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“AS SOON AS WE LAND, I’m going to go buy a van,” Frank said onboard during the flight. “Then we’re going house-hunting.”
Raquel had left her host as soon as the aircraft door had closed. Clara was looking at him strangely, and he returned her level gaze for a moment.
“What, darling?” Frank asked.
“I can’t believe Raquel would just leave like that without a goodbye or anything,” she said dejectedly.
“Well, she’s popped out many times before,” Frank countered. “Why is this time any different?”
“Frank, all the other angels are leaving their hosts,” Clara explained. “Why would she remain, after their mission here on Earth is complete?”
“So, you’re concerned you may not have her powers anymore?” Frank said, realization dawning on his face.
Clara nodded mutely, a single tear finding its way down her cheek. “I’ve really enjoyed helping you find lost children, and solving cases,” she said almost too softly for him to hear.
“Darling, that won’t diminish my love for you in the least,” he assured her. “And there will be other opportunities for us to work together, I’m sure.” But he wasn’t, not really. And so they travelled in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.
Ham had been asleep since shortly after take-off. The ordeal at the Cordorus Furnace had apparently exhausted him, physically and mentally. The return to Chickasha was a solemn one, and the General came back into the cabin about 45 minutes into the flight.
“When we touch down at Chickasha, brace for a fast stop,” He said. “They’ve only got five thousand feet of runway.”
“Is that enough for this big girl?” Frank asked reverently.
“Ah, we can land in about 33oo’,” He said. “It’s really getting back up which will be fun.”
“How much do you need?” Frank looked worried.
“Piece of cake,” the General lied. “I’ve taken off in 4700’ before, and we’ll be light. Only four pax, two crew, and we won’t take on any fuel. We’ll have 20 minutes to spare after the short hop to Lubbock, so we’ll do fine.”
Patrick and Sharon had been snuggled in the corner of the bench in the rear of the cabin since before take-off, and Frank kept casting them furtive glances. “Those two,” he said. “You’d think angels would show a little more decorum.”
“Oh, Cassiel and Adriel vacated before we got on the plane,” Clara corrected. “That’s all Sharon and Patrick.”
Surprise lit Frank’s face. “Patrick McElroy, the confirmed bachelor? Well, who would have guessed?”
“And Sharon tells me she has a new-found resolve in connecting with wayward students after her exposure to the angelic way of thinking,” Clara followed up. “She’s even excited for school to start again on Monday.”
“Monday? What day is today?” Frank asked, looking puzzled.
“It’s Saturday, Frank. This whole chain of events has only taken 36 hours,” Clara said.
Frank just shook his head in wonder.
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DANIEL WAS SITTING with the Palehorse squad, deep in conversation.
“Man, if I had the youth, I’d be back over there tomorrow,” Kettlebell was saying.
“Me too,” added another of the four.
“Ditto,” chimed in the third. “How about you, Gunny? Wouldn’t you go back if you could?”
“I am going back,” Gunny replied.
“Say what?” all three of his troops called at once.
“Yep, the General has a new contract for personal security team training in country, and he’s asked me to head it up,” Gunny told them. “He’d been thinking about it for a while, and this trip made up his mind.”
“Well crud Gunny, where does that leave us?” Kettlebell asked.
“Doesn’t leave you anywhere unless you choose not to come along,” Gunny replied, cracking a huge grin.
“Yeehaw,” called one of the others. “Back in the thick of it.”
“There’ll be some action, I’m sure,” Gunny offered. “But we’re really going to be teaching youngsters how to protect their primary without getting killed in the process.”
“How about you, squid?” Kettlebell asked Daniel.
Daniel smiled at the friendly jab. “I’m thinking I need to go see my old CO, find out if he has a place for me on a team,” he replied thoughtfully. “I hadn’t realized how much I miss the action.”
“Well, if your CO doesn’t make a place for you, he’s any idiot,” Gunny replied. “And you just come see me. Pays a lot better, living conditions a damn sight better, and you’ll get to use what Uncle Sam taught you to help a lot of newbies stay alive.”
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CLARA WAS SMILING AT Frank, just holding his hand and looking at him, when her eyes flared brilliant white again. “Father was not easily convinced I was correct in my assessment, but I finally won him over,” she said without preamble. “He looked at all the possibilities, and decided it was worth the risk of his direct interaction.”
“I’m sorry, Raquel, but I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Frank admonished.
“I have convinced my Father to restore Clara to full health,” she replied simply.
Frank was stunned into silence. After several attempts, he finally opened his mouth and words actually came out. “What does Clara have to say about this? Will she retain her abilities? I’m not concerned about that, but she puts a great deal of stock in her ability to find missing children.”
“Her abilities will remain, she has earned them,” Raquel said. “Once I explained to Father that there have been four occasions where her will power was all which kept me from being expelled and her body destroyed, He realized just how strong she really is.”
“So what now?” Frank asked expectantly.
“Now,” Raquel said simply.
The light in Clara’s eye extinguished, and Clara’s smile for Frank was beatific. “Now, you can help me up, dear,” she said, extending her hand.
Frank rose from his seat, bracing his head against the top of the cabin and reaching both hands for his wife’s. She rose slowly, a little unsteadily, but soon stood fully erect, her face upturned to beam into her husband’s gaze.
“Aren’t you going to kiss me?” His wife asked.