Colony East by Scott Cramer Read Free Book Online Page A

“It’s…” She sat down, buried her hands in her face, and wept.
    She shouldn’t have been surprised to find a body here. The comet had appeared at midnight, and what better place to watch the heavens turn purple than your backyard. The deadly bacteria had penetrated the atmosphere as the stargazers marveled at the beauty.
    Mandy helped her up. Arm in arm, they continued on their way, albeit stepping more carefully. Even though Mandy had yet to utter a fourth word since they had left the house, something about her was different. Abby sensed Mandy was taking the first baby steps to trusting her and wanting her as a friend.
    When they climbed over the next fence, they were in the backyard of the green house. Abby saw Mandy’s motorcycle stowed next to the porch, concealed behind three trashcans.
    Mandy pointed out the kid’s pool, which had seen better days. The air had bled from the circular bladders of blue plastic. The flat, crinkled bottom held rainwater covered with a skim of green pine pollen and brown oak leaves. Abby unscrewed the Power Rangers thermos and placed it on its side; the muddy water sluiced in. Mandy lifted the edge of the pool to make the water run into the bottle faster. Then Abby filled the Mutant Ninja Turtles thermos. Finally, she cleared away the debris on the surface with her hand and drank like a horse.
    “I’m sorry I didn’t give you a pill,” Mandy said.
    “I understand.”
    “I’m not going to lie. I think it would have been wrong to waste a pill on a stranger. I know you don’t feel that way.”
    “I don’t know how I feel anymore.”
    Mandy started to continue, but then she stopped and looked away from Abby. Almost a minute passed with neither of them saying anything. Then Mandy took a deep breath. “I don’t blame Jordan for the way he feels about me. I can’t change what I did.”
    Abby bit her lip. She wanted to give Mandy time to speak her mind.
    Mandy shook her head, looked away, and cursed under her breath. “I hate myself,” she said finally.
    Abby gave Mandy a hug. “Things are different on Castine Island. It’s not like the mainland. I don’t mean to say it’s perfect. Kids are kids, you know. We have disagreements and everything, but at least we try to work together.”
    Mandy furrowed her brow. “Jordan doesn’t want me to go.”
    “Hey, I know my brother. He says things he doesn’t mean. He’s frightened. He’ll never admit it, but he’s afraid of the trip home. I am, too. If we stick together, we’ll make it. Timmy’s going to love the island. There are other kids his age. It’s a great place to grow up. He can act like a kid again. He won’t have to steal just to eat. Besides, Timmy needs you.”
    “He doesn’t need anyone.” Mandy raised her eyebrows. “He’s tough.”
    “Tough on the outside. Trust me, he needs you.”
    Mandy sighed and stared into the distance. “Maybe I need him, too.” It was barely a whisper, and Abby thought Mandy might have been saying it to herself. Could Timmy help heal her shattered heart?
    Abby took Mandy’s hand. “I think we could both use some chocolate.”
    The corners of Mandy’s mouth curled up, but the sadness in her eyes remained.

CHAPTER TEN
    “Look how much there was.” Jordan showed the shoebox of empty wrappers to Abby and Mandy, wanting to prove he hadn’t made up the Halloween story.
    They were all disappointed about the candy, but they had other things to discuss.
    They talked about the plan to return to the island. They had a good cache of crickets for their time at sea, and about six liters of drinking water. Jordan rattled off some useful things they could use: winter jackets, garbage bags, shoelaces. Abby, Mel, and Timmy, who would stay in the house while he went to find a boat, could hunt for the items.
    Jordan grudgingly accepted that Mandy would have to take him on her motorcycle. It was the fastest way. And in this new world, speed was survival.
    “We’ll go to Charlestown