Citadel Run

Chapter Twenty-Four

Nineteen miles northwest of the Cheyenne Citadel, resting that night after spending hours packing for their departure the next day, Adam Mason and his father and mother were relaxing on their front porch.

“I wish we didn’t have to leave our home,” Gail said, sorrow tinging her every word.

“We’ve been all through that,” Seth replied. “We don’t have any other choice. The Government will find us anywhere in the Civilized Zone. Yama is our only hope.”

“If he returns,” Gail retorted.

“He will,” Adam chipped in. “I know he will.”

“You hardly know the man, son,” Gail rejoined. “None of us really know him, and yet we’re all set to trust him with our very lives.”

“We don’t have any choice,” Seth reiterated.

“I wish you’d stop saying that,” Gail said.

Adam rose and stretched. “Don’t worry so much, Mom,” he advised.

“Yama will take good care of us. He’ll return. You’ll see.”

“I hope he hasn’t run into any trouble in the Citadel,” Seth commented.

“Yama can take real good care of himself,” Adam asserted. “You saw that. Nothing can kill him.”

Gail Mason suddenly cocked her head to one side, listening. “Shhhhh! Be quiet! Do you hear it?”

“I hear it,” Seth corroborated.

“So do I,” Adam ineterjected. “What is it?”

“Sounds like thunder,” Gail mentioned.

“That’s funny,” Seth said. “There’s not a cloud in the sky.”

Adam, trying to get a fix on the distant rumbling, walked to the southern tip of the porch. “Look!” he exclaimed. “Come look at this!”

Seth and Gail hurried to the end of the porch.

“Dear Lord!” Gail cried.

The southeastern horizon was lit by a brilliant fireball.

“What is it?” Adam asked.

“I don’t know,” Seth admitted, “but whatever it is, I think it’s coming from the Citadel.”

Adam gazed at his parents with frightened, dilated eyes. “Could it be Yama?”

Neither one answered.