138 Refugees
Noble looked out at the line of people. How were there so many of them?
It was one thing to know how many refugees were expected. It was quite different to see so many stretched out before her. And that was only those who could fit inside the shelter!
As much as the government tried, there simply wouldn't be enough space in the NQSC to absorb how many were coming. And it had only been a few weeks since the first group arrived! They had taken longer to arrive than expected, but when they did, the people came in full force and all at once. It was overwhelming!
This line was proof of the problem.
Unfortunately, the small amount of available houses were already allotted for the day and those who were left could only get a meal of synthpaste and another night in the temporary shelters.
Noble glanced around at one of the lodgings.
The building was similar to the ones Noble had seen at the port: a big box that could be torn down at a moment's notice. But somehow the Awakened did not think it would be able to move any time soon.
Beds were all around her pulled into tight family groups. Other bedding was set up on the hard floor. It was summertime, so the room was unusually warm with all the extra bodies.
The professor had only come down to lend a hand in making sure the new dwellings were passed out fairly, but then the sight of so many in need tugged at her heartstrings. So she had stayed to help in what ways she could.
That had been hours ago.
Just now Noble gave her brightest smile to each one who made it to the front of the line. She had been in their shoes, though not to the same extent.
As one of the first to escape North America and the daughter of a prominent government official, Noble had been whisked straight to comfortable lodgings until they found a new home.
How much different would her life have been if she had needed to reside in the outskirts indefinitely while hoping for a chance to start fresh?
The overcrowding would only get worse before it got better…if it ever got better.
'Think positive! They need a friendly face in all the gloom.'
With a light cough, Noble went back to passing out what little food the government could supply. Synthpaste…nothing could really make that palatable.
Yet those in line would fight for a chance to get some to feed themselves and their loved ones.
The refugees were supposed to provide proof of their status before getting help, but the professor had intentionally not checked a few of the more raggedy members in the queue.
She didn't want to turn people away, especially people who had been stuck in poverty for years.
'You can only do so much,' she reminded herself.
A woman made it to the front of the line with a somber expression. In her arms, a child of around three clung to her mother's thin frame.
"Hello!" Noble said brightly. "Aren't you adorable!"
The child, who was already small for her age, shrank against her mother's shoulder.
By their clothing, the pair had led a comfortable life before arriving on distant shores. Since the fabric was only slightly worn, they looked like some of the newest arrivals. That was why the child wasn't used to the line just yet.
"Hattie's a little shy," the woman explained. "Her father had a way with her that I just can't master."
Had.
The third member of their little family was dead. While he might have died by the chain of nightmares ravaging Antarctica, Noble didn't think so. The matter-of-fact statement was devoid of raw emotion.
"I don't blame Hattie for being a little shy. She's lucky to have you." Noble passed over the synthpaste with a pleasant expression. "I have something for you, Hattie."
The child turned and peeked at the Awakened with a hint of curiosity. A gift?
Noble reached into her satchel and pulled out a small stuffed animal.
Its green body and long legs were comical, but its big eyes gave it an endearing quality. The little girl tentatively reached out to grab the stuffed toy before clutching it to her chest.
Froggie had belonged to Honey years ago, and Noble had found it in the bottom of her closet that morning. With the teen's permission, the professor had brought the toy to give it a new home.
That home was Hattie's arms. Noble could feel the girl's anxiety immediately lessen. That was a good sign.
Her mother could feel it too. "What do you say to the nice lady?" she coaxed.
"Thank you." A bit of the stoic expression melted from the child's face as she allowed a small smile.
"You are most welcome. He and your mom will take good care of you." Noble nodded as the pair went away. The interaction had taken less than a minute, but the professor hoped that the small act had brightened their day.
They could all use a little more sunshine around here.
'Or better yet, some cleansing rain.'
Not the acid rain that usually fell, but the once-in-a-blue-moon rain that washed everything clean. The air here was not filtered, and it was unpleasant to breathe.
A bit of natural filtering would go a long way.
'Wishful thinking,' Noble shook her head and continued serving until they ran out of supplies. The rest would be the first in line to get food tomorrow.
Things would only get worse as more people came. Noble guessed the other quadrants would be equally swamped. How could they not be with so many needing to flee to their shores?
'If only there was another place to put them all!'
But Earth had limited resources, and they were becoming more limited with each passing day.
Looking out at the crowd, it felt like a losing battle. For each person the government found a place to live, there would be more who would still need help. It was an impossible task.
'And not my job,' Noble reminded herself.
Her family had opened their home to one family already, but they had moved out a few days before to a more permanent place.
Fort told her that morning that they would likely get another family assigned to them soon. Noble hoped this one would be as nice as the last.
With the rest of the government employees, she gathered up the empty boxes and prepared to go. Her heart clenched.
Digging around in her satchel, Noble passed a small bag of food to a woman and her infant son. It was her sack lunch that she had felt guilty eating in front of hungry people. She would be home soon enough to have dinner anyway.
The young mother looked on the verge of tears. No thanks were needed.
The others in her group chatted idly as they walked to the train station. Most were glad to get back to the comforts inside the NQSC. Noble just wanted to get home to her family.
Her communicator buzzed.
Looking down at the screen, the professor hummed softly.
"What?" One of the men resisted the urge to peek over her shoulder.
Noble looked at him and smiled. "Hm? Oh, nothing. My daughter just wants me to hurry home."
She took one more look at her communicator and her smile faltered. Honey's three words made her more anxious than she wanted to admit.
"Tonight's the night."
