Every Last Mother's Child

by William J. Carty, Jr

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  Lamile was poking around in an abandoned store when she saw the envelope with her name on it. Although Lamile was a common name among Thonians she doubted that in an abandoned hardware store there would be an envelope for any other Lamile’s. She opened it and found a data chip. She found a data reader near the cashier’s station. She looked around to see if anyone was watching. Seeing none she put the chip in the reader. She saw the message from Jill and began to cry. The kids, the sick injured kids who hadn’t been able to go any farther were all there. In a special piece the one that she worried about the most little Carlin said thank you from his hospital bed. One of the doctors then said in no uncertain words, “Carlin is doing okay Lamile, you got him here just in time.”

  She didn’t see that Rhonda, one of her lieutenants had followed her into the hardware store and seen the whole thing. She had suspected that Lamile was more than who she said she was; but she didn’t know she was a member of the Royal Militia or not. The girl quickly left. Rhonda didn’t want Lamile to know that her secret was out of the bag. Yet Rhonda didn’t want to share the secret with anyone. Lamile had gotten them this far with few problems.

  Lamile made a quick message and left it for whoever had left the message for her.