V
I spent the next half hour in the library, trying to think up a plan. There was a lot riding on it. If it was good enough everyone would look to the plan to save the Hunting Office; my mother was also a huge factor. I was certain that real food would make her so much better; I just needed to find some. I wondered what Milton would have said about it all. He probably would have had a plan, sold it, and already completed it in the time it took me to think of one.
The noise had greatly diminished since the open meeting was announced. There was no doubt, however, that it would pick right up again once it started. I finished Don Quixote, hoping it would clear my mind enough to think of something. It actually worked, five minutes later I ran out, heading straight for the Leader Office.
I wanted to get there before I forgot what to say. Stud showed me a secret entrance through a wall in one of the hallways. I took it and ended up in a closet. I could hear muffled talking from the leaders, but could not understand them through the door. I went over what I was going to say in my head, and then jumped out of the closet a little too fast. All the leaders were sitting at a large table. They jumped at the sight of me.
The Residence Leader was the first to speak. “What are you doing here? Get out!”
“Wait,” Matilik called, “Hardin is it? What do you want?”
It was my turn to speak. “I have a plan that can be announced at the meeting.”
“Then why are you telling us here?” Matilik asked.
“I wanted to make sure we worked out the details here first so that we don’t get anyone wanting to give their own.”
My old boss the Dining Leader looked at me suspiciously. “You don’t think anyone else has any good ideas?”
“The people are scared and hungry; you don’t want them to be making decisions in a mass.”
Matilik nodded his approval. “Alright, what are you thinking?”
I cleared my throat and prepared to be laughed at. “One final hunt. I’ll go back out, farther than ever before. It’ll take a few days but I might find something.
No one said anything. I kept expecting them to tear apart my idea, but they actually were thinking it over. The Residence Leader spoke first. “No one has ever tried an overnight hunt.”
“It’s interesting,” Matilik said slowly, “but are you sure you want to hunt again?”
My current boss the Files Leader came to my aid. “Hardin is much better now.”
“I am.”
“What does everyone think?” Matilik said to the other leaders.
The Hunting Leader was the first one to agree, his job would be saved if the plan worked. The Residence Leader was the only one to vote “no” but was soon convinced by the others.
“It’s decided.” Matilik announced.
“Thank you, so I’ll –”
“But,” Matilik interrupted, “you’ll need to bring a team.”
“A team?”
“Just in case something happens there will be others to bring back the food.”
“Nobody volunteers to be a hunter.” I complained. “How am I supposed to find anybody willing?”
“There actually are a few of them that like it.” The Hunting Leader corrected. “I have their residence numbers; I’ll give them to you.”
“Very good, we’ve made a lot of progress here.” Matilik said clearly relieved, “When we start the meeting we will tell everyone the news, though they already know somehow, then we’ll ask for any ideas. Make sure you raise your hand. Tell us the details we just discussed and we’ll agree. If this goes well then you may just be a hero again.”
The leaders left to get the open meeting ready, except for the Hunting Leader who stayed back a minute. “What of your mother?” I could hear the concern in his voice.
“I hope to bring back food. I think it will help her more than Nutrition.”
“Let’s hope so.”
I went straight out to get a good seat. The dining area was already packed. The chairs and tables had been replaced; there was no evidence of the afternoon’s riot. No one bothered to whisper now; complaints and insults were coming from every angle. The leaders came out of the kitchens where they had been getting ready. Their appearance was met with a series of shouts and boos. Matilik took ten minutes to calm the crowd. He then cleared his throat and began.
“Thank you all for coming. As most of you already know we are thinking about shutting down the Hunting Office.” This was met with a new wave of jeers. “Please let me finish. You must know why we have chosen to do this. While we may not talk about it very much it is known that we are currently in a conflict that has been ongoing for almost one hundred fifty years. Every time someone steps from the safety of Humurom their life is in jeopardy. For so long this has been something overlooked for those not attached to someone in the Hunting Office. What a lie. We are all connected to somebody there. And that is why their safety comes as the most important thing. We have heard the band play that sad tune too many times over the last few months, while nothing has come from their sacrifices. But, if there is someone out there that has an idea that can save the Hunting Office please speak up now.” I raised my hand. “Yes, you there.” He called to me.
I stood up in front of everyone. There were several cheers as people saw who it was, their last meat bringer. “I propose a long hunting trip that would explore new areas in search for food. It would take several days, but I am confident that the main problem is that we are looking in the wrong areas. The hunters are only going towards the Cityers, not away.”
Someone in the back stood up. “They have us surrounded!” The man shouted.
“I don’t think that’s quite accurate.” I said, searching for the voice.
“We need to attack them!” Somebody else yelled.
There were many shouts of agreement.
This was getting out of hand. “Wait a minute!”
Everyone began shouting over each other.
“I will bring several hunters with me –”
“You will die if you go out that long.” Some random person shouted.
“We will bring extra Nutrition.” I grimaced at the thought o the stuff.
“We should attack now.” The first person called out above the roar.
“No! We have no idea where they are and do not need to be starting a war within a war. This journey is to be peaceful. To look for food so you idiots don’t destroy Humurom in your misplaced anger.”
“Who should we be mad at?” The same person asked.
“Nobody. What we need to survive is food, and I propose a way to get it.”
“We should be mad at the Cityers, they’re the ones killing our hunters and we should kill them.”
“This is about peace! Can’t you simple morons figure out that violence and violence only creates more pain? This trip is for food, and nothing more.” I was becoming increasingly heated.
“Milton would have attacked!”
“SHUT UP!” I screeched. “Milton was about survival.”
I found myself lunging after the man. The crowd parted and I had a clear shot at him. Suddenly Stud jumped in my way and threw his arms around me. He dragged me away from the scene; out of the crowd and up a corridor. The shouting continued as he pushed me into the Leader Office and closed the door behind us.
“I’m sorry.” Stud apologized.
“Who was that guy?” I said after I finally cooled off.
“I think he works in the Residence Office, don’t worry about him.”
“Milton wouldn’t have attacked anyone, even if I did lead him into . . .”
“No, don’t say that. That wasn’t you, it was only them.”
“Probably led there by me.” I whispered.
“Just don’t, alright; please, not now.”
“That was horrible,” I said trying to change the subject, “there’s no way they’ll let me go now.”
“I wonder whether or no
t this is all about food.” Stud looked at me suspiciously.
“Of course it is; my mother has been restricted to our residence. Real food might make her better.”
“But is that really all?”
“Well,” I started slowly, “if I run into a Cityer I might say something about how we are all the same and this fighting is useless.”
“So that’s it, you want to mediate.”
“I want people to stop dying.” I corrected.
“What makes you think they will want to talk? As far as we know all the deaths have been ambushes; no talking there.”
“That’s why I’m going to seek them out where they live.”
“Hardin, you’re never going to get close. They probably have guards everywhere.”
“Hey, Milton took out a guard once, how do you think we got that case of food?”
“And look how they retaliated, or are retaliating.”
“It should at least be tried.” I argued.
“Don’t get yourself killed,” Stud warned, “your mother wouldn’t be able to handle it in her condition.”
“I fear she can’t handle her condition.”
Matilik entered the office. He looked unfazed by the mess downstairs. “Alright Hardin, here are a few names of some hunters who might be willing.”
He handed me a slip of brown paper. “I’m going? Even after that?”
Matilik nodded, “Yes, after the shouting ended and ideas started coming we realized that yours was still the best.”
I became instantly relieved on the food situation, but increasingly stressed over having to leave my mother. “Thank you, how do I find these people?”
“Their residence numbers are on here.”
“When do I leave?”
“We’ll get everything ready. All you have to do is get a team together and tell your mother you’ll be leaving for a few days. Now I have to get things ready. You really managed to shut those people up. They actually might get hope from this mission.”
“They didn’t seem like it when I was down there.”
“You probably didn’t hear it, but half those shouts were for your plan.”
Matilik left us. When he opened the door I no longer heard shouting. Maybe he was right.
“There you go, you’re all ready.” Stud said, clapping his hands together.
“I guess so.” I was feeling a little nervous, but also excited about the possibility of finally ending the war.
“I’ll take care of your mother while you’re gone.”
“You don’t have to do that, the medics will.” I didn’t feel like I could ask Stud for anything else. He already had been a great friend to me, taking care of Mama seemed like too much to expect.
“Do you really trust them for everything?”
“You’re right.” I didn’t trust them at all.
“Now get out there and get your team.” Stud said with a smile.