Orphan Maker Read Online Free

They had been the kings of their world.
Now look at us.
What good were the hairstyles and makeup compared to the reality of life? They had scrabbled their way through some of the worst street wars in history and had come out on top. Yet after five years of living on the dwindling resources of a dead society, what had it gotten them? A slow death and nothing else. Why hadn’t any of them thought to plan ahead for the long haul like these kids did?
The townies might be dweebs but they’ve done a better job with the hand dealt them.
    Gwen shook herself from her depression. The last of the townies had arrived—two redheads entered the church, a boy and a girl. The boy was younger, but he stood a head taller than the girl. There was no doubt they were related. They looked like siblings, even walking the same way as they went to a front row pew. Gwen leaned forward, eyes intent. From the expressions and greetings of their neighbors and the mayor, one or both of these two were also a force to be reckoned with.
    Walker came to the front of the room, and Weasel stood. “Okay, the Loomises are here. Anybody else coming is late or not coming at all.”
    “What’s going on, Dwayne?” A boy’s voice cracked with puberty. He sat in the second row, gesturing at the strangers. “Who are they?”
    “These kids are from the city. There are forty-three of them.” Walker held his hands up to quiet a round of whispering. “Things are really bad down there. There’s no more food, and most have gotten sick and died. These people are the last left, and they need places to stay. That’s why I called a town meeting. I can’t make this decision for all of us.”
    “Why the blazes would we take them in?” someone else demanded. “We got enough mouths to feed as it is.”
    “If they had done a better job, they wouldn’t need to come begging,” another said, causing a general mutter of agreement.
    Gwen snuck a glance at Weasel. His brown complexion was dark with anger, but he kept his mouth shut. Nothing being said was a lie, and he knew it. She felt a strong stab of sympathy for him. He was no longer in charge. He couldn’t protect her anymore. Still, she would miss him. He was a good enough guy for the most part.
    “If we split them up among the families here, they’d be less of a burden on everybody,” Walker said, oblivious to the fallen hero standing beside him. “Look, we all know how tough it’s been. We’ve had a couple of good growing seasons. We’ve created a decent way to live with our neighbors so everyone has enough. What’s a few more bodies?”
    That opened the floor for argument. None of the Gatos said a word, watching the discussion rage around them as people argued for or against letting them stay. Voices in support were few and far between. Weasel’s thin shoulders were stone. He was strung so tight, Gwen saw him tremble with each breath. Her throat grew tight as she considered the possibility that they would have to leave here.
Where else can we go?
    “What does Loomis have to say about it?”
    A good number of them craned their necks, looking for Loomis. Gwen wasn’t surprised to see them focus on the redheads who had arrived last. What intrigued her was that it was the girl who responded, not the boy.
    “I say keep ’em,” she said, her smoky voice firm. “We’re standing in a church our parents built and maintained, God rest their souls. Don’t think they’d be too happy we’ve forgotten to help those in need.”
    The crowd sat in momentary contemplation, her words having serious effect. Gwen quickly scanned the crowd, realizing that the cloud of negativity had lifted. They actually appeared to consider Walker’s suggestion and, for the first time since seeing the smoke from that farmhouse, Gwen felt a twinge of hope.
    Dwayne pounced on their sudden indecision. “I’m not going to throw these people out on my own. I know you voted me as mayor, but this isn’t a decision for me to make. I