Lady Grace & the War for a New World (Earth's End Book 2) by Sandy Nathan Page B

and groveled on the ledge.
    “Oh, shit! He’s freaking out. He’s never really been outside like this. He just saw the area around the container before.” Jeremy rushed to him. “This is the outdoors, Sam. It’s beautiful. We’re on a ledge. That’s a river down there. There’s lots of space.”
    Sam remained curled up.
    “It’s OK. You’ll get used to it.” Jeremy couldn’t get Sam to respond.
    “Sam, dear. Try these,” his mom placed a pair of sunglasses on his face. “The general’s own magic glasses. Guaranteed to cure fear of open spaces and everything else. I know it’s a shock, dear, but it will get easier.” She put an arm around Sam and rubbed his back. “See. That’s better, isn’t it? Just take it slow and easy.” She hugged him gently and helped him stand. “It’s a river valley, a very beautiful one. Don’t look until you feel up to it.”
     
    “What on earth is that?” They were having a breakfast of K rations and bottled water when Veronica pointed to something in the sky. Sam and Jeremy looked up.
    “It looks like junk,” Jeremy said. “Intergalactic junk.” He explained to Sam, “Before Earth blew up, we made so much shit—garbage—that some places got rid of it by shooting it out into space. Not to mention us putting up tons of satellites and space stations. Junk’s all over out there. On Ellie’s world, they did big sweeps to clean it up.” He whistled, looking at the approaching object. “It looks like a mountain of crap heading straight at us.”
    The thing veered toward them, moving fast and aiming at the space between the containers and the ancient structures. It jerked a few times and sat down in the empty space. Dust and debris flew around; they had to turn their backs to avoid getting it in their eyes.
    Once the mess settled, they approached the heap cautiously.
    “Man! That’s more junk than I’ve ever seen,” Jeremy chortled. “Maybe it’s a present to go with the container. The only thing that kept me sane on Ellie’s world was the garbage. You can find lots of interesting things in it. I made some good …”
    “Jeremy? Jeremy?” A high-pitched voice came out of the top.
    “Ellie? Are you up there?” He craned his neck and stood on tiptoe, trying to see her.
    She flew off the mound with one of her prodigious leaps and ran toward him. “Jeremy.” He leapt toward her, hugging her to his chest. He held her for the longest time, rocking from side to side, his face buried in her hair.
    “Oh, baby. Let me look at you.” He held her at arm’s length and joyfully examined her. She was as lovely and sprightly as ever. Her silver curls bounced and her eyes gleamed. “You look great! They let you go!”
    She nodded vigorously, clinging and wide-eyed. “I here.” But she didn’t look happy. “Jeremy. Bad happen,” she whispered.
    “Don’t be scared, baby. You’re here now.”
    Her eyes filled with moisture. “Jeremy. They take you away.”
    “But we’re together now, Ellie. You’re safe.” He held her closely, stroking her tenderly. “I missed you so much. I love you.”
    He bent down to kiss her, but she continued to clutch him, making the little chittering noise as she did when very upset. “Jeremy. Bad happen. Mother say bad thing.”
    “What did Belarian say?” Jeremy was ready to fight. He hated that bitch.
    Ellie looked at the mound of junk. They could hear noises of people moving on top. “No here, Jeremy. Is bad .” Her shoulders were hunched and her head bowed.
    “OK. Let’s go over here behind the storage bin.” He led her behind the first container. “What did she say, Ellie?”
    Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Mother say I stupid.”
    “You’re not stupid, Ellie. You’re as smart as anyone and braver, too.”
    “No. I stupid. Mother say I no speak lots and no write many words. I stupid. She say I only good for making babies.”
    “What! That is not true. You’re wonderful. You’re sweet and kind and you