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Luke was standing before his House just as he had promised. Eve noticed that he didn’t have a pack. Perhaps she was being over-cautious. Luke knew what he was doing, didn’t he?
He grinned and waved. “I’m so glad you’re up to this,” he said, unfolding the map. The crinkled paper was yellow with age and smudged with splotches. “It looks pretty straightforward to get beyond the hills. All we have to do is follow this curving path. The settlement shouldn’t be too far after that.”
Eve hoped Luke was right. The red dot that indicated the human settlement, where he assumed the Banished were taken, was only inches from the squiggles that represented the hills. No, it shouldn’t be far at all, according to the map.
It was still too early for most Citizens to be up. A few drones shuffled awkwardly about, sweeping up twigs and leaves that had fallen during the night rains. They certainly won’t care about what we are doing, thought Eve, sprinting to keep up with her slightly longer-legged friend.
They walked in silence for some time. The scent of baking bread wafted from the House of Chefs. Eve realized she had left before drones could deliver breakfast to her House, but her stomach was too jittery for food.
The pine and cedar trees grew even thicker the closer Eve and Luke drew to the Dusk Hills, allowing only dapples of sunlight to filter through. They paused as the path led to the foot of the hill. It was too easy to just follow it. There was nothing blocking their way. Why had it never occurred to any other New Eden Citizen to follow it? Or perhaps the ones who did so never returned… or were caught and Banished…
“Are you ready?” Luke asked, startling her. Eve nodded stiffly.
“Then let’s go before the other Citizens who are off today get up.”
Eve was grateful that most Citizens slept late when they didn’t have to work.
Luke took her hand as they started up the hill. Her muscles, used to casual swims in the lake and leisurely strolls through grassy parks, burned. The cool fragrant air was growing gradually warmer, and insects darted about. The path receded into springy moss and a carpet of pine needles. Worry, an emotion Eve was unaccustomed to, began to gnaw at her mind.
“Are you sure this is the right way?” she gasped as they wended their way around the tall, scattered trees. “I thought the path on the map was fairly clear.”
“It’s an old map, don’t forget,” Luke replied, his voice tense as if he were trying to sound nonchalant but failing. “No one has come this way for, I don’t know, possibly hundreds of years.”
His words sent a chill through Eve. “Hundreds?” Her voice came out as a muted squeak.
“Just think. We’re the first after all that time…except, of course, for the Banished.”
“Let’s rest for a bit,” Eve sighed once they had reached level ground. “I’m tired and hungry.” She plopped onto a boulder and opened her pack.
“I forgot to bring food,” Luke admitted, panting from the hike. “To be honest, I thought we’d be there by now.” He sighed with relief when Eve pulled out her food, wrapped in cloth napkins, and a thermos of fireberry juice.
She spilt her share with Luke. The cheese had slightly melted, the fruit was mushy, and the bread starting to harden, but she was so hungry she didn’t mind. Even the fireberry juice was warm, but it slid down her throat with a refreshing tang, leaving her feeling relaxed. They would soon reach their destination, see what was there, and then return in time for supper.
About Donna Marie Robb
