I was on only two of the patrols following the New One, though Amanda was on every one. Billy decided who did and didn't go, so we never knew from one patrol to the next. Both Amanda and I were on the last patrol, though.

The New One had been followed for five consecutive nights, and on the sixth night, he made his way to the arena. We had followed him from the Base, just like before. He strutted to the arena without caution, without even glancing beside or behind him. He reminded me of myself and Amanda, before we knew about the others. I felt embarrassed, and I could feel my cheeks redden,but no one was watching me. We all had our eyes on the New One.

When Nigel realized where our New One was headed, he had us drop back so we could form a plan. There was already a permanent plan for meeting New Ones in the arena, but we went over it again. Nigel would come from the same spot as he had when the Scouts found me, and Bridget and I would wait opposite him, against the other far wall. Amanda would wait just inside the doors, to cover the New One from the rear. We took a side road and ran to beat the New One to the arena.

Once inside, we scurried to our places. The New One was unarmed except for a hunting knife, we knew from our surveillance, and we all carried machine guns. But still, I was nervous and afraid. Anything could go wrong in this kind of situation. Back in the old world, I had seen too many gang conflicts go hopelessly awry before anyone could do anything to stop it.

After what seemed like an eternity, the New One opened the door. He was walking quickly,and I was afraid that Nigel would miss him, that the New One would get past us, but Nigel yelled for him to stop at just the right moment.

Surprisingly, the New One immediately dropped to the ground, drawing his knife as he went. "Where the hell are you?" he screamed, "Show yourself!"

Nigel came out from behind the sandwich stand, training his weapon at the New One. "Slide the knife toward me, slowly." After a pause, he said to the frightened New One, "If you do as you are told, you will not be injured, that I can promise."

For a second, I thought the New One wasn't going to give Nigel the knife. Then he did slide it over to Nigel, and I started breathing again. I didn't know I had stopped. Bridget nudged me, and we moved out to where the New One could see us.

"Girls!" the New One laughed, "Oh, this is rich!"

He flinched and turned to find Amanda three meters behind him. She looked fierce.

The New One laughed again. "Is this a joke? Do your parents know you're playing with big-boy guns, ladies?!"

"I wouldn't find this so amusing, if I were you," Bridget said. "I've never killed someone just because I didn't like him before, but now's a good time to start."

He was still laughing, but he locked eyes with Bridget, and the laughter drained out of him. "So, what do you want?" he asked, to no one in particular.

"Walk to the back of the arena, slowly," Nigel said to him. We walked. I realized that many times there were people suspended in my line of fire as we moved. I wondered if they would bleed. I wondered if it would be like being shot at all, or if it just wouldn't happen. I noticed my distraction,and shook my head to clear it. We were almost to the back, to Billy.

The New One had been casual, almost strolling the whole way. Until he saw Billy. The New One grew a few centimeters as he straightened his back and lifted his chin. "I suppose you're the man in charge?" he asked, looking at Billy.

Billy's fist moved so quickly I didn't see it until it was over, and the New One was sprawled on the cement, blood forming at his lips. "What the hell?" he mumbled. "Hold him," Billy said to us,and stormed out into the arena.

I watched him go, and knew that he was more mad at himself than the New One. It was mention of "the man," I thought, even though the New One couldn't possibly know what he had said. Billy prided himself on his restraint in times of crisis. He said you should never let your emotions come between you and common sense. He had slipped, and we had seen him.

Suddenly, Billy's booming voice broke the soft muttering from the New One. "Let him go,"Billy yelled to us. "Let him go, I never wanna see his ugly face again."

We just stood there, our guns still pointing at the New One. With everyone looking at Billy in amazement, I turned my full attention to the New One, realizing our moment of weakness.

"What's with you freaks?" the New One mumbled, but no one heard.

"Billy, what -" Bridget began, but Billy cut her off. "You heard me, do it!"

There was a moment of silence, and then I lost my head. "No, Billy," I said.

Billy turned to me then. The look on his face was one of surprise, rather than the rage I had expected. Then he laughed.

"Do what you want with him," he said, to me. "I don't give a shit." Then he strutted off into the arena once again.

All the others looked at me. Amanda's eyes were about to pop out of her head. I had put myself in charge, and it was exactly what I didn't want. I knew that I had to give the New One the speech.

"You," I said, pointing the muzzle of the automatic at the New One. I tried to find some authority in my voice. "You stay here, everyone else, leave us."

No one moved. I felt the new power draining away from me, being taken from me. Then Bridget dropped her weapon, put her hand on Henry's arm, and led him away. The others slowly followed, glancing back at the New One and I. Amanda didn't move. I looked at her and nodded once. She dropped her aim at the New One and went out into the arena.

"Sit there," I said to the New One, pointing the bench behind him. I sat on a bench facing him, about ten meters away. I kept my aim on his heart. He grudgingly sat.

"Listen to me," I started, but I was interrupted.

"I'm not listening to no girl," he said to me, folding his arms. "If the man in charge says to let me go, I think you should do as he says. What are you, his squeeze?"

"You will listen to what I have to say, and then you may leave. Or I may kill you. Either way,sit there, shut up, and listen."

His eyes got a little rounder, but he didn't say a word, so I began.

I told him Billy's story about The Other. Somehow I didn't think he'd buy into my version nearly as well. I told him that he could join us or be killed. I told him about The Man. I told him about the headaches. I told him how many of us could never return to the other time.

He told me he needed to think about it. From the look in his eyes, I knew he would never join if he was allowed to leave. "No," I told him, "You must make your decision now. We can't force you to join us, but we will try to stop you from joining The Man. It's what we do to survive here, and if you're smart, you'll do the same."

He was quiet for a long time, deep in thought, it seemed. I was quiet along with him, watching him, trying to keep my face expressionless, even though I was anxious and my finger on the trigger was sweating. "I'll join up with you," he said after awhile. "Are there dues, or do I need to fast and pray to Billy for a week?" I smiled at him then, I couldn't help it.

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Copyright © 1995, Monica Israels
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