“Take less than you need!” the others chorused before falling into laughing heaps.

Romy smiled. “I’ve seen that flashing on the screen. What does it mean?”

Freya answered, rolling her eyes. “It’s the Mandate’s mantra.”

“It doesn’t even make sense,” Nancy grumbled. “Less than you need,” she scoffed.

Romy thought about it. It really didn’t.

“It was designed to erase our ancestors’ mindset that a want was a need,” Eddie began. “It’s not supposed to make sense. It reminds us that needs like food and water shouldn’t be taken for granted, or expected.”

Fred pushed Eddie to the ground. “Blah, blah, blah.”

That signalled the end of the discussion and the group piled into the car.

Romy didn’t talk much on the return. When they got close to the settlement, Eddie cut the engine, and the group hopped out to push the car the rest of the way.

“Why don’t you guys just leave the car here?” she asked.

“Patrols would find it,” Nancy puffed, straining against the vehicle. “Gotta get it in and out during the middle half hour. They lurk about fifty metres into the tree line. And occasionally fleece the area outside of camp.”

She hadn’t known there were camp patrols, and Thrym and the others hadn’t mentioned them. Their knot could have left, only to be caught in the first few steps!

Sweat rolled down her neck. Season changing, my butt—it's as hot as ever. Romy tore off her overshirt to reveal the tight black tank underneath. She wished she hadn’t made the last-minute decision to wear three-quarter camo pants instead of shorts.

Eddie and Freya concealed the vehicle with the net. It really did look like a pile of leaves had built up between the fence and the abandoned bungalow. Fred peeked over the fence and one by one they all squeezed out. Romy couldn’t help noticing how much easier it was for the three other girls. Her tall frame barely made it through.

Romy pulled away from the others as they reached the clearing. She’d decided to sit on the steps of the storage building to give the illusion she’d been there working all day.

It wasn’t to be.

“Where have you been?” A furious voice spoke from her left.

Romy blanched at the six feet, six inches of angry Atlas bearing down on her. Angry was an understatement. He was livid. How long had he been looking for her? Her eyes flicked to Nancy and the others who were stalling, watching her exchange with Atlas.

“I was . . . walking.”

His face showed disbelief and contempt. “Walking? All day?” he asked sarcastically.

“Well, I wouldn’t say all day,” she hedged.

He was wearing a singlet, tucked into black camo pants. The skin on his arms glistened from the unrelenting heat.