Forsaken - An American Sasquatch Tale by Christine Conder Read Free Book Online

They didn’t feel comfortable forcing him to think of their move. His impending death.
    “What if I can’t find us anything else?”
    Nathaniel had found a cave, not far from where they were now, but it was incredibly sloped and small, and didn’t have water. Their first cave, the one they’d lived in when fate delivered Mitch and Ellie to them, didn’t have any either. And Liberty hated to haul water.
    “You think it’s possible you won’t?”
    “Anything is possible, Liberty.”
    Well, obviously not, or he’d have discovered a livable place not too far from Mitch’s property, with water, where she’d be nearby in case Sage ever turned up. And even if not, she’d be close to her memory.
    “What about up north? The mountains? Surely an untouched treasure or two can be found?” Plus, she thought, it’s still only a day, two at the most, from Montgomery Woods.
    “Yeah, maybe. But we’re running out of time,” his weary expression made Liberty think his heart wasn’t really in it.
    “We’ll stay at the little place across the way if we have to in the meantime, but I doubt it’ll come down to that.” She smiled at him. “You’re the best scout in the world.”
    She knew he took his obligations seriously, and admired him for it. He’d taken a hit to his ego when he’d lost Sage. Hadn’t really been the same since.
    He ignored the compliment. “I’m not saying it’s going to happen, but I think we should maybe, possibly, consider attending the assembly. Get a feel for things. And, depending on how it goes, think about a move back to Proem.”
    Proem, there it was again. She’d never escape it. Every fall, the assembly was attended by colonists from as many as four caverns in the state. Parents with children of age came together for a mixer, of sorts. Like they would have done with a sixteen-year-old Sage. Liberty wasn’t interested. Had no reason to be anymore.
    She sat up in bed. “You want to work for Cutler? Are you nuts?”
    “I never said that.” Nathaniel sat up and faced her. “But I do want for us to be safe.”
    “I won’t be safe at Proem. My sister has it in for me. You work as Council and you’ll end up taking me for a walk. Is that what you want?” She turned her back to him. “I can’t believe you think I’d even consider it.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous. Only hounds get put down.” He caressed her shoulder.
    Hounds, the reckless sorts who brought attention to the colony by the chances they took. Them and the unstable.
    “Anyway,” Nathaniel continued. “Gabe told me Proem is a lot different now. There are new colonists and many of them are…” He paused. “Forward thinking, like us.”
    “Sure, right.” Liberty rolled her eyes. “And then there’s Katie. And, more importantly, Patience, the political princess. She’s neither forward thinking nor new. If you’ll remember, we go way back.”
    “Maybe. But Gabe also said that Cutler has found a way to use some of the new technology. Like computers. Can you believe that? And he wants to find ways to help the Sasquatch develop a network to help ensure our safety and maybe even research a cure.”
    A cure? He was mad. There was no cure. Being Sasquatch wasn’t a medical condition for crying out loud.
    Liberty scoffed. “Hasn’t Mitch already shown you how to use the Internet to track Sasquatch? Why would Cutler’s way be better?”
    Nathaniel lowered and leveled his voice, trying to sound placating. “I never said it was.”
    “I thought that’s why you left Hickory. So you wouldn’t have to deal with all the politics.”
    “That’s true.”
    Liberty drove the point home. “We’re doing well on our own.”
    “Fine, just, there’s safety in numbers. And without Mitch…there is no safety net. No way to track hunting parties. You know what? Let’s drop it.” He leaned back in a huff.
    “Good idea.” No way would she ever rescind her pardon and go back to living with conspirators always on her mind.