Yield (90 page)

“
Days?
”
Devin asks incredulously.
“
I realize my life isn
’
t exactly top priority for you, but 48 hours? Are you serious?
”
Devin
’
s green eyes burn.
“
There
’
s nothing more you can do?
”

“
I
’
m sorry, sir,
”
the soldier says. His eyes eagerly dart back to the other people in line.
“
Next!
”

“
Thanks,
”
Devin
growls
.
“
You
’
ve been of tremendous help.
”

Devin mutters out a range of imbecilic names for the boy-soldier, storming angrily away.

“
I know,
”
Jacob says.
“
There are some major issues with what that kid just said. No C.O. or command structure? Christ! Why don
’
t we just hand over the stars and stripes to the bastards who bombed us?!
”

The fireman shakes his head, his face flushed with anger. Fragmented plans swirl through his mind.
“
Hey,
”
Devin says, glancing up in surprise. He almost walks right into Chris and Terra moving towards them from the crowd.

“
You okay?
”
Chris asks.

“
Other than the obvious?
”
Jacob grumbles. His steely blue eyes flicker back at the unhelpful soldier.

Looking like he needs it, Sierra gives Chris a thumbs-up.

The basketball star smiles. He follows Jacob
’
s gaze back to the information desk.
“
I take it they aren
’
t going south?
”

“
Not with us, they
’
re not,
”
Devin says.
“
Best they can do is an automated phone call, rewritten and read sometime in the next blooming week by an absolute stranger.
”
He smiles.
“
Courtesy of the U.S. government.
”

“
You
’
d think they had nothing better to worry about,
”
Jacob adds. A deeper than usual rumble in the general
’
s voice betrays his
opinion of
the camp
’
s leadership. Or lack thereof.

His face quickly softens.
“
And who is this?
”
Jacob leans forward, pulling the blanket back from the newest member of their group. A beautiful newborn sleeps soundly against Terra
’
s chest.

“
She doesn
’
t have a name yet
…
”
Chris
’
s thin smile fades. His voice grows quiet at the idea. He runs his fingers through the baby
’
s soft black hair. The answer suddenly seems so obvious.
“
But I was thinking she should be named after her mom.
Baby
Isabel.
”

“
That
’
s a brilliant idea, mate,
”
the fireman says. He puts a comforting hand up to the basketball player
’
s shoulder.

Devin
’
s eyes are still filled with
a deep and draining
regret. He looks down at the baby, but all he can think of is Isabel
’
s glowing smile and
ferocious
love
—
not just for her own flesh and blood, but for Chris, Terra, and even strangers fortunate enough to find a place within her fiery heart.

It
’
s
a
love this baby will never be able to experience.

The thought
rips into
Devin
.

“
I
’
m so sorry,
”
Jacob says. His voice cuts to a whisper.

Stiffly, the basketball player nods. He grits his teeth, trying to fight the pain down again. There
’
s a caged sort of grief on his face. His friends. Home. Everything he
’
s ever loved has been viciously taken from him.

Chris
’
s teeth feel like they
’
re going to splinter and crack, but he clenches them even tighter to stop a far deeper hurt.
“
I don
’
t need all the sad looks and pity,
”
he says hoarsely.
“
We
’
ll be fine.
”

“
It
’
s not pity,
”
Jacob says in his grandfatherly tone.
“
It
’
s the sorrow of someone who knows what it
’
s like to lose people.
”
The general squares his shoulders and stares hard into Chris
’
s eyes. He sees the same sadness he
’
s experienced all too often on the battlefield.
“
Nothing will make it better. Nothing can take it all away. All I can say is the pain lessens with time, Chris, and with the love of those still around you. Live for them now. They need you.
”

Finding some small measure of comfort in the words himself, Devin nods. He turns toward a welcoming breeze coming through the south-facing gates. Family photos hang from the picture board. Images of
Katherine and the kids
flash through his mind.

The fireman looks back down at the papers in his hands.
“
Here,
”
he says, passing Chris the call request forms.
“
Running into flaming buildings never really inspired much patience in me. You and Terra can contact your families with these. I have to find a way back home to mine.
”

“
I think you mean,
‘
we,
’
son,
”
Jacob says. He sets his granddaughter down, wrapping her small hand in his.

“
You
’
re leaving?
”
Terra whispers. Fear begins creeping back into her eyes.

“
As much as I
’
d like to, I can
’
t stay forever, love,
”
Devin says. The fireman leans closer, pointing discretely at Chris.
“
Besides, you
’
ve got this big ox here to fend off the world for you. You
’
ll be just fine. He
’
s got a bit of a mouth on him, but I
’
m sure you can keep that in check.
”

Terra tries to smile,
tries
to be strong
—
but her sapphire eyes mist up instead
,
like rain finding the jagged edges of a cracked window pane. Terra pulls closer to the towering body of her protector. She looks down at the new life sleeping in her arms.
“
What will we tell her?
”
Terra whispers. Her eyes drift over Baby Isabel
’
s face.
“
What kind of life will she have now?
”

The question quiets them all. The hopelessness and suffering of the world seem to darken the skies above.

Devin looks out into the black storm clouds approaching in the distance. His blood runs cold
,
unsure now of things once so firmly carved into his soul.
“
I wish I could tell you everything will be alright, that the worst is over. But I don
’
t know, Terra,
”
he says, his voice without its usual sarcastic edge.
“
I don
’
t know why horrors like this ever come to pass. I used to believe in a God once. I used to go to church, even pray.
”
A hurricane of doubt flashes from his eyes.
“
My faith was shattered with our cities on Monday. I don
’
t know if either is coming back.
”

Terra leans closer to Chris
’
s reassuring arms. A glimmer of contentment embraces her, feeling their hearts beating together.

The silence stretches.

Growing uncomfortable with inevitability
’
s delay, Devin glances around.
“
Well, if you
’
re ready Jacob, I guess we better get
…
”

Terra lunges forward and wraps an arm around him.
“
Thank you,
”
she whispers. Baby Isabel looks curiously up at the redheaded man. Wonder fills her small eyes.

Slowly, Devin
’
s hands pull the young woman and child to him.
“
I don
’
t think I deserve much thanks,
”
he says
,
thinking
back through the nightmares they
’
ve endured over their three short days together.

“
You acted when others didn
’
t,
”
the teenager says. She tries to hold back tears, looking up at her journey
’
s surrogate father.
“
You’re a hero to me
.
”
Terra pulls him tight one last time before releasing the fireman.
“
Be careful,
”
she whispers. Terra wipes her sapphire eyes, looking sadly towards the gate.

Chris firmly clasps his hand. A look of deep respect and admiration passes between them.

“
Keep them safe, mate,
”
Devin says. Pride beams from his face. Remorse stiffens his feet. The fireman knows he can
’
t stay, but the thought of leaving them now feels like he
’
s abandoning part of his own family.

Chris stares confidently back into the fireman
’
s eyes.
“
I will.
”
His shoulders
barely flinch at
the responsibility.
“
Take care, D.
”

Chris uses the single letter nickname he
’
d always called his lifelong friend
,
without a moment
’
s pause or regret.

Silently, Devin turns and looks out past the crowds to the long journey ahead. Jacob and Sierra give their own brief farewells before following. They leave the fleeting protection of the razor-wire gates, moving back out into the savage world beyond.

A new sun rises over the waking refugee camp. Emerald tents flap quickly in the brisk morning wind, the sounds of nylon and polyester snapping into a low roar. Bodies grudgingly move. Their sleep-filled eyes dart around, confused and unfamiliar with what they see. Fresh depression spreads like the morning dew when they
grasp
the changed reality that surrounds them.

Most rise to find the first warm breakfast they
’
ve had for several days. Others search for information or ways to get word to their families. They join many more already standing in the lengthening lines.

Chris
’
s mouth drops open into a huge yawn. He could have used at least a couple more hours of sleep, especially after last night. But instead, he walks diligently beside Terra towards the information booth.

He puts his right arm securely over her shoulders, creating a protective barrier around Terra and the newborn baby in her arms. His mind races with uncertainty every time he looks down at the little girl. She fills him with a storm of doubt and responsibility he
’
s never felt before.