculars that we have looted along our travels, I didn't want to risk putting down the rifle to grab mine from my pack.

"Jeff?"

"What?" the bored voice of the prissy little ten-year old said from somewhere behind me. Probably playing with the useless junk littering the room.

"Go get my dad, tell him I need him to get up here."

"Why?"

"Just go get him, will you?"

"Why?"

"Go get my fucking dad now!" I snarled as I watched the figure standing next to a tree. The person wasn't doing anything but he or she was too far away for me to see any details. For all I knew, it was Green eyes and she had me in her cross hairs.

"I don't wanna," the little worthless bastard whine in response.

"I don't care, you're supposed to be helping me up here and I need your help, go get my dad, now!"

"I'm busy ..."

"Jeffery," I snarled as I spun around, taking my eyes off my target. God, I hope it is Green eyes and she was in a friendly mood this afternoon. If it wasn't, I would be dead before I hit the floor. "Go get my father right now!"

"Fine," he huffed as he got up from the chair and ran to the top of the stairs.

I turned back to see the figure hadn't moved, thank God for small favors.

Little fucking bastard stood at the top of the stairs and yelled down them for my dad. Great! Wonderful! I could have done that you stupid waste of sperm. And of course, we were four flight of stairs and five doors away from everyone else; so guess what happened, no one heard him. Shocking!

"He didn't hear me."

"Jeffery! Go! Now!"

"Whatever," he said stomping down the stairs, I heard him muttering out 'stupid mushroom' as well.

Normally, I would smack him, or anyone else but Sam, for calling me that but I was too busy to care. The prospect of dying soon made his petty insult seem rather unimportant at this particular moment. I'd rather not waste time on him, rather continued doing what was important, which is watching that stranger down by the trees.

Strangely, the thought of dying right now actually filled me with dread. I'm a runner, an infected who was, somehow, still waiting to finish turning into one of those mindless zombies with one desire to feast on other humans. Death was something I desired daily. Death was the only way to avoid becoming one of those things. My only fear is that dad wouldn't be strong enough to shoot me, that he would rather die by my hands then kill me like I deserve.

I know in my heart that Sam would never give me the release of death. His hatred towards me was too great, too justified, for him to ever love me enough to end things for me. When I finally turned, he would do everything he could to protect mom and dad from me but he most likely do something like break my legs so I would spend the rest of my pathetic life as one of those creatures.

Some days … some days, I think he is right. Some days, I think I don't deserve a quick death. Heather had been his girlfriend, carrying his child but she had been my best friend for as long as I can remember. Heather and I did everything together, we dressed the same, we studied together; hell I was ten feet away when Heather and Sam finally did it for the first time. I loved Heather.

So dying isn't something that I haven't considered but to die today, now because of some prissy little bastard was too lazy to do his job; yeah, not how I ever pictured going out.

The sound of running feet coming up the stairs pulled me out of my thoughts. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw dad slide up on my left with Sam taking up a spot on his left. Sam and I had our rifles pointed in the right direction while dad pulled out his binocular.

"Well, Sammy; looks like your fan club is back."

"Green eyes? Though so, she hadn't moved yet, so I figure whoever it was, they wanted us to see them."

"Alright, you two stay up here and I'll go see what she wants."

"No!" Sam and I said together.

"Well, someone has to go talk to her ..."

"Let the runner go, she is expendable ..."

"She is your twin Samuel! She is not expendable, ever!"

"Yes, she is dad! Quit blinding yourself to that ..."

"Samuel!"

"Sam isn't wrong, Dad! And you know he is right!" I shouted out not looking at him. "I am going to die ..."

"No you are not! It has been almost a year ..."

"Dad, if anyone is expendable it is her, we can't go into any Zones with her. Shit, we had to hide her for the past year in Green Bay. We had to tell everyone she died, so no one would come looking for her. That is the only reason your mushroom head isn't dead yet because you know for a fact everyone would kill her without batting an eye if they knew the truth; the Military, our friends, everyone! Damn it dad, you are not even sure if the Fireflies will let her live!"

"This discussion is over! I will go down there ..."

"No! This is not over until you understand what is at stake here! Dad, you are the one person who is not expendable!" I shouted at him. Gads, he is an idiot sometimes! "Who going to lead us to the Fireflies if you die? Jake? Hank? That stupid Easter Bunny you are always yakking on about? Face it dad, everyone here is depending on you to get them to safety, everyone! Including mom and Sam! You can navigate through the snow, you can hunt, you are our leader! You, we can not lose you and survive!"

"You're my child, my little girl; I will fight to my last breath to defend you!" Dad used the same tone in his voice that he talked to Green eyes yesterday; colder than winter and deadlier then anything I normally hear from him. "You are not expendable, not last year, not now, not ever. Understand, young lady?"

"And if she is kills you, I will die! You think anyone else here would defend me? Sam? Don't make me laugh, the only reason I am still alive is because he thinks a bullet is too good for me. Who else is going to let me live? Do you honestly think Sam or mom can replace you as the leader? Feed us? Get us out of these mountains alive? Face it dad, if you die today, we'll fucking die tomorrow. Understand?"

"This discussion is over, you two will ..."

"Lawrence," a soft voice said from back at the stairwell.

Both dad and I turn to see mom crouched at the top of the stairs … she looked so tired.

"Everything will be fine honey, I'll be fine."

"It's right, you know," mom said. I felt my gut grow cold as she talked, did she … did she … just call me an it? "If you go down there and anything happens to you, we are all dead."

"You don't know that ..."

"Don't I?" Mom let out a tired sigh, she seem to age right before my eyes. My mom never really looked old to me even though she was forty-three years old, her smile and bright eyes always seem to make her look so much younger. Now, her eyes were dull and she looked like she was on the verge of tears … so old. "Send the runner down there, if everything is okay, then you can go but you are responsible for Sam and I and everyone else in our group, you can not to put your life at risk needlessly."

"She is your daughter," dad whispered out.

God! I wish they were yelling and screaming at each other or at me … these quiet calm voices was killing me! If they were yelling … they could always make up later and everything would be fine but this … God!

"No, she isn't. My daughter died a year ago. I have accepted it, I let you keep that thing around as long as our lives were not in danger because it made you happy. Maybe that was a mistake on my part, I just wanted you to see you happy, Larry. And if having it around made you happy, so be it. I had hope that, you know, you would've accept that she was gone yourself or that she would have turned completely by now. Now," mom stop talking, I could see the fear in her eyes. Fear of that person outside, of what could happen if it was our neighbors and they wanted our blood. "Now, if that is the same girl from yesterday, then our lives are in real danger. You know how bad it can get for us if they wanted to fight us. We need you to let it go. You have to let it go, Lawrence. We have no choice, if we can use it to protect us then that is what we need to do, that is what you need to do."

Dad hesitated, so I made it easy on him. He was the only one who still …

I ran down the stairs, I'm not sure if anyone called out to me or not, I couldn't hear a damn thing anyways except my heart beat. I've always wonder about my mom. Sam has always made his position clear to me as well as Dad, they have fought each other enough to leave no doubt in my mind. But mom, she never took sides in any argument as far as I knew. As I walked outside into the bright sunlight reflecting off the snow, I realized something. Mom hasn't called me by my name since it happened!

...

Okay, it's fine … it will be fine. That changes nothing, I still love her even if she hate … hates me. It changes nothing, I can still save them, save Sam. And when I die, they can be a happy family again! Just wish I had some sunglasses to wear, this bright sunlight was making my eyes water too much to see.

I quickly walked across the field, my rifle in my hands but pointed down. As I cross the landing strip, I kept my eyes on Green Eyes, watching her began her trek across the grassy, snow-covered field. I didn't bother to look around to see if anyone was hiding in the bush, it is amazing how brave and cocky you can get when you know you are bait. After all, if I died the others would have enough warning to either fight or flee. Hopefully flee, only Dad, mom and Sam had any hope to fight them off. Plus, I don't plan to go out quietly either, I'll bit the bitch if I have too.

She was walking just like I was, not looking around or hesitating; I wonder silently why she was their the bait.

"Don't think like that or you will waste yourself for nothing," I remind myself. Even if what I have seen from her was the best she could do or the only thing she was good at; it still outclasses anything I can do to her. Besides, if she was bait that meant that she was the most expendable member on her team.

There is a cheerful thought to have while walking towards her, all alone.

We came to a stop, about three feet apart from one another, silently sizing each other up. She slowly removed her scarf and snow goggles allowing me to see her face and her green eyes.

She really did have pretty eyes … even with the scars peppering her face. Cute freckles as well. She was a red-head, if dad was right about her freckles.

"Hey," she said nodding towards me.

"Hey, what's you want?"

"Oh, nothing really," she said making faces as she looked around. "Had to come out to check on my flight going to Florida tomorrow. Big photo shoot at the beach, you know how it is."

"Uh-huh," I groaned inside, great another one. Dad and her will get along famously.

"So um … yeah, how you doing Bright eyes? Everything okay?"

"I'm not doing too bad Freckles, had a good dinner last night thanks to you." Her face started to scrunch up before she forced it to relax, she didn't like Freckles. Will have to remember that. "Seriously, thank you for the deer and, you know, for not killing us."

"Hey, thanks for not giving me a reason to kill you guys," she sounded relieved but it could be an act. "Your brother could have been nicer but I get it. I won't hold it against him."

"Yeah, he can be a jerk sometimes," I responded softly. "But he is my twin so ..."

"Yeah, I get it, family; what can you do," she gave me smirk.

I almost gave her one back, her grins were infectious or something. She is a real charmer I bet, has all the boys eating out of her hand.

"We're trying to get our group together to move on, probably tomorrow, if you're wondering about that."

"That is kind of why I am here," I tense up a bit as her eyes tracked my rifle. I made the effort to point it down and away from her. Not very far but just enough that she relaxed, barely relaxed, but I could see it in her stance. "I have a message from my leaders to your dad or whoever in leading you guys."

"What's the message?"

"I kind of got to give it to him personally," Freckles said while slowly moving her arms up to her zipper. "I'm not armed. I am going to take my jacket off very slowly and prove it to you."

"Go ahead," I watched her unzip her winter jacket, damn it looked warm, and hold it in one hand. She did have red hair, well brownish red, it was up in a pony tail like mine but her hair isn't nearly as long. "Drop it to the ground, hold your arms out and take three steps back." She did as I requested, I did a quick pat down of the jacket while looking her over. Damn, she looks even smaller without that jacket on. She was wearing a long sleeve red flannel shirt with another black shirt on underneath. It was obvious to me that she was also wearing primarily boys clothing just like me. Everything was just a tad big on her, except her boots, those were leather and looked hand-made. Yeah, I'm jealous. I wish my boots looked that good, also they looked a lot more comfortable than mine. She also had a radio on her hip with a mic clipped to her shirt. "Here is your jacket back. I'm still going to have to pat you down as well."

"No problem, Bright Eyes." She turned around after putting her jack back on but leaving it unzipped, while placing her hands on the top of her head without me asking.

"My name is Sammy you know, Freckles," I said while sling my rifle on my shoulder.

"I'm Ellie, glad to meet you Bright Eyes." She said, I could hear the smile in her voice, as I started on her left ankle working my way up.

"Like wise, Freckles." I couldn't help myself, I actually smiled. She snorted but didn't comment on my nickname for her. When I got to her right butt cheek, I felt something in her jean pocket. I kept my hand there for a second trying to figure out what it was that she was carrying. I guess it was longer then I had though because she cleared her throat to add in her two cents.

"I know I'm not very good at the dating thing but aren't you supposed to buy me dinner before you feel me up?"

"What is in your back pocket?" I asked quickly, feeling my face get hot.

"It's my mom's switch blade," she said in a voice of steel. "I will get that back, understand."

I decided to leave it were it was, probably not worth the fight anyways. I know if I was carrying something that my mom let me use, I wouldn't give it up for anything. Even now, even after I found out my mom hates me.

"Next to me, wahoo," she was singing softly as I ran my hands over her arms. And that was the only words she kept singing. Strange girl this …

…

What the hell is under her shirt …

"Hey, you mind not touching those?"

"Touching what? What is that?"

"Those are my boobies," she said spinning away from me.

"That was not your breast, I never felt your breast ..."

"Yes, those were my boobies! I should know when someone is groping me, Bright Eyes!" She snapped as she awkwardly zipped up her jacket.

"Look Freckles, I know what breast feel like and I never felt your breast. There was something else on your chest, it was flat and hard."

"Hey! Just because mine are not like those fucking huge watermelons you have, doesn't mean I am flat!"

"I didn't say you were ..." Wait, what does she mean by that? "What's … what's wrong with my breasts?"

"Nothing, if you like them super size large." Freckles said checking me out. "How the hell do you walk around without falling on your face with those?"

"Mine is a perfect C Cup, thank you very much," I caught myself fidgeting with my jacket as she sent me a look of disbelieve. I forced my hands away from my own zipper as I retorted with, "Maybe when you hit puberty in a few years, you'll get your own set, instead of those grapes you have now."

"I'm going to be sixteen soon, Bright Eyes!" It was like she growled it out.

"Yeah, right, more like twelve, " I snorted out. "I will be sixteen September 13, when your birthday."

"Um," she said suddenly turning red face. "I … I'll … soon, you know, sometime soon …"

"What? You don't even know your own birthday?" I asked letting out a small laugh.

"Of course I know when my birthday … wait, did you call my boobies grapes? I knew it! You did cope a feel." She threw up her hands as I rolled my eyes, "Jeez, Bright Eyes; seriously, you owe me dinner big time. I'm not a cheep date, you know." She walked by me, towards the tower, just slowly shaking her head.

"Don't flatter yourself, Freckles, I don't like girls like that. Even if I did, you are not my type!" I had to step quickly to catch up to her, for such a small girl, she was quick.

"You could have fool me," she said rolling her eyes at me. "I don't like girls like that either, that is why you won't catch me going around feeling up random strangers on the first date."

"We are not on a date, how the hell can you say …"

"I know we are not on a date," she came to a stop and pointed her finger at me. "I don't date girls and if you expect a second date, I better get my steak and lobster. I deserve that much at least, I've told you before I am not a cheep date." She stomped away with a huff.

"Again, I don't date girls ..." I reminded her as I quickened my steps to keep up.

"Sure Bright Eyes."

"Second, if I did, Freckles, I wouldn't buy you steak and lobster for dinner ..."

"What?" Ellie stopped in her tracks and shot me a look of astonishment. "You won't even buy me dinner? What kind of girl do you take me for?"

"I'm sure you are a nice girl, and I would be glad to buy you dinner but how I can't buy you anything when I have no fucking idea what a lobster is!"

"Oh I get it now," she spun back around and walked towards my camp while giving me a fishy stare. "You're one of those people. You just love them then leave them, uh. Meet a nice girl, whisper sweet nothings in her ear, have a bit of fun and disappear into the night. 'Oh don't worry, I still respect you in the morning', right?"

"I wouldn't ever do that you Freckles, I'll … wait!" I stopped and put my left hand to my forehead, I'm completely lost now! What the hell, how did I … why the hell am I even having this conversation!

"No? Let me guess, you'll 'call me in the morning' right? Pftt! I swear you are all the same!" She spun back around to look at me while she walked backwards. "Steak and lobster, and maybe, just maybe, I'll let you take me to the movies this weekend … maybe! And this time, you better keep your hands to yourself!"

I am totally confused, now! What kind of girl did she think I was anyways? Sure, I might have had a couple one night stands back when I was younger but I never did anything like that to anyone. I sure wouldn't …!

Ugh, damn it I am not thinking about this now! This is stupid … and confusing … and .. and just …!

I still have no fucking idea what a lobster is?!

I stood by the double glass less door waiting for the befuddled Sammy to catch up. I gave myself a small smile, she had been easy to distract. The hidden radio I had tucked in my bullet resistant vest was safe, so Steven and the others, more importantly Joel, could still hear what was going on around me. Which was good because if anything went wrong, yeah I was screwed and would need Joel to pull my ass out of the fire. But, however, if I had any hope of this working, the last thing I need Joel coming to my rescue to early. And if she had found it, that would have sent the dogs of hell, better known as my Joel, on a rampage.

Then again, right this second, this plan sounded so much better … last night … then it did right now. Right now, I'm wondering why I ever talked Joel into letting me do this!

After we let Larry and his two kids take the deer, we followed them at a safe distance to the old air field North of Jackson. A place where small private planes, some had been use by private tour companies to fly over Yellowstone, and commutator planes use before the whole end of civilization happened. While Larry seemed to have his head in the game for the most part, the others with him; yeah, not so much.

Their fucking sentry left the tower when they arrived with the deer and no one went back up until after they all finished eating! Are you serious? Joel and I were able to cross the very open field, provided no cover for at least 300 yards, to the terminal to watch them play with themselves. We could have wiped out everyone without breaking a sweat if we wanted. Joel just shook his head when we left.

This morning when we came back, Alvin and Dwayne, both had stayed out here to keep an eye on them, reported that one of those so-called survivors kept his or her candles lit all night! Idiots! It wasn't until a small blond girl, probably Sammy, showed up around four; did the lights went out and stay out.

On one hand, their incompetence made our plan easier to sell since it could be said it was more of a mercy mission then anything else. The hills to the South and West were crawling with bad men who would eat these morons alive … maybe literally.

On the other hand, walking into the lion's den, even with these idiots, unarmed and alone wasn't as easy as it may sound. Idiots, after all, have a tendency of doing stupid things that can get you killed at the worst possible moment. Like start shooting because a chipmunk dropped a nut or something. SO putting my life in their hands; yeah, this plan sounded a lot better last night. Especially since Larry and his kids weren't totally idiots. And Sam, yeah I didn't trust him either. Hopefully, he was up in the tower doing guard duty.

Then again, miss 'lets have some fun' did leave my switch blade alone, not that it does me much good but it was something. Still can't believe she grab my ass like that but at least, it provided me cover on the whole vest thing.

"Dad, Ellie, Ellie, my dad," Sammy said in a huff as we went through the doors, she was looking far more upset about what happened then I was, I was the one who being groped after all!.

"Glad to meet you again Ellie," he said while glancing at Sammy.

"Back at you," I said not reaching out to shake hands. I slowly moved over to a low counter while checking out the different posters on the wall, while Sammy and her dad quietly conversed. Down by the bend in the wall was a woman with hair like Sammy's, might be her mom, holding another rifle but pointing it down and away. Larry doesn't seem armed, so I will assume he has a pistol somewhere on him. Damn both parents still alive? Huh, I though that only happened in Jackson.

"Dad, what is a lobster," she suddenly said loud enough for me to hear.

I plopped myself on the counter top, letting my legs swing over the edge while unzipping my jacket. Yeah, she was a lot more upset then she should be, wonderful, I'm going to feel guilty about this I just know it. Even thought I know I shouldn't. She is the one who grabbed me.

"What?"

"Lobster! I … I might have touch her more than I should have and now she says I owe her a steak and lobster." Fuck, I think she going to start crying. "I … I'm trying to do what you said and not start trouble but I didn't mean to grope her and now I owe her a lobster and I have no idea what one is!"

"Sammy," both Larry and I said at the same time as he went over to hug her. I wasn't about to hug her, don't want to give her any more ideas, so I explained why I did what I did. "Sammy, it's no big okay, I wasn't serious. Besides, you can't find lobsters around here anyways."

"What?"

"She was just pulling your leg, honey." Larry said with a smile. "She just trying to keep you off-balance." She pulled away from her dad, searching his face. "She wants to keep us off-balance, so we can't hurt her, that is all. And she is right, lobsters are only found on the coast, mostly but not limited to, New England, where she is from."

"What? Why would she …?"

"Put yourself in my place Sammy, I am alone, unarmed and in your camp. I have to make sure I'm safe for everyone sake. I think I can trust you, I might be able to trust your dad, maybe. But if I am wrong, I am dead. So ..." I shrugged my shoulders as her dad just gave me a tight smile and nod. Yeah, he understands. Hopefully, it will make my job her easier.

"So you lie to me, making me think I actually groped you?" She walked quickly over to where I was sitting and slapped me in the shoulder. Great, from tears to anger in ten seconds flat. "Thanks a lot, Ellie!"

"Well," Please, please don't let me blush, please don't let me blush. I lowered my voice enough so only she could hear me. "I never say it was a completely lie, Sammy, about the groping part."

"Oh," she said just as softly and wide eye while I looked at the poster behind her, oh pretty plane!

"Well, this is awkward," Larry said with a small laugh. "Looks like we have two lobsters here after all."

Great, yeah at being so fair skin. "Thanks."

"So, now that the ice has been broken; how can we help you today, young lady?" Larry said as Sammy backed up a bit to stand next to him.

"We're heading into Starvation Moon." I watched his face, he didn't twitch much so he understands where I'm going with this. I hope. My luck he will be thinking we want to hunt them or something. Than again, he seem surprise when I warned him about the cannibals.

"I had assume you weren't really all that concern about it or else you wouldn't have given us that deer yesterday." He said slowly, "But if you're worry about us competing with your group for food, we will be gone soon."

"No, actually we, that is my group, is more concerned about your welfare." Larry went wide eye as I continued on. "Last night my companion and I reported on your group to our leaders, they were concern that anyone would try to travel during the winter. So am I, actually. My companion and I left Boston the summer before last and we were in these parts last winter, damn near didn't make it. The lack of food, those nice people I told you about, the weather; good times." I gave him a ghost of a smile as he nodded. "My leaders are willing to give you … um … sanctuary, that is the word … until the spring thaw."

"That is … generous." Larry said slowly as he stroked his beard while glancing at his daughter. "A very generous offer, in fact. Makes me wonder how much of my soul I have to sell?"

"Nope, no souls." I let out a sigh with a smile. "The fact is we could use some extra bodies to help out in some construction projects we have planned. We have more plans than people. You will work just as the rest of us do to pay for your stay, just like we all do. There are no free rides in Jackson. Also, once the spring thaw occurs, anyone who wishes to leave is free to leave so as long as they understand that once they leave, they can't get back in. Also, they can't hang around our territory."

"So we will be slaves?"

"No, not slaves." I answered quickly. Kevin and I have had this conversation in the past and we rehashed it again last night, because Kevin wanted to make it absolutely clear to everyone involved in this discussion on this point. There would be no slavery in Jackson, ever. There would be no long-term prisoners, no pow camps; offenders will be Exiled once they had violated the law before they are held against their will. "We don't want slaves, we don't want people who are not committed to the same goals as we are; if you don't like it, you can always leave. Likewise, if our leaders are not happy with you, we will ask you to leave."