Ben couldn’t wait to get back to his family. Even though it had only been a day, it felt like much longer since he’d actually seen them. Because while they had been together, he hadn’t spent any quality time with his wife or his children. He was going to change that the moment he returned.
When Jackson stepped out of the tent, Ben waved and caught the colonel’s attention. “You made quite the impression with General McGuire.”
“I’m just glad we were able to get done what we needed to.” Ben shook Jackson’s hand. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
Jackson laughed. “I wish I could say the same. Do you have someone walking you out?”
“I’ll just hang out here,” Ben said.
“Suit yourself,” Jackson said. “I’m hitting the mess hall. Though, I have to say you’re not missing much. Good luck to you, Ben.”
“You too, Jackson,” Ben answered.
Ben watched Jackson disappear, and he didn’t envy the colonel’s continued role in the coming fight. But it wouldn’t be much longer before the fight was over for Ben.
After everything that had happened since the EMP was detonated, Ben was looking forward to taking it easy for a while. He knew it was still going to be difficult. He didn’t expect a walk in the park after all of this was over, but he didn’t believe that they would face the same level of danger moving forward. It was nice to know that they were no longer alone in this fight.
Ben was so distracted by his own relief that he didn’t notice the commotion happening around him until Jackson grabbed hold of his arm, pulling him in a random direction.
“What the hell is going on?” Ben asked.
“The enemy is here, now,” Jackson answered.
Ben watched as units mobilized around him. The camp suddenly broke out into a frenzy. “I need to get back to my family.”
“Negative,” Jackson said, reverting to his military jargon. “The frontline is closed. Everybody is heading toward the fight. Find someplace to lay low, and we can pick up your family after this is done.”
Ben yanked his arm free and put space between himself and Jackson. “I did all this to save my family from the danger that’s heading right toward us.”
“Our scouts tell us that the enemy is heading straight for the city,” Jackson said. “There’s no reason to believe that your family will be in any danger across the river.”
That was the only assurance that Ben received, and as he watched the mass of soldiers around him mobilize and head toward the front line, there was a noise above them. Ben glanced up to the sky, shielding his eyes from the lowering sun, and saw dozens of objects above them.
Ben suddenly remembered the drawing he saw of the crude-looking airplane just as the first bomb dropped.
19
The moment after the vote ended in the mess hall, Jane Percy wanted to rush over to Liz Riker and snap her neck. But she forced a smile and shook hands. She couldn’t believe she had lost. She was convinced after Wendy and Marty had spoken, no one would cast their vote for Liz. The moment she was out of the public eye, she dropped the mask and was seething anger. “What the hell was he thinking?”
“The Rikers must have talked to Gray,” Lester said. “Got in his head.”
Liz stopped and shook her head. “I know Liz Riker better than that. She wouldn’t involve the children. She would think that she’s above all that.” She snarled. “It was that girl.”
“What girl?” Lester asked.
“Nancy Simmons,” Jane answered, looking at her husband. “The girl whose parents were killed. She must have spoken to Gray, convinced him to say something tonight. He’s still head over heels for that girl even though she’s moved on. Clever little bitch.”
Jane saw Gray coming out of the mess hall. He was alone, and Jane took the opportunity to rush over and pull him aside. He didn’t try to resist, not that Jane gave him much of a choice. Once they were out of sight from everyone else, she tore into him.
“How could you do that?” Jane asked. “To your own flesh and blood?”
Gray wore a mixture of shame and anger. It was obvious he had been conflicted but not conflicted enough to convince himself not to go through with it.
“Look at me, boy!” Jane shouted.
Gray finally looked up. He could barely meet his mother’s gaze, but he was strong enough to hold it once he did. “I told the truth.”
“The truth?” Jane asked. “Seems to me that you left out a whole piece of truth.”
“You killed Nancy’s parents,” Gray asked.
“Because they threatened us!” Jane answered, raising her voice, and then quieted herself. “It was convenient of you to leave out the fact that Nancy’s mother was about to kill you and her own daughter!”
“That doesn’t excuse what you did,” Gray said.
“But you’re excused for cherry-picking the truth?” Jane asked, shaking her head. “No, son, it doesn’t work that way.”
Jane was a mix of emotions standing in front of Gray, but of all the pain and anger swirling through her, what she felt most was betrayal.
“I would lay down my life for you, Gray,” Jane said. “Without question, in a heartbeat. I would go to the ends of the earth to protect you because you are a part of me.” She tapped against her breastbone. “But what you did tonight… I will never forget, no matter how much I want to.”
Jane saw the disappointment
