Chapter Twenty-Two
Violence and Partings
The sound of shouting up ahead put Valentina on edge, but Hero only grinned, and she realized the shouts were celebratory and not angry.
“The red line. This is where we stop for the night,” he told her. “Sounds like one of the other patrols found something good.”
“More food?”
“Maybe. Or maybe some weapons. That’s what we’re truly hunting for. Can’t really storm a city with clubs and handmade blades.”
Valentina didn’t answer. The shouting and laughing still sounded aggressive to her. Then they drew nearer and she saw the scout train stopped on the other track, the two warriors that had been riding on it laughing and backslapping another group of young revolutionaries. The new group was four boys and two girls, all red-cheeked and sweaty as if t
