THE FERALS PART 5

The next day Silvy couldn’t focus on anything other than that symbol. When she had gotten home, her mother wouldn’t leave her alone long enough for her to get on a computer and do a search. Apparently staying out five minutes longer than usual was a crime in her mother’s eyes. Claiming to have met a friend for coffee was an even worse crime.  But it did set the stage for running messages for Tom.

The news broadcasts blasted everywhere as usual. Today’s news was about even more human casualties. They still wouldn’t mention the Ferals deaths. This war had been going on for as long as anyone could remember. Silvy wasn’t even sure anyone remembered why it all started. By law, everyone had to listen to the news constantly. Yet, another unknown fact. There was no music, no other news, just the war news and you could not turn it off. That was a definite crime punishable by death. Not just her mother’s irritated ramblings.

Finally, Silvy was finished delivering her last package of the day. It was already dark again and she now stood by the huge tree. So far, Tom hadn’t shown. Was he supposed to show tonight? She couldn’t remember. If he didn’t appear in five minutes, she would leave and try again the next night.

In reality, she waited another ten minutes before grabbing her scooter and starting to push it away from the tree. She hadn’t made it far when she heard her name.

“Silvy.”

She looked back at the tree, but no one was there. Shadows danced across the open space between the tree and the closest houses. There was no movement anywhere. Then she heard it again.

“Silvy. Over here.”

She followed the sound this time. It was coming from behind a shed just to the side of a far-off home. Silvy set her kick stand and carefully walked in that direction. It sounded like Tom, but it could be a trap. Maybe the guards found out that Tom had approached her about helping the sympathizers. She started to turn and run when Tom emerged from the shadows.

“Wait, Silvy.”

“What took you so long? You scared me nearly to death.” Silvy wanted to leave now but out of spite.

Tom reached out a palm to help calm her. “Hear me out, please. I had to make sure you weren’t being watched or followed. It’s good you were careful. Real good. Impressive really.”

Silvy wasn’t used to compliments and it did the trick. “Ok, fine. What do you need from me?”

He let out a breath. “Thank you. This will help immensely. I need you to get a message to my contact. I believe you already met her.”

“Her, who?” She scrunched up her eyebrows but then shock registered. “The girl at the coffee shop?”

“Yes. The girl at the coffee shop.” He nodded in confirmation.

“Wait. If you can talk to her, and already get messages to her, what do you need me for?”

Tom looked around in the darkness. “We can’t keep communicating the way we are. It’s being monitored and pretty soon they will decode what we are saying. There is just so much technology can hide. We have to go old school now.”

“That’s fair. What do you need me to take to her?”

“Take this letter to her. Do not open it at any time. She will know. And do not let it out of your sight. Take it straight to her.” He made sure to look Silvy in her eyes the entire time.

“I get it. I get it. Don’t have to get so serious with me. I know it’s top secret and all that. I know what’s at stake. I want to do what I can to help the Ferals. They aren’t the wild beasts they make everyone believe they are.” She was getting very tired of his attitude but new she needed him if she was to make a difference somehow.

“Do you really understand? I am not sure you do?” Tom crossed his arms.

“I spend everyday with them.  So, yeah. I do.” She snatched the letter out of his hand and tucked it in her pants between her skin and the fabric of her jeans.

“Don’t let the guards search you too well. They are allowed to shoot on site if they suspect anything.”

Now that was new to Silvy. She didn’t know that. Apparently, her expression relayed that fact because Tom patted her on her shoulder and then disappeared into the shadows again. “Well, great.”

She walked back to her scooter and started pushing it back to the guard shack. She really didn’t worry too much about being searched. They never did. It was only on the way in that she was searched. The guards didn’t want any weapons given to the Ferals. That is about all they were really worried about.

With her head down, Silvy pushed her bike through the gate. Just as she was almost on the other side, one guard called out to her. “Hey, hold on a second.”

Silvy cringed. She looked back at the guard. “Yeah? What’s up?”

“You’re a little late leaving. Why is that?”

“Oh! One of the mothers had a spill in the kitchen and couldn’t look over the items right away. I had to wait till she could.”

The guard looked her over for a long minute. Silvy had a hard time not squirming under the pressure. All she wanted to do was jump on her scooter and hall ass. That would only get her in trouble. Finally, the guard nodded and said, “very well. On your way.”

Silvy nearly fell to the ground in relief. On shaky legs, she mounted her bike and slowly took off back towards the city and to her first drop off.