stared at the screen. “Only Fairchild today, but…. What
about Joint Base Lewis-McChord?” He said looking up. “That’s in western
Washington.”
Caden
nodded. He knew JBLM well. “How many flights are going there?”
“ Oh,
we have three flights tomorrow to that base.”
Caden’s
brow shot up. “Three?”
“ How
many spots would you need on the plane?”
Caden
thought quickly, the governor, his wife, David Weston and himself. Weston had
also mentioned two Secret Service agents were with the governor. “Six and a
security detail of maybe four more.”
“ Ten
people?” He bit his lip as he scanned the computer screen. “Maybe…yes, I think
I can do that, but I’ll need an okay from the commanding officer.”
Caden
smiled as he slid the general’s order across the counter.
* * *
Late
in the afternoon Caden walked from the military police office. He unfolded his
to-do list. Before the MPs had cleared him to leave, they had taken every piece
of identification he had and entered it into a database. Finally, they approved
him for travel and issued a red, white and blue ID badge.
“ Don’t
lose this,” one said sternly. “This is your Homeland Security ID. You will need
it to cross state lines, get through checkpoints and onto any federal
installation.”
Caden
slipped it in his pocket.
Running
down his list he checked off, “Get approval from the MPs to leave.” Now only
‘Brief David Weston on progress,’ remained on his list. Caden ambled along the
road that followed the flight line. Several planes were being fueled. Dozens of
military personnel with assorted trucks and tankers busied themselves about the
hangers and aircraft. All regular army personnel sent west? A large
formation of troops marching toward the flight line caught his attention. Multiple
flights to JBLM and Fairchild tomorrow. What’s going on? The image of the
boiling mushroom cloud over Washington and the firestorm filled his mind. Wars
and rumors of wars. He shuddered at the thought. The war has already
begun—and we’re losing.
Briskly
he proceeded toward the refugee center. After talking with Weston he would
share his good news with Maria. He approached a large asphalt lot that had been
used for military formations, but the refugees had converted it into a bazaar.
As he reached the edge of the market, the sun hung low in the sky casting long
shadows amidst the rows of improvised stalls covered with tarps and canvas. His
eyes darted from stall to stall as he walked through the market. There seemed
to be some of everything there, car parts, camping supplies, computers, dishes,
books and magazines. It was possible to buy food from local farms, but the
price was high. Ahead was a stand with apples. He would buy one and share it
with Maria over dinner that night.
As he
walked away from the booth, apple in hand, he saw Maria approach with Adam on
her hip. The two seemed to be attached these last few days. He waved and Maria
smiled.
As she
neared, her eyes seemed to twinkle in anticipation. “Did you get the job?”
“ I
think so.” He told her that Weston had eagerly asked for his help and how he
had arranged a flight to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
“ Where’s
that?”
“ Just
south of Seattle,” he said with a broad grin. “So, I am out of here.”
She
frowned. “When do you leave?”
Caden
looked toward the airfield with a smile. “Tomorrow.”
“ So
you’re leaving Adam and me behind?”
His
head snapped around and he looked into her eyes. “I…ah, Adam? And you? You want
to go? I hadn’t thought….”
“ I
agree.” She turned on her heels and walked briskly away.
Caden
stood for a moment reviewing what had just happened. He was hurt by her anger.
Admittedly he had forgotten about Adam in the excitement of the day. Perhaps
subconsciously he had expected Maria to care for him. Everyone in the camp
assumed she was his mother. And
about Joint Base Lewis-McChord?” He said looking up. “That’s in western
Washington.”
Caden
nodded. He knew JBLM well. “How many flights are going there?”
“ Oh,
we have three flights tomorrow to that base.”
Caden’s
brow shot up. “Three?”
“ How
many spots would you need on the plane?”
Caden
thought quickly, the governor, his wife, David Weston and himself. Weston had
also mentioned two Secret Service agents were with the governor. “Six and a
security detail of maybe four more.”
“ Ten
people?” He bit his lip as he scanned the computer screen. “Maybe…yes, I think
I can do that, but I’ll need an okay from the commanding officer.”
Caden
smiled as he slid the general’s order across the counter.
* * *
Late
in the afternoon Caden walked from the military police office. He unfolded his
to-do list. Before the MPs had cleared him to leave, they had taken every piece
of identification he had and entered it into a database. Finally, they approved
him for travel and issued a red, white and blue ID badge.
“ Don’t
lose this,” one said sternly. “This is your Homeland Security ID. You will need
it to cross state lines, get through checkpoints and onto any federal
installation.”
Caden
slipped it in his pocket.
Running
down his list he checked off, “Get approval from the MPs to leave.” Now only
‘Brief David Weston on progress,’ remained on his list. Caden ambled along the
road that followed the flight line. Several planes were being fueled. Dozens of
military personnel with assorted trucks and tankers busied themselves about the
hangers and aircraft. All regular army personnel sent west? A large
formation of troops marching toward the flight line caught his attention. Multiple
flights to JBLM and Fairchild tomorrow. What’s going on? The image of the
boiling mushroom cloud over Washington and the firestorm filled his mind. Wars
and rumors of wars. He shuddered at the thought. The war has already
begun—and we’re losing.
Briskly
he proceeded toward the refugee center. After talking with Weston he would
share his good news with Maria. He approached a large asphalt lot that had been
used for military formations, but the refugees had converted it into a bazaar.
As he reached the edge of the market, the sun hung low in the sky casting long
shadows amidst the rows of improvised stalls covered with tarps and canvas. His
eyes darted from stall to stall as he walked through the market. There seemed
to be some of everything there, car parts, camping supplies, computers, dishes,
books and magazines. It was possible to buy food from local farms, but the
price was high. Ahead was a stand with apples. He would buy one and share it
with Maria over dinner that night.
As he
walked away from the booth, apple in hand, he saw Maria approach with Adam on
her hip. The two seemed to be attached these last few days. He waved and Maria
smiled.
As she
neared, her eyes seemed to twinkle in anticipation. “Did you get the job?”
“ I
think so.” He told her that Weston had eagerly asked for his help and how he
had arranged a flight to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
“ Where’s
that?”
“ Just
south of Seattle,” he said with a broad grin. “So, I am out of here.”
She
frowned. “When do you leave?”
Caden
looked toward the airfield with a smile. “Tomorrow.”
“ So
you’re leaving Adam and me behind?”
His
head snapped around and he looked into her eyes. “I…ah, Adam? And you? You want
to go? I hadn’t thought….”
“ I
agree.” She turned on her heels and walked briskly away.
Caden
stood for a moment reviewing what had just happened. He was hurt by her anger.
Admittedly he had forgotten about Adam in the excitement of the day. Perhaps
subconsciously he had expected Maria to care for him. Everyone in the camp
assumed she was his mother. And
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