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again. Well, there was no other way. In a few years, probably less, the whole planet would go up with a blinding flash. This was the only way out. Escaping, starting all over again with a few people on a new planet.
    He stared at the reflection.
    â€œThere’s no other way,” he said.
    He glanced around the bedroom. Goodbye, this part of my life. Turning off the lamp was like turning off a light in his mind. He closed the door gently behind him and slid his fingers off the worn handle.
    His son and daughter were going down the ramp. They were talking in mysterious whispers. He shook his head in slight amusement.
    His wife waited for him. They went down together, holding hands.
    â€œI’m not afraid, darling,” she said. “It’ll be all right.”
    â€œSure,” he said. “Sure it will.”
    They all went in to eat. He sat down with his children. His wife
poured out juice for them. Then she went to get the food.
    â€œHelp your mother, doll,” he told his daughter. She got up.
    â€œPretty soon, haah, pop?” his son said. “Pretty soon, haah?”
    â€œTake it easy,” he cautioned. “Remember what I told you. If you say a word of it to anybody I’ll have to leave you behind.”
    A dish shattered on the floor. He darted a glance at his wife. She was staring at him, her lips trembling.
    She averted her eyes and bent down. She fumbled at the pieces, picked up a few. Then she dropped them all, stood up and pushed them against the wall with her shoe.
    â€œAs if it mattered,” she said nervously. “As if it mattered whether the place is clean or not.”
    The children were watching her in surprise.
    â€œWhat is it?” asked the daughter.
    â€œNothing, darling, nothing,” she said. “I’m just nervous. Go back to the table. Drink your juice. We have to eat quickly. The neighbors will be here soon.”
    â€œPop, why are the neighbors coming with us?” asked his son.
    â€œBecause,” he said vaguely, “they want to. Now forget it. Don’t talk about it so much.”
    The room was quiet. His wife brought their food and set it down. Only her footsteps broke the silence. The children kept glancing at each other, at their father. He kept his eyes on the plate. The food tasted flat and thick in his mouth and he felt his heart thudding against the wall of his chest. Last day. This is the last day.
    â€œYou’d better eat,” he told his wife.
    She sat down to eat. As she lifted the eating utensil the door buzzer sounded. The utensil skidded out of her nerveless fingers and clattered on the floor. He reached out quickly and put his hand on hers.
    â€œAll right, darling,” he said. “It’s all right.” He turned to the children. “Go answer the door,” he told them.
    â€œBoth of us?” his daughter asked.

    â€œBoth of you.”
    â€œBut …”
    â€œDo as I say.”
    They slid off their chairs and left the room, glancing back at their parents.
    When the sliding door shut off their view, he turned back to his wife. Her face was pale and tight; she had her lips pressed together.
    â€œDarling, please,” he said. “Please. You know I wouldn’t take you if I wasn’t sure it was safe. You know how many times I’ve flown the ship before. And I know just where we’re going. It’s safe. Believe me it’s safe.”
    She pressed his hand against her cheek. She closed her eyes and large tears ran out under her lids and down her cheeks.
    â€œIt’s not that so m-much,” she said. “It’s just … leaving, never coming back. We’ve been here all our lives. It isn’t like … like moving. We can’t come back. Ever.”
    â€œListen, darling,” his voice was tense and hurried. “You know as well as I do. In a matter of years, maybe less, there’s going to be another war, a terrible one. There won’t