Page 134 of Ruin
“Let’s go, move your asses!” Coyote calls out as he heads down the hall and into the meeting room. He’s quickly gone back to his asshole self, but it’s slightly more tolerable than it was before. I don’t know how that works since I swore I lostrespect for the guy when I found out what he did, but it seems I don’t want to strangle him the same way I used to. As long as he leaves me the fuck alone, that is.
Everyone heads into the meeting room, so I pick up my laptop and follow.
It’s an important day. We’re voting today.
Someone set up two boxes along the table on the back wall. When we vote, it’s anonymous. We check off our choice and put the slip of paper into the box, then I count them in front of everyone.
Once we’re all in the room, seated around the table, Coyote closes the door and walks to his chair but doesn’t sit down.
“Well, we all know what we’re doing here today,” he says. “One at a time, go up, cast your vote, and then we’ll talk about the results. I am not voting on either.”
He pulls his chair out and sits. The room is silent, the guys looking around at each other. No one wants to be the first one to go, as if that makes a difference.
“Guess I’ll go first,” I say as I get up and head over to the table.
There are two cardboard boxes. Each box has a sheet of paper taped to it, labeled with what that box is for—Prez and Treaty. There is a stack of square papers between them, all that’s written on them isyesandno. There are plenty of pens, so I pick one up, grab a sheet of paper, and cast my vote by circling the one I want. First I put it into the box for Prez. Then I vote for the treaty. When I’m done, I go back to my seat and Grizz goes up next.
One by one, the guys go up to vote and no one says a word. The only sounds are footsteps and creaking chairs. Since there are only eight of us because Coyote isn’t voting, we have the prospect vote. He’s the last one up.
“All good?” I ask, looking around the room. Everyone gives me some form of yes. I get up and grab the boxes then go back to my seat.
“Start with the border,” Kaison says.
I grab the box and open up the top to pull out the folded sheets of paper. I put the yeses into one pile and the nos in another. I look up at everyone watching me and they know the answer before I say it.
“Iron Runners get some border,” I say. “Six to three.” I push everything aside then grab the other box, feeling Coyote’s eyes on me. I’m pretty sure I know how this is going to go, but I’ve been wrong before. These guys aren’t always readable. We’re all good at showing others the parts we want them to see. Coyote getting knocked out wouldn’t be the worst thing, though. My brother would likely get it and that would be okay. It doesn’t mean Coyote has to go, it just means he isn’t Prez anymore. But something tells me that since they’ve seen me and my brother trusting him, they’re going to trust him too.
The top comes off and I pull the sheets of paper out, one by one, putting them in separate piles. So far, we have three in the yes pile and none in the no.
Another yes.
I grab another sheet and find another yes.
“That settles it,” I say. “Five for yes. It’s a win.”
As I continue to pull them out, just to be fair, I already know how this is going to go. It’s supposed to be anonymous but since there is only one no in the box, we all know who it belongs to. And it sucks. I’ve known Rhino a long time, and I feel bad for their history, but maybe they can make it work. Maybe they can fix it. It’ll take a lot, but it can happen. If Rhino realizes that Coyote didn’t get along with his dad, maybe he can separate his feelings.
“Well, now that it’s settled,” Coyote says. “We can talk about it. Who has something to say?”
“Congratulations,” my brother says, patting him on the back.
“Thanks, brother.”
“When will we look at maps for the border?” Ghost asks.
“As soon as you want to,” Coyote answers, then he looks at me.
“I’ll have to get some accurate ones, but I could do it this afternoon.”
“We could meet through the week too,” Coyote says. “Doesn’t have to be today.”
“I say we wait,” Grizz adds. “Let’s get accurate maps, and maybe a few of us can take a trip to scope out the area.”
“That is a great fucking idea,” Coyote says with a nod. “Whoever wants to go, feel free.”
I consider it. I could use another distraction, but I shouldn’t. What I should do is go talk to Lucian. I want to, but I’m notready. I’m angry. I don’t know what’s holding me back, but something is. So, until then…
“Waiting sounds like a good idea,” I say. “I’ll work on getting accurate maps this week, you guys can plan a trip. We can talk about it all on Saturday, at Church.”
