I cut mini-slices for the kids, but they were too done in, even for goat cheese, so Rivera set the milk jug aside and ate it herself, in jaw-clenched bites. The calm she showed the children barely masked her private outrage.

“Okay, sweeties,” she crooned. “Let’s get some sleep till your daddy’s back, okay?”

I was offering Jake the leftovers when Spunk sloped up beside him. “There you are!”

Jake snatched the plate away just as Spunk grabbed for it. “Where you been?”

“Heard a ruckus on da way home las’ night, went ta see. Two Empiahs gettin’ sacked by a buncha Macys. Gimme soma dat!”

I mopped up soft cheese crumbs with a crust of bread and handed it over. “What’s with the Macys? Three of them tried to rip me off before the storm. Real young ’uns. Couldn’t run worth shit.”

Spunk’s laugh was hollow. “Deese was big kids, but all dey had was numbas an’ knives. One a da scouts heard da noise. He chimed in an’ we sent ’em packin’ quick enuff. But he tole ’bout Ladysmit’s, so we all went round ta help.” He gazed at me hopefully. “Got any moah? I ain’t eaten in . . .”

“Here.” Jake passed him the plate. “And then . . . ?”

“Well, da Tommys was already on it an’ by da time I got dere, da Adders was long gone an’ da den too hot ta go neah. We bin boatin’ out da survivahs an’ searchin’ for moah.”

Rivera unfolded a second blanket to lay over the Smith kids, then sat smoothing their hair. I had little interest in children. Hard enough taking care of myself. But Rivera really wanted to be a mom. She reminded me of the old church paintings in Rubio’s art books. “What if they come here?” Her voice was low but steely. “They will, you know.”

“We’ve got every pair of sharp eyes out on the perimeter right now,” soothed Jake. “Even some of the Smiths volunteered. Those who could still walk.”

“So we’ll know when Adders are coming with their power boats and their guns and their flamethrowers. Then what’ll we do?”

“Dey’re vicious but dey’re lazy. Dey’ll sit tight till dey run outa food agin.” Spunk swallowed a hunk of cheese and reached for the milk jug. “We got time.”

“Why can’t Adders grow their own food?” I asked. “Everyone else does.”

“Mos’ ev’ryone. Addahs nevah got it goin’. Lotta dem start out as rad preppahs. Got a big stash put away but tired of runnin’ on dere own. An’ when dey join, dey gotta give ovah all dere stuff. Dat’s da deal.”

Jake nodded. “And that keeps the den going for a while until the next evil moron signs on. They trade a little at the Souk, but half the stalls close shop when Adders show up. They’re takers, not makers.”