APPLESAUSE TESTER-050
Matilda stayed back with her father, watching Aaron. He was tied to the barn pole as she sat with Judith. Her son, brothers, and Violet went out with the group.
"When the world was still the world, I worked for an NGO. Our mission was to deliver medicine and food to the Niger River Delta. Bad people pointed guns in my face every other week. You're not bad people. You're not gonna going to kill us. And we are definitely not going to kill you." Aaron spoke.
Rick looked at Aaron with his jaw clenched, eyes narrow. "Just because we're good people doesn't mean we won't kill you. If the nine of them aren't back in an hour."
"They will be, dad." Matilda cut him off, looking up from her fussy sister.
"I'll put a knife in the base of your skull." Rick warned, igorning his daughter.
Judith started crying, Matilda stood up from where she was kneeling and rocked her sister as she took the bowl of nuts from her father.
"Shh. Judy, it's okay." She muttered, trying to smash the nuts.
Aaron looked at the girl. "You did see the jar of applesauce in my bag, right?" Tilly stopped crushing the nuts and looked up at Aaron."This isn't a trick. This isn't about trying to make you like me. It's self-preservation. Because if the roamers hear her and come this way, I know I'll be the first to go." Aaron begged.
Matilda looked at her father with a pleasing look as Judith wailed louder. Rick sighed before walking over to the applesauce, picking it up and took a spoon full before walking over to Aaron. Rick held out the spoon.
"You think I'm trying to poison your daughter?" Aaron asked, in disbelief.
"Dad, stop." Matilda pleaded. "Judy needs food, now."
Rick turned to his oldest daughter with an serious expression. "What if they get sick, Matilda?"
"Dad, he's tied up. What do you think he's going to do?" Matilda says, trying to calm her baby sister down. "Judy needs food, now dad."
Rick stares at his daughter for a moment before turning back to Aaron. "I'm tired up and you've already expressed a willingness to stab me in the head. How would cruelly killing your baby in front of you in any way help the situation?" Aaron stated.
Rick kneeled down, holding up the spoon. "Maybe she don't die. Maybe she get sick. Maybe you're the one that can help her and we just lose."
"I am the only one who can help them." Aaron says. "Because I have applesauce and we all win." Rick holds the spoon to Aaron's mouth, making him pull back. "I hate applesauce. My mom used to make me eat foods--"
"Shut up and eat the damn applesause, Aaron!" Matilda yelled, making the two men look at her. Aaron finally eats it, they waited for a second.
Nothing happened so Matilda walked up to her father, snatching the spoon out of his hand and storms over to the jar. She sat down and started feeding spoon fulls of applesause Judith.
***
A hour later, the group came back. Rick crouch down inspecting the food. Cans upon cans of food made everyone's mouth the water as their leader stood up and turned to Aaron.
"This, this is ours now," He spat, holding out the can.
Aaron nodded and sighed. "There's more than enough."
"It's ours whether or not we go to your camp."
"What do you mean?"Carl asked, standing next to Violet and his brother. "Why wouldn't we go?"
"If he were lying or if he wanted to hurt us...but he isn't" Lee said, looking at his father and his group, not taking a 'no' for an answer. It was time for him to over-ride his father and do what was best for his group. "And he doesn't. We need this. So we're going, all of us. Somebody say something if they feel differently."
Everyone stayed silent even his father who didn't want to overthrow his son's judgment.
"I don't know, man. This barn smells like horse shit." Daryl spoke, making everyone chuckle.
"Yeah. We're going." Rick nodded, making everyone smile. "So, where is your camp?"
"Well, every time I've done this. I've been behind the wheel driving recruits back." Aaron started. "I believe you're good people. I've bet my life on it. I'm just not ready to bet my friends' lives just yet."
Lee stepped forwards. "You're not driving. So if you want get home, you'll have to tell us how."
Aaron glanced at Rick with hesitation as Rick had a map on the ground. "Go north on Route 16."
"And then?" Lee asked, standing in front of the man.
"I'll tell you when we get there." Aaron said, looking up at the teen.
"We'll take 23 north." Rick said. "You'll give us directions from there."
"That's—I don't know how else to say it—that's a bad idea. We've cleared 16. It'll be faster."
"We'll take 23 north." Rick repeated. " We leave at sundown."
"We're doing this at night?" Kelly asked, placing a hand on her sister's shoulder.
"Look, I know it's dangerous. But it's better then riding up to the gates during the day. If it isn't safe, we need to get gone before they know we're there."
"No one is going to hurt you." Aaron tells them. "You're trying to protect your group, but you're putting them in danger."
"Tell me where the camp is, we'll leave right now." Rick ordered. "It's goint to be a long night. Eat. Get some rest if you can."
Lee watched as his father walked out of the barn. He couldn't help to feel slight guiltily for overthrowing his father, but it was best for his baby sister and group. He didn't spare Aaron another look before following after his father.
He saw him rummaging though one of the car. "Dad—"
"I'm thinking you, me, Glenn drive with that guy. Carl, Violet, Max, and Judith are safer in there." His father said, pointing to the RV. "I also want Tilly in the Rv with them. You okay?"
"When you said that we were going, was that for real?" Lee asked, looking down at his father. "Or are you just trying to get this guy to tell you where his camp is?"
Rick stood up, looking his oldest son. "No, we're going."
"Whatever it takes to get there." Lee says. "Just as long as we get there and I'm sorry, I didn't mean to overthrow your leadership back there, but I did what was best for the group, dad."
"No, no. Don't be sorry, Lee." His father said, placing a firm hand on his shoulder with a face full on proudness. "Like you said, you did what was best for the group. You did the right thing, we—I needed a push in the right direction. Needless to say I'm proud for you for taking change."
Lee nodded, smiling at his father. "Thanks, dad. I love you."
Rick pulled his son towards him, giving him an long-over due hug. "I love you, son."