The next evening came all too quickly. Taking deep breaths, Dana calmed her nerves. She had a feeling that the resistance met in or around the underground market. The bit of code George used the last time tipped her off.
“Ready?” whispered Dana to Elsie.
Elsie and Sanders had readily agreed to come with her when she asked. They had each put on dark clothing to avoid detection while sneaking around at night.
Dana led them to the hole in the barracks. Not wanting everything they did recorded, she feigned being cold and zipped her jacket all the way up as though it was a force of habit.
They squeezed through the hole and into the chilly night air. The temperature had dropped. Dana knew that summer had gone and winter was coming.
“Hurry,” urged Dana.
They ran through the plant, their boots making soft thumps on the semi-frozen ground. Sticking to the concealed areas, the three hurried to the fence where the wires were loose.
“Be careful,” whispered Dana. “These spikes are sharp.”
She held the barbed wire up for Elsie and Sanders. Sanders’ pants caught on one of the spikes. Quickly, Dana ripped him free, a soft tearing sound filling her ears. Making certain the guard towers looked the other way, she slipped through the fence.
“Hurry.”
Dana pushed them down the hill and past the trees and bushes that provided cover. She had no idea how many of Officer Burroughs’ men knew about her arrangement, but she didn’t want to be caught outside after curfew. Though she might be spared, Elsie and Sanders would not be so lucky.
They jogged through Shackville and to George’s small shack. Dana rapped on the door. It opened and George stepped out. He waved them onward and they all ran out of the area.
George led them to the train area and the cart that he and Dana had used before. Stealthily, they moved through the darkness. The gravel beneath their feet crunched with each movement. With great care, they hopped over the raised tracks so as not to trip.
“On,” said George when they reached the cart.
Dana took one end of the handle and George the other. Together, they moved as one, pushing the rail cart down the tracks and toward the city.
Squeak. Squeak.
Dana winced each time the wheels squeaked. She hoped it wouldn’t attract attention. They rode it to the city limits before coming to a halt.
Quickly, they disembarked and ran through a hole in the city wall. George urged them to hurry up. Once through, they quickly darted down an alley, turning many corners before George halted them.
Peeking around a corner, he looked up and down the street. Dana began to recognize the area some, but even she was a bit confused about where they were.
“Come on,” said George.
They dashed across the street and down another alley. Now Dana definitely knew where they were. She recognized the rotted door that George opened for them.
“In.”
Loud plops echoed around them as they trotted down the hollow, wooden steps to the door. George knocked on it like he did the last time and repeated the passphrase.
“Back again, eh?” said the man as he opened the door. “Folk can never get enough of this place.”
Dana just smiled in response.
“Right then,” said George. “I imagine you folk got everything handled from here. I got some things to do, so you all do your shopping and meet back here in an hour.”
“Thanks, George,” said Dana. She wanted to know where he went, but knew she had to maintain the fiction she had given him.
“Let’s go,” said Elsie, grabbing Dana’s arm and leading her into the throng of vendors and shops. People bustled about with their treasures, visiting stall after stall.
“Leather cases!” shouted one man. “Genuine leather!”
“What would I want with a leather case?” mumbled Sanders.
“Maybe it could hold that big head of yours,” teased Elsie.
Dana chuckled.
“So, what did you need from here?” asked Elsie.
“What?”
Dana kicked herself. She hadn’t even thought about what she was supposed to have needed from this place. Dana glanced around at the various vendors and their wares. She spotted bags, food items, knick knacks, and clothing items.
A scarf rack caught her attention. “This,” said Dana trotting over to it. She snatched a purple scarf with silver trimming.
“A scarf?” asked Elsie.
“Yeah,” said Dana. “It’s getting cold outside, and you know the barracks aren’t heated.”
Elsie reconsidered the matter. She picked out a bright red one and tried it on. Admiring herself in the mirror, Elsie pranced around, pretending to be a lady of influence.
Sanders watched her as though she had lost her mind.
“How much?” Dana asked the saleslady.
“Two coins.”
Dana handed over the money, and she and Elsie walked away with their purchases.
“Was that all you wanted?” asked Sanders.
“Yeah, but we can wander around,” replied Dana.
“Might as well,” said Elsie.
Dana showed them around. They stopped at a man that sold apples, and each purchased one. As they sat to the side munching, Sanders and Elsie gabbed about something near their home. Dana spotted George. She leaned over a bit trying to see where he went. Two men she had never seen before greeted him. After greeting one another, they walked up some stairs and through a door.
“Dana?”
Dana whipped around. Elsie and Sanders both stared at her with concern.
“What’s wrong?” asked Elsie.
“Nothing,” said Dana, a bit too quickly. “Just lost in my thoughts.”
“Oh,” Elsie’s tone revealed she didn’t believe her.
“Well, I want to check out that guy with all of those gadgets,” said Sanders. He rambled on about how exciting it would be to have them, using so many technical terms that Dana tuned him out.
“Alright, geek boy,” said Elsie, “you go have fun with your toys while Dana and I go do more shopping.”
They parted. Time passed quickly as Elsie and Dana went from one shop to another. They looked at various bags and even jewelry.
Dana picked up a clunky necklace.
“No, hun,” Elsie shook her head. “That is not for you.” She picked up a pair of earrings. “These would work better.”
Carefully, Dana took them. She held them up, admiring them. Elsie knew her fashion. Dana bought the earrings, while Elsie made off with the necklace she had originally considered buying.
“Fresh milk! Oh, hey there,” said the man who sold milk.
Dana stopped. She had forgotten all about him. The cow still stood in its pen, chewing on hay and ignoring everything.
“Brought a friend with you?” said the milk salesman.
“Yeah,” said Dana.
“Well, just got this this morning.”
“Two bottles,” said Dana handing over the coins. She gave a bottle to Elsie, who looked at it skeptically. “Go on, drink it,” said Dana, popping the cork off hers.
Wrinkling her nose, Elsie sniffed the milk and took a sip. She smacked her lips as a satisfied grin crossed her face. “That ain’t bad.”
“Told you,” said Dana.
“Here,” said the man. “These are on the house.” He gave them two more bottles.
“Thanks,” said Elsie.
“Let’s find Sanders,” said Dana. “Our hour is almost up.”
After worming their way through the crowds of people, they finally found Sanders in a heated argument over the price of some item.
“I’m telling you, it isn’t worth more than 15,” said Sanders.
“And I says the price is 25,” replied the man behind the counter.
“Twenty-five! That’s thievery.”
“If ya don’t like it, then go elsewhere.”
“There isn’t anywhere else to go.”
“Then pay up or leave,?
?? said the man.
“I will not,” barked Sanders. “What if I start telling people that you fix these so that they are forced to buy new parts from you?”
“Why I never—you wouldn’t.”
Sanders put his item down and started to walk away.
“Wait! Perhaps, I could negotiate.”
“Fifteen,” said Sanders.
“Fifteen then.”
Sanders handed over the coins.
“There now, get out of here. And don’t come back!”
“What was that all about?” demanded Elsie.
“Just haggling,” said Sanders. “I only had the 15 coins.”
“Come on, let’s go.” Elsie pulled Sanders along, and they all headed for the exit where George waited for them.
Once again, Dana noticed the same two men shaking hands with him as they parted. “Who were they?” she asked, trying to sound innocent.
“Just a couple of friends,” replied George. “You all ready to leave?”
“Yeah,” said Sanders.
The man at the door opened it for them. “Ya’ll come back now,” he said to them.
The door shut behind them, bolting into place. Once again, Dana was left on the stairs with more questions than answers and an empty feeling in her stomach.
Chapter Sixteen