Date: Fri, 15 Aug 2003 21:42:19 -0500
From: PNS KID <pnskid61@cox.net>
Subject: Sojourn chapter 44

Author's note - as promised - chapter 44.  All usual disclaimers and rights
apply.

Chapter 44

Kevin took a long hot shower, put on some jeans and a heavy shirt and
headed to the main house to meet the group.  He had just closed the door to
the barn when he heard voices.  He didn't recognize the voice and something
told him to remain still.

The unknown voice said, "Don't try and get brave or get away.  The
explosives I have on me are enough to kill in a large radius.  Also, I have
the device to activate some packages I have placed around the farmhouse.
So try something and your sweet little gathering in there will be dust."

He could make out two figures and knew one was Ethan.  The darkness of the
moor provided Kevin the cloaking he needed and he remained still as he
watched the unknown guy do something at the door and then watched as the
two figures walked into the moor.

Once they were safely away from the house Kevin walked over.  At the door
he saw that a keypad was attached to the door.  He went and looked at the
windows and could see that sensors were installed that would be triggered
if the window was raised.  Through the windows he could see the rest of the
gang.  Tears were streaming.  Fear on every face.

As he had been assured during his military training, instinct and the
training he received kicked in.  He made his way around the farmhouse
checking each window and door.  He then tapped on the glass on the window
in the kitchen.

Sarah approached the window.

"Sarah, its Kevin.  Can you hear me," Kevin asked trying not to speak too
loudly as voices carried easily across the moor.  Sarah nodded.  "Don't
touch the window.  Sarah, I want you to get a blanket and come back here,"
Kevin instructed.

Sarah returned with a blanket.  "OK, I want you to get Rick and Sean and
then come back."

When they all returned Kevin explained the next steps.  They would hold the
blanket against the window as Kevin broke it with a rock.  With any luck it
would limit the sound and also the glass shattering on the floor.  He broke
the glass at the top of the window.  When he had knocked enough away they
threaded some of the blanket through the window which Kevin then placed
over the remaining glass on his side.  He then began to pound away on the
remaining glass.  Soon all the glass was gone and the frame had not moved.

"Rick, I want you to come through the window first.  Then pass Adam
through.  Sean, I want you to stay on that side and help everyone through.
Be sure not to bump the window frame. Have Dan be the last person before
you.  Then he can help you through."  Kevin was in charge and quickly
everyone followed instructions.  When you get through the window, I want
you to run to the end of the drive close to the road.  If you hear me yell
"down" I want you to hit the ground.  Understood?"

Soon the evacuation was underway.  Rick, Adam, Jane, Sarah, Sheila, and
Dan.  Kevin went to survey the building to see if he could find where if
the explosives were on the outside.  Sean was halfway through the window
when the sound of a phone ringing could be heard.

Kevin lunged at the window and pulled Sean out causing him to fall to the
ground.

"Run, run, run," Kevin ordered.  He was close behind Sean as he yelled,
"DOWN, DOWN, DOWN."

Kevin leapt and tackled Sean falling on top of him as the concussion hit
them.  The air was knocked out of both of them and they lost hearing for
the moment.  Hot air rushed over them, debris falling around.  Sean was
almost completely protected by Kevin's body.  All Kevin could think about
was taking care of Sean, protecting the man he loved.  It was all so clear
to him.

The rest of the gang was halfway to the main road.  When they heard "DOWN"
they all fell to the ground.  Rick had Adam in his arms.  The blast was far
enough away that they did not get hit by any debris but the concussion was
still powerful enough to shake the ground around everyone.

After the third explosion, Kevin asked Sean if he was ok.  Sean replied
that he was.  Quickly they got up and ran towards the main drive and the
road.  Kevin knew that he had been cut and was hurt but there would be time
for that later.

He got Sean to the rest of the group.  Everyone was shaken up but appeared
physically OK.

"Sean, please stay here with everyone.  I am going to see if I can find
Ethan," Kevin said.

"Honey, no.  Please stay here.  I can't stand thinking about you being out
there and..." was all Sean could manage before breaking down.

Kevin took Sean in his arms and hugged him tight.  He took Sean's face I
his hands and looked into his eyes.  "Sean, I love you but I have to do
this.  I have been trained for this and I have to do all I can to be sure
Ethan is ok."

It was the first time Kevin had verbalized his love for Sean.  Sean worried
it might be the last.

...

"Well, Ethan.  How does it feel," Simon asked a clearly distraught Ethan.
Ethan could not respond.

"I think my work here is done."  Simon stood and began to walk away from
Ethan.  Everything inside of Ethan wanted to go after him and strangle him
with his bare hands.  But he couldn't move.  The anger and hatred he felt
for Simon was overwhelmed by his sadness.  He sat paralysed as Simon walked
further into the moor.  After about 5 minutes, Ethan stood and began to
walk towards the farmhouse, at least what was left of it.

The sound of the bracken crackling startled Ethan.  Then he heard some
breathing.  What could Simon want now?  Hadn't he done enough?  Something
inside Ethan snapped.  He ran towards the sound.  Seeing a figure he lunged
and tackled the man to the ground.  He began hitting with all of his might.

"Ethan, Ethan!!  It's, Kevin.  Ethan, it's ok."

Ethan heard the voice but couldn't stop.  Kevin flipped Ethan over and
pinned his arms to the ground.  "Ethan, it is ok.  Everything is ok."

Ethan's eyes began to focus and he could see it was Kevin.  "How can you
say that, everybody is dead.  Everybody I love is gone.  And it is all my
fault.  Oh my God Kevin, Rick and Adam were in there.  They are gone now."

"Ethan, listen to me.  They are not gone.  Everyone is ok.  They all made
it out of the house.  Nobody is injured.  Ethan, they are all ok."

Sensing Ethan was listening now, Kevin moved off of Ethan and released his
arms.

"Kevin, is it true?  They are ok?"

Kevin nodded yes.  Ethan sat up and took Kevin into a hug and began to sob.
"Please, lets get to them."

As Kevin and Ethan made their way towards the group, there was another
explosion.  This time it came from out in the moor.  Simon had completed
his mission and did the final act of his plan.  There was no way he was
going to stand trial and go to prison for doing what was right.  He pushed
the button, detonating the explosive he had on his body.  He smiled and
left this life with a smile on his face.

...

The gang had been huddled at the end of the drive when they saw the
explosion in the moor.  Sobs went through the crowd.  Would the nightmare
of this evening ever end?

"Rick, Adam, where are you?"

Rick turned toward the voice sure that he was hearing things.  He could
make out two figures coming towards them from the moor.

"Rick, honey, it is me."

Rick stood and went toward the voice.  Walking at first, then running.
When he could finally see the faces he felt as though he was running on
air.  Ethan and Rick ran towards each other, plunging into an embrace.

"Oh Ethan.  I thought we had lost you.  I love you so much.  I am so glad
you came back to me."  Rick said

"When I saw the farmhouse explode and I thought you and everyone else was
inside, I realized that life isn't worth living without you, and Adam.  I
love you more than life itself."

Kevin stood for a second watching the love flow between Ethan and Rick.  He
had never imagined that he would ever find such a love for himself.  But
now, all he could think about was getting to Sean.  Kevin realized now that
he could have that kind of love.  And Sean was it.

Kevin left Ethan and Rick and went towards the group.  All inhibitions,
doubts, facades, were all gone now.  He went to Sean and kissed him and
hugged him.  "I love you my dear Sean."

"I love you too."  Sean said.  These words were the most magical Kevin had
ever heard.

The rest of the gang gasped when they saw Rick and Ethan.  Adam ran to
Ethan and was quickly enveloped in a huge hug.  The police began to arrive
at that moment.  Soon the place was swarming with police and even some news
crews had arrived.  The next few hours were spent answering questions as
the police investigators took a report from every person that had been
involved.  The press were kept at bay.  A statement was issued which
provided the facts of what had occurred but no interviews were permitted.

Since all the vehicles had been destroyed by the explosion, a police van
arrived to take everyone to a hotel in Exeter.  Hugs were exchanged and
everyone headed off to get a shower and some sleep.  The next day, in the
hotel dining room, a special dinner was prepared by the hotel.  Turkey,
dressing, yams, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin pie.  This
was a thanksgiving they would all remember.

Ethan had called Brian and asked him fly over from Ft Lauderdale, along
with another pilot, to fly R-1 back home.  Kevin and Sheila would be on
leave for awhile.

Friday, at 2pm, R-1 took off from Exeter headed north over England,
Scotland, Northern Ireland, South of Iceland, Greenland, before stopping in
St. John's Newfoundland for fuel.

Everyone was mentally and physically exhausted.  The flight was subdued
with little conversation.  During the stop in St John's, Sarah asked to
speak with Ethan for a moment.

"Ethan, I am so sorry.  I have let you and everyone down," Sarah began.  "I
sat there in the farmhouse, holding Dan and mum's hand while that fucking
creep threatened us and then took you away to what I was sure was your
death.  I didn't do anything.  I didn't try to stop him.  I just sat
there," Sarah said while looking at the floor.

"Oh Sarah, you silly cow.  What were you supposed to do?  Spit in his eye,
call him names, hit him?  He had enough explosives on him to kill everyone
instantly.  You couldn't have done anything.  Somewhere inside you, you
know that.  Sometimes you have to sacrifice one to save the many.  While
you may not have been consciously thinking that, it was what had to be done
and somewhere, deep inside you, you knew that.  I knew that I had to go
with him in order to save everyone.  A strange sense of calm came over me
as I knew it was I had to do.  Of course, I didn't know what he really had
planned, but none of us did.  We can't second guess.  We can't blame.  We
all made it.  I love you and I know you love me."

A moment of silence passed.

"Did you call me a cow?"  Sarah asked with her one eyebrow cocked.

With that they broke into laughter - the first laughter that had been heard
in days.  The rest of the gang approached and looked at Ethan and Sarah as
they were laughing.

"He called me a cow and I am going to make him pay for that," Sarah
explained in between laughing.

"Yes, and this old cow thought she should have been Dudley-Do Right and
taken out Snidley Whiplash all by herself."  Ethan then laughed.

The bond between Ethan and Sarah was not understood by many.  But one thing
that everyone understood was that this was a transitory moment.  The gloom
of the last few days was lifting.  They were all together.  They had all
survived.  Soon everyone was joining in.

"I do think Simon watched one too many cartoons.  He played the villain
role a bit over the top.  Even the laugh was a bit cartoonish," Sean
interjected.  More laughs.  Then Sean added, "but I do now believe in
Superman.  He stands right here amongst us.  Kevin is my Superman, Batman,
Spiderman, Mighty Mouse..."

"Sean, you should have stopped while you were ahead.  There isn't anything
about me that is mouse-like," Kevin winked at Sean as he said that.  "I
guess I should take solace that you didn't say I was your Wonder Woman."

Again laughter.  Then the crowd did three cheers for Kevin who had indeed
been the hero of the last few days.  The brief stop in Newfoundland was a
turning point.  The start of the healing process.  The start of letting go
of the past.  The start of new beginnings.

R-1 took to the runway at St. John's.  Tanks full of fuel, engines roaring
to life.  Ethan, Rick, and Adam all sitting together.  Dan and Sarah, Jane
and Sheila, and Kevin and Sean paired together.  Brian applied the throttle
and R-1 sped down the runway - practically leaping off the runway and then
banking to the south.

Homeward bound.
 ...

Author's note - for those of you that are too young or don't live in the
US, Dudley Do-Right and Snidley Whiplash are characters from a somewhat
dark and suprisingly adult cartoon series from many years ago called Rocky
& Bullwinkle.

I abhor violence and feel a tremendous sense of relief to have this behind
us.  This is meant to be a story about love and friendships.  Even through
the tough times the gang has experienced, I hope you have sensed the love
they feel for each other.  While I can't promise there will be regular
updates, I will do my best to keep a watch on Ethan, Rick, Sarah, and the
others and let you know what is going on.

Thanks so much for your support (and constructive criticism) through-out
Sojourn.  I wrote this just for the fun of it and I am pleased so many of
you enjoyed the story.  Maybe with enough encouragement I will crank out a
sequel.  But one thing for sure, I won't be writing downbeat stuff anymore!
I am exhausted!

Hugs to you all - Dan pnskid61@cox.net

Looking for a place to visit with great beaches?  Check out where Ethan,
Rick, and Adam live.  We, oops, I mean they, would all love to see you
here!  www.visitpensacola.com