Chapter 132: Taran

"No, I don't think he did it for the joy of killing," Skye says thoughtfully. "Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen an emotion even close to joy or pleasure in that man. I believe he was studying it as he baited it. He was watching its reactions to his movements."
A thought occurs to me. "Do you think he does that often? Watches them?"
She nods absently, reaching into the crib to touch her nephew again, as though she can't get enough. "Yes, I've seen him watching them, studying the way they move. He once said he thought they acted like predator animals in a pack. Only more primitive, less calculating than a pack animal might display."
I think about what Skye is disclosing, the potential importance. She catches the look on my face and nods her head. "I know, if we can discern patterns in their behaviour it could be potentially groundbreaking in our war against them."
"He needs to talk to Diogo," I say firmly. "Tell my husband about his theories, if he has something concrete that might help. Maybe talk to Bishop and Christian too. Any additional knowledge can only help in our quest for a cure."
Skye smiles grimly. "Wolfe doesn't play well with others, if he hasn't mentioned his theory by now then I doubt he cares to. I've never seen a person less interested in the lives of others. Except for Outsiders. Those guys don't give a shit about anyone."
I can wholeheartedly agree with Skye's assessment having spent some quality time as the unwilling companion to an Outsider when he dragged me from one Sanctuary to another. Though I'd seen some humanity in the man, for the most part he'd been a terrifying asshole who killed remorselessly and nearly raped me just to prove a point.
"I bet Wolfe would talk to Diogo if you asked him to do it."
She gives me a pointed look and rolls her eyes. "I hate asking that man for anything. I swear he's keeping a tally of everything he's done for me. I shudder to find out what payment will look like."
"I think you're being paranoid, he looks at you like you're some kind of baby animal that needs protecting. I don't think he would expect you to return any favours. At least not in the way you're implying."
"Who's implying anything?" she says darkly. "I know what he wants and it's just a matter of time."
I shake my head at her. "Well, I think you'll ask him for this one favour. The fate of humankind might depend on his cooperating with Diogo."
She laughs, "You've become a bossy little thing, haven't you? Fine, I'll talk to him, but only because you've made me responsible for the end of the world."
As we laugh, a sharp cry rends the moment. I reach into the crib and pick up my screaming son.
"I thought you said he would sleep through anything," Skye says accusingly, though her eyes take on a soft adoring look as she watches me handle Blaze. I carry him to the rocking chair and settle into the seat, pulling my top down to expose my breast. She watches in fascination as he latches immediately and starts sucking heartily.
"He woke up because he's hungry," I tell her. "I promise, we didn't disturb him unless he was ready to be disturbed."
She perches on the edge of the tiny bed I'd insisted Diogo add to the baby room. We chat about her making an appointment to visit the Doctor. At first she's hesitant and sceptical, she's been avoiding medical professionals since she was bitten for this exact reason. Once I reassure her that her secret will be safe with Bishop and that the testing is easy and painless, she capitulates and agrees to meet him. With that burning question out of the way we move onto lighter topics of conversation. As we talk Emery arrives. I'd been expecting her, but not until a little later. I'm pleased by the opportunity to introduce her to my sister.
Emery looks her up and down and, ignoring the guarded look on Skye's face, gathers her into a tight hug, holding her close. "Oh you poor thing, Taran has told me so much about you over the years, I felt as though I knew you, even when we thought you were dead. It's such a pleasure to finally meet you. Gosh, you look so much like my Taran."
I can see Skye's face clearly over Emery's shoulder. The combination of stunned and slow building happiness brings tears to my eyes. I'd lucked into finding family here in Sanctuary. Skye had found her own version of family in another Sanctuary. She'd been abducted and sold to a Warlord by the same outsider who kidnapped me. Fortunately, her Warlord had been a kind one and had made sure Skye found her place within his Sanctuary. Watching Emery hold her close and silently promise her a new family if she wants one is one of the best things I've ever seen.
After they finish hugging, Emery takes Skye's hand and sits with her. "Tell me what's going on in Old Tucson. Are you safe out there outside the wall?"
Skye grimaces and when she talks to Emery, opens up quickly. I realize that she probably feels more of an affinity to women, an instant trust. She'd became part of the harem family, embracing the group of women and being embraced by them.
"The situation gets worse with every passing day. We don't have enough food or medical supplies. People are dying of injury, disease, hunger, zombie bite and there's nothing we can do."
Emery rubs her arm comfortingly. "Ah, that is a bad situation. It sounds like the time before Sanctuaries became organized. People would kill each other over a handful of seeds."
Frustration wells within me as I imagine the suffering outside of the wall. "I wish we could just extend the wall, envelop Old Tucson and the all the people out there. It wouldn't solve all of our problems, like making resources stretch, but it would help relieve the manpower needed keeping the Primitives at bay."
Skye stares at me, her mouth slightly open. I can see the inner workings of her brain reflected in her eyes. I sit up straighter as I realize what she's thinking.
"Why can't we?" she demands.
I shake my head, thinking through the logistics. "Impossible."
"But why? The situation can't get much worse out there. This is the exact sort of solution we need."
"It would take months of demolition and rebuilding."
"We have the manpower and the desperation to make it work," she argues.
"It would put Sanctuary at risk, I don't know if Diogo would go for it."
"Your Sanctuary is already at risk. Every day more refugees arrive with fresh waves of Primitives on their asses. It's only a matter of time before they manage to pick us all off and hunger drives them to turn to your Sanctuary. Maybe you win the fight, but you lose a lot of citizens in the process."
She lapses into silence as I think about what she's saying. Fuck, I'm going to have to start talking to my husband again. The only person with even half a chance of talking him around to accepting this solution to the refugee problem is me.
Finally, I say, "I'll talk to Diogo."
"Thank you," she says, real hope shining through in her voice.
"Does someone want to tell me exactly what's been decided?" Emery asks bewildered.
Skye squeezes her hand and grins. "We're going to move a wall."