Chapter 13

I watched him dig for a while. What the heck was he doing? The little bugger really had me stumped. Especially when he propped the front of his body up about another foot above his first hole, and started a new one.

I frowned. I had never seen a dog do this before. Strangely enough, he kept looking back at me every few minutes, like he was trying very hard to get a message across.

After he had started on his third hole, just above the other two, he stopped. Turning around, he loped over to me and fastened his teeth to the sleeve of my jacket. And proceeded to pull me towards his very strange holes. He let go and I stood in front of them, confused.

"Nice digging, buddy," I said amusedly. He pushed his head against the back of my knee, hard. I stumbled forwards. "What the hell are you doing, you stupid-" I stopped. As I'd been falling, I'd grabbed hold of the edge of the dog's third hole. I used it to pull myself to my feet, realization finally dawning on me. I smacked myself on the forehead. Of course! No wonder he had been looking at me like I was the dumbest person on the planet. He'd been digging footholds in the wall!

"That's brilliant!" I shouted. "Thank God you're so smart, eh Einstein?"

XXXX

Einstein (as I'd decided to call him) finished hole number three and started on four, but it was hard for him to reach that high, so I helped him a bit on that one. After that, I dug three more footholds in the wall, high enough so that I could easily climb out.

I checked them all to make sure they were secure, and then gave them a test run.

My fingers grasped the edge of the pit as I climbed. I pulled myself over the edge and out. "Yes!" I cheered. Einstein whined below me. I looked down at him and grinned. "You don't really think that I would leave you behind, do you?"

I jumped back down and stuffed the blanket back into the backpack. I ate half of another sandwich and gave Einstein his share, thinking that I wouldn't likely eat anything else if I could make it to Boston today. Heaving the backpack out of the pit, I took a few minutes and deliberated ways to help my furry friend out. Finally I decided that the easiest way would be just to lift him.

I picked him up (with much difficulty) and after a few minutes of struggling, finally managed to push him onto the ground above. I climbed out after him and picked up the backpack.

"Think we'll get to Boston today?" I asked the dog. He looked up at me and wagged his tail.

"I hope so, too," I said.

XXXX

I emerged from the forest with Einstein that afternoon. I could see the buildings and houses of Boston, and their twinkling lights in the distance. I turned and patted Einstein on the head.

"There it is!" I said excitedly. I judged that from where I was, I could make it to the outskirts of the city in no more than a few hours.

XXXX

I kept a tight hold on Einstein's collar as we started down one of the side streets of Boston. I didn't want him to run away from me and get lost, or caught by one of the city's dog-catchers. I was getting attached to him, and when I arrived at Grandma's I was going to beg my mother to let me keep him. I knew where my grandmother lived, but I wasn't exactly sure how long it would take me to get there. First I had to find the main highway. Then I could figure out which way to go.

After about a half hour of wandering around the suburbs of Boston, I finally found Main Street. Brightly lit shops with neon lights caught my eye at every angle. I could smell fast food wafting from the many restaurants up and down the street. People bustled to and fro on both sides of the street, in and out of shops, getting in and out of cars and chatting with one another. Vehicles zoomed down the highway.

Einstein pulled at his collar, trying to escape and explore this new place.

"Oh, no, you don't," I said, tugging him down the street. I dragged him down the Main until I found the street I'd been looking for. I walked faster.

There it was. I ran up the steps to my grandmother's house, pulling Einstein behind me. I pounded my fist on the door. I heard footsteps approach from the inside.

"Whatever it is that you're selling, we aren't interested!"

"Mom? Let me in!"

"ROBBIE!" My mother screamed. The door banged open and I found my arms pinned to my sides as she hugged me fiercely.

"Robbie," she sobbed. "You came! But…where's Rachael?"

"She's not here?" My heart sunk.

"No…you're the only one."

I hesitated. "We got…separated. Ray's with her, though. He'll take care of her. " I hoped that he would.

My mother looked skeptical, but hat seemed to comfort her, somewhat.

We stood there embracing for a long while, until Einstein gave a small whimper.

"Who's this?" Mom asked, bending down to pat the dog. He licked her face and she smiled through her tears.

"You won't believe it, but…"

XXXX

After being encouraged to recount the tale of my many adventures, we sat down to an early dinner in my grandmother's kitchen.

My mother and Tim chatted with my grandparents happily as she ate. I played with my food, staring out the window. I didn't feel like eating. I couldn't believe that I had arrived before Rachael and Ray. What if something had happened to them?

Something outside caught my eye. Was I hallucinating? I stood up sharply and bumped the table, spilling the water pitcher.

"Robbie! What's gotten into you?" Mom scolded.

I didn't say a word. Just pointed out the window. My mother turned slowly and looked where I was pointing. She shrieked and bolted for the door. I followed without another word. My grandparents looked at each other confusedly, then shrugged and came after us.

Rachael ran up the street and into our mother's arms. Ray stood back, looking uncertain. I stepped out of the doorway and he looked up at me, wonder and relief both sweeping across his face.

Suddenly I was standing in front of him. I don't remember walking down the steps, or across the sidewalk, or down the middle of the empty street. I was just there. Ray stared at me, and I stared back.

"Hi, Dad," I whispered. The first words I had spoken to him since the battlefield. "Hi Dad," I repeated. My voice broke. Ray's arms closed around me. The same way they had when I'd been a small child and had skinned a knee, or been afraid of the boogeymen in my closet, or had a nightmare. Those very same comforting arms. I hugged him back, emotions washing across me like a tidal wave.

They were alive. I was alive. Everything was going to be all right.

A/N – Epilogue will be posted tomorrow :)