Marigold by Heather Manheim (best books for 8th graders .TXT) 📕

and Ringo knew the exact location. He also reiterated they were somewhat isolated and had a lot of protection as the hills surrounded them. Ringo continued with the description even though Davis felt satisfied with the answer already. “All our solar panels are camouflaged as boulders or by plenty of bushes, trees, and the like. We’re tough to locate if you don’t know exactly where to look. But, still, it’s got to be a complete secret. So, this next part might seem scary, but we ask you to wear a blackout hood in and out. You are perfectly safe the entire time. We have a few electric transport vehicles here, and we have three meeting areas. One is about a mile and a half walk to the Pod you were staying at, and the two others are about a mile from a spot where you can get on a government-owned transport vehicle and go into one of the two town centers.”

Davis was mostly familiar with Town Center One. Right in its middle was the Everett Center, where she reported to her job. Town Center Two was where the factories and labs were. They were all located there whether they made those familiar brown sheets or the nutrition biscuits or the Marigold Inoculation formula. Davis was thinking of these things for a moment; Ringo noticed her staring off, her eyes focused on the wall as she picked at some dry skin around her nails. “Davis?” inquired Ringo. “You okay?”

“Yes, sorry, just thinking. About nothing, really. My mind wanders a lot more than it used to. I don’t know why.” Davis suddenly looked so tired and overwhelmed; the older man felt for her. Ringo explained to her that it was natural. Her brain was still adjusting to life without brain control chemicals. Namaguchi then added that Brookshire and Quinn could come in, and they could discuss anything that Davis had on her mind.

“Well, I guess we might as well add a cherry on top of this sundae of a day. I’ve been wondering a few things anyhow,” Davis said, “if we want to get to that before they come in. It’s basic things, I guess. Not about me or anything specific like that.”

“Sure,” said Ringo and Namaguchi at almost the same time, but they were a little out of sync. Part of the “sure” started before the other, and it gave a weird drawn-out sound to the word. Still, Davis was able to get the idea it was okay to proceed. She asked them how Namaguchi, Duffy, and Hernandez had ever found Ringo and the rest of the people in the bunker. With all the security Ringo and his family had taken, she wasn’t sure how they all met.

Ringo took the lead on answering. “I knew Namaguchi, at one time, right before the Lombardi Plague started. We were friendly neighbors. Audrey and I had already started building the bunkers and moving things down here. We didn’t know a virus was coming or even when something would happen. We just believed something would eventually threaten our way of life. I told Namaguchi about it, and I said if his family and himself ever needed protection, to come to a certain place—I had a doorbell system set up in a hollowed-out rock. All he had to do was ring it, and it would alert me to pick him up. I told a few people about it; Namaguchi is the only one I ever heard from.”

Here Namaguchi interjected, “I had forgotten about it for a long time. It was only after Duffy and Hernandez came to me; we were friendly, and they had been monitoring the medical files and saw my immunity status.” At this, Namaguchi paused, looking concerned and sympathetic. “You know, Davis, I went through quite a time believing everything too, even though I had become ‘immune.’ You’re still grasping with learning that everything you ever were told by your government is a lie and done for ultimate control.”

Davis didn’t know if she fully believed that but nodded her head in agreement because it was easier. She also resumed picking at her nails. “So, you brought Duffy and Hernandez in too, is that right?”

“Yes, that’s right. Because of them, we learned of Ana and Quinn.”

“Ringo,” Davis asked. “You said there were a few people you gave the doorbell location to, but Namaguchi is the only one who ever used it. Are you missing anyone important? Can Duffy and Hernandez check on them?”

“All the people I gave it to, I wish they had shown up, naturally. I’ve had them all checked upon, and none have any records. I hold out hope that they ran to Canada or Mexico as I know many people did.” Ringo looked sad at this, then added, “You always have to have hope,” sounding like he had anything but hope.

“Well, how did you know that these people you told the doorbell about that they wouldn’t double-cross you?”

“These were my friends that I trusted. It didn’t occur to me that they could double-cross me. I also told them about it before things were as bleak as they are now. Even after time passed, I always hoped that they would only use it if need be, not for nefarious purposes. We do have our safety protocols in place, as well. We make sure there are no Scanner Drones or Security Patrols around when we make a pickup or following us when we leave.”

Davis felt saddened by the look on Ringo’s face and how sad and tired he sounded. Then she started thinking about all the families that became torn apart. If someone were a Natural Immune, they would likely be eliminated or sent to reprogramming. Even if they somehow escaped one of those fates, they would certainly never be able to talk to their families anymore. They would be at odds and believe such different things. How far does just love protect you? she wondered.

After a few moments of thought, Davis didn’t