Роберт Уилсон - Days Since... - Jenny - Day 986

Jenny nodded. “Then we warn them. Tell the Depot what’s coming. Xavier,”—he looked to her—“I appreciate you volunteering, but… if you walk out there in that uniform, you’re guaranteed to be shot.” She let a long breath escape her. “I guess I couldn’t blame you if you had second thoughts about sticking with us. Going against your parents would be tough.”

“It’s not about going against my parents. They aren’t out there fighting, they don’t even know what’s going on. Someday I’ll show my mom and dad the truth. Then they’ll know the S.A. isn’t for us. It never has been.”

“Yeah, I hope they do figure it out…” Her voice trailed off, her thoughts moving on, trying to piece together some kind of plan. Xavier’s definitely out. Sherman too. Grant… He’d be better off staying behind. She sighed. “So, I’m thinking it has to be just me and Matt going out. Anyone else will be too big of a risk.”

The binoculars dipped from Matt’s gaze. He faced Jenny, but said nothing, a look of doubt greeted her.

“You don’t even know what’s out there…” Grant pointed out the obvious.

“The fact no shots have been fired is a good thing. I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to get the guards’ attention before getting too close. It’ll be fine.” I hope… Jenny stripped her sock hat and kerchief away. “Grant, can you stay here with Xavier and Sherman? I know it’s probably not what you want, but it’s what we need. If for some reason we don’t make it—”

“Don’t say that.”

“Just hear me out.”

Grant nodded.

“Someone will need to vouch for Xavier if the Depot finds you guys. And…” Jenny exhaled, her voice became downhearted. “…if the S.A. for some reason makes it here or whatever, then Xavier can act like he took you prisoner or something. The step beyond that… I don’t know.”

“Well, if I’m staying put,” Xavier said, “then take this.” He offered his Steyr AUG rifle over to Matt. “Here.”

Matt passed the binoculars back to Jenny and shimmied his way from the booth. He took an awkward once-over of Xavier’s rifle, clearly not familiar with some of its features. “I… This thing looks… kinda weird.”

They all work basically the same way, Matt. Come on…

“Here, let me show you.” Xavier motioned for Matt to follow him to the other side of the dining area with the jerk of his head. Jenny set her long gun across the tabletop—double-checking a firearm was never a bad idea, especially when surrounded by increasing unknowns.

While working her M4 carbine, she couldn’t help but eavesdrop on Xavier’s instruction. He had obviously been through extensive training since joining the Second Alliance. His confidence. His newfound expertise. Wonder if he forgot all his maintenance training to make way for all that knowledge. Easing the charging handle back, she confirmed a round sat in the rifle’s chamber. Then, she checked the magazine. Filled to the top. The steel selector switch dimpled her thumb, pushing ‘Safe’ to ‘Semi.’ Once satisfied with her firearm, she hung it over her shoulder and moved toward Matt and Xavier.

Jenny observed Matt’s tentative handling of the Steyr rifle. His expression muted, he listened to every word Xavier shared. Jenny offered nothing. Didn’t need to. Xavier had it covered. If his loyalties still lie with us— If… Stop second guessing him. Grant’s right. It is Xavier. He’s with us again. I can’t keep blaming him for what happened. He didn’t really have a choice, right? Besides, with that training, he’s an asset—his story, his experience will help convince the Depot of what’s coming. He’s still one of us. You gotta quit doubting him.

“Oh, it’s just like… I see.” Matt chuckled, his face taking on a comfortable glow of familiarity which helped allay Jenny’s reservations upon seeing his initial contact with the rifle. “It’s really no different than the others I’ve used. Just never seen a rifle like this or a built-in scope like that.” He studied it for a few seconds. “Where do you adjust it?”

“Don’t think you can. Or, at least I wasn’t shown how. If you don’t like the scope, there are iron sights across the top there. Personally, I like it, but I’ve been training with it for awhile.”

“No, I’ll be fine.” Matt knelt. Lodging the rifle into his shoulder, he aimed it through the broken glass door, steadying it on something in the distance. “Pretty amazing.”

“It’s a pretty versatile rifle. My trainer—”

“What trainer?” Jenny asked.

“I’m in training to be a scout for the S.A.”

“You were in training,” Jenny mocked him.

“You know what I mean.”

“I know.” She smiled, and he returned the same.

“Glad you kiddos are gettin’ along now, but we need to get this show on the road. No tellin’ when the S.A.’s gonna catch up. They had to know we was comin’ here. Had to.” He looked to Jenny. “So, what you got for us, girlie?”

She’d never seen it before, but Grant sought something from her. Direction. Advice. Leadership. Finally, here it was, lining his eyes, and she felt it—being taken seriously—being treated as an equal. Not being a fighter, Grant saw in her what he never could be. Someone to lead the offensive. Someone to take back control of their fate. Doubt escaped her. She could do this.

Jenny took another cursory scan of the parking lot. Nothing different. “Let’s go, you guys.” She led Xavier, Grant, and Sherman to the manager’s office in the back. “Hang tight here, and we’ll be back soon.” Jenny handed Sherman’s lead to Grant and motioned for Matt to give up the pistol and leg holster he’d been carrying since their rescue.

Xavier looked it over. “This was Danny’s?”

Matt offered a solemn nod. “Be good to it.”

Matt and Jenny made their way back outside through the busted-out door, rifles drawn, scanning toward the back side of the restaurant. A sharp wind burst across their bodies. Matt started to raise his kerchief back up and over his mouth and nose. “Can’t,” Jenny said, “they have to recognize us from the roof.” She pulled her hair out from the back of her coat, letting it rest upon her shoulders. “We need to make it obvious that it’s us or this will never work.”

“I know… I just—” The zipper on his coat shook—his body already trembling from the wind. Jenny felt it too, although not to that point. “I swear I can feel icicles forming from the end of my nose it’s so damn cold.”

“You nervous?” she asked.

Matt broke eye contact, glancing toward the ground for a split second. His tell. How she knew when the next words would be a lie. Before he could offer the fib, she raised onto her toes and kissed him. Passionate. Deep. He pulled her in. The clack of their rifles, unnoticed. The wind stilled. The cold gone. Heat between them. They pulled away, both smiling with eyes wide.

“I lov—”

She put her gloved finger over his lips. “Don’t. That’s not good-bye just foreplay.” Jenny offered a coy smile.

“I do, though.” Matt wouldn’t break eye contact.

“I know you do.” She took a step toward the rear parking lot, but Matt grabbed hold of her rucksack.

“That’s it?” His lips bent into a disappointed frown. “All you’re going to say about it?”

“Do I really have to say the words?”

“It’d be nice.”

“You’re acting like this is the end, Matt. All we have to do is walk over, let them see us, and we’re in.”

“What if it’s not that easy…” His eyes read nervous.

“It will be that easy. At some point, shit has to turn around for us. Everything has happened for a reason. We can’t let it all be for nothing.” Slightly agitated, Jenny broke from the conversation, raised her rifle level—the muzzle leading her past the drive-through and into the back side of the McDonald’s parking lot.