Read Online Beyond Armageddon: Book 03 - Parallels by Anthony Decosmo - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Anthony Decosmo
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directions. His bags were packed and he had ordered his personal Eagle pilot—Rick Hauser—to prepare for a morning trip. Most important, he formulated a plausible lie for Ashley about a surprise visit to Ohio to boost morale.
In truth, he planned to recruit a handful of Hoth's men and duplicate Nina's path. If she lived, he aimed to find her. If not, he would bring her body home. She deserved as much.
He did his best to concentrate on the plan instead of his doubt. No, not doubt, guilt.
For more than six years now, Trevor served only one mission. He played the role of a link on the Old Man's "chain" without straying. He had fought, sacrificed, and even murdered in the name of the cause. Now he risked everything to find a memory that existed only for him.
Trevor matched the guilt with anger and determination: I don't give a damn.
The conclusion of the book neared and Grover feared the looming confrontation with whatever creature waited at the end; the cartoon character begged the reader not to turn the page.
Suddenly, Jorgie's hand slapped down on the book, achieving what Grover could not: stopping Trevor from turning to the final page.
"No father! Don’t turn the page! Don’t turn the page!"
Trevor, surprised, asked, ""What’s wrong buddy? We've read this a dozen times."
JB visibly trembled and cried, "There’s a monster, father! There’s a monster!"
"Hey, easy does it, look, it’s not really a monster…"
Trevor turned to the last page where Grover stood alone and realizes—to his embarrassment—that the 'monster' at the end of the book is lovable, furry Grover himself.
"See, it's only Grover. He was the only monster in the book all along."
Unconvinced, JB snorted, "Grover turned out to be a monster. I don't like that book. I don't ever want to read it again."
Trevor decided not to fight the battle. "Well, next time we’ll read Green Eggs and Ham . But I have to go out to see the troops for a couple of days. Maybe mommy can read it to you."
Trevor scooted off the bed and pulled the covers to his son’s chin. Then, as per their ritual, he took JB's stuffed bunny and wrapped it in a tiny blanket.
"Snug as a bug in a rug," dad handed the wrapped bunny to his boy and then planted a kiss on JB’s forehead.
"Father, could you promise me that while you’re gone you’ll think of me every day."
"Oh, Jorge, I think of you every day anyway. You know that. But yes, I promise."
"Good," JB sounded satisfied but did not look it. "That way I know you won’t forget me."
---
Trevor gave his map with the push pins one last look over. He wondered if the Old Man possessed a similar map. Maybe Trevor played the role of a red or blue push pin. How many other pins did the Old Man have on his map?
He shook away those thoughts, slung a heavy duffle bag over his shoulder, and left his office for downstairs.
First light struggled to rise over the mountain wall surrounding the lake, meaning that most of the support staff working at the mansion had not yet begun their day. Nonetheless, he heard Lori Brewer typing away on her computer. That did not surprise him. Between raising a daughter, keeping her husband in line, and serving as "Chief Administrator" Lori always had something to do.
He decided not to disturb her; she had a tendency to see through his words so even a simple "goodbye" might open the door for more questions than he wished to answer. Yet while he managed to slip quietly by her office, he found the front door blocked by her husband--Jon Brewer—waiting in ambush.
In truth, he planned to recruit a handful of Hoth's men and duplicate Nina's path. If she lived, he aimed to find her. If not, he would bring her body home. She deserved as much.
He did his best to concentrate on the plan instead of his doubt. No, not doubt, guilt.
For more than six years now, Trevor served only one mission. He played the role of a link on the Old Man's "chain" without straying. He had fought, sacrificed, and even murdered in the name of the cause. Now he risked everything to find a memory that existed only for him.
Trevor matched the guilt with anger and determination: I don't give a damn.
The conclusion of the book neared and Grover feared the looming confrontation with whatever creature waited at the end; the cartoon character begged the reader not to turn the page.
Suddenly, Jorgie's hand slapped down on the book, achieving what Grover could not: stopping Trevor from turning to the final page.
"No father! Don’t turn the page! Don’t turn the page!"
Trevor, surprised, asked, ""What’s wrong buddy? We've read this a dozen times."
JB visibly trembled and cried, "There’s a monster, father! There’s a monster!"
"Hey, easy does it, look, it’s not really a monster…"
Trevor turned to the last page where Grover stood alone and realizes—to his embarrassment—that the 'monster' at the end of the book is lovable, furry Grover himself.
"See, it's only Grover. He was the only monster in the book all along."
Unconvinced, JB snorted, "Grover turned out to be a monster. I don't like that book. I don't ever want to read it again."
Trevor decided not to fight the battle. "Well, next time we’ll read Green Eggs and Ham . But I have to go out to see the troops for a couple of days. Maybe mommy can read it to you."
Trevor scooted off the bed and pulled the covers to his son’s chin. Then, as per their ritual, he took JB's stuffed bunny and wrapped it in a tiny blanket.
"Snug as a bug in a rug," dad handed the wrapped bunny to his boy and then planted a kiss on JB’s forehead.
"Father, could you promise me that while you’re gone you’ll think of me every day."
"Oh, Jorge, I think of you every day anyway. You know that. But yes, I promise."
"Good," JB sounded satisfied but did not look it. "That way I know you won’t forget me."
---
Trevor gave his map with the push pins one last look over. He wondered if the Old Man possessed a similar map. Maybe Trevor played the role of a red or blue push pin. How many other pins did the Old Man have on his map?
He shook away those thoughts, slung a heavy duffle bag over his shoulder, and left his office for downstairs.
First light struggled to rise over the mountain wall surrounding the lake, meaning that most of the support staff working at the mansion had not yet begun their day. Nonetheless, he heard Lori Brewer typing away on her computer. That did not surprise him. Between raising a daughter, keeping her husband in line, and serving as "Chief Administrator" Lori always had something to do.
He decided not to disturb her; she had a tendency to see through his words so even a simple "goodbye" might open the door for more questions than he wished to answer. Yet while he managed to slip quietly by her office, he found the front door blocked by her husband--Jon Brewer—waiting in ambush.
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