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Back The Land Beneath Us Save as PDF
Chapters (62)
  1. Cover
  2. Endorsements
  3. Books by Sarah Sundin
  4. Title Page
  5. Copyright Page
  6. Presidential Radio Broadcast
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. Epilogue
  58. Acknowledgments
  59. Discussion Questions
  60. About the Author
  61. Back Ads
  62. Back Cover

A jerk on the litter, and Clay winced. Sailors shouted and turned the litter in the air.

Then he rose, swinging gently, climbing the steep gray cliff of the battleship’s hull. Too bad the Rangers didn’t have a winch to hoist them to the top of Pointe du Hoc.

The whir of the winch stopped, the litter shuddered to a stop, and hands grabbed the litter and swung it over the side of the ship and onto the deck.

Half a dozen faces stared down at him, each capped with helmets.

“G’morning,” Clay said.

A sailor laughed. “Good afternoon to you. Let’s get you to sick bay.”

More metallic clanks as they unhooked the litter from the ropes.

“Say, what ship is this?”

“The fightingest ship in the West—the USS Texas.”

“My home state. Only fitting.” Coming home to die.

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43

CHICAGO
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 1944

Mama Paxton opened Juanita’s front door and helped Leah carry the baby carriage up the steps. “Come in. I have a surprise for you.”

It was far too early for news about Clay, and Leah had released her hope to be united with her sisters, leaving her both depleted and strangely replenished. “A surprise?”

Mama scooped up Helen and motioned Leah into the living room. “You have visitors.”

A couple sat on the couch and stood when Leah entered.

“Mrs. Demetrios!”

“Hello, Thalia. It’s good to see you again.” Mrs. Demetrios clasped Leah’s hand. “This is my husband, Dr. Lukas Demetrios.”

“I’m pleased to meet you, Dr. Demetrios.” Leah shook his hand. “You—you knew my father.”

He tipped up a sad smile topped by a neat gray mustache. “A good friend and a fine scholar.”

“Leah, would you like some tea?” Mama asked. “Dr. and Mrs. Demetrios, would you like some more?”

Leah managed a “no, thank you,” sat in the armchair, and set her purse on the floor beside her. “I’m glad you came, Mrs. Demetrios. I rushed off yesterday, but there was so much I should have asked.”

“I’m glad you gave me your address.” Mrs. Demetrios cradled her teacup in her hand. “Did you find your sisters?”

“I did. They’re beautiful.”

A gasp, and Mama peeked back into the living room.

Leah gave her mother-in-law an apologetic look. “I stood outside their house and watched them walk to school. They are beautiful. They’re happy and bright and charming, and they’re close to their mother and each other. And I—I said nothing. I let them go.”

“Ah, mija.” Mama squeezed Leah’s shoulder. “That was brave and wise.”

Leah turned to her guests. “I may not be able to meet my sisters, but maybe you can acquaint me with my parents.”

“That’s why I brought this.” Dr. Demetrios opened a cardboard box on the coffee table.