Nathan Jones - Shortage

“They wanted food,” Matt said. “They seemed to think the entire shelter was stuffed full of provisions.”

The auburn-haired tomboy gave him an uncomfortable look. “Oh.”

“What do you mean, “Oh?” Matt demanded.

Chauncey answered. “None of us have repeated it, of course, but there’s been a rumor going around about your shelter. People heard how much stuff Ferris found in there when he cleaned the place out, and a lot of people are speculating that your family moved in there because you’d found more.”

Well that wasn’t exactly untrue. “If we did have any it’s almost all gone now,” Matt said. “And we’ve been stretching it tight to make it last. You can see for yourselves right now if you want.”

Tam held up her hands. “Hey, we haven’t been spreading that rumor!”

Matt calmed down a bit. “Sorry. I’m still pretty shaken up by the attack. Although it would be nice to know why nobody told me a rumor like that had been going around. If someone had we might’ve been more prepared for people to attack us.”

“It’s just one of those things that’s been going around for months,” Chauncey answered. “Personally I thought nobody would be stupid enough to try to steal from you since you’ve got that solid door that you keep locked every night. Not to mention you lead the town’s defenses and you’ve got your reputation so you’d be the last one any sane person would want to cross.” He gestured over his shoulder at the subdued attackers. “I never expected anything like this!” Tam and the others within earshot hurriedly agreed, looking a bit shamefaced.

Matt sighed. He could think of plenty of reasons why nobody would tell him the rumor was going around, but he didn’t want to ascribe those sorts of motivations to his friends. More likely they were just afraid the rumors were true and if they mentioned them he’d confirm it. It would be hard not to resent him at that point.

Either way he couldn’t see any benefit from pursuing the matter. Especially not when they’d risked their lives to come help him. “Should we go question the attackers?” he asked.

He jumped slightly when Catherine came up alongside him and put a hand on his shoulder. “Well it’s the biggest crime since Razor’s attack. I for one would like to know more about what happened.”

“I need a doctor!” one of the wounded men shouted as they came up the ramp. He was clutching his side, lips drawn back in a snarl of pain. Beside him the other wounded man had torn off the sleeve of his shirt to bind his calf, with blood already soaking through the thin cloth.

Tam gave them a look of disgust. “You guys know exactly whose house you were attacking. You seriously think the doctor’s going to help you after you tried to suffocate his family?”

Terry made his way up the ramp, rolling up his sleeves. “I couldn’t call myself a doctor if I decided to pick and choose the patients I treat. Besides, I suppose if nothing else I should make sure they live to see justice.”

Matt turned to the man he’d shot through the calf. He’d also been one of those who’d gone with hunting parties. Without much luck it seemed. “You were speaking for your group. You want to tell me why you attacked us?”

The man gave him a look seething with hatred. “No mystery there. You had food, we were starving. So kill me for trying to feed my wife, and while you’re at it you’ll probably kill her for coming along with us because we knew we’d have to leave afterwards. She’s never hurt a soul.”

Matt glanced at the handful of women among the attackers, who were all glaring at him resentfully, but directed his question at the spokesman. “Any accomplices?”

“Aside from the ones you gunned down?” The man glanced at his dead friends, then spat in Matt’s direction. “None of this would’ve happened if you’d just shared what you had.”

“That’s what Ferris claimed, but you’ll notice not many people around here seem to agree with that line of thinking after the winter we’ve just had.”

Catherine caught his arm and pulled him aside, over near the shipping container shed where they could speak privately. “You’re not looking so good, Matt.”

Matt absently rubbed at the graze on his arm. “Yeah well I just got shot at, smoked out, and I’ve got to deal with the fact that my family almost died because I let down my guard.”

“I don’t mean that.” She took his forearm, not having to squeeze hard to press against bone. “We thought you were doing the best out of anyone in town but you’re skin and bone. I could pick Sam up and tuck her under one arm, the poor dear. And Paul should be a pudgy little scamp.”

He did his best to control his temper. He was tired, hungry, and still practically shaking from the adrenaline of the attack. “What are you getting at, Madam Mayor?”

Catherine gave a soft, tired laugh. “Do I look any better? Does Tam? Ben? Even the Watsons with their goats are looking like they’ve been skipping meals. We’ve lost 531 people this winter out of a population of 1,282, and we’re not even to spring planting yet, let alone harvesting any crops. 9 out of 10 animals in town have been butchered for meat, even pets, and you’ve heard the same whispers I have about some of the most desperate among the townspeople resorting to something far, far more terrible than eating pets. Things are going to get worse before they get better.”

Instead of asking her what she was getting at for a second time Matt simply waited. He didn’t wait long before Catherine finally got to the point. “I want you to find Trev and Lewis and get any food they have.”

Matt wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting, but not that. “You want me to do what?”

The Mayor gave him an impatient look. “Come on, Matt, I’m sure you’ve worked this out. Trev and Lewis lost their shelter and everything in it when Ferris confiscated the structure. And then before he left your friend gifted you with hundreds of pounds of food. If the cousins had nothing and were desperate to survive the winter they would’ve gone after that cache themselves. Since they tossed it away without a second thought that means they have more. Probably lots more.”

“Which they’ll have taken with them to eat over the winter.”

“Two men, hiking up into the mountains? They couldn’t have carried all they had.”

He wasn’t so sure of that. “Even so, you want me to hike up there to find them and ask? Assuming they’re even still alive.”

She looked into his eyes calmly. “I’m sure you don’t think those two are dead.”

Matt hesitated. “Well no, I think if anyone could survive up there they could.” He rallied. “But they trusted me to keep their location secret, along with everything else about them. Besides, I thought you said Aspen Hill was done with confiscating food!”

The Mayor’s expression hardened. “Do you honestly think that’s what I intend to do?” she said, sounding almost hurt. “I’m sending you up there to buy the food, Matt! However you can manage it.”

“But what could we possibly offer them that’s more valuable than the food itself these days? You’ve run into this problem with every single negotiation for livestock you’ve done on behalf of the town.”

Catherine threw up her hands in exasperation. “And I’ve always managed to make the purchase! These are your friends, I trust you can talk them around. Offer them whatever they’re willing to accept. We’ve got ammo, which they’ll probably want. Or we can look at it like a loan and offer them future payments of food or other necessities.” She stepped forward and caught his arm. “But we need those supplies, Matt. Whatever they have. We’ve run out of canaries in the coal mine if even your family is starting to go hungry when you had Trev’s cache. Think of Sam.”