I pulled the Honda off the side of the road and shut off the engine. We sat there for a few minutes, all quiet except for Dex repeatin’ how sure he was that he’d seen a pair of headlights on the road, way up ahead. Then I noticed how Karch was watchin’ me.

“There’s been a lot of cars moving through these parts,” Karch said at last. “Dex and I saw two on our way out to the rec center.”

“I haven’t seen ‘em,” I said. Dex giggled at the way I said the ‘s’ sound with my missing front tooth. “But I don’t leave the rec if I can help it.”

“Well, they’re out there,” Karch said. “They call themselves ‘The Hunters,’ like they’re the only ones.” He kept watchin’ me.

“He thinks you’re gonna flash the lights or honk the horn,” the voice in my head said.

I told myself to shut up, but then Karch said, “Where’d you get this Honda?”

“One of the boys brought it back after a scavenge. Danny, I think.”

“Scavengin’ around Green Water? Or Spider Hill? Or Indian Hole?” Karch looked close into my eyes as he named each place. I could almost scream.

“Did you tell him about the fuckin’ stash of guns?  Did you?” I wouldn’t answer me.

“Or were you scavengin’ around Andersonville?” Karch sat back and smiled, and then gestured for me to start the car. “We’ve been watchin’ the cars, Merridew. They’re patrollin’ around the area where Andersonville is supposed to be.” He held up the Camp Cypress pamphlet I’d found in the kid’s bag. “Make no mistake, we’re gonna find out what the fuck’s goin’ on out there. You don’t have to say shit, either one of you.”

Dex thought that was real funny.