Quake by Patrick Carman Page A

turning downbeat. “Let’s listen to the recording, see what we’ve got. It might be nothing more than a sad good-bye. But if it is something more, we need to know about it.”
    â€œI wish Neal Gordon would have contacted us faster,” Clooger said. “Hotspur Chance has had twelve days to get organized. That’s time I’d like to have back.”
    Carl sighed heavily. “The war will still be here no matter how many days pass, brother. It always is.”
    â€œThis is different,” Clooger corrected, his gaze settling heavy on his brother. “You know it’s different.”
    Faith let that sink in for a few seconds and realized it was true. She locked eyes with Dylan and felt his resolve to finish what they’d started. More than ever, she knew they would have to face whatever was coming together. She couldn’t do it alone and neither could he. “Let’s listen to what she has to say already,” Jade pressed. “I’ve never even met Meredith and now I’m as curious as you guys are.”
    Clooger looked at Carl in a knowing sort of way, as if they both had to agree to this before they’d give the okay. Faith got the feeling that they were nervous about what might be said, which made her wonder if these two had secrets of their own they weren’t telling.
    â€œLet ’er rip,” Carl said, nodding to Hawk. “And let the chips fall where they may.”
    Jade reached over and brushed her finger across the Tablet, and Meredith’s voice returned.
    I’m terrible at good-byes, especially recorded ones, but I have to say them.
    Good-bye, Dylan. I loved you; you made me proud. More than anyone else, you made me believe the world was worth saving.
    Good-bye, Clooger, my comfort and my shield. In a broken world, you gave me the strength to go on. Sorry if I’m revealing this secret unexpectedly, but this is my only chance and I’m taking it.
    Faith looked up at Clooger and saw that he was staring at Jade with a worried expression on his face. A second later she knew why.
    Jade, I am your mother. I’m sure Clooger has been too nervous to tell you yet, and given his proclivity to finding himself in very dangerous situations, he might never have told you. Clooger is your father, young lady. If you didn’t know that already, my apologies.
    Remember these things as you go through life:
    We loved you enough to get you out of harm’s way before it was too late. You should be thankful for that. War is no place for a baby.
    You have a half brother, Dylan, who is probably also listening to this message. He was five when you were born and we whisked you away before he could see you. Dylan will keep you safe, because he’s a man now and a very good one. Him you can trust.
    Be good to Carl. He deserves it. No man ever sacrificed so much for one child.
    Secrets and lies are part of every life. While I don’t advise lying, sometimes it is necessary to protect an innocent person.
    If we’d kept you close by you’d almost certainly be dead already. Be thankful that’s not true.
    I thought of you. Always.
    Hawk, pause. Let’s take a break.
    Hawk touched the screen and stopped the recording, stealing glances at everyone in the room but Jade. “Okay, so that was awkward,” he said.
    â€œSorry,” Carl and Clooger said at once, having the same thought at the same time.
    Jade’s expression softened. She didn’t speak, but Carl and Clooger could see by the way she looked at them what she was thinking: I’m okay . It was Dylan who broke the silence, leaning forward where he sat and saying what no one else could.
    â€œLet’s not turn this into something it’s not. We’re in the middle of something bigger than any one of us can handle alone. We’re going to need each other. We all have Meredith in common for one reason or another, and we all know she was a complicated person.