Back at the others she loaded the boys with as much water and food as they could carry to reinforce their status as surely the farmer was watching. When Brad started to complain she cuffed him lightly on the head.
"Hush" she grunted. "You want to get us killed?" Brad quieted, taking his load and trudging after Calli, his mother following behind. Jason took Rina by the hand and pulled her along, not complaining about the weight. Brent stayed behind the other children, playing his part as slave, watching to make sure they didn't flag. The farmer watched them go. He felt he had done a good deal. A good cow, a serviceable cart, and he was rid of the brat, and at a profit too.
It was almost noon before they left the farmer and Calli was getting weary. She hadn't slept since the day before, walking through the night to get them as far from the hotel as possible. Once out of sight of the farmer they stopped to relieve the younger boys of their burdens. Calli placed half of it in the pack she was carrying on her back. The rest was put in Brent's pack. He was a strong young man.
"There's an old barn up ahead about 20 minutes away." she told Aileen. "We'll stop there until it cools off."
The barn was in pretty bad shape but most of the walls were still standing.
"You better get some sleep, Calli.", Aileen said softly as she passed out food and water from the pack. "I'll stand guard and watch the kids. You have to be exhausted. I'll call you if anything happens." Calli nodded, taking up a position by the open door, her shotgun across her lap. She would nap lightly as she always did in open territory.
The late afternoon sun shone into Calli's closed eyes, bringing her awake. She pulled herself up and took stock of the situation. The kids were napping in a back corner, looking sweet and angelic in sleep. She smiled briefly at them, letting herself feel for a moment how much she loved them. Jack's sons, her sister wife's sons, she would do whatever was necessary to protect them.
She rose, shouldered the gun and went over to where Aileen was sitting beside them, her shotgun on her lap.
"Do we have much further to go, Calli?", Aileen asked. She had cleaned up and packed everything so they were ready to leave.
"Sorry, hon, but it's going to take us at least another day. It might take longer since we're walking and the kids are going to get exhausted. We might have to rest a lot more." Calli answered. "You better rouse the kids. I want to get to our next camp before dark." She shouldered her pack and went outside to scout for danger while Aileen got the children up and going.
With Calli leading and Aileen, in her oversize stuffed slaver outfit, bringing up the rear, they pushed on through the wasteland. Calli went off twice to dispatch animals that could threaten the small party, but otherwise they had little trouble. The kids trudged wearily but they learned not to complain.
Brad was wary and scared of the woman he had always thought their other Mom, now he was confused and frightened. Even his Mom wouldn't respond to him, telling him sharply to be quiet and not talk to her, even striking him when he didn't obey. Brent had been a great help getting his brother to obey without question. The younger boy clung to him now as to a lifeline in this strange, frightening new world. Rina clung to Jason, who seemed to accept that he had to do whatever was necessary, and followed Brent's lead. Calli had warned him the trip would be long and hard.
The small party reached the cave just as the sun was setting. Calli quickly scouted the cave and area to make sure it was safe before allowing Aileen and the kids to enter the cave. She always kept a supply cache in the cave, including plenty of water and bedding, as she had used this cave many times when in the area. The cave was snug and warm and the night passed without incident.
Brent rose early and went to sit in the doorway of the cave, watching the sun rise. He felt the small figure come to sit beside him.
"How much longer, Calli?" he asked wearily. "I don't think the others can go much further." Calli let herself smile briefly. Brent, she reflected, was a natural born leader. The other children had gravitated to him and followed his lead.
"We should be there by evening. You've been a big help to us, Brent. I know it's hard. I'm sorry. Things will be better in Arhome." He looked at her with big eyes too old for his age. Her heart constricted at all he had been through.
"I hope so.", he said and got up to go help Aileen with breakfast.
The morning sun had just breached the top of the mountains as they left the cave. Calli had reduced her load to only the amount of food and water they would need for the day. The boys each carried a bottle and Aileen carried only 2, all Calli would allow. She was heavily pregnant and the weight of the suit and weapons was all she could carry. If all went well they would be at Entrance Cave by late evening. She led the party as always, alert for danger, while Aileen guarded the rear. Rina was slowing them down, as she couldn't walk fast, but that couldn't be helped.
"Hey slaver.", the rough voice called. Calli warily observed the Enclave guard. She had noticed the camp from some distance back and made to go around it.
"Hey, Enclave", she responded politely. "What can I do for you?"
"What are you doing way out here, slaver?", he asked suspiciously.
Calli replied coolly, "Trading, what else? Have you anything you want to trade?" He ignored this, eyeing the children and Aileen, who had her shotgun ready.
"Who does those kids belong to?",he asked.
"Why, me. Do you have a problem with that?" He laughed hoarsely.
"Naw, too many of the little brats in the wasteland if you ask me. You got any water?" Calli shook her head.
"None to spare.", she said coldly. " We need to get going, the merchandise doesn't hold up well in this heat."
He grinned, looking the small figure over. "Maybe you'd like to spend some time with us.", he sneered, jerking at his crotch. Calli fingered the slave collar hanging from her belt.
"Maybe you'd like to join our little group.", she rejoined. He laughed again coarsely.
"Just funning with ya, slaver. There's not much to do here. What's wrong with him?" He inclined his head toward Aileen. "Doesn't he talk?"
"No." Calli said shortly and started to move off, motioning Aileen to take the lead.
"Hey, slaver," the soldier yelled after her. "Have a good trip" and she heard his guffaw as she walked away, alert to every move he made. The wrong one, and he would never laugh at anyone again, she thought grimly.
It was almost dark before Entrance Cave came into view. Calli sighed wearily, picking up the exhausted Rina. Another child for Arhome. Well, she couldn't have left her behind with that awful man, could she?
"Just a little further" she encouraged the others. They stumbled into Entrance Cave entirely worn out. The kids made for the fur covered beds and fell into exhausted slumber. Aileen sank wearily onto the large couch in the living room of the entrance barracks. Calli watched her concernedly.
"Are you okay, Hon?" she asked, helping her out of the slaver outfit. She handed Aileen a bottle of purified water and watched her drink it down. There was plenty of pure water here so she could have all she wanted. She wet a clean cloth and wiped the tired face gently.
"Just rest a bit, Hon, we're safe now. Just let me check the shuttle and we can get into Arhome.", she said encouragingly.
Aileen smiled, catching Calli's hand. She moved the hand to her abdomen. "He's moving, Calli. He's almost ready, I know it. Jack's child. Oh, Calli, I miss him so much", she cried.
Calli pulled the larger girl into her embrace.
"Me too, hon, me too," she whispered, holding the woman until she fell into an exhausted sleep. Derek came up quietly behind her.
"Is she all right?", he asked softly so as not to wake her.
"Yes, but it's been a hard trip, especially for her. Is the shuttle ready to go into Arhome?"
"It was checked when it docked but that was hours ago. Just let me go over it again. It'll only take 20 minutes or so.", he replied.
"Good.", Calli said wearily. "I'll just rest here with Aileen. Call me when it's ready."
Twenty minutes later Derek helped Calli carry the sleeping children to the shuttle. Brent was too big to carry so they woke him and Aileen after the smaller children were settled. Derek helped Aileen to the shuttle and settled her on a comfortable bunk. She was soon sound asleep again.
"We're not leaving Arhome this time, are we mother Calli?", Brent asked, stretching out on a bunk beside his small brother.
"No, not to the wasteland anyway. For you to be safe they have to think you're dead. All of this would be for nothing if any of you were ever to go out there again." He nodded.
"That's all right. I like Arhome and mom will be safe.", he said.
They made it into Arhome without incident. The children were taken to the spare rooms in Calli's home. Aileen and Calli went to her room. Aileen closed the door softly and turned on Calli.
"Where is he Calli? Where is Jack?", she demanded.
"I'm sorry, Aileen", Calli said. "Jack isn't here. He's dead. He was too badly hurt. I couldn't save him."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Aileen wailed. Her voice was strained with grief and fury. She rounded on Calli. "You thought I was weak didn't you? You thought I'd fall apart, I'm not as strong as you. You should have told me.", she sobbed. Calli stared out the window, tears falling softly.
"I didn't tell you because I needed you with me. I was afraid you would fall apart because I did."
"What?" Aileen choked, staring at her , not comprehending. Calli turned from the window to look at her.
"I fell apart, Aileen. I wanted to die. I think I would have if it hadn't been for Hawk. He reminded me why I had to live. The same reason you had to live, we have to keep living. The children! Everything is for the children.", she choked out over her tears.
She sobbed, "The last word on his lips was your name, Aileen. He loved you so much."
"Oh Calli, I'm sorry." Aileen broke into great racking sobs. Calli quickly crossed the room, taking her in her arms, and the women wept for the man they had both loved and a life now gone. Calli knew in her heart she would never tell Aileen everything about how Jack had died. That was a horror she didn't need to bear.