Never Never Read Online Free Page A

regarded him.
    â€œIs it true then?” Terry Donaghue called out. A thin, wiry man, it had taken Terry many months to regain his strength. He sat with his wife, Jill, and their two sons, Tommy and Darby.
    â€œWe won’t know for sure until the evening news,” Mike said to general laughter. “But I think it’s a fair guess.”
    â€œDid you leave the Jeep in the woods?” Tommy asked.
    â€œAye and I’ll be asking you and Gavin to return to it and strip it of anything that might be of use to us,” Mike said.
    â€œWhat does it mean for us?” Liddy O’Malley asked. In her late thirties, Liddy was impregnated by rape last winter and delivered a beautiful baby girl in mid summer. Because her husband Davey refused to accept the child, Mike had asked him to leave the community.
    â€œGood question, Liddy,” Mike said. “I’d say it means good news and bad news for us.”
    â€œWhat’s the good news?” Tommy called out to more laughter.
    Mike grinned. “It means we’re all working from the same playbook now, to use a phrase from our American allies.”
    â€œSome allies!” Regan called out. “They never did shite for us when the first EMP went off.” She turned to look at Sarah. “No offense, Sarah.”
    Fiona couldn’t see Sarah’s face. Regan was a handful—and mostly trouble—but she was also brave and had withstood more than most so the group was inclined to be forgiving.
    â€œIn any case,” Mike said, giving Regan an annoyed look, “the good news is we’re all in the same boat now.”.
    â€œAnd the bad news?” Terry’s wife Jill raised her hand as she spoke.
    â€œWe need to leave.” Mike said. He gave a slight bow to Mother Angelina who sat closest to him at the table.
    â€œSure all of the Sisters are welcome to come with us, so they are. And we’ll never be able to thank them enough for the sanctuary they gave us. I hope to return the favor some day.”
    Mother Angelina smiled. Mike glanced over to where Mac stood by the door and nodded to him, the invitation offered. Mac’s shoulders relaxed and he nodded back.
    â€œAnd go where?” Nuala O’Connell asked. She was sitting with her two young boys and her newborn daughter in her lap. Nuala knew full well where Mike wanted them all to go. Fiona wondered if Mike had asked Nuala to ask the question.
    â€œTo Disney World!” a young boy shouted. The group laughed and Terry tousled his son’s hair with a grin.
    â€œThat’s the shot, lad,” Mike said with a laugh. “Sure we’re going to Cinderella’s Castle, so we are…where we’ll be safe and where no one can ever take what’s ours ever again.”
    The group applauded along with a few whistles that Fiona thought came from Gavin and Tommy.
    â€œIt’s ten days walk from here,” Mike said, rubbing his hands together as he clearly warmed to his subject. Fiona wouldn’t be surprised if he’d totally forgotten Sarah was glowering in the audience.
    â€œMaybe a little more. Northwest and on the coast. It’s called Henredon Castle and before the Crisis it was used as a tourist attraction back in the day but it was in good shape. A classic example of a Norman fortress. Built in 1175.”
    â€œHow do you know there’s nobody living in it?” someone asked.
    â€œI don’t, do I?”
    Heads turned and Fiona knew it was Sarah. The tension crackled in the air between her and Mike.
    â€œTen days is a long way to walk with screaming babies and women who’ve just delivered,” Sarah said, her voice cold but firm. “Not to mention lugging all our worldly belongings behind us. And what exactly do you suggest we do if we get there and the place is already inhabited? Have you thought about that?”
    â€œWe do what everyone has done throughout history,” Mike said with a shrug,