Snow
Today, there wasn’t any rain. It didn’t even fall as sleet. Instead, the foragers ran back under a light drift of white flakes.
I hadn’t seen snow before today. It’s oddly beautiful, deceptively gentle dancing, settling into thick blankets. When the foragers got inside, they threw their hats and umbrellas aside. Within seconds, the melting snow had dissolved all of them. It was a duality that sent an uncomfortable tingle up my spine.
Even with that stark reminder, the kids thought the snow was amazing. They wanted to go out and run in it, but they were too used to this time After to ask so they sat at the windows and watched it instead.
It never gets this cold around here – or, it never used to, anyway. I guess all those rules have changed. Now I’m wondering just how must colder it’s going to get. I’m wondering if the ice will ever recede, or if it’ll just keep creeping over us.
I wonder if the orange sky will lighten enough to let some warmth through.
I went up to the lab today and spoke with Dr Kostoya. I asked him about the rainwater and the effect it might have on an unborn child.
He was flustered, but he answered the question in his roundabout way. He said that it could have any number of effects, most of them killing or mutating the baby. It didn’t sound safe for the mother, either. The short answer was that he didn’t know what it might do.
“I don’t know why you’re all coming to me about this,” he told me. “Didn’t your friend talk to you about it?”
“Someone else asked you about this?”
“Dr Masterson came up earlier.” He eyed me closely. “It’s not for you, is it?”
“No! No, it’s not.”
“But it’s someone, isn’t it?”
I looked at him and didn’t want to lie. He seemed so harmless. “Yeah.”
He frowned at me, churning over the thoughts. “She’ll need help.”
I couldn’t argue with him. I sighed and shrugged, and thanked him for his help.
I was surprised that Masterson would go to the trouble of talking to Kostoya about this. But I’m pleased. I don’t have to be the one to worry about all this, and he is trying to look out for her. At least, I hope that’s why he was asking.
I can’t imagine how Sally is feeling right now. Masterson has been sticking close to her and she was in tears again earlier. I think I’ll go talk to her when I get the chance. All I can do is let her know that she’s not alone in this.
Maybe she won’t turn me away like Ben does.
Tags: Masterson, Sally
- Category: 11. Truth,Uncategorized
