Chương 26: The journey

In Kona, the town was peaceful as if nothing disastrous ever hits Hawaii. It's hard to imagine, that on the other side of the island, tsunamis, earthquakes, and volcanic eruption wreck havoc everywhere.

"How come Kona is still as usual? Hilo to Kona is not that far away..." Seth finds the situation unusual. Even if the earthquake did not do anything to it, the air must be at least have a burnt smell, or the smells of Sulphur.

"Probably the wind from Hilo did not pass Kona, so, they are saved," Jane speaks up.

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"Dad, I wanted to have a shower, but I will have nothing to wear after this. The clothes they gave is too big for me." Lucy complains to Seth.

"Let's just use those clothes first, later we will go shopping. Uncle Ben said that we will leave for Alaska tomorrow. So we will all go and do some shopping for it. " Seth said smilingly to his daughter Lucy.

They are going to leave Hawaii and stays in Alaska for now. He is hoping that his family will move on from the grievance of Mia's passing.

"Alaska? So we really are going to Alaska? Is Alaska cold? Do we need to buy winter clothing as well? " Suzy was excited when she heard that they are going to Alaska tomorrow.

"Maybe, I will buy a coat for each of you guys first. " Seth understands Suzy's excitement, as Hawaii was never that cold during winter, and they never have to wear winter clothing for that.

"Oh yes! Thanks, Dad." Suzy smiled joyfully.

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"Get ready, Jason said that he will send a helicopter to pick us up to the airport at 8 am." Ben went inside Seth's family room after he is done with his breakfast.

"Great, make sure all of the things we bought last night are all packed inside the bag. If everyone is ready, let us go to the field and wait for the helicopter." Seth picked up her daughter's urn and packed them up inside his backpack.

"Wow, a helicopter? I have never ride a helicopter before! Uncle Ben, is your friend Jason, rich?" Suzy asked Ben childishly.

"I guess so, he is a Commander in the army." Ben smiled and ruffled up Suzy's hair.

Seth was aware of Ben's connections with the army as Ben's wife was a daughter of a Japanese Army as well. Ben's connection with the people in the army somehow was tangled up messily after he married his wife. An American citizen marrying the daughter of a Japanese army was not a pleasant combo.

"Jason is my good friend. I have known him since high school. He is a good friend. Don't worry, he will help us." Ben speaks up to Seth, explaining his relationship with Jason.

"You said that it is an underground bunker in Alaska? Is it similar to the one that your father in law built under your garage?" Seth has been meaning to ask Ben about the bunker when he heard Ben said, that they are going to stay at an underground bunker in Alaska.

"No, I have asked Jason about that too, you know. He said that this bunker will be a lot safer, and much more comfortable than the one that we used previously. He... mentioned that the bunker was a secret project, it was built for the VVIPs, but he is inviting us to stay there, using the quota of the other investors, that could not make it during the opening ceremony. He said since it has been paid for, it would be wasted to let the rooms empty."

"So... Seth, I hope that you and your family will keep the existence of the bunker as a secret from everyone else. Jason would be in a lot of trouble if the other civilians were aware of the existence of the bunker." Ben looked at Seth, before picking up his bag and helped to carry Suzy's bag as well.

"Understood. Guys, you heard Uncle Ben... Please keep quiet about where we are going from everyone. Just tell them that we are going to San Francisco if anyone asked us where we are going." Seth looks up at his family. He knew that his daughters love to eavesdrop their parent's conversations, so he felt like he did not have to repeat everything that Ben has said to his family.

"Okay, don't worry Uncle Ben, I will not tell anyone," Suzy said smilingly to Ben. She motioned a zipping of her mouth using her fingers.

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At 8 am sharp, Jason called Ben, saying that the helicopter he arranged to fly over from Honolulu to Kona will be delayed. The visibility for today was not as great as yesterday. Probably the smog of ash, from the two volcanoes have reached all over Hawaii. Ben and his family were asked to head to Kailua-Kona International Airport, and wait for the helicopter there instead.

At 10 o'clock, Seth and his family boarded the huge army helicopter. The usual chatterbox Suzy kept silent all the way from Kona to Honolulu. Probably because she is terrified of all the loud sounds from the engine, or because of the officials that were accompanying them.

Arriving at the Inouye International Airport, they will board a domestic flight direct to San Francisco, where they will meet with Jason there. From San Francisco, they will board the planes provided by the army heading to Alaska.

"It will be a long and tiring day today..." Lucy huffed and sits on the departure gate, waiting for their flight to San Francisco.

Suzy seems energetic, and excited when they arrived at the Airport. Honolulu is a very beautiful place to visit, and there are a lot of tourists at the airport. How she wished to stay here in Honolulu for a day or two... Suzy looks at her parents, and she felt sad.

They are leaving Hawaii in a hurry, and it feels like they are fleeing to leave Mia's memory behind. It is her fault that Mia was left behind. It was all her fault. Feeling sad, Suzy sat down next to her sister Lucy. If only Mia is here in Honolulu, she must be happy and excited to see the blue sea all around.

"Mia... I am sorry. May you rest in peace here."