Jane got out the old beater vehicle, a van marked Sea of Fun Fun Food Stand, with her carry-on bag. Albert got out the other side, dragging out more of Jane's luggage. Kelli, who had driven Jane to the rocketport, and whose van this was, exited from the front. She grabbed another suitcase off the front passenger seat for Jane.
Even though the dawn sprang to life, the lights of the landing field stayed on, giving lots of illumination for those arriving and those departing.
"Thanks for driving me, Kelli," said Jane, managing to hug her friend despite the carry-on in her arms.
Kelli shushed her. "Now don't you start another long good-bye, Jane. Didn't you have enough crying and sniffling at the going-away dinner last night?" Then Kelli wiped a tear from her own eye, trying to hide it from the other two. "The whole church will miss you, though, Jane."
"I may be absent in body for a short time, but I will always be with you in spirit," replied Jane.
"Wow, the day is young, but look at all the people coming and going," said Albert while they all headed for the proper check-in area for Jane, clear across the rocketport fields.
At the checkpoint, they once more said good-byes. Albert gave Jane a very long, tender embrace and a kiss. She sent her luggage through the customs, and then, with her carry-on, she headed toward the last check station before boarding. Albert and Kelli had to remain behind, not allowed past the initial checkpoint.
Albert sighed deeply. Kelli gave him a comforting pat on the shoulder. "Oh, come now, don't be so sad. Once she finishes up her things on Earth, she'll be back. It shouldn't take more than a month or two."
Albert didn't look convinced. "I don't know why, but I think when she goes to Earth, I'll never see her again. At least, not in this life. I don't know what makes me feel like this. Maybe something will happen on Earth, maybe she won't be able to get back to me, I don't know. I feel this so strongly."
Kelli gaped at him. "Then why didn't you stop her, Albert? Why did you let her go?"
"Why? What if it is just my imagination? I can't stop her for just my imagination. Besides, it's her decision. But also, the truth is, I always fear for her while she is here. You know how the governor seems to strongly dislike the house church. At least she will be safe on Earth. There, the religion board isn't so fanatical."
"Al, she knows the possible trouble she might encounter being in the Sparkle City house church. We all do, but we are in it because we think that's where God wants us to be. If she's not in God's will, is she any safer then on Earth instead of here?"
Albert had no answer. He said, "I think it's more than merely my imagination. But if it is, then shouldn't Jane also be feeling it? If she does, why did she leave anyway?"
The pair returned across the field, back toward the distant parking lot and Kelli's beat up supply van. Halfway there, Albert noticed Nina McCleer standing by herself, looking troubled and confused. Recognizing her, he halted.
"Mrs. McCleer? Are you okay?"
She looked over at him. "Oh, hi. I remember you. I suppose your vacation is over, and you and your friends are all going back to Earth."
"Well, our vacations are indeed over, but only my girlfriend Jane is going back. I have decided to stay," said Albert. "What about you? You seem confused, if you pardon my saying so. Do you need help finding somewhere?"
She faked a smile. "No, I am fine. I was meeting someone here, but I don't know what happened. It seems he didn't come to the World of Hope after all. I don't get it." She tactfully changed the subject. "But you came with a whole gang. That Mita girl was with, the one I sometimes see at the Governor's House with Sec. Ldr. Clyden and sometimes Sheila Bright. And of course Gunther Martin's son, the one who likes to be the center of attention."
"Oh, you still remember his antics on the rocket, eh? And maybe the incident about the fire back on Earth, too... Well, believe it or not, he is staying behind as well. Gov. Bright offered him a position. But Mita wasn't really with our group. I don't know what her plans are."
"Oh." Nina thought about his words. Maybe there was a clue in what he jhad just said, that explained why a representative didn't come from Earth today after all, to help her find out what had really happened to George. If Xavier gave Osmo a nice job- since Nina mostly kept to herself at the mansion, she had not even heard this news- then he might influence the boy to speak with his father, Mr.Gunther Martin, who in turn maybe then decided that Xavier must really be a decent guy after all, who would not harm someone sent from Earth as their representative, and so Mr. Martin might have then recommended to the Earth Leaders not to bother with the investigation. Xavier certainly could be persuasive and convincing when he wanted to be.
A sad reflection on those on Earth, however, if they gave up the investigation so quickly... but, unfortunately, also a very plausible scenario.
Albert introduced her to Kelli O'Mally, who greeted her and said, "I have heard of your husband's tragic accident, Mrs. McCleer. How are you holding up under such circumstances? If there is anything I can do-"
"Accident? I have my doubts. You are a citizen of Hope. Surely you noticed bad things seem to happen to those whom the governor doesn't like. I think Gov. Bright disliked my George very much."
Kelli whispered, "Yes, Mrs. McCleer, we did notice what often happens to people whom he dislikes. We lost Billy Bob, too, and we think he is at the mines. But it is wise to not be so vocal about such matters in such a public place."
"Why?" asked Nina. "What if everyone talks about it in public? Will all the people of Hope have mysterious accidents, or end up in the mines or the farms? He cannot continue this way, if large numbers of folks oppose his tactics. What did you do about it, when Billy Bob vanished?"
"It was hard," said Kelli. "But there wasn't much we could do. He was a good leader for the underground chuch, of which I am a member. The congregation loved Billy Bob. We all miss him, even though God gave us Brother Simon to help lead our meetings. Every meeting we pray for Billy Bob, assuming he is still alive and at the mines. Maybe one day he will be returned to us."
"Isn't there a way to verify if that is what happened to him, that he was stuck in the mines?" asked Nina.
Albert said, "They tried, Mrs. McCleer. They hunted for someone who had a stint there as a guard, but none of them were willing to talk. And, besides that, such inquiries are difficult to make, without drawing unwanted attention. I had heard all the stories of the efforts of the house church to find this Billy Bob."
"Yes, so we still do not really know what's become of him," said Kelli. "It is hard, but so far God gives us the strength to endure. We ask for the strength every meeting. And we get it, too. But it's hard to not know. I don't need to tell you that, though."
"Maybe I should attend one of these house church meetings... I wouldn't mind a little strength to endure until I know for sure," said Nina. "Well, I guess my party isn't going to show. The Earth rocket came about two hours ago, and I still don't see him. I will go find a cab and get back. It was nice meeting you, Mrs. O'Mally. And you, too, again, Albert."
"If you want to attend one of our meetings to see if you like our worship services, you are certainly invited." Kelli told Nina to come see her at her concession stand at the beach if she were interested. Nina liked the idea and they parted.
Kelli and Albert resumed the walk back to the vehicle. When they got there, Albert, puzzled and delighted, found Jane standing there beside the van, waiting there with her carry-on. "Well, it took you two long enough to get back here," she scolded them.
"What gives?" asked Albert. "And where's all your luggage?"
"I think it's about to launch for Earth. I didn't have time to get it," Jane explained. "But I couldn't leave. I couldn't go back there to Earth. Don't laugh, but it is like I was being told I might not ever see you again if I went home. I didn't want to chance going back, in case God was warning me or something. So, I ran back here to the van as fast as I could, before you guys left without me and I would have to walk back into town. I thought you guys
were already at the van, and so I didn't look for you as I ran. Must have passed you, but some distance away, and not even realized it, so intent was I to find you. I guess, then, this is my new home from now on. The World of Hope. I decided to stay here, with you, Al, and with the church, just in case it was more than my imagination warning me."
Albert gave her another big hug and kiss, even with more emotion than his good-bye hug, for this was his welcome back embrace.
"Okay, then, it's settled," said he. "While we did not do the official paperwork yet, we are truly now citizens of the World of Hope."
Kelli grinned. "Welcome, then. I am certain there is quite a bit of excitement awaiting you here on our beloved little planet."
What Happens Next
Find out in
"a planet in the middle of nowhere", book 2
as the story continues in
"the World of Hope (part two)"!
Meet DRK-
Donald Richard Kuntz. If you feel like commenting on this book, or just on my magnificent cover, my email is:
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