Parchman, стр. 42
‘You are not to blame for where we are. You are only responsible for howwe move forward. Thereis no evilinside you son. There is nosubconscious telling you to do bad things. You are everything that is goodbecause you see the best in others, and you want to help others. Danny wasthe same. You saw things differently, but ultimately you were the same.He didn’t die because you sent him to that reservoir. He died because hewanted to save people’s lives and was prepared to give up his own life forthose people.’
‘Those people out there are hurting. They have lost people too. They areburying their families. Our community have been out there suffering,probably worse than us because they had no idea whether anyone wascoming for them. You’ve given these people a chance. You’ve given methe chance to continue being a father. They need you out there leading, notin here worrying about an old man. I’ll be around for a long time yet andwe will honoryour brother in our own time and our own way.’
Logan bowed his head, knowing his father was talking the truth.
‘Knock knock,’ said Tallulah on the door frame. ‘Abuelo told us you wereawake. I hope you don’t mind?’.
‘Of course not,’ said Nathaniel.
‘Oh, and I bought a few friends,’ she replied, followed by Chuck, Xander,Scott and a worse for wear Seth, limping along on a crutch supported byhis brother, who also had his leg bandaged.
‘Ha-ha,’ Nathaniel laughed, then coughing. ‘I’m fine,’ he reassured them.
‘How you doing Pres?’ said Xander.
‘I’ve been better,’ he said, looking at Logan and smiling. ‘Now, fill me inon what’s been going on.’
‘Well,’ said Xander, ‘first I got Hod into the compound and into a fighterplane, so technically, I might just have saved the prison.’
Tallulah barged him, laughing. ‘I killed that psycho Lieutenant,’ she raisedher eyebrows.
‘I drove over him in a tank,’ replied Xander.
All of them burst out laughing and then stopped abruptly thinking aboutthe others who had died so that they might be there now. The room turnedeerily silent.
‘Don’t stop,’ said Nathaniel. ‘You think that everyone who gave their liveswanted to die so that you spend your lives forgetting what you wereactually fighting for. They gave their lives so that you could be free. TheNinth Amendment talks about freedom of choice and they died so that youhave choices and the right not to live under the tyrannical reign of amadman. From here on in you have the right to live your lives the way youwant to. If that means laughing or having fun then they will be lookingdown on you happy that they played their part in that.’
Logan looked at his father with that same look he did throughout hischildhood. As if he was looking at a superhuman being. He wasn’t wrong.His father was as wise as he was fair. This man had made the toughdecisions that others hadn’t had the strength to and here and now on theother side he was still inspiring them to be the best people that they could.
He was a leader and a hero. And the apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree.
*****************
That evening Nathaniel was sat up in his bed. Logan had joined the othersand was planning the rescue of the rest of the community.
Nathaniel put down the book he was reading.‘Are you going to stand thereall night or are you going to come in?’ he said to the dark and quietcorridor.
A foot stepped inside the doorway.
‘I was wondering whether I was going to ever see you again,’ he said.
‘I was wondering the same,’ said Rose.
‘I thought you were long gone.’
‘I am. But don’t tell anyone,’ she winked.
‘This can’t be good news. Seems to be you only deliver bad news and thenmove on,’ he winked back.
‘You forget that I was in an exploding building rescuing you from thosebase cells not that long ago?’
‘For which I don’t think I ever got to thank you for. I am forever grateful.Now is there any possible chance you are going to tell me who you are andexactly where you came from?’
Rose laughed. ‘Maybe oneday, but not today.’
‘But you are hereto tell me something? I mean this isn’t just a social visitright? I don’t think you are the settling down and staying put type. So youmust be here for a reason?’ said Nathaniel.
‘Very perceptive Mr. President and you are correct. It’s not quite time forme to settle down. Not yet at least. I actually have something for you,’ shefolded up the sleeve of her jacket to display a tattoo.
59.2246° N, 63.9934° W
‘Co-ordinates?’ he replied.
‘Yes. You can remember them?’
Nathaniellooked back at Rose’s arm and re-read the numbers and nodded.
‘This isn’t over is it?’ he said.
‘For now? Yes,’ said Rose. ‘Enjoy your life Nathaniel. Love that boy ofyours. He is truly someone very special and his impact on the world hasn’teven begun.’
‘Sounds ominous,’ said Nathaniel. ‘Like I should make the most of whatI’ve got as I won’t be around for much longer.’
Rose’s expression didn’t change.
‘Oh,’ he said. ‘I see. Answer me one question though. How do you knowthese things?’
‘You wouldn’t believe me if I told you Nathaniel, but in answer to thequestion you’re too shy to ask me the answer is yes you will see me again.’
‘You’re a mind reader?’‘No,’ she chuckled. ‘I’m a woman. I know that look.’
Nathaniel blushed.
‘I have to go now,’ she said. ‘Good luck Nathaniel. I’ll be seeing you.’Rose smiled and backed out