Chapter 2: At the Academy
Jill was studying quietly the next morning in the office of the cadet commander when her Aunt Mylea walked into the office. “Jill?”
“Oh hi Aunt Mylea,” Jill replied, “What brings you here?”
“We got a message from Lamile” Mylea said.
“You have a message from Lamile!” Jill said excitedly. She had become very worried about her friend. No one was saying much. Her father would only say that she was okay, and Mylea would only say she was in this town or that town, or that she was seen someplace. But she heard nothing on how her friend was doing. So Jill was a little bit excited that Lamile had a message for her.
“Yes,” Mylea replied, she pulled out a small device and soon Lamile’s image filled the office.
“Hi Jill,” Lamile said, “I can’t talk long. I have to make these recordings when the others can’t see me. I’m in Mansfield, about sixty miles from Trenaport. I have about two hundred kids with me. I had no idea that there were so many lost and abandoned kids. Especially the little guys. I am doing okay. Tired. I could use a new set of boots. Something I can walk in. I am worried about the kids who we have to leave behind. The ones that can’t keep up; or who are too sick to go on. We have enough food got to go…”The image cut out and the next time it came on Lamile was in a wooded setting, “Tell general Langtree that the boots are terrific. Jill I am not going to be able to speak much longer. Just promise me that the little guys and the others are being taken care off. I’ll see you soon!” The image faded out.
“Aunt Mylea,” Jill asked, “Can I send her a message.”
“Maybe,” Mylea replied, “Its mostly just voice messages. We were surprised to have gotten this.”
“Do you suppose if I got the twenty or thirty kids that Lamile has gotten to us together and have them say thank you it could be delivered to Lamile?”
Her aunt smiled and said, “She has a Black Guard escort. If they can’t get a message to her, no one can. Besides I think it will do her soul some good.”
Mylea had heard the depressed and the anxious tone of her daughter’s voice in her message. She was concerned about Lamile wondering if she shouldn’t pull her out. But in the end she couldn’t do that to her daughter. Lamile would never forgive her if Mylea pulled her out before her self-appointed mission had been completed.
Later in the day Jill stood on the quad in front of the admin building. She was by herself. Mylea had a recorder and nodded to Jill to begin, “Lamile, we got your message. The kids are okay! See!” On the word “see” all the kids that Lamile had to leave by the side of the road or given to adults to get to a doctor ran in front of Jill. When they were all set a banner was rolled out from one side across the kids. It said “Thank You Lamile!” when it was fully extended the kids yelled “Thank you!” and then Jill now standing behind the kids asked, “Message Received?”
Every Last Mother's Child Page 149
