I’m sitting here among my family and friends, warm at last, safe at last, and I can hardly believe we survived this. Days ago I felt just as responsible for everyone’s lives as Mom or Mr. Cromwell did. Moments ago I was ready to surrender myself to whatever was coming to take us, and now we’re about to fly off to a new life. And I know that despite the scars we now bear, it will be a better life.
At least that what I’m thinking as we try to take off, but something’s got a hold of us and is tilting the aircraft back down to the roof. Whatever it is, it jerks hard enough on the helicopter’s runner to make it bank sharply and makes my mother, who had removed her harness so she could help pull KC and I in earlier, tumble right out.