She lamented not having learned much about how these devices worked beyond the volume, squelch knobs, and channel selectors. Fred had drawn up a communications plan months ago, and a specific set of frequencies had since been in use to maintain a line of contact from one end of the valley to the other. She powered up the radio and adjusted the volume to maximum, leaving all other settings as they were, assuming Grace had already configured them aptly.
Fred and Evans had returned with Fred’s ‘deuce and a half’, and he and Woo Tang were carefully placing Neo into the bed, assisted by bystanders Jean and Francis. Once loaded, the couple jumped in to ride with him while Fred moved to dangle from the open passenger door. Evans tapped the horn twice and they were off, leaving Woo Tang to stand solitaire in the Russells’ yard, his military-grade transceiver fastened to his ear.
Lauren hopped from the porch and made her way to him, and a distant, dark funnel of rolling smoke above the trees that she hadn’t noticed before stole her attention. She observed it worriedly as she closed the distance. A voice was emanating from Woo Tang’s radio, but she couldn’t make out what was being said or to whom it belonged. It sounded almost like warbling through her abated hearing.
Sensing Lauren’s presence from behind, Woo Tang pivoted on a heel and acknowledged her finger indicating the smoke plume. “An investigation is in the works. Is Grace squared away?”
“No. She’s not inside, Jae—I can’t find her anywhere. There’s broken glass all over the place and…blood on the floor.” A hand to her hip, Lauren looked around frantically, at a loss for answers. “She must’ve gone somewhere…I have to look for her. Something could be wrong…she could be hurt…or it could be the baby.”
“It would be more sensible for you to remain here in the event she returns.” Woo Tang’s radio sounded off again, and he rotated away, bringing it close to his ear.
Lauren moved in to hear what was being said. As best she could distinguish, several men were reporting the smell of smoke, possible fires, and several unconfirmed explosions.
A moment later, Woo Tang sent her a fleeting, exigent glance during a break in transmissions. “Lauren Russell, I apologize, but I must go at once.”
“Where? Why?”
“To the FOL,” he shouted, setting off in an accelerated hurry. “There has been another incident.”
“Another?” Lauren surveyed the smoke column still spiraling upward. “Did something happen to the church?”
Woo Tang didn’t answer, only hurried away faster than Lauren had ever seen him move.
“Should I come with you?” she bellowed.
“No! Stay close to home! Wait for your family!”
“But, Jae, I—”
“There is no time to argue over this!”
Lauren didn’t know what to do now. She didn’t know where to turn either. This upheaval of a day had become an anfractuous jumble of unparalleled events, turmoil, and heartache. And now she’d been left here alone to contemplate the whole of it and worry herself to the brink of delirium. Benumbed, she watched him depart and disappear over the fence and into the road. Then Lauren turned away, heading for a destination yet to be determined as her ponderings lifted off and reached orbital speed.
The shed and all the family’s belongings stored within had been blown to smithereens somehow. Neo was in critical condition, and she had narrowly escaped injury herself. Grace was unaccounted for. Fred’s unafraid yet strangely disquieted behavior and those unusual remarks. Fast mover. Spread yourselves out. Less favorable target. And what could rationalize Woo Tang being so atypically neurotic?
Then it hit her. The pillar of smoke, reports of other explosions, Jae’s mention of another incident. Something terrible was taking place. The valley had seemingly fallen under attack all over again, but in a far more distinct and hostile fashion. The magnitude of aggression had intensified. It was hateful. Vicious. And deliberate. Indeed, the problem left unsolved had arrived today on Lauren’s doorstep.
Looking to her sister’s portable radio, she brought it close and thumbed the push-to-talk. “Hello? If anyone can hear me, come back, please. It’s Lauren…Russell. I’m at home, and I’m looking for Grace, I can’t find her anywhere. If anyone’s seen her, please let me know. Over.”
The split second she unkeyed, the speaker thundered to life. “Lauren? It’s Dad. Are you okay? Are you safe?”
She put a hand to her chest, feeling her heart flutter. Her father’s voice used to make everything better for her. It had always reassured her and made her feel protected, but today, it wasn’t enough. “I’m okay, Dad. I mean, I think I am. Where are you? Where’s Mom?”
“Your mom and I are at the Vincents’. We’re just now hearing what happened. Fred and the others are carrying Neo in now. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine, Dad, but I could’ve been killed if Neo hadn’t protected me. He saved my life.” Lauren sniffled. “The shed is totaled…it’s in pieces…and I can’t find Grace anywhere. Do you know where she is?”
A few seconds ticked past before Alan replied, “Grace is with us.”
“What?” Lauren snapped. “Why? How did she get there? Why is she there?”
“Jade brought her here. She told us Ken found her in the yard, but he doesn’t know what happened to her. There are gashes all over her hands, knees and feet…she’s lost a lot of blood. She’s unconscious; that’s all we know. They’re examining her now.”
“Dad, I don’t understand,” Lauren seethed, mashing down hard on the PTT. “Those doctors don’t know what’s wrong with her? How can they not know? Dammit, tell them to do their job! Tell us what’s wrong with my sister!”
“L, listen to me, please. I know you’re upset. If they knew anything, they’d tell us, and then I would tell you. You know that. I would never withhold anything from you. There are a lot of people here now, and it’s getting
