Page 69 (1/2)

Lies Michael Grant 14950K 2023-09-01

At some point Before Must have

"Yeah," she said aloud, voice slurred

"What?" John asked, frowning like it was all he could do to pay attention

"Nothing Talking to o find Sae We’re out of water We need twice the usual amount of food And I need soht, but John didn’t seeency food to feed theet back," Mary said She walked away before John could ask hoas supposed to stretch four cans of etables and a vacuury kids

Near the plaza things didn’t look much different than usual They smelled different--smoke and the acrid stench of melted plastic But the only evidence of the disaster at first was the pall of brown haze that hovered above the town That and a pile of debris peeking out frodecisions, organizing, planning John had gone on a tour with them earlier, but if he was back they should be, too

She needed to talk to Dahra See whatbefore the depression sed her up again Before she…so

No one was ho from the base on down there No, not now, Dahra would kick her out

Even though it would really only take Dahra a few seconds to grab a Prozac or whatever she had

Mary al outside on the town hall steps sarette

Her hands were stained red No one had water to waste on washing off blood

Lana glanced up at her "So Hoas your night?"

"Me? Oh, not great"

Lana nodded "Burns They take a long tiht"

"Where’s Patrick?" Mary asked

"Inside He helps kids stay cal for the day care Helps kids…Helps theers are burned off"

So else Oh, of course "I hate to ask, I know you’ve had a hard night," Mary said "But one of er"

Lana aler? He’ll live, probably But all I had tiht away I’ll have to spend a lotany more pictures"

"Z’anyone knohat happened?" Mary’s lips and tongue felt thick

Lana shrugged She lit a second cigarette fron of wealth, in a way Cigarettes were in short supply in the FAYZ Of course the Healer could have whatever she wanted Who was going to say no?

"Well, it depends on who you believe," Lana said "So it was Zil and his idiots Others are saying it was Caine"

"Caine? That’s crazy, isn’t it?"