“I didn’t say anything, Ben. I just agreed. I was trying to be that good wife. Trying to be that woman you loved. I was losing you before this all happened and I didn’t want to keep losing you. But… if being a good wife means giving up what I believe in, then I can’t be that good wife.”
“I see.” Ben placed his hands in his pockets and turned away.
“Ben? Where are you going?”
“Back to the science room. I’ll stay a few days, but then I am going, with or without you.”
“I wish you would consider staying and standing ground.”
“I wish you would consider leaving.”
Lana walked up to him and grabbed his hand. “If you go, Ben, then we’ll end up being what we were before the attacks.”
“Why does it have to be that way?” Ben asked. “Why is it, if I go? How about this, Lana? If you stay here, we end up being what we were before the attacks. I’m not the one who changed my mind. I’m not the one who said everything and then changed my mind. You are. And maybe… maybe four weeks ago when we filed those divorce papers, it really wasn’t a mistake.” He pulled his hand away and walked out.
It was odd to Foster, being out on the streets late at night. No streetlights whatsoever. The street barely lit by the moon.
Ten of them went out and scoured the streets. They made only a mile worth of blocks. There wasn’t much there. They did locate a general doctor's office, a family planning clinic and a pharmacy where they might be able to find medical supplies.
Food and supplies would be easily picked from the two stores.
Foster wanted to pack up the supplies right then and there. Manny told him that wasn’t how things were done. They had to note where things were located first, then devise a plan, and only then go out and get the supplies.
Things had to be done carefully. Even though there wasn’t any indication of fighting or soldiers in the vicinity, one never knew.
Foster was a little done in and he felt useless when he returned.
He didn’t mean to wake Judith, but he was louder than he thought he was.
“If I go out there, I want to grab stuff, bring it back and not come back empty handed,” he told Judith. “I feel going out there and coming back without anything was a waste of time.”
“These people are alive because they do things a certain way. We are their guests, Jimmy.”
Foster nodded.
“Besides, did you know what to grab at the doctors’ office or pharmacy?”
“No, but if I grabbed everything…”
“Everything?” Judith spoke motherly to him. “You will be much more efficient getting what the doctor tells you to get. Manny said what? Tomorrow you’ll go out and get supplies. Tomorrow you will feel useful.” She patted him on the cheek. “Now, I know it’s late. What time is it?”
“Almost six.”
“And you haven’t slept. Get some sleep….”
The sounds of people talking, calling, moving about carried to them both.
“Something is wrong,” Judith said.
“Stay here, I’ll find out,” Foster slipped by her and into the hall.
People were running about, all in the same direction.
“Excuse me…” Foster reached for someone. They kept moving. It was frustrating. Where was everyone going?
“Hey, Foster, come on.” One of the men who had been out searching with him tugged his arm.
“What’s going on?” Foster asked.
“Planes. Come look.”
Foster froze. “Should we be going up there, then?”
“Are you kidding? Yeah! They aren’t the enemy. They’re ours.” Excitedly, the man kept up with the others and raced down the hall.
He supposed they were running to the streets to peer up at the sky.
Foster wanted to go, but at that second he couldn’t. He felt bad. Everyone was running out to ‘see.’
They were going out to see.
Everyone but Judith was. She was in that room waiting to find out what all the commotion was about.
She couldn’t see and Foster knew she was probably scared and worried.
He retreated back to the room to let her know it wasn’t anything bad. In fact, it was more than likely a good thing.
Then, if she wanted to go, he’d walk her out to join the others and he’d describe the scene. So Judith, in some sense, could see the planes as well.
Harry had gone back and forth to
Though Harry wished Tyler would play with kids his own age, a teenager was a far cry from an old man.
After checking on him the last time, Harry had returned to the fire hall and helped everyone clean up and get things ready for breakfast.
Lana was lingering there, looking as if she were searching for a reason not to leave. Harry felt bad for her. She certainly was torn between the love of her husband and the love of her country.
Harry wasn’t really one for giving advice, but he did tell her, that he himself was a married for a long time and she just needed to find Ben and talk to him.
She nodded, thanked Harry and said she needed to sweep the floors and then she’d deal with it.
Harry guessed she was working it out in her mind.
