Toemeka stopped breathing as shestared at him in horror. Finally, she said, “The Resistance isstrong and difficult to locate in the mountains. That should keepCadmus busy. There’s no reason to believe he’ll be payingattention to a few prisoners in a concentration camp.”
“He might be paying attentionif he finds out the prisoners scheduled for execution are my family.Michio will take charge of the military while I’m gone. I didn’ttell him you were planning to join the mission. It’s up to you totell him.”
“Have you told Koriann aboutthe mission yet?” she countered.
“Yes, and she doesn’t likeit, but she understands.”
“Michio will understand aswell.”
Erling shook his head. “I doubtit.”
“Then I’ll make himunderstand. Your family loved and supported me when I most needed it.I wouldn’t have recovered from my family’s murders if it wasn’tfor them.”
“If you’re sure you want tojoin the mission, get your things and meet me at the palace landingstrip in half an hour.” Erling left the room.
Toemeka’s heart ached as shegazed at her sleeping baby. He was so sweet and defenseless. Now thatthe time had come to leave him, she found it more difficult thanshe’d expected. What if she were killed or captured? She mightnever see him again and he’d grow up without a mother. The pain ofbeing separated from him last time was unbearable; now she’d besubjecting herself to that pain deliberately. Tears sprang to hereyes and an overwhelming sadness filled her.
Erling would understand if shechanged her mind. In fact, she bet he really didn’t want her tocome along. He knew how much she’d already been through andprobably thought she should stay and take care of Baymond. And Michiowould definitely be against her going. She might be physicallyrecovered, but Michio knew she wasn’t emotionally recovered. He’dspent too many nights holding her when she’d woken up screamingfrom nightmares. He knew she felt anxious when she was away from himand the baby for more than a short time. Worse, Cadmus was on theplanet she’d be heading to; she feared he still had some hold overher.
She thought of Erling’s parentsand sisters, how much love they’d given her, and realized she hadto help them, no matter how much it hurt to leave Baymond and Michio.No matter how afraid she was of Cadmus.
Toemeka kissed Baymond and sethim in the crib, then went into the adjacent room to let Pema knowshe was leaving. Changing into a flight suit, she then took heralready packed bag out of the bedroom closet.
She picked up her communicator,knowing she couldn’t put off telling Michio any longer. She texteda message, then hesitated, her finger hovering over the “send”button. Michio would talk her out of going. He’d come up withreasons that would make her doubt her decision. He wouldn’t fullycomprehend her mental state after her family had been killed. Sheremembered Erling’s mother and father loved, cared and comfortedher like one of their own, until gradually she became strong enoughto go on living.
She set down the communicator.She’d write Michio a note instead. She knew it was cowardly andwrong, but she was already too emotional about leaving Baymond to tryand make Michio understand why she had to go on this mission. Hernote was brief and didn’t explain all the real reasons behind herdecision. It was simply too hard to put into words how shatteredshe’d been to lose everything as a sheltered eighteen-year-old. Inher mind’s eye flashed the memories: waking up to the smell ofsmoke in her grandmother’s house. Making her way to hergrandmother’s smoke-filled bedroom to find her already dead fromsmoke inhalation. Climbing out a window and discovering the wholevillage on fire. Hearing shots. Seeing soldiers. Running home andreuniting with her family only to have soldiers capture them beforethey could escape. Seeing her brother Baymond stabbed when he triedto protect her. His cry of pain would always be in her mind. And herparents…
No, she couldn’t dwell on itnow. She pushed the thoughts away, hurried downstairs and headed tothe airfield where the ship waited.
***
That evening, after returningfrom the military space station, Michio went to the nursery expectingto find Toemeka. Pema told him Toemeka had gone out. It didn’tsurprise him. She seemed driven to get back in shape after having thebaby. He didn’t fully understand the reasons, because she alreadylooked slim and beautiful. Perhaps she was just used to being in topform as a Coalition agent. Or maybe she needed to feel strong afterbeing powerless when she was in Cadmus’ hands, drugged and trappedby negative energy.
Upon entering the bedroom, hespotted a folded piece of paper on the dresser with his name writtenon it. Apprehensively, he unfolded it and read:
Dear Michio,
I’ve left with Erling and asmall team on a rescue mission to save his family from beingexecuted. I can’t begin to explain all my reasons for going, butplease try to understand. I must do everything I can to save mysurrogate family.
I love you and Baymond dearly andwish I didn’t have to leave you both for even this brief period oftime.
Instead of coming after me, Iimplore you to stay with Baymond. He needs a father and Jaipar’smilitary needs you in these dangerous times.
All my love,
Toemeka
Michio’s whole body was tensewith worry by the time he finished the note. Why hadn’t shediscussed this with him? Didn’t she know how worried he’d be whenhe discovered she left on a dangerous mission?
He crumpled the note and wentsearching for Koriann. A bodyguard said she’d gone outside; hefound her standing on the rocky beach, staring out into the ocean.She turned toward him when she heard him approach. Her face was paleand her eyes were troubled.
“Michio.” She launchedherself into his arms. “I can’t bear it if Erling doesn’t makeit back. Our baby could be born without a father.”
Michio had been so caught up inhis own distress that he hadn’t thought about how Koriann might betaking this. “When did they leave?”
She gazed up at him. “Thismorning. Lieutenant Jake Renheart sent a communication that Erling’sfamily is scheduled for execution.”
“Did you know Toemeka was goingon the mission?”
She released him and took a stepback, looking confused. “Toemeka went? I thought only Zachary andOnolyn accompanied Erling.
