so it was surprising how much she looked forward to waking up each morning these days.
“You plan on sitting in here and sulking all day?” Mender slid into the seat next to her.
“Yep.” She took a large bite out of the apple.
“You going to let me have a bite?” He looked so hopeful Liberty handed the apple over without thinking, and was surprised to discover that, when he took a large bite himself, she only experienced a little regret over the loss.
Mender returned the apple before asking, “So, when are you going to show me below deck? I would love to see the artifacts you’ve found in the Forbidden Lands.”
Liberty stood and motioned him to follow. “It’s mostly glass jars and bits and pieces of whatever metals I can savage.” She talked as she walked. “The jars are needed to store the honey, applesauce and cider, that’s why they are in such high demand by Polly and Waters. I haven’t been able to collect as many since Father’s death. It’s not easy hauling them onboard without his help.”
“My father warned me about traveling out that far. Maybe you’ll let me tag along the next time you go. I’ve been thinking that, if we put our heads together, we could extend our trading into something bigger.”
She stopped on the stairs, turned and look up at him. “How so?”
He shrugged. “I know the people who are growing wheat, corn and potatoes, and you know the ones who have fish, apples, honey and cheese. With the two of us going into the Forbidden Lands together to salvage the things they need, and by cross trading everything, we can connect more people together. With the way things are now, it’s like everyone’s on their own little island, afraid of everyone else. Maybe, just maybe, we have the power to change that.”
Mender’s words found a home as they continued down into the hold, and for the first time in a long time, Liberty felt hopeful. “Do you think we can really accomplish something that big?”
He grinned. “Why not?”
Liberty stood back and watched Mender inspect the things she had stored here. “I’m afraid to take you with me to the Forbidden Land.”
He pulled his hand out of a jar and looked up. “Why?”
“You wouldn’t stop looking long enough to load anything.”
He grinned, sheepishly. “I’ve just never seen so much stuff collected in one place before. It’s amazing.” Mender looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, “You don’t really mind if I tag along do you?”
Liberty leaned on the nearest crate. “Why would I?”
He waved toward the items around them. “It just occurred to me you might not want anyone else going after this stuff.”
She shook her head. “You wouldn’t say that if you had ever been there. Even after all the destruction, there are still buildings standing there, filled with this kind of stuff, and for as far as the eye can see. No matter how often I’ve flown over it, I’ve never seen it all. The truth is, I have no idea what else might be in the Forbidden Lands to salvage, but there must be lots. Since Father died, though, I’ve been too afraid to stay on the ground long enough to find out. It would be nice to have a second pair of eyes there with me.”
“So what do we do first?”
Liberty scratched an eyebrow. “My usual route is to head straight from Shatters to Waters, to trade for dried fish, and from there to Billy’s for goat cheese. I put off going to Golden’s until I know her apples are ready to harvest. She doesn’t like visitors and only agreed to trade with me because I bring her the jars she needs for her cider and applesauce. I go to Polly’s last since it’s on my way back to the Forbidden Lands.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to take you with me to see her. She might shoot you on sight.”
Chapter Seven
“What on earth are you holding?” Although Liberty didn’t want to ask, curiosity finally got the better of her. Sometimes, Boy’s
“You plan on sitting in here and sulking all day?” Mender slid into the seat next to her.
“Yep.” She took a large bite out of the apple.
“You going to let me have a bite?” He looked so hopeful Liberty handed the apple over without thinking, and was surprised to discover that, when he took a large bite himself, she only experienced a little regret over the loss.
Mender returned the apple before asking, “So, when are you going to show me below deck? I would love to see the artifacts you’ve found in the Forbidden Lands.”
Liberty stood and motioned him to follow. “It’s mostly glass jars and bits and pieces of whatever metals I can savage.” She talked as she walked. “The jars are needed to store the honey, applesauce and cider, that’s why they are in such high demand by Polly and Waters. I haven’t been able to collect as many since Father’s death. It’s not easy hauling them onboard without his help.”
“My father warned me about traveling out that far. Maybe you’ll let me tag along the next time you go. I’ve been thinking that, if we put our heads together, we could extend our trading into something bigger.”
She stopped on the stairs, turned and look up at him. “How so?”
He shrugged. “I know the people who are growing wheat, corn and potatoes, and you know the ones who have fish, apples, honey and cheese. With the two of us going into the Forbidden Lands together to salvage the things they need, and by cross trading everything, we can connect more people together. With the way things are now, it’s like everyone’s on their own little island, afraid of everyone else. Maybe, just maybe, we have the power to change that.”
Mender’s words found a home as they continued down into the hold, and for the first time in a long time, Liberty felt hopeful. “Do you think we can really accomplish something that big?”
He grinned. “Why not?”
Liberty stood back and watched Mender inspect the things she had stored here. “I’m afraid to take you with me to the Forbidden Land.”
He pulled his hand out of a jar and looked up. “Why?”
“You wouldn’t stop looking long enough to load anything.”
He grinned, sheepishly. “I’ve just never seen so much stuff collected in one place before. It’s amazing.” Mender looked thoughtful for a moment before asking, “You don’t really mind if I tag along do you?”
Liberty leaned on the nearest crate. “Why would I?”
He waved toward the items around them. “It just occurred to me you might not want anyone else going after this stuff.”
She shook her head. “You wouldn’t say that if you had ever been there. Even after all the destruction, there are still buildings standing there, filled with this kind of stuff, and for as far as the eye can see. No matter how often I’ve flown over it, I’ve never seen it all. The truth is, I have no idea what else might be in the Forbidden Lands to salvage, but there must be lots. Since Father died, though, I’ve been too afraid to stay on the ground long enough to find out. It would be nice to have a second pair of eyes there with me.”
“So what do we do first?”
Liberty scratched an eyebrow. “My usual route is to head straight from Shatters to Waters, to trade for dried fish, and from there to Billy’s for goat cheese. I put off going to Golden’s until I know her apples are ready to harvest. She doesn’t like visitors and only agreed to trade with me because I bring her the jars she needs for her cider and applesauce. I go to Polly’s last since it’s on my way back to the Forbidden Lands.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “I’m not sure I’ll be able to take you with me to see her. She might shoot you on sight.”
Chapter Seven
“What on earth are you holding?” Although Liberty didn’t want to ask, curiosity finally got the better of her. Sometimes, Boy’s
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