“Just to be sure you’re healthy. You know that green stuff is pretty nasty.” Amber paused. “Or do you not know how destructive it is? Did it touch you at all after the blast?”
Ford spoke up quickly. “No. We were camping on the top of a canyon not far from Warm Springs, which gave us a great view and also kept us above the green fog.”
“Though we did see how dangerous it is as it engulfed and killed the people below us,” added Mercury.
“Yes, that is why we avoided it on our trek here,” said Karen.
“And also why it took us so long to hike here,” said Ford. “We had to keep going around the green stuff.”
“That was wise,” said Amber. “Tomorrow you’ll see that Mayor Cruz has directed that industrial fans, the kind used in hemp farming, be placed in key locations in the heart of the town so that if the fog rolls in we can turn them on and keep our citizens safe by blowing away that nasty stuff.” She shuddered delicately.
“That’s a good idea. That fog is definitely dangerous, but like Ford said, we’ve avoided it completely,” Stella said. “So there should be no reason for us to have our blood tested.”
“Oh, it’s not just to check your health. Mayor Cruz has also set up a blood bank. We’ll be typing your blood and in the event survivors need transfusions, that will help us know who to go to for a lifesaving donation.”
“I know my blood type,” said Mercury. “O negative.”
“Mine is O positive,” said Stella.
“Well, it’s convenient that you know that, now isn’t it?” Amber patted Stella’s arm as she moved past her to guide them to their classroom. “But we all want to be sure, and of course there’s the problem of the green fog. Even breathing in a tiny bit of it can be harmful. You might not have known you were exposed.”
Ford propped the door to his room open with a backpack and went with the silent women, who followed Amber to the next classroom. All four of them peered down the hallway to see Moira standing exactly where Amber had left her. She stared at them expressionlessly as they waited in the hall while Amber turned on another floor lamp, which shined on a room set up very much like Ford’s.
“There you go! Come on in! So, do you have any questions?” Amber folded her hands before her and waited expectantly.
“No,” Stella said. “You’ve been very helpful.”
“And what about you, Ford? Is there anything else I might do for you?” Amber blazed her smile at him.
“Nope—what Stella said: you’ve been great. We’ve been walking for three days, and we’re pretty beat. I’m sure we’ll be asleep very soon.”
“Well then, I will see you tomorrow. Oh my goodness! I almost forgot. Tomorrow evening we’re going to have a gathering at Sahalee Park, right down the street from here. There will be food and music. The mayor calls it our first Post-Apocalypse Madras Festival.” Amber laughed softly at their surprised expressions. “Yes, I know. It seems odd to have a festival in the middle of a disaster that has changed our world and cost so many their lives, but Mayor Cruz believes it will be good for morale to remind everyone that some normalcy remains, as well as joy.”
“I think that sounds lovely,” said Karen.
Amber squeezed Karen’s arm warmly. “As do I. Welcome to Madras.” She breezed past them, and the door closed silently behind her.
“Jesus Christ. She’s a Stepford wife,” said Stella.
“Shh!” Mercury said as she hurried to the door. She paused, and then very carefully cracked it, pressing her ear to the small opening. She heard Amber and Moira’s voices—Amber’s cool and reserved—Moira’s louder and obviously angry. Though she strained, she couldn’t make out words. Then the voices stopped, and the door to the classroom down the hall slammed shut. Silently, Mercury closed the door. “I couldn’t make out what they were saying, but Moira is definitely pissed.”
“And mentally ill,” said Karen.
“Oh please, Karen. We don’t know that’s the truth,” said Mercury.
“We also don’t know that it isn’t the truth,” insisted Karen.
“Fine. We’ll leave the topic of Moira’s mental health for later, but blood tests?” Mercury said. “Blood fucking tests?”
“Perhaps Amber is being honest,” said Karen as she walked to one of the cots and put her backpack down beside it. “Why does everything have to be nefarious?”
“Seriously, Karen?” Stella shook her head.
“Well, one can hope!” Karen said.
“They know!” Stella rounded on Karen. “Stop being so fucking naive and desperate to like that woman and this place because Amber kept saying they’re blessed and the town is godly—which is a stupid fucking reason to think a school can’t have a shooter.”
Truth!” said Mercury.