Unless they had arctic gear, they weren’t making it the four miles.
There was a possibility that an impending attack was waiting right outside out walls, maybe even hiding out in the pharmacy down the road. They could have lit a bonfire, but it was so dark light didn’t carry.
Thirty degrees below was possible. But any lower was highly improbable.
Peter and Craig both agreed that if those who remained and survived outside weren’t somewhere protected and with heat, then they weren’t going to survive.
Ten minutes of exposure meant death.
Breathing in the air… was deadly as well.
Until the sun came back, and that was a long ways off, things would be nothing but a big deep freeze. Even after the sun returned, it would be like living in northern Canada.
So it was D-Day. If nothing happened, nothing would. Not yet and not for a while. And when it was possible again, for example when the sun came back out, we wouldn’t be blinded by the dark and we would see them coming.
I didn’t sweat it. I didn’t worry about an attack. Tony had things far too well covered.
While Tom and Tony talked about having a little relaxation party, unexpectedly, I cautioned against it.
“Let’s just wait,” I told them. “When temperatures are stable at an unsurvivable level, then we will celebrate.”
They looked at me strangely, but agreed. They were indulging in wishful thinking more than I was before they prepared.
Even though it was only a few days, Tony was tired. He worried a lot, barely slept and constantly checked on things.
He needed a break and some relief and I prayed he’d get it soon.
By the time I took Joie her sweater, they had gotten bored with the chickens and were on their way back to the lower floor of Hive Two.
Nelly said she was going to read with them.
I went to the switch room and was somewhat dismayed because Peter was already on the radio with Damnation Alley.
“You didn’t wait for me,” I said as I entered.
“They radioed us,” Peter replied.
“Anything new?”
“Nope. No other contact.”
“What’s the surface temperature?” I asked.
“Negative eighteen. Tomorrow at this time we will be at a chilly negative thirty.”
I peered up at the monitor that showed the outside. It was black. “It is even on?”
“Yeah it is. We had to retract it to clear the frost. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“Any good gossip?”
“Nope. It’s boring. We need you and Tony to fight again.”
I shook my head. “I’ll pass. That stressed me out.”
I leaned back in the chair watching the monitor. That was our job. Just watch the black screen. See if a speck of light danced around, something. The day before, watching a black screen actually made me sleepy.
Four hours and counting, I thought, until Tom showed up to take over.
I wished I had a more important role to play in the ‘protect the community’ plan. But I suppose monitoring a black screen was a big deal.
There was one problem, like staring at a pattern, after a while your eyes play tricks on you and I swore it was happening.
The black on the screen changed. “Did I just see that?”
“I don’t know. What did you see?” Peter asked.
“It changed.”
“How can it change? It’s black.”
“It changed.”
“I think you were looking at it too…” Peter stopped talking “There, was that it?”
“Yes.” I grabbed the radio when both Peter and I saw the tiniest speck of light. It darted in then out like a star in a big black sky. “Tony, I need you in the switch room… stat.”
It took a few minutes for Tony to arrive and during the time we waited. We saw the dot of light just one more time.
He arrived with Abe.
“What’s going on?”
“It could be our imagination,” I answered. “But we saw a speck of light.”
“Both of you can’t imagine the same thing,” Tony said and looked at the screen.
Nothing was there.
“We saw it twice,” I explained. “Both times it darted in and out.”
Abe interjected. “The camera is on rotating. It can be coming from one area and hitting it on rotation.
It happened again. “There.”
“I saw it” Tony said then rubbed his head. “Okay, what is it?”
“I can suit up,” Abe said. “Go out with a headlamp and night vision.”
“Is that wise?” I asked. “That can be dangerous and the night vision may not work.”
“If the head lamp can cast enough light, it will.” Tony said. “Camera is showing that dot east of the fence.”
“I’ll come up through the hatch.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Peter cautioned. “Cover all parts of you face. Try not to breathe in that air. It’s cold and you can only be out there only a few minutes.”
“Got it,” Abe said. “Give me five and I’ll be up at the hatch.”
I was uneasy about Abe going out there. Not only because of the temperature, but also the fact that someone was possibly there. Tony was nervous too. I could see it, even though he didn’t say a word.
Abe was a trained professional and I told myself that. I wished him luck when he left and waited with bated breath until he radioed.
“Climbing the hatch,” Abe said over the radio. “Christ, it’s cold already. I’m not even there.”
“There it is again,” Peter announced.
Tony spoke to Abe. “We definitely have something out there. Exercise extreme caution.”
“Tony, what’s the plan if there is someone or people out there?” I asked.
“This room gets secured. I want everyone else in their rooms with the doors locked.”
Abe came over the radio. “Almost up top. Getting the head lamp ready.”
“Roger, that,” Tony said.
“Tony, you think just to be safe, we should move everyone there now?”
“You know what?” Tony nodded. “Let’s do this. Peter I need you to start radioing Melissa, Craig and Duke. Tell them to secure their area and head to their rooms.”
“Will do,” Peter turned the chair and began the task.
“Nelly doesn’t have a radio,” I said. “I’m running over there.”
Tony nodded and handed me a radio. “Get them out and to level two. Just to be safe.”
I turned on the radio and when I did, Abe announced he was at the hatch.
I started to leave, but Tony stopped me. “Watch my daughter.”
“Absolutely.” I walked out of the switch room and to the walk away that led to Hive Two. Just as I began my short journey, I saw Nelly and the kids leaving. I raced to her. “Where are you headed?”
“Oh, the kids are restless. I thought I would walk them around.”
“We’re going on lock down. I need you to take them to your room and lock the door. Don’t come out until Tony or I give the all clear.” I said as I lifted Joie to my hip. “I’ll take her.”
“Everything okay?” Nelly asked.
“We’re just being cautious.”
Nelly nodded and holding the hands of the other two children, passed me and continued forward to Hive One.
“What’s going on?” Joie asked.
Abe’s voice came over the radio. “Tony, I’m out. Spotlight on. Damn, is it cold!”
“Tell me what you see,” Tony said.
Listening to the conversation, Joie on my hip, I walked to the switch room. I wanted to just let Tony know I had his daughter and that everything was fine. I arrived there and peeked in the room.
“Not seeing anything.” Abe reported.
“Keep looking.” Tony said, “Ben. Ben, come in.”
I knew that Ben was on watch in the bay.