Charlie shrugged, aware that it had become his choice, but not why or how. "They're sorry. They hope some of them might come back, left them notes about us."
Adrian considered. Sometimes guilt would make changes where little else could, and sometimes your instinct was all you had. The boy thought they should be allowed to stay, would feel guilty if his words got them thrown out. "It's not always wrong now, death. Your mom might tell you that, I think."
Adrian was taking a big guess and knew he was right by the silence. If it were anything else, he would have denied wanting his mother.
Charlie hesitated, lonely and wanting to trust, but his fear of Kenn was as big as his mother's and it made him turn away without saying any of the things he wanted to, without offering a ...special, kind of help.
Kenn was busy getting the new people settled and his mood was good despite missing his rendezvous with Tonya. He had plenty of help without having to ask and the Marine was confident his place here was sealed. Right-hand man belonged to him now, had all along according to Adrian, but the camp's approval could make or break you, and now he had it.
Adrian's other men, those who had been here longer (and still wanted what was no longer available) tried not to be bitter or hateful, accepting that Adrian saw something in the Marine that they did not, something they themselves were lacking. Their desire for Adrian's approval and recognition would make them uneasy and awkward with Kenn at times, but only Neil had spoken against it and not openly. Adrian had made his choice, and now Kenn could openly give what the job demanded - everything.