Joel Nydahl

“ I must find Johnny! Across country she went, through small towns filled with death.
She walked, with Robbie stumbling along at her side, his small face wide with wonder and fear. Her heart ached as she looked into his staring eyes, while an occasional whimper left his lips. "... mommy, where's Daddy? Where is he, mommy?"
She gripped his hand tighter and continued to walk, each mile a numb and crazy nightmare.
"Now take note of the setting the aliens are in. It took careful planning for our scientists to devastate the planet's surface as you now witness." ”

“ Robbie had been walking beside her. Suddenly he turned and looked up at her. "Mommy, why are we walking so far? I'm tired of walking. I don't want to walk any more. Where is daddy?"
"Hush, dear. We're going to find daddy." She knew they would never find him ... alive. But something made her keep going. Something inside wouldn't let her turn back. She had to know....
"We've got to find daddy so he'll make everything right again, don't we?"
She hesitated before answering. "Yes—yes that's it. We've got to find daddy so he can help us—and make everything right again!" ”

“ She remembered the Chicago park, when the bombs fell—how they alone seemed to be spared death.... Was it possible?...
She grabbed Robbie into her arms and dashed up the street away from the restaurant. She saw a car standing by the curb and ran to it. There were keys in the ignition. She put Robbie on the front seat and got in. As the motor coughed into life she meshed gears and sped out of the town. One thing buzzed in her mind. Peoria—that's where Johnny is—oh, Johnny—help us!
"The conveyance in which you now see them is called an automobile. ”