4
She kissed him
goodbye. Longingly, lovingly. She handed him his lunch. It was in a Three Wiseguys lunch pail, and
featured a baked potato that had been slathered with raspberry butter and imitation
bacon bits. For now, potatoes were still
coming from the seemingly limitless pantry, but they had planted in our budding
gardens, and Mr. Bruchow was stunned by their accelerated rate of gestation. Soon we would have a plethora of fruits and
vegetables to supplement the wild raspberries, strawberries, apples and
mushrooms we had found.
Sue Boschman
pulled away, but found it impossible to let him go. "I've talked with Mr. Bowtin. He is ordained, and would be happy to
officiate."
Tom Bodell looked
at her with a wry grin. "Another
excuse knocked to the ground!" He
kissed her again to show that he was just kidding. "Are you sure about this? It could be just a few more weeks and the
tunnel could be far enough along that we could out, and we could get married
with our families there."
She shook her head
no. "We're seventeen. I don't know about your parents, but mine
would be less than thrilled. Better to
present them with an already established fact when we get out, then ask for
permission."
Tom nodded his
affirmation. "I agree. We're on the same page. I don't want to wait any longer. Why not this Sunday?"
Now it was Sue's
time for a sly grin. "Already
arranged, Tom. 2 PM in the cafeteria
courtyard. Be there or be square."
"Count on
it. I wouldn't miss it for the
world."
Yes, I overheard
this conversation, as the tunnelers were getting ready for their day's
digging. They were getting closer, and
both Tom and David Yankovich thought they were at a crucial stage. They had jerry-rigged some explosives, and
there was great debate as to how they were to be used. Tom was skeptical that they could be used
safely. David was utterly convinced that
they were using every precaution.
Sue went on to try
to hand Tom a hunting knife. Where she
had gotten it, I'm not sure. It might
have just been something she had kept in her locker. She was worried that the digging would
attract the attention of the military and government conspiracy she was
convinced was holding us, and experimenting with us. She had often lamented that more people at
school didn't have guns that we could use, in case the government came for
us. Given everything that happened over
the years, having guns involved would have been wrong on so many levels, I
can't even count them all. The one gun
that did emerge later was not what I would call a positive thing.
Jim Kurrash was
there, and Mary Estill was saying goodbye to him. A little less affectionate than Sue and Tom's
goodbye, but tender nonetheless. Lisa and I were just there, finishing up our breakfast, before we started on our own
day's activities. I would be breaking
for the TV studio soon. Randy Fitch was
going down with the handheld camera into the tunnel today with Ronald Houseley,
Bob Short's sidekick/announcer. The footage
would not be shown until the next day.
I was getting
ready to tell Linda goodbye, when Morgan LaDona Tigh came between us. "Lisa!" Morgan snapped. "You ready? Let's go up to the Care Center
Lisa squeezed my
hand and pulled away. The tunnelers left
to go to the entrance of the fallout shelter that led down into the
tunnels. I could see Tom Bodell already
arguing with David Yankovich.
Dr. Duncan, as
I've said, I fill in the dialogue as best I can. I don't have a photographic memory, but I remember
this phrase, the reaction, the very air and smell and air of it. I turned to Sue and said, "Well, another
day in the coal mines!"
Sue smiled. A knowing, happy smile. Her lover was gone for the day, but soon he
would be back, and by Sunday they would be man and wife. Sue smiled.
For the very last
time.
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