Read A New World: Sanctuary for Free Online Page B

driveway putting grain out for the squirrels and other wildlife.   Only Mom would persist in feeding the deer and squirrels in the midst of civilization collapsing.   She drops her large bowl of seed and runs towards us throwing her arms around Robert and then me as we step out of the Jeep.
    “I thought I had lost you,” she says with tears streaming down her cheeks.   She looks around the Jeep and her hand comes to her mouth as if a shock is coming.   “Oh no!   Please don’t tell me….”
    “The girls are fine, Mom,” I interject before she can complete her sentence and with tears in my own eyes.   “We found a few other survivors and they’re waiting at McChord.”
    “Thank goodness.   Did you find Lynn?”   She asks still taking in that we are standing in front of her.
    “Yeah, we did along with a few of her friends,” I answer.
    “I’m glad you made it.   I’ve been so worried for all of you.”
    “I’ve been worried about you too.   How have things been?”   I ask.
    “Pretty quiet actually.   Oh, I’ve heard some of those horrible yowls some nights but they seemed pretty far away.   Nothing like that first night,” she answers.
    “That’s good.   We’ve come to pick you up.   We’re planning on turning the Cabela’s into a fortified haven.”
    “I can’t leave, Jack.   This place will protect me,” she says.
    “I know it will Mom but I want you to come with us.   This is a lot worse than you can imagine and we won’t be far away,” I respond.   She looks over to Robert who nods his head in affirmation.
    “Okay, let me grab a few things,” she says picking up the bowl.
    “Need any help?”   I ask.
    “No, I think I’ve got it,” she answers.
    She heads inside the house and returns shortly with several bags in tow.   Several times during the trip back to the airfield, I catch a glimpse of movement in the rear-view mirror, continuing to look each time but not seeing anything.   I stop on the side of the road after the third time waiting to see if something catches up to us.
    “What are we doing?”   Robert asks as I slow down and start to pull over.
    “I think I keep seeing something behind us,” I answer.
    “What is it?”   He asks turning to look out of the back window.
    “Not sure.   I just keep catching movement out of the corner of my eye from time to time,” I respond.   “It may be nothing but I want to sit here and see if anything appears.”
    We sit with the engine idling but nothing materializes.   I turn off the engine and step outside listening for any sound that might give an indication that something is coming up behind us.   Only the quiet of the morning with the tinking sound of the engine as it cools down disturbs this desolate stretch of road.   I think about turning around and heading back but the anxiety over time and the things we need to get done are weighing on me.   I resume the drive after a moment thinking it must be the play of shadows through the fir trees with the sun rising higher into the clear, blue sky or perhaps an occasional breeze shifting the branches.
    Our journey back is spent primarily catching Mom up with our adventure and sharing the knowledge we have acquired.   Silence fills the Jeep as we turn north onto the Interstate and retrace our previous route.   Mom stares at the abandoned cars along the road.   This is her first time seeing the emptiness of a world that should be filled with movement and noise.   For her, like the trees and animals, not much really changed in her life except having to secure the house and not bring notice to herself.   Well, that and not being able to go to the store every once in a while to shop for food.
    We arrive back at the gate two hours after passing through on the way out.   I radio Lynn letting her know we are back.   The flight line has undergone a transformation of sorts as I pull onto the ramp.   A mixture of olive drab and light brown transport trucks and