27- voiceless (laboratory / muzzled / I have no mouth and I scream)
"You're married to TK, aren't you?"
Carlos was unable to identify the emotion that gripped him: fear, joy, impatience? He could only nod again.
"At ease, lads, he's with us," the man told the soldiers around him, who wordlessly lowered their weapons.
Carlos was speechless; he couldn't understand what was happening to him. Did this man know her husband? Did this mean he was alive? The two soldiers beckoned him aside and introduced themselves: Jim and Steve.
"TK had been with us since the night after the first attack."
"Where is he now? Is he all right?" suddenly asked Carlos, who had regained his voice.
"We left him this morning in an American tactical centre, he's got a broken leg," replied Jim.
"Can you take me to him?"
The two soldiers looked at each other and it was Steve who answered.
"We'll go back as soon as we've finished here, for now it's not safe to transport the children."
"The children, Jonah. I need to find TK's little brother!"
Jim suggested that he come with them to see the surviving children and the three of them set off. The sight of death that Carlos saw was the saddest he had ever seen. The sight of those lifeless little bodies on the ground, jumbled up with those of the adults, brought tears to his eyes. At the same time, every time he realised it wasn't Jonah, he felt relief and hope. The cries of the surviving children filled the building and grew louder as they made their way towards the multi-purpose hall. There, Carlos discovered over a hundred crying children in the midst of soldiers who didn't seem to know what to do.
His heart sank as he passed among the children, doubting his ability to find his husband's half-brother. Suddenly he froze, it was him.
"Jonah?" he called as he crouched down beside the child.
The child turned to look at him and his whole face lit up.
"Alos!"
He smiled in reply, Jonah couldn't say his first name, but it didn't matter, all that mattered was that he'd found him. Now he had to get to TK's side and everything would be fine. He took the boy in his arms and stood up to find Jim smiling at him.
The soldier suggested they move to a corner of the room until the area was secured and they could go in. Carlos sat down on the floor, a little way off, with Jonah against him. Eventually they both fell asleep. The child was reassured to be with Carlos and the adult to be under the security of the soldiers.
He was woken by a hand on his shoulder, Jonah still asleep against him.
"It's time to go," Jim whispered to him.
Carlos got up, now wide awake at the thought of finding the man he loved. With Jonah snuggled up against him, he followed in the soldier's footsteps, but they didn't go in the direction he'd hoped. They went to the roof, followed by other soldiers with children.
"We're going to find TK, aren't we?"
"No, we didn't get permission, but he's going to be evacuated to the same place as you."
"Aren't you coming?"
"There are still some areas to secure," Jim replied with a smile.
"Thanks for your help."
"Tell TK I'll be by for a visit."
Jim loaded him into a military helicopter, waved and left. Five men joined Carlos, each accompanied by four children, then the doors of the vehicle were closed and they took off.
The policeman was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to find TK straight away, but at the same time he was relieved that he wouldn't have to cross New York with Jonah in his arms.
He looked sadly at the ruined city of New York as it passed beneath them. He couldn't understand how this tragedy could have happened, but hoped that he would soon have an explanation.