Роберт Уилсон - Days Since... - Thomas - Day 758

She continued smiling through Thomas’s words.

”You know we didn’t come here to take you, right?” Thomas asked. “You’ll be free to do what you want. You don’t have to stay with us.”

“I want to stay with you .” She blushed. “You’re the first…”

Thomas perked his ears. “Yeah?”

“The first to treat me like a person since— all of it, you know… since I was taken.”

“Thomas! We gotta roll, man!”

“You aren’t walking?” she asked.

“I need to ride in back with him.”

“Oh…” She grimaced. “I understand.”

Thomas kicked his foot up and over the side and took his place next to James. “This isn’t good-bye.”

“I know.” She nodded and turned from him, falling into line with the other women waiting for the caravan to begin. Thomas watched her until she disappeared into the rows of women and Soldiers.

“We’ll be going real slow,” the driver said. “Leading everyone back—even those that are walking, so try and get some sleep back there.”

“It shouldn’t take me long.” Thomas yawned, slunk down in the bed of truck, and rested his head against his rucksack. “Take it easy if you can.”

“You got it.”

“I’m sorry, Dad. Mom. What do I… what do I do now? What’s the point? Everyone’s going to be gone soon. I never should have come home. None of us should have come home. Everyone was lied to. They lied to us. Told us we were fine, but—

“How could they have known? No one knew. We all thought it was bullshit. Nobody thought for a second we had it. How could we? Everything we were told…

“Mom! Dad! Please. Oh, God! Why? Why? Bullshit. I can’t believe this. It’s over. I can’t do this anymore. I’m done. Just a quick squeeze of this trigger, and it’ll be over. I can be with my family, friends—everything will be okay. There’s no reason to be here anymore.

“Who the hell? Who is it?”

“Thomas? I heard some yelling. You okay?”

“Who is it?”

“It’s Kevin from down the street.”

“What do you want?”

“Can you… Can you just open the door, please?”

“One second! This… this here will have to wait.”

“Hey, thanks for coming to the door. No one else would answer. You remember Joseph? Can you say hi to Mr. Tom, Joseph?”

“It’s alright, little man. You don’t have to…”

“Thomas, I know we don’t know each too great, but your dad was a good friend of mine. I’m sorry by the way.”

“Thanks.”

“I—uh—I don’t really know how to put this, but I’m—I’m taking Nancy to this guy. They say he’s been helping people with this virus thing. I have to try something… you know? I just—I just don’t think it’s safe to take Joseph too. I was wonder—hoping that you could watch Joseph. Can you watch him until we get back? I’ll be back.”

“I don’t know. I’m kind of… I’m kind of busy.”

“Please… please. I need to know he’ll be safe while we’re gone. I know you served in the military. You can protect him if things continue to get bad, right? I mean look at you.”

“I don’t know, sir.”

“I trust you to make sure he’s good. You’ve always been a good guy. Even when you were a kid. You’ve always been tough, you know, able to handle things. You’re just like your dad.”

“I…”

“Please.”

The truck tossed him slightly as it slalomed through a pattern of disabled vehicles—wheels stripped, resting on their axles, barricading the road that led up to the gates of L.P.H. Fortress. A roar of cheers poured over the walls surrounding the town, taking Thomas from his much-needed sleep. His eyelids fluttered. He blinked through the sunlight as he woke. The circumstances surrounding him were slowly coming together. A rush of farmers came toward the city from the fields. Guards posted along the rooftops pumped their rifles in the air. The women, children, and Soldiers that had returned with the caravan were clamoring for the gate, eager to get off their feet from the long trek back.

Thomas heard the metal doors squeal and vibrate as the Sentries worked to push them open. The convoy slowed to a stop. He rested his hand upon James. “We’re here, man.” He turned to watch, looking over the cab of the pickup as the gates were finally opened.

Eager faces filled the streets, gathering along the unplanned parade route. Throughout the crowd, only two people meant much of anything. Where are they? His heart beat faster—anxious. It’s probably just taking Kate a bit to get over here. He took to his feet to get a better look over the dense crowd from the back of the truck. There they are.

Joseph’s excitement radiated through the crowd—Kate’s arm outstretched, doing her best to keep him close as they meandered down the street from their building. Despite her smiling, Thomas could see her getting after him, begging him to slow, but his feet wouldn’t stop. Their smiles warmed him, easing him from the tragedy that had befallen him in the camp, reassuring him that his service meant something—that his service would always be appreciated.

Thomas smacked the top of the pickup’s cab twice, and the driver stopped. He hopped down from the bed. “Make sure to take James over to the offices.”

“Yeah, no problem. Get some rest.”

“Will do.”

“Thomas!” Cindy called to him, grabbing hold of his arm from behind. “What’s going to happen to us?” Her face showed concern at the overwhelming scene.

Thomas took her hand and looked her in the eyes. “They’re going to process you in. Get you the basics—clothes, a meal, a bed. You’ll like it here.”

“This is too much.”

“It won’t be. I promise.” His voice stayed smooth and unhindered. “Eventually, you’ll get your own apartment, but for now they’re going to keep you with the other women.” Thomas smiled at her as she looked over her new home. “I’ll find you tonight and show you around.”

She took a deep breath.

“We saved you, we didn’t take you,” Thomas reminded her.

“Promise you’ll find me tonight?”

“Absolutely.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “I promise.”

Thomas took to the crowd, searching for Kate and Joseph. Now, where’d they go? With each step he took, he was greeted by others requesting his hand, patting his back—his ears flooded with congratulations and thank-yous. A waving hand caught his eye. Kate and Joseph stood atop the landing to Oyler School.

“Tommy!” Joseph yelled—the words barely audible as he ran down the steps toward him. He paused for a moment, waiting for Thomas to break through the fringe

“Hey, buddy!” Thomas scooped him up, flinging him in the air while his legs dangled and kicked.

“Let me down! Let me down!”

“Were you good for Kate?” Joseph looked to her, and she smiled back as she inched toward them.

“You know I was.”

“I know.” Thomas tousled his hair and patted him on the bottom. “Go have a seat for a sec, I have to talk to Kate.”

Joseph did as he was told, wandering back to the top of the stairs and slumping onto the top step. He buried his face in the nest of his crossed arms as he ground his foot into the step below him.

“You look like death itself.” Kate slapped the back of his hand. “Have you even slept at all these past two days?”

Thomas scratched the back of his head, “It’s been a rough couple of d—”

“I don’t want to hear anything about it. I’m afraid my heart couldn’t handle that kind of talk.”