The puzzling thoughts spun in her mind. Why were they being spared? Who was sparing them?
Then one day, weeks after the bombs dropped, the dome disappeared. She could not see it disappear, but she knew that it was gone for the pile of ash that had leaned against it fell to the ground.
Then she started out with but one thought in mind. I must find Johnny! Across country she went, through small towns filled with death.
She walked, with Robbie stumbling along at her side, his small face wide with wonder and fear. Her heart ached as she looked into his staring eyes, while an occasional whimper left his lips. "... mommy, where's Daddy? Where is he, mommy?"
She gripped his hand tighter and continued to walk, each mile a numb and crazy nightmare.
"Now take note of the setting the aliens are in. It took careful planning for our scientists to devastate the planet's surface as you now witness."
It was late afternoon when Helen stopped to rest by a seared oak tree. Robbie had been walking beside her. Suddenly he turned and looked up at her. "Mommy, why are we walking so far? I'm tired of walking. I don't want to walk any more. Where is daddy?"
"Hush, dear. We're going to find daddy." She knew they would never find him ... alive. But something made her keep going. Something inside wouldn't let her turn back. She had to know....
"We've got to find daddy so he'll make everything right again, don't we?"
She hesitated before answering. "Yes—yes that's it. We've got to find daddy so he can help us—and make everything right again!"