?You see to that, then. Don?t worry about me.? He put his gun on his shoulder and walked with Kolina back toward the fire.
Akin watched them until they disappeared around the edge of the cornfield. He never saw either of them again.
After a while, Gabe lifted him, hung him over one shoulder, and began to walk. Akin would be able to walk himself tomorrow or the day after. For now, he watched from Gabe?s shoulder as the others fell in, single file. They headed north toward the river. There, they would turn east toward Lo. In less time than they probably realized, some of them would be aboard shuttles headed for Mars, there to watch the changes begin and be witnesses for their people.
He was perhaps the last to see the smoke cloud behind them and Phoenix still burning.
