Remi searched the girl’s determined face, knowing without a doubt that if she didn’t give the girl some direction, Nasha would engage the enemy on her own. She seemed to fear nothing, which was what worried Remi. If she turned into a mini rogue agent, doing whatever she wanted, chances were good she might be caught. Far better to keep her safe so that if all else failed she could warn Sam. “You can help, if you promise to do exactly what I say. If it’s too dangerous, you have to hide.”
“I promise.”
The other girls looked from Remi to Nasha, their eyes filled with uncertainty. Remi outlined her plan, starting with her pack hidden beneath the towels between the hampers. Nasha listened intently, nodding, as Remi told her what she wanted done. “If you can’t get to my pack, don’t worry. What’s more important is the road spikes we found. They’re in a box in the shed.”
“I know where they are.”
“Good. You’ll have to get the box out without them seeing or hearing. Maybe the girls and I can create a distraction.”
“Like the boys do when we pickpocket?”
“Just like that. If we can’t make one, you need to wait. I’m going to try to get us moved to the office. That will be closest to the truck and the keys. There’s a window in the office bathroom.” Remi, about to tell her that the window should be open, glanced over at Makao, shocked to see him looking their direction.
His eyes locked on hers and he drew his gun, then stalked across the courtyard toward them.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
An army of sheep led by a lion
can defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.
– GHANAIAN PROVERB –
Within seconds he stood in front of them, pointing his weapon at Remi’s chest. “There are twenty trays and food in the cafeteria, waiting to be served. Where is everyone?”
“I told you. Gone. Some of the kids were sick. We were worried it might be contagious, so we did an emergency evacuation. They won’t be back.”
“The food—”
“You’re welcome to wait, but it’ll be a long one.”
Makao started to turn away when he seemed to notice Nasha for the first time. He scrutinized her for several interminable seconds, his gaze narrowing, when two of his men appeared from the back of the compound.
“The place is deserted,” one of them said. “But there’s a huge pile of dirt behind that building.” He pointed toward the supply shed. “We can’t figure out where it came from.”
Scarface looked at Remi for an explanation. “Well?”
“Honestly, I have no idea,” she replied, grateful his attention was no longer on Nasha. “I’ve only been here a few days. But I’d assume it’s topsoil from the firebreak around the school.” She nodded toward the garden area. “They’ve been using it in the planters.”
She hoped he’d believe the partial lie. The area outside the fence was plowed regularly as a firebreak to sepa
rate the forest from the school, but it was clearly contaminated with grass and weeds—which easily could be seen if they walked outside the courtyard for a closer look.
He seemed to buy it. Her relief was short-lived when his interest focused on the shed. “And why is that building round? Different from the others?”
“It was an experiment in recycling.” From the corner of her eye, she saw the older girls looking at the shed. Keeping her voice nonchalant, she added, “They filled the plastic bottles with dirt and used them for the walls.”
He studied the structure. “What’s in it?”
“Tools. Feed for the goats and chickens. Nothing much.”
“I want to see this bottle building.” He and two men walked toward the shed, stood in front of it a few moments, discussing something she couldn’t hear.
Nasha had an innate sense of timing. The moment the men looked away, she dashed toward the planter, ducking out of sight.
Amal stared after her, then leaned toward Remi. “You’re sure that’s a good idea?”
“Worst case? They catch her and she ends up here with us.”