“Dad, I . . .” “Do you see now?” he asks. “Do you want to bring something like that down on this sleepy little neighborhood? If there is any risk that this Rob could reveal us, it wil be more than just embarrassing. It wil be deadly.” “But Dad, we can’t just keep moving. I can’t do it. I’l go crazy.” He looks at her, and Jael sees the pain in his eyes. She remembers the heavy song of his soul. “Please, Dad,” she says, little more than a whisper. “I know you don’t want to do this.” But he takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I need to you be strong,” he says. “I need you to think about the greater good now. I wil give you tomorrow to say good-bye to your friends. We leave in the evening. Go up to your room and start packing.” Then he sits back down in his chair, picks up his Bible, and begins to read. She walks slowly up the spiral staircase to her bedroom. Once there, she stares at the clothes on the floor for a long time. She feels her body slowly heat up and she lets it.
