BooksBarbecue
Back Whirlwind
Chapters (95)
  1. Title Page
  2. 1
  3. 2
  4. 3
  5. 4
  6. 5
  7. 6
  8. 7
  9. 8
  10. 9
  11. 10
  12. 11
  13. 12
  14. 13
  15. 14
  16. 15
  17. 16
  18. 17
  19. 18
  20. 19
  21. 20
  22. 21
  23. 22
  24. 23
  25. 24
  26. 25
  27. 26
  28. 27
  29. 28
  30. 29
  31. 30
  32. 31
  33. 32
  34. 33
  35. 34
  36. 35
  37. 36
  38. 37
  39. 38
  40. 39
  41. 40
  42. 41
  43. 42
  44. 43
  45. 44
  46. 45
  47. 46
  48. 47
  49. 48
  50. 49
  51. 50
  52. 51
  53. 52
  54. 53
  55. 54
  56. 55
  57. 56
  58. 57
  59. 58
  60. 59
  61. 60
  62. 61
  63. 62
  64. 63
  65. 64
  66. 65
  67. 66
  68. 67
  69. 68
  70. 69
  71. 70
  72. 71
  73. 72
  74. 73
  75. 74
  76. 75
  77. 76
  78. 77
  79. 78
  80. 79
  81. 80
  82. 81
  83. 82
  84. 83
  85. 84
  86. 85
  87. 86
  88. 87
  89. 88
  90. 89
  91. 90
  92. 91
  93. 92
  94. Also by DAVID KLASS
  95. Copyright Page

Hi, honey. Sorry. I didn’t mean to disappear. But members of something called the Dark Army came one night and killed both my parents. It turns out they weren’t my parents after all. They were just sheltering me.

I’m from a thousand years in the future, when things are pretty bleak. I was sent back to find something called Firestorm and save the oceans, thereby improving living conditions centuries hence. A telepathic dog and a beautiful shape-changing woman helped me. I did what they asked. I found Firestorm and I destroyed a giant trawler fleet. But then the dog and the woman blinked out, leaving me alone. And now I’m back. Sorry I didn’t write or call. And how have you been the last six months, P.J.? Did you have a good Christmas? And how’s the French Club?

I stop in my tracks. What the heck am I doing here? I can’t tell her the truth. And I won’t tell her a lie. So I can’t tell her anything. I know in my heart I can’t come back here. Don’t belong anymore. Been away too long. Caused too much grief. Passed the point of no return.

I turn slowly, and take a half step away. Then a hand grips my arm. “Jack? Is that you?”

2

2

A thin man. Balding. Strong hands. A printer by profession. Always been nice to me. His eyes unnaturally bright as they stare at me. Glad to see me? Can’t be that. I must have caused his daughter great pain. But he’s almost smiling. Gripping my arm tightly.

“Mr. Peters? I … can’t come in. How are you? How’s P.J.? I’m sorry. I should go.”

I babble excuses and awkward questions as he leads me up the walk toward the front door.

“No, don’t go,” he says with quiet forcefulness. “You must come in. Don’t worry about anything. It’s important that you come in. Please, Jack.”

Five seconds later the door swings closed behind us. I’m in P.J.’s house. “Ruth,” he calls. I’m dimly aware that he pauses to lock the door. “Look who I found out front! He didn’t even want to come in.”

P.J.’s mom hurries in and stops short at the sight of me. A look of momentary shock on her face. Deep worry. Flashing pain. Something very wrong here. She’s trying to hide it. Get out, Jack. You hurt her daughter and this sweet woman is stunned that you’ve shown up.

“Of course you had to come in.” Mrs. Peters nods. “It’s bitter out there. Let me get you something hot to drink.”

Mr. Peters excuses himself for a second.