“Is this a day time or a night time thing?” I asked.

“Nights exclusively which is why I can go. Ralph and Grandma Jean stay in and watch the baby.”

“They don't come with you? Wait a minute, what baby?”

“My sister's kid.”

“Jesus, there's a fourth perso…

The hallway wasn't long enough to break into a full run and Lenn barely registered the pictures of strangers that lined both walls as he went by. Guided by the only light coming out of one of the three doorways at the end of the hall, he felt like the cap…

She explained how this pre-natal nurse had come to see her everyday in the hospital, since she refused to leave the babe and insisted on a private room. He was handsome and did everything he could to appease her. He wasn't supposed to keep helping the bab…

He looked careworn, faded. His face was slack, his posture slouchy. He didn't say much after I answered his questions. He missed his wife. Even though they had argued and she left impulsively.

"She didn't leave you," I tried.

"She wanted that baby more …

I had no choice but to bring her. We hiked over hill and valley, across ravines that grew deeper as sides grew steeper. We had to stop and rest more often as we neared the mountain.

"We go up that waterfall." I pointed.

"We go UP a waterfall?!" She thou…

She took to the baby. Held it, rocked it, cooed at it. I gave her the supplies I had, but they would only last a week. I told her that the baby had to go to the hospital inside the caldera. I told her it was temporary, but I knew she'd make it permanent.

…

My job was to escort the right people into the caldera. If I came across the wrong sort, well.

As a 'leader', I carried a radio for contact from Operations inside. I got a distress call. Midwife needed, several miles away. Leaving the hometown crew, I hi…