When I get to the top of the mountain, I am at first amazed that some of the mutants are still writhing towards their death. Their wounds are mortal -- but they have been left to suffer.
I take a deep breath. My mutant has been tucked away in the bushes for now until I can properly assess the atmosphere. The sun has begun to peak over the tree tops and illuminates the gore around me. Puddles of blood lurk everywhere, and I try not to slip in them as I approach the group.
I look around for Donna before finding her just outside the cave nursing a wound on a man whose arm has been split open.
"No prisoners?" I ask as I approach. She ignores my lame attempt at a joke.
When she finishes applying some sort of pulp made from leaves on the wound, she addresses me.
"How'd you make out?" She asks. It sounds trite. She doesn't seem to be relieved that I'm ok and that I've arrived. There is a definite shift in the consciousness of the group -- one I can't quite connect to.
They massacre has changed her. Changed everyone.
I take a Scarlett O'Hara moment as I walk around the battlefield trying my best not to cry at the devastation -- but then a tear forms into a stream of tears and I have no choice but to bring my hands to my face.
"I hope you're crying for ours and not theirs," says an angry voice. I turn around to see Belinda looking at me cruelly.
"I'm just crying," I tell her and then walk away.
The air has definitely shifted. Whatever anger lurked inside the hearts of the mutants has somehow transfered into the hearts of my pack.
When I see Jim I ask him why they are leaving some of the mutants to writhe in pain? Surely they can't be more humane? He tells me that they deserved it and then asks me to help him to move the body of one of our own. I grab the legs and follow him towards a cremation pit for the four of our own who didn't make it.
The fire has already been started by Belinda who sits there solemnly staring at the baby embers and blowing on them gently. I realizes that three of the four who didn't make it are her posse.
"Are we making a fire to cremate the mutants?" I ask, knowing full well that the answer is no. They seem perfectly content leaving their mutilated bodies out to rot in the sun.
The hatred is rampant.
I decide in that moment that it's time to leave. That my mutant is not safe here; and that maybe our only hope is to return to camp, grab some supplies and head out west before the others make their way back down the mountain.
"I'll go grab some more wood," I tell them. They all ignore me.
As I walk away I make sure to go over and give Donna a hug. She doesn't hug me back, but it doesn't matter. It was important for me to tell her goodbye.
As I walk away I make sure to go over and give Donna a hug. She doesn't hug me back, but it doesn't matter. It was important for me to tell her goodbye.
We'll have a two hour head start before the others will begin to return to camp. If we move fast that may just be enough time to get to my car ahead of them.
And so, I ask fate to do me the favour of allowing us to cross the field unnoticed. Since it is now daylight, we will be fully exposed. Should anyone from camp decide to survey the field while we cross, our escape will be jeopardized.
"We have to hurry," I tell my mutant when I return to the bushes where I left her. She nods her head and helps herself to her feet. Using all her might, she puts as much strain as she can on her maimed leg as we make our way as fast as we can down the mountain.
Time is running out.
The others will be behind us soon enough.
