"Easy..." Dreamer whispered to Maeve as he shook his head, trying to shake free the teardrops.  He couldn't afford to lose it now... or even to show weakness, really.  Especially if they ended up having to fill the gas tank before escaping... surely the rebels held control of all the gas stations.  They were way too precious an asset not to control them.<br/><br/>On the other hand... if the local rebels had obeyed his "orders" and run off to Kree as "Shark had ordered," it might be possible to fuel up safely.  Assuming they hadn't stupidly torched the places like they had that one along the highway...<br/><br/>Gently, he slipped his hands under Maeve's shoulders and knees, and he straightened up with no apparent effort.  He carried her toward the car, and he nodded gratefully when Kitten reached back and opened the back door.  As delicately as he could he couched and slid Maeve onto the back seat, and he wordlessly pulled that sleeping bag over her lower body.<br/><br/>"You'll have to hide under that, Maeve... most of the locals wouldn't be happy to see you..." he swallowed.  "We'll pick up Sherra and Feldana... you won't be alone."  He paused.  He knew enough back roads, and there were dirt roads all over Maeve's farm; if it wasn't for the lack of fuel, they could easily avoid most if not all the rebels to escape into the eastern wastes safely.  He could still pass near Sherra and Feldana, but from the opposite side of the field... he could cut through on foot to get them.<br/><br/>But the fuel was a problem.  There had been a gas tank near the mansion ---- not in the garage, for safety reasons ---- but it appeared that the humans had dumped the thing out.  Stupid, really... a waste, a danger, and useless when they'd invaded her home.  Maybe they'd been intending on torching the place when they'd seen Lakran putting up such a fight fight...<br/><br/>He grimaced at the thought and turned his head away from Maeve.  As he did so, he found himself looking at the barns... and the distant shed...<br/><br/>The tractors ran on diesel, not gasoline... but there was a gasoline supply in both the barn and the shed, for use with the portable equipment.  Since there was no sign of a fire, he could reasonably hope to get some gas there safely... and the equipment shed was right across the corn field from where they'd left Feldana and Sherra.<br/><br/>He was still kneeling in the back door of the car, next to Meve.  He wasn't sure he wanted to close the door on her... it didn't feel right, somehow.  So, gently he lifted her a bit and pushed her deeper into the vehicle; he sat down next to her and he closed the door.  "Kitten," he said, pointing down a dirt path, "go that way, slowly.  We should be able to get some gas and pick up the others at the same time."