35.
There’s no time to waste as we pull ourselves back up onto our feet and go to Rodney’s aid. But as soon I lay eyes upon him…upon his chest…I can see that he’s already gone. The flow of blood coming from the entry wounds in his sternum has abated, all movement ceased, any signs of breathing a historical fact. I take a knee, place my fingers to his jugular, and confirm his death.
Running my open hand gently over his eyes, I close his lids.
I stand.
“It’s just you and me now, Leslie,” I say. “Still want to go on?”
She’s pulling down her shirt and straightening out her hair with both her hands.
“Everyone has been killed but us,” she says. “We stop now it wouldn’t be like giving up on us. It would be like giving up on our team.”
I nod.
“I agree and I love you for that.” I pause for
