In the Sun: Part 2

CHAPTER 1

Josh wanted to wake Yuko up and explain to her why he had to go, but he didn’t. He lay awake in the bed with a frown on his face. This was the biggest surprise that had ever happened to him in his life, and he didn’t know if he would be able to deal with it right then. He turned over on to his side and looked at Yuko, her face was so peaceful and he pondered on how she could sleep so well in the middle of a war. Her eyes were closed and she would let out a light breath of warm air every once in a while. Her black hair was draped across her shoulder and her face was expressionless except for an occasional twitch while she dreamed.

He realized that he knew nothing about being a father. He didn’t know if he would even have enough money to support his new family. He didn’t even know how to change a diaper. It was those thoughts that ran through his head and added up to a rational decision, he would have to leave her, but only for a little while so he could work things out by himself. It would make Yuko sad, leaving without any explanation or valid reason, but maybe a note would help ease her tension and fear. Josh slowly and quietly got out of the bed and found a piece of paper and began to write a message. The only thing he could come up with was that she shouldn’t worry and that he would be back soon. It sounded pitiful and he stopped writing from frustration and crumpled the letter up in his hand.

He understood that there wasn’t anything he could say that would help ease her anguish while he was gone. He thought that once he was gone, she would be able to do much better without him and that each of them would be able to figure things out alone. Before he went, however, he resisted the urge to kiss her forehead from fear that she would awake and ask him why he was leaving. He wouldn’t be able to bear the question and he would never be able to conceive a plan to support them together and it would end up a much worse thing nine months from now than it would be in a day or two. He had every intention of coming back, he could never permanently leave the girl he loved, and the child he had created with her.

Josh looked at the pictures of his family on the wall of his room for a moment. He wanted there to be some new ones with him, Yuko, and the baby… but unlike the older pictures where no one was smiling, he wanted to replace them with happier ones. He exhaled quietly and gave one last look to Yuko’s sleeping form and walked out of the door. It had been left open to circulate the night breeze and cool the rooms of the house. He walked as silently as he could down the stairs and turned right, towards the front door, and turned the handle gradually so that it wouldn’t squeak as it was prone to do and then guided the door back gently.

CHAPTER 2

Shamil eyed the vehicle behind theirs suspiciously. It was following quite closely but the windows were so tinted that he wasn’t able to see the driver or passengers. Take the next exit. Shamil turned his head slightly towards the front where First Sergeant Konstantin was instructing Lev where to drive. Shamil could see the red tail lights light up the car’s hood behind them as he stared intently, trying to catch a glimpse of the person inside.

"Da." Lev mumbled, as he squinted in an effort to keep his eyes on the road. First Sergeant Konstantin had wanted to start in the morning when the sun was coming up, but Shamil had refused to leave and had insisted that they leave at night so that there wouldn’t be so many people on the road. He had also taken care to mention that the soldiers at the checkpoints might be asleep or tired. Shamil sat in the absolute back, away from Stanislav, who was sitting in the back seat that was opposite to his. Stanislav was sandwiched between Diminitrov and the right side of the car, and Shamil, on the left, was thankful that Diminitrov had taken the seat next to Stanislav before he would’ve had to.

Lev quickly pulled off the road and onto the exit and held the steering wheel as tightly as he could. The force of the car pushed Shamil in to Diminitrov as it turned left in a tight circle.

Damn American’s can’t build a straight road, First Sergeant Konstantin said quietly as he held onto his door.

Ugh, Shamil grunted and righted himself as soon as he could.

Where the hell are we? Lev asked as his head twisted back to look at another sign they had passed.

I’m not sure… I can’t read English that well… I only know where we’re going. First Sergeant Konstantin replied and consulted the map in his lap, holding it close to his face to try to see the names through the darkness.

We better stop at the next sign to see where we are. Lev said and exhaled lightly as he rolled down the window and pulled off on the side of the road.

This is the last town we were in, First Sergeant Konstantin said as he handed him his map. Lev nodded and got out with his flashlight. He walked up to the green sign and stared at it for a few minutes, along with the map, trying to find the name of the next town. He came back shaking his head.

What?

We’re not in the right direction, Lev replied and closed his car door.

What do you mean… where are we? First Sergeant Konstantin yanked his map from Lev’s hands and studied it.

Right here. Lev replied as he pointed to the dot on the map and started the car again.

We were going the wrong way. First Sergeant Konstantin said and tossed his map on to the car floor in front of him. What the hell is wrong with you? Don’t you know how to read a map?

I know how to read a damn map! Shamil could feel the anger in his voice as he spoke; "You were directing me and besides, I don’t even know where the hell we are going!"

Just great… we went in the wrong direction for two hours… we’ll probably run out of petrol before we even reach the halfway point! Lev said nothing as he merged back on to the road and made a large turn in the opposite direction. Idiot… can’t read a map… shouldn’t even be a soldier. First Sergeant Konstantin grumbled and began to flip the automatic lock on the door back and forth annoyingly. Shamil sighed and looked back out the window. It was going to be a long day.

Aloysha stood in the vacant lot that the wagon had stopped in. It was surrounded by an old apartment building that, from the outside, appeared abandoned also, but was occupied by several families that walked by them without a spoken word. They were a few miles inside of Ukraine and Aurek warned everyone to watch out for the police since they were nothing like the Polish police, they’d want bribes or would take any one of them to jail without a second thought. No sooner had they unfurled the awning to protect themselves from the cold biting wind that blew harshly through the flat piece of land, a short, pudgy Ukrainian police officer covered tightly in a green woolen coat, approached them and began to yell about a law that didn’t seem to exist.

There is no loitering permitted in this part of the town. He said loudly so that everyone could hear. All of them stood quietly, unmoving, until Aloysha walked forward and asked the police officer if he could have a word with him.

They walked over to the side of the apartment building’s brick wall and Aloysha asked him quietly what he wanted, hoping for a simple bribe to solve his problem. For you to leave here, right now. The police officer spoke seriously as if trying to threaten him.

Why? Aloysha asked and tried to act as if he wasn’t angry at all, but understanding. We have done nothing wrong.

I know your kind of people… bandits, robbers, thieves. Aloysha required all of his self-discipline to stop himself after the police officer’s stereotypical comments. You are not welcome here.

You judge people you don’t even know. We are not—.

I don’t wish to know them… ever. You have two hours to pack your possessions and leave. The pudgy police officer sauntered away around to the other side of the apartment building and left Aloysha, who had a spiteful look on his face.

CHAPTER 3

Yuko sighed fitfully and tried to smile when she woke up with the dawn. Josh had accepted her fears and was ready for the next phase of their life and it made her mind lighten. Yuko’s eyes were still closed when she rolled towards where Josh should’ve been.

But he wasn’t there.

Yuko scrunched up her nose and opened her eyes slowly so that they would adjust to the brightness. She found that the bed and pillow were empty. Josh was nowhere in sight in the entire room, but the door was still open. She thought that maybe he had had to go to the bathroom, or maybe to get a drink of water or any of a variety of other simple things that would require him to get out of bed. She figured she might as well get up and go to the bathroom herself. Yuko sat up, rolled over to the edge of the bed, and had begun to put her clothes back on when she saw a piece of crumpled up paper lying on the floor under his desk. She wanted to pick it up, but it was most likely just a piece of litter, so she left it. She finished putting on her shoes and thought nothing of it as she strolled carelessly out of the room and tried to comb her long black hair with her fingers.

Yuko saw someone moving around in kitchen and she smiled a little and bit the bottom of her lip. She crept around to the other side of the hallway and at the most unexpected time, jumped out and said, Josh!

Nope, it’s me. Nobu replied flatly and went about finishing his breakfast.

Yuko clicked her tongue in slight annoyance at his simplistic answer. Her brother was a bit apathetic at times, but she knew what to expect by now. Have you seen Josh?

Uh, not since last night when you guys went to sleep. He stirred the oatmeal on his plate and added a half of a can of pumpkin pie mix on the other side of his plate and looked up. Why are you looking for him? Something wrong?

No, I woke up alone… he was… . Yuko hesitated and looked around in a panic. She ran out of the kitchen and out of the house, letting the door slam loudly behind her. She ran around and around the outside of the house, thinking she would see him in some faraway corner alone, but he wasn’t there either. She searched all four sides of the house but she didn’t find him. She could feel herself starting to become afraid, and felt like crying.

What’s going on? Melissa asked as soon as she saw Yuko running about the outside of the house.

Have you seen him? Yuko asked hurriedly and nervously and anxiously put her hand to her forehead.

Who?

Josh!

No. What’s the matter?

Josh is… he’s gone. When Yuko uttered the last two words, she felt her stomach drop and felt slightly sick. She put her hand on her stomach and felt the tears flow. She almost fell to her knees but Melissa stopped her just a few inches from the ground. He’s gone.

Gone? Gone where? Why? Melissa asked as she held Yuko by her arms.

He’s not coming back. I shouldn’t have told him. Yuko turned to face Melissa and wailed in to her shoulder, Melissa didn’t seem to know or understand what was happening but she patted her on the back, trying to comfort her as best as she could.

Shouldn’t have told him what? She asked quietly.

That I’m… expecting.

Oh, you’re pregnant? Yuko nodded solemnly through her sobs. What are you so sad for? You’re supposed to be happy!

No… no, Yuko cried and didn’t remove her face from Melissa’s shoulder. I—I can’t… .

C’mon… let’s go inside so we can talk better. Melissa led Yuko inside of the house gently and delicately and set her down on the couch in the living room. Now, calm down a little, it’ll be all right… just tell me what happened.

He doesn’t love me anymore… he’s gone. Yuko wiped her eyes and began to sob again.

What’s going on? Nobu asked when he saw Yuko sitting next to Melissa and crying.

Nothing… just go away. Melissa ordered sternly and pointed in the opposite direction.

All right, all right… jeez. Nobu mumbled as he sauntered away back towards the dining room.

I’m sure he’s not gone. Melissa said quietly when Nobu was out of earshot.

He is, Yuko said in a sad voice, he’s not coming back.

No… he’ll be back… I know he will.

How—how do—how do you know? Yuko asked during sobs and lay her head down on the couch cushion.

Because he loves you! Melissa replied and looked at her seriously. Yuko stared at her for a few moments, sniffled again, and nodded. He wouldn’t leave you for the world, you know that… he just needs a little time to… figure everything out.

I wish he was still here. Yuko whispered and closed her eyes and fell back heavily on the couch.

It’ll be all right, he’ll be back soon. Melissa grabbed her hand and held it tightly. Don’t worry. Everything’s going to be all right… you’ll see.

Nobu had overheard most of the conversation in the dining room. There was no way that he was going to let someone leave his sister… though he hadn’t heard exactly why since he hadn’t been inside the house when Yuko had revealed to Melissa that she was pregnant. Nevertheless however, Nobu was going to try to find him and make sure Josh had a damn good reason for leaving his sister.

CHAPTER 4

Aloysha could see the pudgy police officer stalking through the brown grass towards them. Their two hours were up, but it was ample enough time to create a simple plan that might stop the police officer. Aloysha was absorbed in tying the awning down again with the small strings to the side of the support posts on the wagon. The pudgy police officer took out his wooden baton before he reached him and stood with it in his hands, making a slapping sound as he moved it back and forth.

I thought I told you to leave. The police officer said strongly and forcefully.

You did, Aloysha replied and tightened the knot to fasten the awning securely to the wagon, but we aren’t going… at least, not yet.

That’s going to be a problem. The police officer began to saunter towards Aloysha’s left, trying to get out of his view for a surprise attack, but Aloysha watched him.

What is your name? Aloysha asked suddenly and flew around, surprising the police officer in to dropping his wooden baton on the ground beside him.

Vlad… . The police officer’s voice was shaking slightly and Aloysha knew that he had him right where he needed him.

Tell me, Vlad, Aloysha began to walk next to the police officer calmly, do you have any family?

Yes, a wife and two children. The police officer backed away from his baton and stumbled fearfully over his own shoes, but stayed on his feet. Why did you want to know?

Consider it, we are a different type of people… beggars, thieves, bandits, Aloysha looked down at the wooden baton now in front of him, he stooped down and picked it up delicately.

The pudgy police officer gulped loudly as Aloysha began to approach him closer and twirl his baton in his hands. We have only one law to live by, treat people the way you would want to be treated. The police officer mumbled something inaudibly as Aloysha pointed the tip of the baton in his face and then nodded lightly. We only request two days.

All—All right. The police officer replied. Aloysha smiled and dropped the baton in his hands, and then held it out for the pudgy police officer to take back. Two days. Aloysha nodded politely and waited for the pudgy police officer to leave before he went back to the wagon to finish setting up for the night.

Akbashev cautiously pushed back the wall of weeds covering the next path in front of him. The Asian boy had gathered the squad, announced that the commander was missing… once again, and they were going to search for him. Akbashev thought it was strange that the commander seemed to disappear quite regularly, leaving his squad alone to fend for themselves, and most were unqualified. Akbashev had seen the Asian girl, the commander’s partner crying, sobbing loudly to the girl with the red hair. The Asian girl didn’t seem to be too weak as to cry about his absence… no, there was something else going on, the commander would’ve never left her unless he had a valid reason, he was just that kind of person. He was dispatched with the short boy, whom he still despised strongly, but he wanted to help as much as he could. Unfortunately, the short boy had sneaked away a short while ago and left him alone and probably went back to the commander’s house.

Coward, Akbashev thought and grunted as he stepped on a higher foothill. He didn’t even know if he was going in the right direction, no one had seen the commander leave, whether it was on his own free will was still being debated by his second in command, but either way, he had to be found. Akbashev’s shoulders fell when he saw another seemingly impenetrable wall of high grass behind the other one he had just crossed through. He sighed angrily, reached his hands in front of him and began to attempt to break through it, keeping his eyes in front of him so he wouldn’t run in to another tree as he had before a short while ago.

HUT! Akbashev’s feet felt only air as he tumbled head over heels down a steep embankment that he hadn’t seen through the weed barrier and landed in a heap at the bottom with his face buried in the dusty soil. "Dermo." Akbashev mumbled and tried to pick himself up, his leg hurt and the side of his head was bloody.

You took quite a fall there, eh? Akbashev looked around him and at first didn’t see anyone but the as he looked up, there was the commander, staring at him with a meager smirk on his face. The commander looked behind himself, grabbed the side of a small tree that jutted out of the side of the embankment and slid down next to Akbashev. You didn’t have to come looking for me, you know. The commander spoke as if it was a natural occurrence to fall almost six feet off the top of an embankment and become hurt. Akbashev thought about cursing at him, but he held his tongue between his teeth to prevent the vulgarity from escaping, it was the only way. The commander reached in to one of his pockets and took out a roll of gauze and some disinfectant. "Naga?" The commander replied in Russian, not perfect, but close enough to astonish Akbashev.

The commander motioned towards Akbashev’s leg when he looked at him strangely and then motioned again. It did hurt a little but it wasn’t as strong as it was before. Akbashev shook his head painfully and said, "Galava," and pointed to his wound. The commander said nothing and poured some of the disinfectant on the pad of gauze that was in the middle of the roll and pressed it to the side of his head. After he made sure the blood was stopped enough to not require another dressing, he ran the roll of gauze around Akbashev’s head and secured it on the other side.

So, why’d you come looking for me? The commander asked after he had sat down. Akbashev didn’t respond however, as he was preoccupied with trying to clean the dirt on the underside of his arm. The commander tapped him and said, Why?

Notu… tell.

Nobu told you… hmmm. The commander said as if he was very curious.

Why… you? Akbashev asked abruptly before the commander could change the subject and pointed to him. The commander looked at him and then back at the ground.

CHAPTER 5

Josh let the butt of his AK bump on the ground while trampling the wildflowers in his path. He felt awful about leaving Yuko. He looked at his watch… half past seven… Yuko would probably be waking up right about now, alone. During the time he was walking, he had thought about ways he could support Yuko and his new baby, he could get a job, two if he had to, but with a war, no one would be hiring for quite a while. He didn’t have any money saved, he didn’t have a house, and all that he truly owned was his old truck.

Josh stopped to take a drink from his canteen and sat down. He inhaled deeply and smelled the sweet scent of flowers encircling him and grinned. At least they didn’t have to worry about anything particular. Josh wanted to lie down and watch the clouds drift by slowly to ease the stress on his mind, but he couldn’t, not with the ants that were swarming from the ant bed a few feet away that he had stepped in by accident. He got back up and picked up his AK and held it in his arms and cleaned the dirt off the bottom. He wished he didn’t have to carry a gun everywhere he went but he also didn’t want to lose his life, and yet, he seemed to live for war right now. Excitement enthralled him and adventure was prevalent even if he had been to the same place hundreds of times before.

War would’ve been better if no one died. He mumbled to himself after he had put his canteen back on his belt and continued on. He didn’t have the slightest idea of where to go exactly, maybe to Elnor to search for a job and then when he received one, he would come back. He quickly threw out the idea, he couldn’t leave Yuko for that long, she would need him and he would need her. Josh turned his gaze back down to the path he was creating through the unspoiled field of flowers, still trying to figure out how he was going to support his new family. He had to be a man and men always knew what to do in times of crisis.

Josh jerked and stopped suddenly because of the sight in front of him. It was something he had never seen before, something entirely different and unique. Three white flowers that were supposed to be red. Josh set his AK down and examined them closely, there were two tall ones and a short one, all clustered in a bunch together. He looked around for more but there weren’t any, there were deep red flowers, light red, and even some peach colored ones, blue, yellow, pink, and purple, but not a single one that was white.

It was a sign.

Two tall flowers, Josh and Yuko, bound together at the stem, and a smaller one in front of the two large ones, the child. The only three white flowers in the entire field, it could’ve been a coincidence, but he liked to think that it was definitely something bigger.

Josh grabbed his AK from the ground and turned to run back to the house until he saw movement in front of him in a gully just before his other foot hit the ground. He could barely see through the deep underbrush and foliage, but he could hear something moving, something big so he decided to get closer. He crept up as quietly as he could and dropped down to his stomach when he realized how vulnerable he was being on his feet. He writhed and squirmed through the grass and flowers and caught his breath.

Russian camouflage.

Josh’s panting was loud in his ears, the grass made the skin on his face itch but he didn’t dare move to stop it. He hadn’t been this close to a Russian soldier since being captured and being reminded of his ordeal made his panic worse. The figure moved slowly, seemingly unknowingly that he was only ten feet away or so. The figure seemed to have trouble pushing through the weeds. Josh pulled his AK up from underneath his body and slowly turned the safety off and aimed it at the figure. It moved slightly and then moved out in to the open. Josh almost pulled the trigger, but as soon as he saw the figure’s face, he immediately let go and leaned back. It was Akbashev. He had his gun on his back and didn’t seem to be afraid of venturing out, but he never did—he was a certain type of fearless—he took another step and Josh watched as his head disappeared all of a sudden and a loud grunt and a half shout was emitted.

Josh looked back over the edge of the ravine and could barely contain his laughter seeing him on the ground, that is, before he saw one of Akbashev’s hands holding his leg and one touching the graze on the side of his head.

You took quite a fall there, eh? Josh said with his arms folded over his chest. Akbashev looked frantically for the location of his voice but he couldn’t see Josh until he looked up.

Josh looked around him for something to hold on to so he wouldn’t come tumbling down like Akbashev had and found a small hackberry sapling growing near him, he held on to it tightly and slid down the loose dirt in front of Akbashev.

You didn’t have to come looking for me, you know. Josh had his usual first aid package in his jacket pocket and took it out. "Naga?" Josh asked and pointed towards Akbashev’s leg, but he didn’t respond right away, until Josh motioned again.

He shook his head, pointed to his head injury and said, "Galava." Josh sighed quietly and started to dress Akbashev’s wound.

When he had finished, Josh sat down next to him and broke the silence with a question, So, why’d you come looking for me? Josh looked over at Akbashev, but he didn’t answer until Josh tapped him and asked him again.

Notu… tell.

Nobu told you… hmmm. Josh was a bit curious about why Nobu had told him to come looking for him. He must’ve known about Yuko being pregnant, and sent someone out to search, but when he got back… Josh knew Nobu was very protective of his younger sister.

Why… you? Akbashev asked abruptly and pointed to him. Josh figured it wouldn’t do any good to lie and decided to tell the truth.

She’s pregnant. Josh replied. Akbashev wrinkled his forehead, he didn’t understand. Josh stood up and made a half circle in midair, over his midsection and then acted as if he was holding a baby in his arms.

Akbashev’s face lit up and said, "Pazdravlyaeem. Congratulations. Josh didn’t smile though or say thank you, and sat back down. What?" He asked once he noticed Josh’s solemn face.

It’s… it’s nothing… I’m not… . Josh couldn’t imagine an excuse to tell someone that wouldn’t show that he was still scared.

"Mayeem sinam. Akbashev showed Josh the worn and tattered photo of his wife and son, and pointed to the child in his wife’s arms. What you? He pointed at himself and Josh said his name but it wasn’t what Akbashev wanted to know. He pointed at himself once again and made the sign of a baby being rocked, and then pointed to his mouth while he repeated, What you?"

Dad. Josh muttered. The very word was foreign and frightening to him now, but also humiliating. He had left Yuko for a reason that didn’t exist, it wasn’t valid and purposeful, and it was just stupid. He was a Dad now, there wasn’t any way out of it.

You Dad. Akbashev said and gave him the thumbs up sign, trying to tell him that it wasn’t a terrible thing to have a child conceived by someone he still loved deeply, but Josh shook his head. What? He asked. Josh reached in to his pocket and withdrew a wad of old useless money that he kept in case he needed to start a fire, shook his head and spread his hands apart, telling him that he had none. Oh.

How am I supposed to do it? Josh asked and played with the dirt in his hands, throwing it back and forth, letting it slowly run out of his hands until only a few grains were left. How do you do it?

No, Akbashev made a kissing sound on the back of his hand, you… uh… she? Josh nodded that he understood. You… she. Akbashev made the kissing sound again and gave him the thumbs up sign. Josh got what he was trying to tell him. Love was all he needed. It didn’t matter if he didn’t have the money, it didn’t matter if he didn’t have a place or possessions, and it didn’t even matter if he was dirt poor, Yuko would still love him.

You know a lot about this kind of thing. Josh bit his lower lip and sighed, it was time to go back and face the mistake he had made that would take a long time to fix. Thanks. Josh got up, stuck out his hand, and hauled Akbashev up. Let’s go back.

"Minna ga anata o u me taka no me de sagashite imasu yo! Nobu said when Josh walked up the driveway calmly with Akbashev at his side. Where the hell were you?"

Nowhere… I’m back though.

You made my sister cry.

It’s only—wait, she… she cried?

Yeah, I’ve never seen her like this… she’s up in your room all alone… won’t talk to me or anyone.

I better go talk to her.

What about?

It’s my business… need to work something out.

Oh, relationship problems?

In a way… . Josh walked away from Nobu and was then stopped by Melissa, who asked the same questions but knew why he had disappeared so suddenly.

How’s Yuko?

I don’t know, she won’t talk to me anymore. Melissa answered, you shouldn’t have left her… she shouldn’t be alone right now.

I know, I know… I’m on my way to talk to her right now.

Good luck. Melissa muttered as he began to saunter up the stairs towards his room. When he reached the door, he knocked softly and when no response came, he opened it. Yuko was lying on her side with her back to him, not moving.

Yuko? Josh asked cautiously.

I don’t want to talk to you. Yuko replied flatly and didn’t turn over to look at him.

I’m sorry… I didn’t mean—. Josh faltered and stopped talking; it was from the lack of knowledge he had about dealing with that sort of thing, I brought you some flowers. Josh set them down on the bed next to her and then stepped back.

You think flowers will solve this? Yuko said in an unusually angry voice. You left me… I didn’t know where you went, you could’ve been killed or captured again… . 

It was only for a little bit. Josh mumbled and winced, thinking how stupid he was to say such a thing after he had finished. Why are you so mad at me? He asked as Yuko’s arm pushed behind her.

"Why do you think? Yuko turned towards him and in a flash of anger, gathered the bouquet of wildflowers that Josh had picked and hurled them across the room. I don’t want your flowers!"

I’m sorry. Josh said again in a quiet voice.

Sorry isn’t good enough right now. She replied and lay back down in her original position with her back to him. You left me alone. And I can’t—I can’t do this by myself. Yuko’s voice cracked and she was probably beginning to cry again but Josh couldn’t tell because he was unable to see her face.

Yuko… I love you so much… I was just scared that—.

I don’t want to hear your excuses anymore! Maybe your father was right about you not being able to handle responsibility.

Yuko—.

Just leave me alone! Yuko shouted loudly. Josh regretfully turned and left the room. Yuko was angry at him and seeing a side that he had never seen from her before frightened him, maybe they weren’t meant to be in love together, and maybe it had all been a mistake. He thought it over for hours the rest of the day, going over scenarios and wishing that he could’ve had Yuko back, even if she didn’t love him anymore, he still loved her.

Josh smacked the old, dirty and itchy pillow that he had laid on the floor. He would’ve taken the couch, but Akbashev had already claimed it, along with Ryan. He couldn’t be with Jacob, Richard, and Nobu since they took up most of the room and two of them snored and he needed silence to sleep. He wondered if Melissa would help a little to convince Yuko that it wasn’t a big difference that he had been gone for only about ten hours, but he wasn’t hopeful. He inhaled and exhaled, trying to relax but the pillow scratched his face and pulled his hair every time he moved. He fidgeted in an irritated fashion and sighed angrily.

He wished he could be in his own bed, with Yuko. When his arms were around her, he fell asleep faster and slept for hours without the outside world drumming in his ears. The smell from the place on her neck was like the best sleeping drug, definitely intoxicating and addictive. But the old pillow he was trying to use made his nose crinkle. It was like lying in two sweaty pieces of old mildew that itched.

He didn’t know anything he could say or do that would bring Yuko back to him. The flowers didn’t work and he wasn’t a big romantic person—except for on occasion.

Why does it all have to be so complicated? He mumbled almost silently. Yuko. He sighed and shut his eyes tight and burrowed the side of his head in to the pillow.

Yuko clutched Josh’s pillow close to her body. Even though she had been mad at him earlier, she still needed to feel something that would give her a sense of safety. She regretted being so angry with him for being absent for a short period of time, but she really needed him, and she was scared that she would have to go through the birth alone. She couldn’t tell him that she was just frustrated and not mad at him, but it just wasn’t the right time since she needed for him to understand that she wanted him close to her as much as possible.

After Josh left, she went over and picked up the bunch of wildflowers that he had gotten for her. They really weren’t all that bad and when she sniffed them closely, they made her smile. No one had ever given her flowers like Josh had. She looked around his room and found an old forgotten jar that someone had used to store nuts and bolts, why he even had one here, she didn’t know but she pulled out her canteen and poured some water in to it and then set the flowers in and set them on the bookshelf on the other side of the room.

She had already forgiven him. It was her nature not to be angry about simple things that happened to her, her anger would only last for a day or so and then she would go back to the way she was before the argument. Josh didn’t deserve to be yelled and shouted at, she knew he had meant well, but she was scared from the first moment she had found out he had gone. Melissa was right about him needing to work some things out though, and she would give him all of the time he needed, even if it meant they would be apart for a little while.

It would be a hard lesson to endure but she knew it would make their relationship stronger so that it wouldn’t happen again.

CHAPTER 6

Viktor turned another page in his new book. He had tired of Crusoe; he had only reached a total of twenty-six pages before giving up on it. He searched through the pile of books that he had found in the house when he had first come early in the morning, searching for an easier book, maybe one with plenty of pictures. Crusoe had only one photo that was on the cover of a person’s footprint in the sand. It didn’t tell him what it was about or what the plot was, only that it took place on a beach somewhere.

He tossed big and small books aside, searching for a suitable one and found one at the bottom of the pile with a picture of a plant. He tossed the book on the bed and went in to the kitchen to make some food for the puppy and then went outside to look for something to cover the hole he made in the window when he had first entered the house.

He sauntered cautiously around the left side of the house, keeping an eye out for the enemy and his former comrades. He nearly jumped in surprise when he found the shed in the back of the house. He hadn’t been outside for a couple of days and thought he had seen all points and beyond around the area of this property. He knocked the handle off with a hammer he found on a pile of wood next to the shed’s wall and pulled the door up.

He saw the lawnmower first. It was old and rusty, the seat torn and scratched, exposing the yellow foam underneath the cover. Viktor moved around it and looked it over more closely. It looked like it hadn’t been used in hundreds of years, but when he opened the petrol tank in the back and heard the loud hiss of a tight airlock and the unmistakable smell of fresh petrol, he smiled. He screwed the cap back on and left it for later and then searched one of the shelves. It was filled with miscellaneous items, a bit of cut up garden hose, a bucket of rusty nails, wires, an olden door handle, and a sheet of clear plastic that was covered in dirt. He grabbed the bucket of rusty nails and the sheet of plastic and carried it out in to the sunlight so he could see better. When he finished cleaning the sheet of plastic, he took it back to the house and measured it by putting it over the hole in the broken window, and then took his knife and cut a square out and tried to stick it over the hole but it fell out a few minutes later. He tried several more times before he left it and went back to the shed to get the hammer.

When he had finished, he looked at his personal work and was filled with pride. He had closed the hole in the window and he had done it all by himself. He had never done anything like that before and the thought made him grin. He laid the hammer down on the counter and took out a piece of honey hard candy from his pocket to celebrate his change to independence.

Don’t roll down the window! First Sergeant Konstantin shouted and tried to rescue his map from being torn to shreds. It’s blowing my map around!

So? Lev replied and glared at him, It’s fucking hot in here!

I don’t care, sweat it out like a man.

More like an animal. Lev mumbled and rolled his window up but not all the way. In the back of the car, Shamil and Diminitrov looked at each other with a knowing look.

You ever notice they argue like an old married couple? Diminitrov mumbled quietly so that the quarrelling two men in the front wouldn’t hear them.

Heh, yeah, Diminitrov laughed quietly. Who’s the woman though?

Lev! Stanislav shouted loudly after hearing Shamil and Diminitrov’s conversation.

What? What do you want? Lev asked from the front and looked back in his rearview mirror, thinking that Stanislav had called him.

What? Nothing… keep your eyes on the road. Stanislav said and waved his hand.

You’ll keep your eyes on the road when I kick you out of here and leave you. Lev mumbled under his breath.

Aloysha nudged the horse with his heels and started at a trot away from the lot across from the apartment building. He was a little disappointed that the pudgy police officer hadn’t come to see him off but just before he turned his head back to the road out of town, he thought he might’ve seen the familiar black boot lurking behind a wall watching them leave. He grinned and exhaled softly, listening to the well-known squeak of wagon wheels and the sound of the horse’s hooves hitting the pavement.

Aurek had told him to stick to the main road to the next town, Yavoriv, the first real Ukrainian town they would stop in for the night, and hopefully another problem with a police officer wouldn’t occur.

CHAPTER 7

Josh winced when Nobu applied some antibiotic ointment to the side of his face. You’re sure you didn’t roll around in some poison ivy?

"You think I’m that stupid, huh?" Josh replied and clenched his teeth together to stop from shouting. He had woken up in the morning with a medium-sized red spot on the side of his face that had enlarged to encompass his entire right side of his face before the end of the morning.

Well, you’re the one who got a big rash on the side of your face.

It’s from the pillow I was sleeping on last night.

Uh huh… excuses don’t matter to me.

It’s not—. Josh clenched his fist next as Nobu slapped him lightly on the face. Ow, what the hell was that for!

You know why. Nobu mumbled and then said something about Yuko underneath his breath. Josh heard him and finished rubbing the ointment in to his skin on the side of his face, it burned and hurt like he had stuck it in a pile of ravenous fire ants at first and then it had become swollen and puffy.

I’m gonna burn that damn pillow. Josh said and wiped the tears briskly from the side of his face, the saltiness made the infection burn more, and his hand made it even worse. Damn. Josh replied and tried to cool his hot skin by fanning his hands back and forth quickly.

You look like a girl trying not to cry. Melissa said and shook her head when she saw his rash.

"I am trying not to cry."

Hurts that bad, huh?

You have no idea.

Sounds like you got a little payback for what you did to Yuko.

No, it’s not like that… the pillow was old and—.

Say whatever you want but sometimes it doesn’t do any good to explain it.

Yeah well, Josh said, trying to deter Melissa’s comment from his thoughts, she doesn’t want me back… so I’ll just leave her alone.

How do you know she doesn’t want you back?

I don’t, but—, Josh looked at Melissa who had a questioning look on her face, she got mad at me and my father always told me not to argue with a woman who was mad.

Oh… well it doesn’t apply to everything, you know. Josh scoffed and began to fan his face rapidly again. He decided to go back inside the house to see if Yuko had come out since yesterday but the door was still locked and no one told him that she had, so he went to the guy’s room and sat down to relax and think about something else besides Yuko. He thought about how there hadn’t been a Russian attack in quite a while, no mortars, bombs or gunfire to speak of. He hoped that they had moved on having received the message or had somehow died in the house they had set on fire. Either way, it made concentrating on other things much easier.

Josh had fallen asleep in the unusually strong afternoon sun and heat. He dreamt that he was back in school, in the cafeteria, and it looked as if it was lunchtime from the noxious food that lay in the Styrofoam trays dispersed around the tables. He couldn’t see some of the people’s faces and it was dark, he could hear their voices clearly, but anything else was concealed by a thick shadow. Denise was there, Troy, and Daniel, all were smiling at him. They were the only faces he could make out but they didn’t say anything to him. He talked to a person that might’ve been across from him but he couldn’t tell.

The conversation continued for a few minutes and then the darkness lifted, screams rung out from the other side of the cafeteria behind him and then he saw a large rattlesnake slithering towards a table full of girls. No one moved. They were frozen with fear probably, but Josh wasn’t. He was on his feet and reached the snake before it reached the table, he grabbed its body and yanked it back away, and then held it firmly behind its head as he had seen on plenty of television programs. But not before the snake twisted and bit him squarely on the area between his forefinger and thumb. Josh went crazy, releasing the snake’s head and then grabbing its body and slinging it as hard as he could solidly against the floor and table. He didn’t stop until its head was a lump of loose flesh and skin. He then reached in to his pocket for his knife, flipped it open and sliced off what was left of the snake’s head.

The table was vacant of all other girls the next time he looked at it, except for one girl, Yuko. Josh acted like he tipped his cowboy hat to her as if gallantly apologizing for even letting something get so close to such a pretty girl. He tried to say something macho to her but he couldn’t speak, the snake’s venom in his hand was working quickly, and it seemed to block anything he could think of. Josh was in the nurse’s office at school when he looked up again from his wounded hand. Yuko wasn’t anywhere close to him but he felt like he was going to be all right. Then the nurse came out of a closet, telling Yuko she needed a bile test for her stomach, and that she should be careful about what she should eat.

Josh woke up after that. He opened his eyes slowly and sighed. Weird dreams. When he fully regained his senses, he could hear someone shouting his name. Josh sat up just as Nobu burst through the door. What? What’s wrong?

Rain’s coming! Nobu shouted and ran back out of the room. Josh jumped up with a still groggy feeling in his body, but fully alert.

Nobu get all of the empty containers! Get them out in to the yard! Josh yelled out as he ran down the stairs quickly. Open the ice chest and get some clean jars near the spout! Josh ran out of the house and looked around for the life saving clouds that would provide welcome relief from the drought they had through the winter months. He ran hastily around the left side of the house and stopped in his tracks.

Dark black rain clouds that were charging across the horizon.

Put it close to the roof’s edge, that’s where we’ll get the most rain.

Right! Nobu carried the ice chest over, flung open the lid and kept his eyes on the roof’s edge, lining it up just right. That good?

Yeah.

Anything else?

Go back inside and close all the windows. Josh ran back with Nobu just as the wind began to pick up outside, Josh took the upstairs and dashed around, slamming windows as tightly as he could, until there was only one room left. It was the room that had been ruined by the bomb that had killed Troy. There was the large gaping absence of a wall and it made the entire back of the house exposed to the water damage that was sure to follow. Nobu! Josh shouted and picked up an old blanket.

What?

Grab the other side of the blanket and put it over one of the nails that are sticking out of the wall.

It’s not big enough to cover the whole wall.

I don’t care, just do it.

All right. Nobu reached up towards the ceiling and pushed the sharp nail’s head through the blanket’s fabric and then bent the nail upwards so that it would hold it without the blanket falling off. He grunted as he went to another nail head and did the same thing, and then another, and another. I guess this is the best we can do for now… oh well, at least it’s in the middle.

Yeah, it should block most of the rain but not all of it.

Better not come in here when it is raining.

Why not?

Slip on your ass. Nobu said with a grin. Josh knew he spoke the truth about how slippery the linoleum became when it was wet.

Oh, yeah. Josh took one last look at the blanket and dashed out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the house. Crap… it’s gonna to be big. He mumbled to himself. It looked tame when it was farther away, but now it looked even more menacing, darker and bigger as it came closer.

C’mon, you big son of a bitch. Josh said in an anxious voice. He hoped that it didn’t produce a tornado or hail, both of which were very dangerous, especially in Texas when severe weather started. The sky suddenly flashed, a gigantic lightning bolt was discharged from the sky a few miles away. Yee-haw! Josh shouted in a ridiculous Texas cowboy accent. The clap of thunder that followed nearly frightened him and made him flinch, it almost sounded like the bomb that had destroyed part of the house, but sharper and quicker.

Goddamn! Josh turned and ran as fast as he could back on to the porch.

Better watch out before that lightning fries your ass! Nobu said. Josh couldn’t help but smile as he heard the wind blowing harder and the steady patter of raindrops hitting the metal roof above them. They stood in silence until there was a strong gust of wind that blew the ice chest away quickly. Shit, go get it! Hurry! Josh jumped off of the porch, wincing as he felt the reverberation in his ankle on account of jumping from such a high distance from the ground, but chased after it slightly hampered and closer to the ice chest that was still tumbling over and over.

Caught ’cha! Josh grunted and lifted the ice chest in his hands just before the clouds broke. The rain soaked Josh in a matter of seconds. He knew it wouldn’t do any good to run back to the house, so he humbly trotted back to the house with the ice chest open and gathering rain.

Why is it so dark all of a sudden? Yuko asked aloud just before she heard voices shouting loudly and then the bed shaking. Her hands clasped the bed as tightly as she could. It was shaking like it was in an earthquake and then it stopped. Yuko sat up when Melissa ran in to the room. What’s going on?

I don’t know, Melissa replied and hastily moved over to the window and opened the curtain to look out, two people are running around in the yard.

Is it an attack?

Doesn’t look like it… they don’t have any of their guns.

Move, let me see. Yuko politely nudged Melissa out of the way and looked. She looked back and forth and saw Nobu’s legs briefly before they went back around the other side of the house. Will you go out and see what is going on?

Tsk, you’re going to have to face him sooner or later… now’s your chance. Melissa answered and gave her an annoyed look.

Not right now. Yuko replied quickly.

C’mon, I know for a fact that he doesn’t like being alone.

Did he tell you that?

Well, no… but he just thinks you’re still mad at him. You aren’t are—?

I still am… kind of. Melissa sighed and shook her head.

Two people madly in love and they are both too stubborn to apologize to each other.

I’m not stubborn! Yuko said and trotted at a fast pace out of Josh’s room and to the north bedroom. Whoa, where did that come from? She asked herself when she saw the rain clouds on the skyline.

Ah, rain. Melissa commented from behind her, you know, in the bible, rain was supposedly the… . But Yuko wasn’t listening, she was looking at Josh running around in the yard. She had forgotten how good he looked. How strong he was. How he always made her smile and laugh even when he wasn’t trying.

She watched the lightning suddenly erupted from the middle of the cloud. Josh yelled something that a cowboy would and then jumped up and down enthusiastically. Yuko smirked and shook her head. That was how he was, he didn’t worry about how moronic he looked to anyone and she liked that. Yuko brought her hand up to the window and pressed it against the glass of the window, wishing that she could hold his hand just for a little bit.

Josh. She whispered. She hoped it wasn’t too late for him to take her back. She couldn’t take it anymore, she was on the verge of breaking down anyway, and one night away from him was too much, especially in the current predicament she was in. Yuko didn’t look back when she felt Melissa’s hand on her shoulder.

What are you waiting for? You both deserve to be together, go to him.

But what if he—.

Don’t care what he’ll think, just go! Get out of here while you still have a chance! Yuko hesitated for a moment or two and then turned and ran as fast as she could towards the stairs. She had to get to Josh and tell him she had made a terrible mistake, tell him that she was sorry, and that she loved him more than she could imagine. She flung open the front door and searched the area for him.

Hey, watch it! Nobu said but Yuko didn’t care and ran out in to the yard where she had last seen him just as the rain began to shower down on her. She couldn’t see him through the wall of rain and another fit of panic began to take over her.

Yuko. She whirled around suddenly. She stood for what seemed like an eternity, transfixed at Josh’s handsome face and soft, apologetic look. Neither of them needed to say a word since they already knew.

They both rushed to each other at the same time and embraced closely, the ice chest lay in the mud, releasing the water that had collected inside of it. I’m so sorry. Yuko said and squeezed him as tight as she could with her face buried into his shoulder.

No, I’m sorry. Josh replied and hugged her as tight as he could as well, sniffing the scent that he loved just behind her neck. I should’ve never—. Josh stopped when Yuko pressed her finger to his lips to stop him.

I don’t care about that anymore. She said with a smile.

I promise I’ll be here for you… forever. Yuko nodded as Josh lifted a stray wet strand of hair from her forehead. I’ll never leave you ever again. Josh kissed Yuko deeply as she put her arms around his neck.

You’d better not. Yuko answered with a grin.

C’mon, we better get back inside.

Uh huh. Both of them ran through the rain and up the stairs to the porch. Nobu had already gone inside and hadn’t seen them make up together. But Melissa had. She watched the entire show of love and making amends.

God had helped them.

She smiled and strolled away from the window. She wouldn’t mention it to anyone, not even Josh or Yuko since it was supposed to be a private moment and she had already seen too much. She was glad though that they weren’t mad at each other anymore. She had noticed that when they were apart, the entire group seemed to behave much differently. They wouldn’t talk very much and would have a sort of coldness to everything they did. Now that it was over and finished, the warmness in their faces would return and so would the longing faces of those that wished they could be in such a good relationship as Josh and Yuko were.

CHAPTER 8

Shamil looked out from the back of Lev’s head. The car rolled forward very slowly. He looked at the American soldiers that were milling around. They looked back at him, but they passed unhampered. The soldiers couldn’t see that all of their hands inside of the car were pressed lightly on the triggers of their guns. First Sergeant Konstantin waved to one who seemed to lock eyes with him and then the American soldier looked away. Shamil hoped they didn’t look suspicious or that they would ask for identification. His heart was beating so loudly in his chest that he felt like a drum, his forehead sweated, and his breath was becoming more ragged with every foot the car passed. Shamil could feel Lev’s foot braking, slowing the car down for the wooden gate that was lying down next to an American cargo truck. Lev stopped suddenly and jerked the car to a sudden stop, almost making Shamil have a heart attack. The gate stayed down and no one was around to open it.

Shamil’s eyes darted around and he tightened his forefinger over