Free Human Extinction Level Loss (Book 3): Liberation by Philip A. McClimon Page A

wherever Dad is right now, he could hear the broadcast?” Tommy asked.
    The knife twisted as tears filled her eyes. She took a deep breath and struggled with how to respond.
    “Tommy, you remember when that terrible thing happened on Sunny Island… Founder’s Day?”
    Tommy nodded. “Dad saved a bunch of people,” he said.
    Beverly pulled Tommy close and held him against her. She caressed his hair and faced the black reality of her next words.
    “Your dad was one of the bravest men I ever knew. He would always do what he had to, to keep people safe, even if that meant putting himself in harm’s way. You understand that, right?” she asked.
    Again, Tommy nodded. “That’s what made him such a good policeman, right?” Tommy asked.
    “That’s right, sweetie. That’s what made him such a good policeman. Well, as much as he would do to keep other people safe, he would do even more to keep us safe. That’s what he did in that tunnel. He put himself in harm’s way to make sure we got out of there, that we would be safe.”
    Sensing that his mother was taking him down a dark road, Tommy sat up and looked his mother full in the face.
    “Yeah, but Dad came back from the island. He came back from the store, too. He always comes back.”
    His voice took on a pleading tone mixed with a demand that what he was saying was worthy of belief, not just for himself but his mother too.
    Beverly’s eyes rimmed with tears as she looked at her son.
    “Tommy, baby… This time Daddy’s not coming back. He did what he had to do to keep us safe, but-”
    “No, Mom! You’re not listening!. You’re wrong!” Tommy shouted. He took a breath to begin his argument anew when Jacob interrupted from the driver’s side. So involved was she in the heart wrenching conversation, Beverly looked over at Jacob as if he had appeared out of thin air.
    “Is that real?” Jacob asked.
    Beverly blinked at Jacob and Tommy turned and looked at him.
    “That radio broadcast, is it real? I… was in a house once and the TV came on, but I didn’t…”
    Beverly wiped her eyes, frustrated at the interruption, wanting and not wanting to have the talk with Tommy.
    “Yes, it’s real. You think we would be out here if it weren’t? How long have YOU been out here?” Beverly asked.
    Jacob stared at her over his shoulder. Before he could answer, Tommy interjected.
    “You think my Dad’s coming back, right, Mr Miller? You’re like a policeman, so you know, right?”
    Jacob looked down at Tommy, who stared back with the same hope filled eyes.
    Beverly sat up, apprehension seizing her, sensing the delicate place her son was in and not trusting Jacob to understand that. Her fear was realized when Jacob’s face bore a flat expression as he gazed down at Tommy.
    “If your dad was in that tunnel, he’s dead if he’s lucky, and one of those things if he ain’t.”
    Tear filled defiance flared in Tommy’s eyes as he stared at Jacob.
    “You Lie! You’re both lying!” Tommy screamed.
    Beverly stared daggers through Jacob.
    “You bastard!” she hissed and appeared ready to lunge at Jacob.
    Her attack was forestalled by Tommy climbing over her and out of the Jeep. He slipped into the gathering dark. Beverly tore her eyes off of Jacob and went after her son, leaving Jacob sitting alone.

 
    Thirteen
     
    Beverly sat on the rock and hugged her knees. The day was nice, not hot, not too cool. The green trees and gray rocks were in sharp relief and seemed to reach for the sky, a sky so blue it almost hurt her eyes.
    In the valley below, they moved, an ebbing and flowing river of death that cascaded over the landscape and under the watchful eye of Jacob Miller. Like the horde moving through the canyon below, Beverly felt the misery coursing through her. They had set out to find a better place. The broadcast had seemed a beacon of hope for all of them, but now they were only two. Beverly thought the risk they had taken did not seem worth the cost, not by a