back to find out more.'
Jesse hung up the phone and looked at Jonathan. He tried to think of something kind to say, but before he was able he heard the sound of skidding tires. From the front window came an intermittant flash of colored lights.
Running to the window Jesse parted the curtains. Outside in the street behind his car was a city police cruiser with its lights flashing. The uniformed occupants were just in the process of getting out, along with Vince Garbon. All had German shepherds on short leashes.
Other police department vehicles appeared, some marked, some not, including a paddy wagon. All pulled to a stop in front of the Sellers house and unloaded.
'What is it?' Pitt asked.
'The police,' Jesse said. 'They must have been watching the place. I even see my old partner or what's left of him.'
'Are they coming here?' Cassy asked.
'I'm afraid so,' Jesse said. 'Kill all the lights.'
The group frantically raced around the house and turned out the few lights they had turned on. They ended up in the darkened kitchen. Flashlight beams from outside stabbed through windows. It was an eerie image.
'They must know we are here,' Cassy said.
'What are we going to do?' Pitt asked.
'I don't think there's much we can do,' Jesse said.
'This house has a hidden exit,' Jonathan said. 'It's through the basement. I used it to sneak out at night.'
'What are we waiting for?' Jesse said. 'Let's go!'
Jonathan led the way, carrying his laptop. They moved slowly and silently, avoiding the flashlight beams that came in through the kitchen bay window. Once they got to the cellar stairs and had closed the door, they felt a bit less vulnerable. But it was difficult going because of the absolute darkness. They were not willing to put on any light because the cellar had several small windows.
They moved in single file. They all hung onto each other to avoid getting lost. Jonathan led them to the back wall of the basement. Once there he opened a massive door that rumbled on its hinges. Cool air flowed out over their ankles.
'In case you are wondering what this is,' Jonathan said, 'it's a bomb shelter that was built back in the fifties. My parents use it as a wine cellar.'
They all entered and Jonathan told whoever was last to close the door. It settled into its jamb with a solid thump.
As soon as the door was closed, Jonathan switched on a light. They were in a cement passageway lined with wood shelving. A few cases of wine were haphazardly scattered about.
'This way,' Jonathan said.
They came to another door. Beyond the second door was a step down into a room twelve feet square with bunk beds and an entire wall of cupboards. There was also a well head and a tiny bathroom.
A second chamber had a kitchen. Beyond the kitchen was another solid door. This door lead to another corridor that eventually led outside to a dry river bed behind the Sellerses' house.
'Well, I'll be!' Jesse commented. 'Just like the escape route from an old medieval castle. I love it.'
15
9:45 A.M.
'Nancy,' Sheila called gently. 'We're here.'
Nancy's eyes popped open, and she awoke with a start. 'What time is it?' she asked, orienting herself to place and person.
Sheila told her.
'I feel awful,' Nancy said.
'You and me both,' Sheila said.
They had spent the night on the move in the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport, constantly afraid they would be recognized. Boarding their flight in the wee hours of the morning had been a relief of sorts. Neither had slept for forty hours. Once airborne they had fallen into a deep sleep.
'What am I going to say to my son?' Nancy asked, not really expecting an answer. Every time she thought about the fiery disappearance of her husband, tears came to her eyes.
The women gathered their things and made their way off the plane. They were paranoid of everyone and were sure people were staring at them. When they emerged from the jetway, Nancy saw Jonathan and rushed to him. They hugged silently for several minutes while Sheila greeted Jesse, Pitt, and Cassy.
'Okay, let's move out,' Jesse said, tapping the silently grieving mother and child.
They walked in a group toward the terminal. The whole time Jesse's head was a swivel as he constantly evaluated the people around them. He was pleased that no one was paying any attention to them, particularly airport security.
Fifteen minutes later they were in Jesse's personal van heading for town. Sheila and Nancy described in detail their disastrous trip. In a shaky voice Nancy managed to explain Eugene's last moments. The tragedy was greeted with silence.
'We have to decide where to go,' Jesse said.
'Our house will be the most comfortable,' Nancy said. 'It's not elegant but there's a lot of room.'
'I don't think that will be wise,' Jesse said. He then told Nancy and Sheila what had happened the evening before.
Nancy felt outraged. 'I know it's selfish of me to be so upset about a house considering everything that is going on,' she said. 'But it's my home.'
'Where did you all stay last night?' Sheila asked.
'At my cousin's apartment,' Pitt said. 'The problem is it's only got three bedrooms and one bath.'
'Under the circumstances, convenience is a luxury we can't afford,' Sheila said.
'This morning on the Today show a bunch of health officials told everyone that the flu that was going around was nothing to worry about,' Cassy said.
'They were probably from the CDC,' Sheila said. 'Those bastards.'
'What bugs me is that the media hasn't said one word about all the black discs,' Pitt said. 'Why hasn't the presence of the discs been questioned, especially after so many of them appeared?'
'They're a harmless-appearing curiosity,' Jesse said. 'People have certainly been talking about them, but it was never considered newsworthy. Unfortunately there's no reason to make a connection between the discs and the flu until it is too late.'
''We're going to have to figure out a way to start warning people,' Cassy said. 'We can't wait any longer.'
'Cassy's right,' Pitt said. 'It's time for us to go public any way we can: TV, radio, newspapers, everything. The public has to know.'
'Screw the public,' Sheila said. 'It's the medical-scientific community we've got to get involved. Pretty soon there won't be anybody left with the skills necessary to figure out a way to stop this thing.'
'I think the kids are right,' Jesse said. 'We tried the CDC and bombed. We got to find some media people who are not infected and just blast this thing around the world. Problem is, I don't know any media people except for a few slimy crime reporters.'
'No, Sheila's right ... ' Nancy began.
Jonathan tuned out. He was crushed about his father's fate. As a teenager the concept of death was totally unreal. To a large degree he couldn't accept what he'd been told.
Jonathan's attention drifted from the bickering inside the car to the appearance of the city. There were plenty of people out and about. It seemed from the beginning the streets were always full of people wandering no matter what time of day or night. And everybody was sporting a stupid fake smile.
Jonathan noticed something else as they passed through the downtown. The people were all busily
