Page 58 of Into the Mist

Hesitantly at first, and then more eagerly, every hand in the room went up. The testing went fast. If a veggie didn’t sprout within just a few minutes, it didn’t sprout at all.

“Only five grew anything?” Nathan asked and then grimaced and rubbed his taped ribs.

“Only five,” Mercury nodded. “But at least we know some things that are similar in everyone whose blood changed. All of us were outside and breathed in the green fog.”

“Yeah, and it hurt—like stinging bees,” said Gemma.

“Also each of us lost consciousness, if only for a minute or so,” added Hilary.

Nathan frowned and shook his head. “And it didn’t change the blood of even one man. That doesn’t seem fair.”

Marge looked at her partner. “I think you should be grateful our car didn’t come to a stop in the middle of that green stuff, because it seems every man who comes in contact with it dies.”

Nathan grinned at his partner. “Oh, honey, Iamgrateful. I also wish my blood could grow things.”

“So, do you think whoever engineered this particular biological agent made it to wipe out men?” Janet sounded equal parts pissed and skeptical.

“We can’t know for sure if it was created to be that specific or if it’s just a fortuitous byproduct.” Heads turned as Stella joined them in the foyer.

“Fortuitous?” said one of the other three men as he carefully sat up. His arm was in a sling, and his thigh and head were heavily bandaged. His age was hard to determine as the gauze wrapped around his forehead also covered the side of his face, but Mercury guessed he was somewhere between forty and fifty.

“Well, let’s see.” Stella tapped her chin with exaggerated contemplation. “Who’s been in charge of the world until now?”

“Men,” said Gemma.

“Exactly.” Stella put her fists on her waist and faced the wounded man. “Women saved you. Women bandaged you. Women will continue to be sure you heal. Remember that.”

“Is that a threat?” asked the man.

“What’s your name?” Stella countered with.

“Keith Carter.”

“Well, Keith, we’re not like that,” said Stella. “We’re simply speaking to you honestly. This new world is going to be different. We’re not going to tolerate misogyny. That’s not a threat. It’s the truth.”

“Exactly. We’re being truthful and making it clear more things have changed than our blood,” Mercury said.

“Guess it’s good you’re leaving,” muttered Keith.

“No, Keith.” Hilary spoke firmly. “We’ll have none of that. Mercury and Stella are correct. Our blood has changed and so has our world. We’re not going to bicker with you. And we’re not going to be bullied by you either. We will be compassionate. We will be truthful. We will befair. And we will work together to survive this. If that is not how you want to live, you are free to go.”

“I—I can’t leave. I can barely walk,” said Keith as the part of his face not bandaged flushed scarlet.

Another man—the younger guy who had multiple cheek, shoulder, and leg lacerations—spoke up. “Well, dude, then I guess you’ll have to learn how to get along with people, and by people I mean women.”

“Good advice,” said Nathan as he reclined back with a sigh. “We do need to work together, and to tell you the truth, I’m glad I’m not in charge.”

“Oh, my love,” said Marge with a fond grin. “I’m glad you’re not in charge too.”

CHAPTER

18

“OH, GOOD! YOUguys are all here.” Gemma walked into the suite and plopped down on the trundle beside Karen, who was already sipping a glass of another excellent red Stella had chosen. “Thanks to marijuana, Stella’s amazing stew, and Imani’s ridiculously delicious biscuits, everyone is tucked in and half asleep already.”

“Here, kid. Tonight I brought you a real wineglass.” Stella poured a little red into the stemware and handed it to Gemma. “Don’t forget to swirl it like I taught you last night.”

“Did you already let it breathe?” Gemma asked as she swirled the wine semi-professionally.