Chapter 16
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As the bus trundled down the highway, Cameo went through the contents of his backpack.
โShort-range walkie-talkies, shirts, pants, socks, necklace-โ His voice caught. The necklace had been his motherโs. It was on a thin gold chain and had a small golden heart, engraved with a short sentence. โI cannot live without you.โ It had been a gift from his father. He had given it to his mother as a wedding gift on a beach in Hawaii.ย
Shoving his parents out of his mind, he clambered over to Infinity, who was dozing against the far wall. He poked her in the shoulder. She punched him.
โOuch! Fine, I guess I won't give this to you!โ He turned up his nose and crawled away, promptly entangling himself with his backpack straps and falling on his face. Infinity sprang up.
โWait, wait! What is it?โ She laughed, unknotting the straps tangled around his ankles. He held up the necklace, still on his face, the pendant dangling from his fingertips.
โFor you, ะั,โ he addressed her in Russian, still afraid to call her something he couldnโt take back. He sat up and clasped the chain around her neck.
โOh,โ she breathed. โItโs beautiful. Thank you!โ
โAh!โ he exclaimed, holding his hands to his heart. โะญัะพ ะบัะฐัะพัะฐ ะฝะต ะผะพะถะตั ััะฐะฒะฝะธัััั ั ัะฒะพะตะน! Aั , ะปัะฑะพะฒั ะผะพั, ะผะพะน ะฒะตะปะธะบะพะปะตะฟะฝัะน ัะฒะตัะพะบ!โ
โI have no idea what youโre saying, but I'll take it.โ She laughed and wrapped her arms around him. The instant she touched him, he dissolved into her, trying not to lose control of himself, not again. She tilted her face towards his, eyes half-closed in anticipation.ย
His lips had just found hers when they lurched to a stop.
โAck!โ Cameo landed on his head, Infinity on his stomach. He pushed himself off the floor and looked at her dolefully. โWeโll finish this later.โ He kicked open the hatch to the storage bay, the door nearly whacking Tanner in the face. He ducked just in time.
โGood night, Cameo, you trying to kill me?โ Tanner had meant it as a joke, but to Cameo, it was a real question, and it hit him like a freight train.
โNo, no, no. I'm not. Iโm not trying to kill you. Iโm sorry, Iโฆ Iโฆ ะะตั, ะฟัะพััะธ, ั ะฝะต ั ะพัะตะป ัะตะฑั ัะฑะธะฒะฐัั, ะฟัะพััะธ.โ He fumbled over himself, scared now.
โOh no,โ Infinity whispered. She crawled over to Cameo and placed her hands on his shoulders. โHey, hey, it's okay, youโre okay.โ She held him tight against her body, whispering calming words in his ear. He shook his head, trying to clear it.ย
Tanner held his hands up. โHey, sorry Cameo. I didnโt mean anything. It was a joke. Sorry.โ He stood there for a moment, looking uncomfortable.
Infinity cleared her throat. โUm, did you need something?โ
โOh, yeah, um, Cameo, were wondering if you would teach us how to fight. Like, we can throw a punch, or knock a guy down with one hit,โ he snickered, โbut we donโt know how to actually fight.โย
Cameo nodded slowly, wondering what he was about to do. โYouโll need to learn hand-to-hand combat, weaponry, shooting-โ
โShooting?โ Infinity looked excited.
โYeah,โ he continued, breezing over the question. โSpears, swords, archery, throwing knives, weโve got a ton to cover. Gather everyone up! Weโll take a few days here,โ he finished, clambering out of the compartment and gazing around the deserted highway. โItโll make a great sparring environment. We start now!โ He raised his finger in an overly dramatic gesture. Kids started piling out of the buses. โTallyho! First, oldest boys, ages 16-19, youโll be learning MMA. Is anyone familiar with this?โ A few hands rose into the air.
โWe took it in Yellowknife,โ someone shouted.
โOkay, perfect. You can help me instruct. Girls, ages 16-19, I'll be teaching you how to shoot. Does anyone know how?โ Only one hand rose this time. โInfinity?โ
โYeah,โ she smiled sheepishly. She reached behind her, grabbing something. She held her hand up, a handgun held in perfect form. โWant me to prove it?โ
โSure,โ he agreed. She walked to the edge of the road, raised the gun, released the safety, and squeezed the trigger, blowing the branch off of a tree a hundred and fifty yards away. A squirrel dropped to the ground, dead. She shrugged.ย
โIโve shot farther before, but whatever.โ The crowd and Cameo were staring at her, slack jawed.ย
He came up to her and put a hand on her elbow. โYou will be teaching the shooting portion.โ He grinned. โVery impressive, Infinity. Ladies sixteen and up, come see Infinity.โ He shook his head. โYou are full of surprises, arenโt you?โ
โMeh. I try.โ She led the girls off the road and down the side of the hill that that particular stretch of highway was situated on. Cameo waited until he heard the sounds of gunshots, then he called out the remaining groups.ย
โLadies fifteen and under will be working on knives and swords, boys fifteen and younger will be doing archery. Please divide up.โ He stood in silence until they had split up. Satisfied, he sauntered over to the third bus and, opening the storage compartment, started yanking out weapons. Knives, swords, bows, arrows, rifles, pistols, tasers, spears, every weapon he had found in Yellowknifeโs museums and armories. Walking over to the edge of the road, arms full of guns, he called to Infinity. โHere! Each kid needs one. Thereโs more ammo in the second bus!โ He had also raided an ammunition factory.ย
Infinity traipsed up the hill, awestruck girls trailing along behind her. โEveryone,โ she yelled, โgrab a gun. I donโt care what it looks like, youโll be learning how to shoot everything. Just grab whichever one you like best. And make sure the safetyโs on!โ She looked at Cameo and rolled her eyes. โItโs like theyโve never shot one before!โ He laughed and walked back to the bus.ย
โOkay, who wants swords and who wants knives?โ The girls yelled over top of one another, putting in requests. Cameo held up his hands. โCalm down! Make a line! ONE AT A TIME, LADIES!โ The girls hushed and lined up single-file. โUgh. Okay, whoโs up first?โ The first girl, a petite, brown-haired, green-eyed teen, stepped forward timidly. โWould you like a sword or knives?โ
โUm, a sword please,โ she said shyly.
โAnd whatโs your name? I can get custom engraving on these things,โ Cameo said with a wink.
โHolly Carter,โ she whispered, blushing.
โAnd how old are you? You know, for the sword size?โ He smiled.
โFifteen,โ she breathed. He handed her a gleaming sword with a golden hilt, encrusted with emeralds and rubies. She looked at him.
โHey, I never said they were modern swords. I robbed a museum. It wasnโt that hard.โ He grinned.
โOh,โ she murmured and fluttered her lashes at him.
โAm I interrupting something?โ Infinity demanded angrily.
โGah!โ Cameo whipped his head around, nearly tripping on his own feet. โInfinity! Donโt scare me like that.โ
โBe quick,โ she said, turning and flipping her hair over her shoulder. โYou have a line."
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