Eliot Strange and the Prince of the Resistance

15) Walk Back

Jack Taylor is cousin to the Prince and the leader of his security team so it is only natural that he asks us, "Where is Torin? Where is the prince? Is he safe?" And then more current questions - "Do you have anything to eat? I have not eaten in days."

I am still suspicious of him and don't want to reveal too much information, but Steven is eager to share the good news. "He is at the house. Prince Torin is at the house." He points to our new home in the distance. "It's our new headquarters. Sorry, we don't have any food with us, but here's some water." Steven offers him an old former Pepsi bottle filled with well water.

Jack Taylor gives it to Carli first and then takes a long draw of the water. "Thanks mate. That helps some." He looks up at the house and back at the road. "Very strategically located. Good choice for your base of operations," says the man who might be an enemy surveying his options and looking for a way in our new "headquarters". Only, it looks like that won't be hard because we are taking him right to the front door. We start to walk in that direction as soon as our replacements, drawn by the shots, arrive to replace us.

"So, Torin is all right? Has he recovered from his injuries? I trust he was not injured further in the battle or the retreat?" asks our inquisitor.

We are all following Jack Taylor up the hill like he is in charge. We should be the ones asking the questions. I can't hide my annoyance. "He's worn out, like the rest of us. We had a big battle. We lost a lot of people. A lot of people died from my town, even some kids."

"We know," says Carli. "We were there, remember? We heard them screaming. The mothers."

I forgot that. How quickly after a massacre, you try to forget what it was like. You try to erase the visions in your head, but it's the sounds, the smells, the way something tasted that keep bringing the nightmares back.

"Yeah, you were there," I say and I squeeze Carli's hand. "Thanks for saving Cindy Lou. Your plan was brilliant."

"Well, I knew we had to think of something because of the stories that Leia and the others told us. You know, that One Nation kills the weak first, the hurt, the unwanted, the different people. They kill them first."

"It was a great plan," says Steven who drapes his arm across Carli and pulls her closer and kisses her cheek.

"Well, you know, it was mostly Cindy Lou's, she kept telling me she was a great actress."

"And she really is," I say. "She fooled us all. Thank God."

"And she always has ketchup too," adds Carli as we laugh.

Jack Taylor is laughing with us too. "Your Cindy Lou is quite the hero. She sure saved your arse."

I don't need saving. This man is all wrong, but Cindy did surely save my arse. "Yes, she did," I agree as I remember the battle and how a "dead" Cindy Lou reached up to trip me right before my head was blown to smithereens.

"And you," says Jack Taylor stopping to point at Steven. "You are quite the hero yourself. That was a most impressive jaunt towards the battle. And my word, what a toss, what a beautiful toss of a grenade. It was perfection."

Jack Taylor smiles at Steven. That smile, identical to his cousin's, that says - I am the most important person on earth and you - you have all my attention. That smile, those dimples, that accent and I know exactly how Steven feels. It is all so mesmerizing, like a magician's trick.

This is where my best friend, former fan club president of the Prince Torin/Jack Taylor Fan Club, goes all the way back to ninth grade and blushes and then gushes, "Thank you, it was nothing. I used to pitch for the high school team."

"And I bet you were the star," gushes Mr. Charming right back.

Steven blushes even deeper red and looks at me to help him out.

"He was. The star. Strikeout king. He is the best athlete at our school, maybe in the entire county. He's our little superstar."

"Oh, that's enough about me," says Steven who is unusually humble and tries to divert the attention. "How about you, Carli? How ever did you get away?"

"I had some help. I got to talk to you about it Eliot, but I think your prince needs to hear my story too. And Jack has some important information too."

"That sounds good, Carli. Are y'all hungry? We have a few supplies at the house. We been cooking warm meals," I say.

I don't know why I say this - I guess old habits die hard. Always make your guests feel like they are at home and offer them food. This is a lesson my mom taught. No matter what, offer what you got, even if its next to nothing, which is what we got.

Having little to offer is no excuse for bad manners.

"That sounds wonderful. I don't remember my last meal," says Jack Taylor. "Do you cook, as well as rescue the occasional lost prince?"

"No, I don't cook. I am not the cook."

This man is infuriating, and he seems to know just what to say to set me off. And besides, I am the one who should be questioning him. Steven takes over the lead of chief interrogator by asking the question most pressing on my mind.

"How? How did you get away from Mr. Thomas. We saw them drag you off. How did you see the battle? We thought you were gone."

And then Mister Almost-as-beautiful-as-the-prince tells his side of his miraculous escape.