It has to be bruising, exciting, painful, wonderful and…everything that I need right now. I’m alone, more alone than I’ve ever been in my life.... They say love is like a drug, like the best feeling in the world times four. I think it must be more like you’re just about to commit suicide, and you jump off the cliff, ready to die…then you grow wings. That must be it. It has to save you from everything you’ve ever been afraid of and everything that could ever hurt you. I’m scared to death of. All the coaches, parents, and guests were there to celebrate our victory over Oskie. At the head table were the coaches and the schools administration, of course. The team had its own area away from all the adults.This was a big deal from what I had heard. This "Homecoming" breakfast was more for the alumni and parents than the team. It was the school's way of getting money looking back, but at that time all I though was that it was a big farce and that there were better things to do on a. Caleb said, "Yeah, she can talk for herself, as you might notice."Mom and Dad had moved on to talk to someone else while Caleb, Sophiaand I stood there with Nathan and Joseph. Nathan said again, "Sorry,uh... Meredith. It's just kind of hard to believe. We were out oftown last weekend, and I heard about you from some people at school."So the kids at the Everett Academy were gossiping about me, too. Great."Good things, I hope?" I asked."Uh..." Nathan said. Joseph blushed and looked away. The Pentagon figures they’ve cleaned house and there is no immediate threat. They supervised building me this mountain retreat but I had to pay for it myself. I moved in last year. With luck, they’ll forget I’m here before long and I’ll be able to move about a little more freely. Right now, I only travel with my mind.”Wednesday, 1 January 1969Wayne wandered the West Virginia hillsides. His uncle showed him the access point and codes for entry to the retreat. He’d been underground for two days.