Chapter 10

Raven tried to meditate on the subject of empathy. Really, she did. But the fact that people were out there looking to kill her, and maybe worse, was just too much.

After all, she had heard that woman talk about selling her, with her own ears. It was simply impossible to get rid the image of the drugged up child that she had seen on the TV. The girl had been forced into actual slavery to a pedophile. Horrible, horrible!!!

She understood that Jack was upset about the death of his, just discovered, son. But hell she was just as upset by the death of her family, but no one seemed to be empathetic about that.

"Ok, maybe I'm not being fair. Oh, hell! I'm going to start crying, again," thought the young teen as she burst into heart wrenching sobs.

Jack was standing on the back steps, feeling his own misery, when he heard the sobs of his ward.

"I was not understanding of her losses. She is just as messed up as I am," he thought as he went to the weeping girl and hugged her, each gaining comfort from the other.

"I'm sorry, Little Bird. I wasn't thinking of your troubles back there, just mine. I am sorry for being selfish."

Raven just clung to the man that she had known forever. Soon he was weeping right along with her.

"We have lost so much, that the losses are fogging our judgment. We must, you and I, focus through this evil, and concentrate on saving ourselves. To do that, we must go on the offensive, but what is more important is that we remember each other."

When Raven heard those words she clung even harder than before and wept even louder. She was relieved that she was not losing the only person left from her previous life. Yes, she needed 'Wind Walker the teacher', but she needed 'Jack the father figure', even more.

"Come, wash your face, and get something to eat. Billy will be here soon, and we need to do some serious planning. That phone trick will not give us much time."

"Ok."

Jack kept his arm around Raven's shoulders, and she put her arm around his waist as they returned to the house.

Not caring what she looked like, Raven went to Joe and knelt in front of him, as he sat in the living room, looking desolate.

"Joe? Thank you for what you did for us. I know that Frank was, if not a friend, a comrade in arms. Just remember this... you saved me, and you saved Jack."

The old soldier looked into the eyes of the teenager and said, "You really are something, you know that?"

Raven nodded and gave him a hug.

"Come to the kitchen. We all need to eat. I really could use some help, tonight."

Joe nodded and rose to follow her out of the room.

Raven started the pasta cooking, while making a pesto from some basil leaves from the garden. During that same time Joe set the table.

Billy walked into the back door just as the meal was ready.

"I've called Charley and told him to come back, and to bring George along with him," said Jack.

All actions stopped, as everyone turned to look at Jack.

"Is that wise?" asked Joe.

"We need to get him out of town, since the people that are looking for us are obviously well informed. That means he is in danger. Besides he's already seen Raven... Well not actually seen... I mean... Well you know what I mean," said Jack, all flustered by the blindness of George.

"He's right, you know," said Raven.

Five minutes later, Charley and George came in the back door. Raven rushed over to embrace her old friend.

"How are you doing, old man?"

"I must admit to being a bit confused."

"I think all that will be cleared up, soon," said Jack, "but, for now let's eat."

All agreed that Raven's pesto was one of the best that they had ever tasted. Then, as the meal proceeded, Jack laid out the situation up to the present. He did exclude the bit about Frank, because of George, though.

"So, you see? We need to get you away until this is all over, George."

"I can understand where your coming from, but, it is my home, and I'm an old man. What would they think they could get from me?"

"Information! And they would get it! These are some very bad people! As I said earlier, George, we think that this is tied to terrorists! They want to get the encryption codes for the equipment that we made for the Government."

"You think that they would really try to hurt me?"

"George, they have killed Camilla's family. Others have died as a result of Camilla's survival. I think they would torture you at the very least, and most probably kill you!"

"Oh..."

"Don't worry about your expenses. We will cover all of your costs, and we'll even close up your house for you. Just tell us where you would like to go, Europe, the Med, Hawaii, anywhere."

"Okay... Please let me think about this for awhile?" Turning toward where Raven was sitting, "Honey, would you help an old man out onto the back porch? I need to sit, smoke my pipe, and think."

"Of course," said Raven sweetly as she rose and guided George out to the porch swing.

"Will you sit with me a bit, child?"

"Sure."

Raven's Native heritage stood her in good stead, as George just sat puffing away furiously on his pipe. Quiet patience is a trait that brings much more to the world, than the hurried bustle of modern man.

"Thanks for sitting with me quietly," said George. "That was one of the things that I have always liked about you, girl. Your ability to wait for someone to think. You never once stepped on my thoughts."

Raven just nodded, knowing that her old friend wasn't finished.

"Are all of the things that your friend said in there (what's his name, Jack?), really that bad?"

"Yes and quite possibly far worse! We don't know all of the bits and pieces, yet, but I would have to say that would be a definite 'yes'."

"You really think that they would torture and kill me?"

"Yes!"

"Damn! This is the first time in my life where I'm glad Ginny is dead! She is safe from the bastards. We never had kids, and I'm the last of my line, so there are no others to use against me."

"I know that you loved each other very much."

"We surely did, and DO. I still love her to this very minute!" he exclaimed, then he sighed deeply.