Read The Legacy of Earth (Mandate Book 2) for Free Online Page B

How are you, dear?”
    “Oh,” I said, disappointed but glad at the same time. “Mom! It’s good to hear your voice. How are you?”
    “I’m fine, dear. Just fine. I wanted to make sure you all were okay.”
    “Yeah, well Dad is at the church, and I just got here. I heard from Brad, and it sounded like he was in trouble. I’m sure Lena is okay since that was hundreds of—”
    “Oh, no, honey. I hope Brad is okay. Look, tell your dad I got hold of Leslie. She’s staying in Paris and she’s fine. Howie is in Anchorage and he’s fine too. And, now you’re good, so. . . .”
    “Mom, this is unbelievable. And I just signed up today.”
    “ What? Oh, Dal, I wish you hadn’t done that. Well, I’m proud of you, son, but afraid. Doesn’t matter what I do or where I go, I’ll always be your mom. What branch?”
    “UNSC.”
    “Oh . . . oh! ”
    “What is it, Mom?”
    “Oh, honey, uh, nothing, that’s fine, dear. Just surprised. I was expecting you to say army, navy, etcetera.”
    “I’m glad you weren’t at Alameda this time, Mom.”
    “Me too. Look, I have to go now. I’m at Luna City, and you wouldn’t believe how we’re talking right now—it’s not radio! But I’m being recalled. Give my love to your dad.”
    “Okay! Will do, Mom! Love you.”
    “Love you too, swee—”
    The line was cut short.
    “That was real time? From the Moon? Whoa,” I said aloud, shaking my head.
    The news channel on the TV suddenly went blank. I stared at it, blinking.
    Two seconds later, colored bars filled the screen accompanied by a loud buzzing sound that repeated three times, followed by a constant tone.
    “Now what?”
    A message appeared on the screen: “NATIONAL ALERT” and then “Emergency Action Notification.”
    This brought tears to my eyes, kind of hitting me in the face that millions of people in California were dead or dying. It was hard to feel that level of loss, though. Hard to get your head around the numbers.
    But, why would there be an alert here in Missouri—this far inland? Were there more nukes?
    The message was still on the screen when a voice said, “Please hold for the President of the United States.”
    I sat up straight. A knock at the front door diverted my attention. I ran to it.
    “Min älskling!”
    “Lena! My god, what are you—”
    “I just . . . ran here. Didn’t have a car, got tired of being alone, waiting.”
    “That was three miles! I must have driven right past you.”
    “I know— jag är trött .”
    “Oh, come inside, quick!” I yanked her in and practically dragged her down the hall.
    She felt so unbelievably good . A huge smile spread across my face.
    I momentarily forgot that the world was going to shit and kissed her and embraced her and ran my hands through her hair and over her shoulders and arms. Taking her all in, making sure she was real . I wasn’t groping her, lusting for her. It was all emotional, taking in the reality of her being there. As if I couldn’t trust my sense of reality.
    She kissed me back, hard, wrapped a leg around my waist, and shoved me up against the wall. This made me laugh, despite myself.
    “Oh, god, Lena, I missed you. So relieved you’re here!”
    “The president?” she said, eyes wide, suddenly changing the mood. She dragged me into the living room, catching the president mid-sentence.
    “ Vad i knulla? It’s the president , we don’t want to miss this!”
    I shook my head. Now, a transition had just taken place, from emotional to physical. I was so turned on by her using that word, I couldn’t think straight. Lena had taught me a little Swedish.
    “Knulla,” I said.
    I just wanted to take her right then and there on the living room floor. Two months and a religious girlfriend. Do I just enjoy torturing myself? I must be a masochist. Am I a sinner in need of punishment? Maybe I should get a flagellant and start whipping the sin out of myself.
    “Jäkla!”
    “. . . evacuating Boston and the surrounding suburbs and