Barren Fields by Robert Brown

everybody some good. The comfort of knowing they are ready to leave at a moment’s notice also helps. Today is an especially good day for Maggie. Not only has she recovered from the stress of being moved to the oil rig, but she is feeling better than she has in weeks. At her insistence she had Keith bring her to the dining room, on a rolling office chair, since there aren’t any wheelchairs on the rig.
    “I’m surprised to see you join us,” Frank says cheerfully to Maggie.
    “I am glad to be out of bed. I felt so good this morning I was standing up on my own. Nearly gave Keith a heart attack when he walked in the room.”
    “It’s good to have you doing so well,” Keith says while standing behind her chair squeezing her shoulder.
    “I should warn you, Frank, when we get off of this rig, I’m going to complain to the owners that this place is not a bit handicapped accessible. Keith is having to wheel me around on an office chair.”
    “I look forward to hearing my reprimand from the boss,” he says back and follows with a smile.
    George walks in after everyone else is sitting around a table with their food.
    “Looks like sleeping beauty finally joined us,” Maggie teases.
    “Ha ha. I’ve been awake for a while. The wind has picked up, so I went up top to check that the boat is still moored to the buoy. We’ve been lucky that the water has been so flat.”
    There are some plates on a second table with a bunch of eggs, bacon, and pancakes. The jovial mood shifts a bit for George when he sees there is also a bowl of broccoli and everyone is drinking red wine.
    He makes himself a plate and sits down, exclaiming, “Red wine for breakfast. What a bunch of alcoholics we’re becoming.”
    The group laughs.
    The morning chatter goes on with ease. They even talk in a relaxed manner about their predicament and eventual escape. They speak about the property in Mexico and hope that there will be papayas and pineapples for breakfast while they are there. It is a morning that they all needed after the stress and turmoil of the last few days. After a few more laughs and a general relaxed sigh, the group falls silent and into their own thoughts.
    “I love you,” Maggie says in a softer tone than she managed earlier while grasping Keith’s hand. “Thank you for always being there for me and trying to protect me.”
    “I love you too,” he says in return.
    “You don’t have to feel guilty when I’m gone, Keith, and not just because you feel you have done everything you can. It isn’t our choice when we die. It is the Lord’s choice when He wants to call us home.”
    “Do you want me to take you back to your room?” Keith asks concerned as her grip on his hand is getting weaker.
    “Now I know why I felt so good this morning, Keith. It’s time for us to say goodbye.”
    The rapid change in Maggie’s condition is shocking to the other men. Keith has seen this several times before. The color drains from her face, and she starts to sink in her chair as she becomes too weak to hold herself up. Keith gently picks her up and begins to carry her out of the dining room.
    “I’ll take her to bed.”
    “Is she going to be all right?” George asks before he can stop the words.
    “This happens from time to time,” Keith says back to him. “She just needs to rest again. She pushed herself too hard.”
    He says the words but isn’t convinced she’ll come back this time.
    The men sit back at the table and stare off in various directions. They don’t have jobs to do and each has a million things to consider about their pasts and possible futures. Jack breathes in and is about to say something when the lights start flashing and an alarm starts blaring. The three men look at each other with faces full of terror at getting caught in radioactive fallout, and then start to move.
    “I’ll get the boat and get it ready,” George says and runs off.
    “You get the crane started. I have to get Maggie and Keith,” Frank