“……So Tasha didn’t hate you?”

“Oh she did. She got shipped out to scout for the mission to Siberia and Carmen and I bonded in her absence.”

“I see.”

“Carmen was silent. Always brooding like you. She never smiled, never laughed. She spoke of her family in those quiet moments. But she never let anyone get inside of her feelings. I didn’t know she felt anything for me till she ravaged me one night in a swift and final moment.”

Ravaged? The look she gave me said that it was one hell of a night.

“Shane you know what Carmen is like. She is a flame unto herself. She is warm to degree that is close to fire.”

I got up I went to get dressed. I didn’t want to hear anymore.

“I don’t want to hear anymore.”

“Why not. Does it bother you that she has no soul? Does it bother you that she takes and gives nothing in return?”

“She gave you something. You can look at it every day.”

“Cruel……..She has the effect on you. Makes you feel vile and destructive. I know every thought that you are thinking. What you feel is what I felt for her so long ago.”

“What you feel now don’t you mean. You lock me up, you fuck me then you try to tell me how I should feel for her.”

“We fucked each other you pulled me toward you from day one.”

“Sorry yes you are right. Let’s make a deal no more about Carmen. I want my own quarters and I am sorry that I crossed the line with you. You are my superior and I won’t let it happen again. And I mean it no more talk about Carmen.”

“No more talk about Carmen.”

Back on the mountain taking a break from the past. Looking down into the valley. It use to be lush and full of all kinds of produce. Varying in stages of development. Anything you could have imagined. All gone from the 48 straight days of rain. We salvaged what we could. And even that won’t last in the condition we have them.

We have been in contact with islands to the west of us. We will give them munitions and spices. We will trade one of our finer physicians. We will teach them again to protect themselves from invaders to the west of their current position. It was all my idea. I read in a book that the island (which I won’t name) has vegetation from 89 different countries. I assumed that growing things was not a problem for them. Helena loved the idea. Its been in the works since the 9^th week of rain.

The irony of this. I was promoted to the Captain of the Guard. Would Carmen be proud?

Tbc…