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The Company of the 'Men Apart', despite Sister Helen's exhortations to keep up, lagged
more than an hour and a half behind the rest. 'Don't you worry about a thing, Sister,' Ursus had told her that morning. 'We'll be there soon enough. I been to that place. With all them people we've got there won't be room to breathe in there. In the meantime we're going to get ourselves some breakfast.' Despite the Sister's protests, Carl did not feel inclined to overrule him. On the hill overlooking the Collecting Center they stopped again when some of the hunters went off in pursuit of a deer that they had seen. 'The Pastor told me to make specially sure our people stayed together, no matter what.' The Sister complained bitterly to Carl, wringing her hands. 'We're already so far behind! You people' she turned on Ursus, 'no wonder you live apart! I'm sure what we're doing is against the law.' 'If it's against the law then we won't do it, Sister,' said Carl reassuringly. 'But it's not against the law to hunt a deer. Ursus doesn't think there'll be much food for us, that's all.' 'Of course there will!' she said indignantly, 'Of course there will.' 'Mr. Willis' said Carl to the seeker, who was stretched out on bank of ferns, resting. 'Why don't you go down there and find out. Come back and tell us.' Willis gave him a dirty look but obeyed. He came back an hour later looking as if he had seen a ghost. 'That's the craziest place I ever saw in my entire life. What a difference!' 'What was it like in the square. Was there food?' said Ursus. 'Never got that far.' Willis was trembling and this sight impressed people. Willis had a reputation as a taciturn man. 'I didn't go in more'n a block and I was lucky to get out again. There's Demons there! Demons!' 'We must go on!' The Sister shrieked. 'It is God's will!' There were murmurs of dissent. Carl felt that Willis was exaggerating. He knew they had to go on but he did not want his Company to disintegrate. 'I'll go and see what it's like myself. If it's as Willis said then I'll speak to the Authorities and we'll see what we can do.' 'I'm coming with you,' said the Sister. 'If you must, Sister,' said Carl irritably. He was concerned that she would get in his way and speak up when they did meet someone in Authority. 'Perhaps you should come too, Ursus. We will need a guide.' Ursus looked unhappy, but consented. 'The rest of you get into the woods and stay out of sight until we get back. Them soldiers is probably somewhere back there behind us,' he shouted as they walked off. |
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