The World Without Flags

I narrow my eyes. How Franky convinced everyone to hunt down Eric, kill him, tie me up, and drag me back to the Homestead is beyond me. I guess people will do anything if they’re scared. For a minute, I get angry, but then I remember all the things I almost did to keep Eric safe and the anger cools. We do what we have to do. What we think is right. I don’t blame them, but Franky. He’s a different story. His reasons aren’t so noble.

We harness up the sled to Bandit, and then turn to Eric. He has been standing motionless the whole time near the fire. He is leaning back with one arm sort of forward like he’s reaching to get something. It’s creepy. When I go grab him, he grunts, like he’s reluctant to move away from the fire. But it doesn’t take much to get him to the sled. Getting him to lie down on it is another thing entirely. We pull and tug at him for a while, before we have to just trip him. He falls on the sled hard and then just lies there.

“Unh,” he says.

“You’re okay,” I tell him.

Pest and I tie him down with clothes, twisted up blankets, and Eric’s own belt. Then we throw the backpack on him and strap that to Eric. I check to make sure he can breathe okay and wipe his mouth and his face. I stand back and survey the construction. With the backpack on top and the log sled on bottom, Eric looks squashed in the middle.

“It’s like an Eric sandwich,” Pest observes.

“Just for a little while, okay?” I say to Eric.

Eric doesn’t make a sound.

Then I go to Pest who’s packing the rest of my stuff in Bandit’s saddlebags. I feel nervous or something about talking with him. When he turns to me, his round face is blank. He brushes his black hair out of his eyes.

“Go west,” he tells me. “Find Good Prince Billy.” His eyes have that depth and intelligence that spooks me in someone so young. “It’s the only way to keep Eric safe.”

“Thanks,” I say, although my first impulse is to tell him I can take of Eric fine myself. Pest makes me feel that way. “Listen,” I say. I take a deep breath. It’s hard for some reason to say what I want to say. “Thanks for helping me and Eric. Without you…” I can’t finish the sentence.

Pest shakes his head, like he’s annoyed with me. “You don’t have to thank me,” he says. There’s a touch of irritation in his voice. “I owe him.”

We look at each other for a second. I want to put my hand on his shoulder, but when I move toward him, Pest steps away suddenly. “Good luck,” he says.

“Yeah,” I say. “You too.” I watch him as he walks away. He gets to the edge of the woods and turns back to watch me leave. Pest is so weird.

I get up on Bandit who nickers a little. He doesn’t like to be ridden much. He doesn’t like to do anything really. Then, watching behind me, I give him a little nudge and shake his reins. “Up now,” I tell him.

When he moves forward, the sled drags forward easily. Eric is jostled a little, but it holds. Soon we’re headed down the road and away from Pest. I look up to see him still watching us leave. I lift a hand to wave, but he doesn’t wave back.

I know I owe him a lot, but I can’t help feeling that he’s a creepy kid.

Then we’re gone and Norman is behind us. It isn’t until it’s far too late to turn back, when I realize that I don’t have a single gun anymore, not even one loaded with blanks.

66

As we ride into the night, the moonlight falls lightly on the road. Dragging Eric is noisy business, but somehow it feels quiet to me. I have time to calm down. It’s been a horrible couple days. I ride lightly on Bandit and chew on strips of meat. It seems like such a pleasure, such a luxury, to have time. I don’t even mind being tired riding into the night. It feels nice to be drowsy and to know that I’m putting miles between me and, well, everyone else. It feels good to know that Eric is safe. As I ride, I feel sure that things from here on will be easier. I will ride west and find a nice little house somewhere safe. Then I’ll stay there and take care of Eric until he either gets better or… Anyway, I’ll just stay there and wait it out. I don’t need Good Prince Billy. I wouldn’t even know where to start looking for her. It’s safer to keep Eric away from everyone. Soon everyone will know the Worm is back, and Eric will be in even more danger.

When I pass the road that leads south to the Homestead and keep heading west, I feel much better. It’s weird to be so close to home again. I feel like the past couple of days have been a waste of time, like I’m going in circles. For a second, it frightens me, but then I feel better. The real goal is keeping Eric alive. If I lead him in circles until he gets better, I will call that a success. But I certainly have to get some space between me and the Homestead.