“You’ll see soon enough.” I pulled Josh and Alice along. “Let’s hurry, we’re almost there. You got me in the mood now. I am all anxious to pack and leave, too.”
We reached the shelter without any problem. It was almost five now. Nin unlocked the door to the tunnel and we were soon standing in the central room of our safe-haven.
Looking at each other we were at first a bit at a loss of how and where to begin. It was Winter who got us organized. She declared that she would start with their luggage and suggested that Rob help her with that while Josh, Paul and Nin should have a go at the technical equipment. Yuki and I could pack the more personal things. She gestured for Alice to come over to her. “Alice, will you help me with our luggage? Afterwards I will help you with Piglet’s and Malinda’s, okay?”
“Oh yes please.” Alice answered eagerly and strode over to help Winter and Rob.
Josh, Paul and Nin went to the fitness room and Yuki and I started packing our cloths. Within 15 minutes I was done with Alice’s and my cloths. I packed mostly light summer cloths, but some warm things, too. After all, we didn’t know where we would sleep in the immediate future. Even if we should make it across the Mediterranean in one go, the nights down south would still be quite chilly. I also packed fleece blankets for everyone.
Winter nodded her agreement, when she saw me stuffing the blankets in a big bag. “Good, they are warm but will dry easily in case they get wet. A very good idea. Alice, will you now help me with the toilet things?” And off they went to the bathroom, while Rob and I stacked the bags with the cloths near the entrance.
“Do you have everything?” I asked Yuki. “The baby things, too?”
“Of course!” She replied a bit short. “Do you think Nin and Josh will remember to pack the night vision goggles?”
“Yes we did!” Nin had heard her. “We haven’t forgotten anything.”
“Okay, great, medical equipment’s next, then. Will you help me with that, Winter?” Yuki joined the others in the bathroom and I heard her explaining Winter where we kept our medical supplies.
I summoned Alice over to me and we started packing Piglet’s and Malinda’s gear, their cloths, blankets. Then I suggested that Alice sort out two or three of her favourite books and also think about whatever valuables she would like to carry. “Nothing too big, you know, but take some things you really like along.”
“Like what?” She asked a bit helplessly.
“Your little booklet where you write things, some of your necklaces and earrings, the bracelet you got from Nate’s parents. Some such things. And don’t forget the tablet with the photos. Nin and Josh surely packed a solar panel or two, so that we can charge things and have a look at the pictures one day. Maybe you could also pack some little games that won’t take up too much space, like cards, or so.” I suggested.
“Just remember, we will never get back here again. So, pack whatever it is that you absolutely don’t want to leave behind. But make sure it’s not too big or heavy.After all, we’ll have to carry everything down to the airport now.”
“Okay – can I also take one or two books with me?”
“Certainly, take some and also carry your crayons and one of your colouring books – maybe the one Nate recently brought you, the one about ancient civilizations, or the one with the animals, or better even, take both. We should be able to stuff them in somewhere.”
Alice went to retrieve her precious things and piled them on the bed. We packed them in the bag with Piglet’s and Malinda’s things. Her books, tablet and heavier things I would carry in my bag.
“Trying to educate her?” Rob mused.
I turned to look at him. He was watching me with an amused expression on his face.
“You know, it frankly scares me to think of what she will miss. She won’t go to school, won’t have a formal, let alone a professional education. You, Winter, Paul and Josh, you all have already completed your professional schooling. You have had the chance to be educated. Nin, Yuki and I had at least some schooling. But Alice! We’ll have to work hard and participate all of us to teach her.”
“Foremost, she’ll have to learn how to survive, don’t you think?” Rob replied. “To have an education like we did has become obsolete some weeks ago and must now be considered a luxury.”
“I can’t agree. Alice needs to know as much as possible. Of course, she will have to learn skills for survival, but that cannot be all. Think me crazy, if you like. And maybe I am clinging on to something I ought not. But I don’t want a dividing line in our family. On one side those who had a formal education and on the other those who didn’t and can’t join into many discussions because they don’t know what the others are talking about.”
Rob pensively shook his head. “If you put it like that I agree. But we can’t carry too many books and things, you know.”
Josh and Nin had come over to us. Nin was grinning at me but refrained from answering. He knew and shared my ‘thing’ about books.
But Josh gave me a lopsided smile and asked. “Is this about your special ‘bare necessities’ now? And, before you answer, I think that Alice absolutely should carry some of her toys, her books, her crayons. She needs as much stability as possible. And these things may help her cope.” He knelt down and gave her a hug.
She trustingly leaned in on him and touched his face. “Thanks. I want to carry the colouring books Lia mentioned. They are special and I got them from Nate and Dad. Maybe, if I carry something from Dad, he will come to us in Kenya, don’t you think?” She’d asked that last question in a small, forlorn voice.
She missed Dad and was hoping that he’d to make it to Kenya, too. So did I, by the way. But I hadn’t dared talk about it so far. Yuki looked as if she wanted to say something to soothe Alice, but Josh beat her to it.
“You know, little tiger.” She clearly like it, when he addressed her like that for she beamed at him affectionately. “I am absolutely convinced that your Dad will make it to Kenya. It might just take him longer that it will take us or Uncle Phil and his party. Your Dad wanted to accomplish some things that’s why he didn’t come to get you himself. But he loves you very much and he’ll come. Rest assured. He’ll come.”
Where she may not have been able to believe me or Nin she seemed to be entirely content with Josh’s explanation. She beamed at him again and breathed a polite “thank you”. She was so cute! Then she got back to packing her things.
Josh got up and looked at me expectantly. “And now to you, Lia. Show us those bare essentials of yours and let us decide whether to really take them along or not.”
I grinned at him and strode over to the door leading up into the house. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched as I opened the door and climbed up some stairs. I had prepared those things earlier, some weeks ago. I only had to reach for the bag and lift my most precious things down. I closed the door, but didn’t bother locking it. I brought the bag to the coffee table and opened it.
“Okay everybody, here we go. Feel free to laugh, but I am taking these things with me. Whatever you say, no discussion.”
I unpacked them. They were Mum’s book about medicine, her jewellery and her diaries. I had also stacked all our passports, birth certificates and personal documents. Then I had taken Nate’s favourite book about world history. He’d always claimed that it gave a wonderful overview while also providing many important details, maps and things. And his pocket edition of Shakespeare.
When Yuki saw these little books, she gasped. “Oh, Lia, that’s a wonderful thought.”
“They belong to Nate and I know that he loves them dearly. He’ll appreciate my taking them along, bringing them to him.” I answered and continued to unpack my “bare necessities”. There were only three more things remaining – all of them books: one was an overview of neurology and perception in animals. When I laid it on the table Nin and Yuki burst out laughing.
“Yeah, about what I expected,” Nin scoffed. “What’s next? Something about
evolution?”
“Actually you’re right. But that was to be expected, too, wasn’t it?” I laid my favourite book about evolution, basically a history about the conception of evolution from the 1600 to modern days, on the table.
Winter raised a sceptical eyebrow, Paul and Rob chuckled, but Josh shot me such a loving glance, that I felt my heart flutter in my chest.
“And the last book?” He asked tenderly.
“It’s a family heirloom and I was given it by Uncle Phil. It’s a great and wonderful book. And I would carry it for that alone, but I am taking it also along as a sort of talisman. It belongs to Uncle Phil and I will bring it back to him.”
And with that I laid the last of my three precious books on the table. It was the “Princeton’s Companion to Mathematics”. It hadn’t been easy to decide which of my many and all so precious books to take along. In the end I had decided on these three because I wanted to capture and carry along some of my main interests, a reminiscent of what I might have chosen as a career path. And, I wasn’t willing to let go of “higher education” yet. Silly as it may have been, but I felt like I could carry on the torch for science and human civilization by carrying these books with me.
What would the others think? Josh?
I felt a bit shy but lifted my gaze to face them.
Nin just grinned and Yuki signalled understanding and consent by giving me a thumb-up. Alice wasn’t really interested. Winter looked sceptical and a bit put out. Why? Rob and Paul were clearly very much amused. But it was Josh’s reaction that was most important to me. He had to understand, he of all.
And he did. For he just swept me up in his arms, pressing me to him and whispering in my ear, “If I hadn’t already fallen for you, I’d do it now. Lia! I love you! You will never cease to amaze me.”
Then releasing me and holding me at arm length he laughed. “I sure approve of your choice, Lia. Let’s uphold science as long as we possibly can. And let everyone be witness to this: I vow to help you bring that book to Uncle Phil’s, even if I have to carry it myself.”
Everyone burst out laughing at this. Nin assured me, once he managed to stop laughing, that he too thought my choice worthwhile and would help me carry those books. And every one agreed to this. It felt wonderful.
After that, we were quickly done with the rest of the packing. Within ten minutes all our bags were ready and piled up by the entrance.
We were suddenly a bit at a loose end. It was still only early evening. Okay, we would cook dinner. But what then? The waiting. When would it be wise to start the trek down to the airport? Paul, Rob and Nin argued about that quite a bit. In the end, it was Winter who decided the matter.
“I think we should get going as soon as we are done here. I’d rather wait down there for the morning and the time to leave. Like that, we will see whatever happens and can react to it.”
“I totally agree with Winter.” Yuki chipped in.
Paul demanded a vote; and it turned out that only he and Nin favoured staying in our shelter overnight. Everyone else opted for heading down to the airport as soon as possible, even Alice didn’t want to spend the night here. She was all hyper; she probably thought, we would get to Mum and Nate tomorrow. I let her. She’d soon enough realize that it was still quite a journey, down south to Kenya, even if we should really make it all the way to Sudan tomorrow.
It seemed absolutely crazy. This idea of us being in Sudan tomorrow.
Weird didn’t sum it up by half.
To think that we would leave our home here in just in a few hours. It was too soon! Did we really have everything?
The maps! I had forgotten to pack the maps!
I raced over to the fitness-room to get them. Roadmaps of Sudan, Ethiopia and Kenya.
Josh shot me a questioning look.
“Nin always said that we might make it at least down to Northern Sudan by plane. Maybe even further. To Ethiopia or, if we were really, really lucky, even down to Kenya. So I thought we’d need maps to find our way. That’s why I brought them down to the sub-basement and I think we should take them along with us.” I tried to explain.
“That’s a very good idea.” Winter chipped in. “Much better than those heavy books of yours. But I am sure everyone will volunteer to take a turn carrying them, should that be necessary. You sure know how to play up to scientists.”
That last sentence stung. She seemed angry and hurt. Why? I looked over to Josh for an explanation, but he quietly signalled to let it go. He’d have to explain me later. I didn’t want Winter to be angry at me. But why did she have a problem with me and my books?
“No need to get shirty, Flo.” Rob gently scolded Winter, all the while embracing her in a tight hug. She first looked like she would shove him away. But then, she relented and gave him a smile.
“Sorry Lia, that was mean. I am abashed by my own callousness.”
“It’s okay.” I replied, still wondering why she had reacted like that.
But she wouldn’t explain and so I let it pass.
My maps packed, I was now sure that I had everything we’d need. Not that there weren’t a ton of things I would have liked to take along. And maybe would have, had we been able to drive down to the airport. I heaved a sigh and turned to join Yuki and Rob in the kitchen. Josh followed me, anxious to learn why I was distressed, as he put it.
“It’s nothing. Just freaking out a bit at the thought of us leaving so soon. And leaving behind everything that was our life so far, all our possessions.” I muttered, a bit embarrassed by his concern. After all, it was still so new for me. This love of ours.
Josh wrapped his arms around me and pressed a kiss on my hair.
“It’ll be alright. It will.”
I sighed, this time a happy sigh, and replied. “You don’t have to try to tell me things. I’ll get over it. Once we’ll be on our way, it’ll be alright. It’s just now, here, it feels like a turning point in my life. But I am fine. What with you by my side!”
He chuckled and let go of me.
We set about at cooking dinner, keeping it ultra-simple. Pasta with a sauce again. And the last of our apples for desert, together with a bit of chocolate.
It didn’t take us long to get everything ready and we soon settled down for the last time on the sofas in the central room. At first, we ate in silence. Alice had insisted to sit next to Paul and she kept telling him little stories about herself, about Piglet and Malinda. He obliged her and I several times observed him glancing at her with a mixture of love and a most disquieting seriousness. As if he’d had a vision and was trying hard to push it away. He caught my glance at briefly nodded in my direction. And I understood. And I was glad. For I knew that I had another ally. One more person ready to give his all to get Alice safely to Mum. I mouthed a silent ‘thank you’ in his direction and he grinned at me.
Of course, Josh had noticed it all. He happily pulled me close and whispered. “Call me crazy, but I am absolutely, blissfully happy right now.”
Everybody had heard him and they all chuckled in agreement.
“What do you think where we will be tomorrow at this time?” Yuki asked.
“I don’t know, and tonight, I don’t care.” Nin answered. “Josh is right. I, too, am really happy. That we are all here together. That we have made it so far. That we are ready and set to go tomorrow. But tonight, I just enjoy the company.”
And we all enjoyed the moment while it lasted. As if everybody knew and had agreed to, we didn’t talk about the world outside, the difficulties, maybe even horrors we’d soon face. Tonight we were happy, tonight we were together and safe. Whatever tomorrow held, it was far away.
Alice had fallen asleep and lay like a little kitten next to Paul on the sofa, when Rob consulted his watch and broke the magic of this peaceful evening by saying. “It’s time folks, it’s close to ten o’clock. I think, we had better get going.”
We all heaved collective sigh and got up.
A bit unsure how to do this, we stood ab
out for a moment, looking at each other.
Then Rob organized us by ordering Josh, Yuki, Winter and me to take care of the dishes while he, Nin and Paul would get our baggage ready and carry things down to the tunnel exit.
It felt kind of weird to wash dishes that we would never ever use again. What was the point anyway?
“You wouldn’t like to idea that you left your home in a hurry, untidy, you know.” Josh answered my unspoken question.
I fairly gasped. “How did you do this? Do you read minds?”
Winter and Yuki giggled.
“No, it was just obvious that we were all wondering why we should wash dishes we’d never ever use again. Clean up a kitchen we’d never ever enter again. Heart of my heart. That and because I love you.” Josh teasingly replied.
“If you two want to go all gooey now, I had better leave.” Winter grumbled. But obviously she didn’t really mean it, coz she too was smiling.
I had finished cleaning up the sink and hung the towel on its hook.
“Don’t worry, Winter. I am all done here and ready to go. How about you, Yuki?”
A look of panic crossed Yuki’s face for a moment. I held her gaze and smiled encouragingly. But she quickly got a grasp on herself, breathed deeply, folded the towel she’d been holding neatly before she left it next to the sink and walked to the door.
We all followed her. I was the last one.
Alice sat on the sofa, holding Piglet and Malinda tight. She was very excited.
Paul and Nin came in from the tunnel and Paul asked. “Is everyone ready now?”
Yes. We were. I was.
A last glance at our home of the last few months and I was ready to head for the tunnel.
I helped Alice to get her little backpack on. It contained Piglet, Malinda and their things, plus some of Alice’s toys and things. I knelt down in front of her and closed the zip of her hoody. “Are you alright tiger?”
“Sure, Lia. We start our journey now, don’t we? We’ll be with Mum and Nate soon. I like it. I am not scared, you know. You don’t have to worry about me.”
I kissed her fervently and then got up to follow her.
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