When the Internet has gone.

 Linda tightened her grip on Sasha’s leash as they approached a bend in the lane where the gnarled remains of an oak tree marked the first cache point. The dog’s ears perked up, her keen nose twitching. Even in the stillness of the countryside, Sasha’s vigilance never wavered. It was what made her worth every ounce of precious food Linda had sacrificed to keep her alive.

The Great Disaster had fractured society into isolated pockets of survivalists, scavengers, and the occasional remnants of organized groups clinging to order. Linda had been neither brave nor desperate enough to join the militias or the scavengers. Instead, she had found a niche within the Network—a web of anonymous couriers and operatives working to maintain a faint pulse of resistance.

Sasha halted abruptly, growling low in her throat. Linda’s heart raced. She placed her free hand on the knife tucked into her belt and scanned the lane. Shadows danced in the twilight, but no one revealed themselves. “Good girl,” Linda whispered, coaxing Sasha forward. Whatever had spooked the dog didn’t linger.

At the oak tree, Linda knelt, pretending to tie her bootlaces. She brushed aside leaves and dirt to reveal a hollowed-out knot in the trunk. Her fingers found the small, waterproof pouch inside. She palmed it quickly, tucking it into the secret compartment in Sasha’s collar. The Malinois turned her head to watch, her dark eyes reflecting understanding. Sasha wasn’t just a deterrent to thieves; she was a partner in the mission.

The next cache point was a few miles further down the lane, near the ruins of an old farm. As they walked, Linda wondered for the hundredth time about the contents of the micro SD cards. Were they blueprints for rebuilding what had been lost? Coordinates for hidden supplies? She had once been tempted to borrow an old, battery-powered reader to peek, but fear of discovery stopped her. Ignorance, she decided, was the safest armor. Her task was simple: collect and deliver. Nothing more.

The farm came into view, a skeletal barn silhouetted against the orange-pink sky. Sasha’s posture stiffened again. This time, Linda saw the reason. Two figures emerged from the shadows near the barn, their ragged clothing and makeshift weapons marking them as scavengers. Linda cursed under her breath.

“Easy, Sasha,” she murmured. The dog emitted a low growl, teeth bared. One of the scavengers stepped forward, brandishing a rusted machete.

“Nice dog,” he sneered. “Bet she’d fetch a good trade.”

“Bet she’d tear you apart first,” Linda shot back, her voice steadier than she felt. She tightened her grip on the leash. Sasha lunged forward, snarling, and the scavenger flinched.

The second figure, younger and less confident, grabbed the first’s arm. “Let’s go. Not worth it.”

They melted back into the shadows, their confidence shaken by Sasha’s display. Linda’s legs felt weak, but she forced herself to walk on, head held high. Only when she was sure they were alone did she kneel to hug Sasha.

“Good girl,” she whispered, her voice trembling. Sasha licked her face, her tail wagging briefly before she returned to her vigilant stance.

At the final cache point, Linda retrieved a second pouch and slipped it into her jacket. The sun had dipped below the horizon by the time they turned for home. The lanes were darker now, but Sasha’s presence was a constant comfort.

As they approached her modest house, Linda couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of purpose. The world might be broken, but as long as there were people willing to carry the torch—whether they understood its light or not—hope would endure.

She unlocked the door and let Sasha inside, bolting it securely behind them. Tomorrow, she would make the deliveries, leaving the pouches at designated drop sites for the next link in the chain. For now, she fed Sasha, ran a hand through her coarse fur, and whispered, “We did good today.” Sasha wagged her tail as if to agree.