Ed, meet my men, Lustig, Hinkston!
My brother!”
They tugged at each other’s hands and arms and then finally embraced.
“Ed!”
“John, you bum, you!”
“You’re looking fine, Ed, but, Ed, what is this?
You haven’t changed over the years.
You died, I remember, when you were twenty-six and I was nineteen.
Good God, so many years ago, and here you are and, Lord, what goes on?”
“Mom’s waiting,” said Edward Black, grinning.
“Mom?”
“And Dad too.”
“Dad?”
The captain almost fell as if he had been hit by a mighty weapon. He walked stiffly and without co.ordination.
“Mom and Dad alive?
Where?”
“At the old house on Oak Knoll Avenue.”
“The old house.” The captain stared in delighted amaze.
“Did you hear that, Lustig, Hinkston?”
Hinkston was gone.
He had seen his own house down the street and was running for it.
Lustig was laughing.
“You see, Captain, what happened to everyone on the rocket?
They couldn’t help themselves.”
“Yes. Yes.” The captain shut his eyes.
“When I open my eyes you’ll be gone.”
He blinked.
“You’re still there.
God, Ed, but you look fine!”
“Come on, lunch’s waiting.
I told Mom.”
Lustig said, “Sir, I’ll be with my grandfolks if you need me.”
“What?
Oh, fine, Lustig.
Later, then.”
Edward seized his arm and marched him.
“There’s the house.
Remember it?”
“Hell!
Bet I can beat you to the front porch!”
They ran.
The trees roared over Captain Black’s head; the earth roared under his feet.
He saw the golden figure of Edward Black pull ahead of him in the amazing dream of reality. He saw the house rush forward, the screen door swing wide.
“Beat you!” cried Edward.
“I’m an old man,” panted the captain, “and you’re still young.
But then, you always beat me, I remember!”
In the doorway, Mom, pink, plump, and bright.
Behind her, pepper-gray, Dad, his pipe in his hand.
“Mom, Dad!”
He ran up the steps like a child to meet them.