The call was ended, but I jumped up and shrieked. Although I knew the world wasn’t reduced to our bunker and Damnation Alley, it was nice to hear someone out there was alive. I embraced Peter.
“When we hear back,” I said. “We’ll let the others know. I am so glad it was us on duty to hear it first.”
“Oh, you know it. Tom would not have let us live it down.”
“Who do you think it is? Where.” I closed one eye when a flash hit it. It wasn’t a big flash, just enough to catch me off guard. I looked up trying to figure out where it came from. Then I did. The monitor flashed white again. “Something is wrong with the outdoor camera.”
“I see that. Let me adjust.”
It flashed white, then a few seconds later, it flashed once more before becoming completely white.
“Oh my God.” Peter stood up. “The sun is out!”
“The sun is out?”
“It just broke free. The sun is out.” He jumped up. “The sun is out!”
As if we were in some sort of teeny bopper episode of a television show, we locked hands, jumping up and down, screaming with delight.
I grabbed the portable radio and raced to the Switch room door. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get a coat and see.”
“Ah, I want to see.”
“You will. I’ll be back.”
I was filled with a zest that carried in my voice as I ran full force about that bunker. I didn’t need the radio. I was like Paul Revere, but instead of screaming ‘The British are coming’ I high tailed it screaming everywhere, “The sun is out. The sun is out.”
Everyone, with the exception of Peter, and I felt bad about that, bundled up and raced for the bay doors. Even Ben and Spencer who were sleeping, heard me calling out, jumped up and had to see.
We lined up side by side at the blast doors.
I stood with Tony. We had wrapped Joie is several blankets and put on sun glasses. We covered her nose and mouth because the temperatures weren’t going to rise that fast.
On the count of three, Tony undid the latches.
It had been months. Two months since the fires died and everything went black.
Holding my breath, not just in anticipation but for fear of the cold, I watched Tony and Duke slowly open the doors.
It was blinding.
The sun crept through, then when the doors opened fully, we were blasted.
It was magnificent.
Even thought it was frigid cold, the sun was warm on our face. Dances of warmth hit me and I stepped out.
It was the dawn of a new era.
It was a sign.
We had lived through the darkness.
It was more than just the dust settling enough for the sun to power through. It was a symbolization. The dark was behind us. There could only be brighter days ahead.
42 – OMEGA MAN
October 24
Arctic coats hung in the switch room and in the bay. It wasn’t an unusual thing to step outside. We weren’t confined to below anymore because of some sort of threat. We could go out, and no matter how cold it was, someone always did. I was always stepping out.
The metal pipe we used to mark Jackson’s grave was still standing. It had warped some, but it was still there. Duke had made a beautiful cross out of wood to mark the grave, but the ground was till rock solid. We would soon, though..
Before my shift in the switch room. I took Joie outside for a few minutes. The sun had new meaning. It was absolutely beautiful. Frosty snow fell, even though there wasn’t a single cloud in the sky.
It sparkled off the sun.
A blue sky. For a couple days after the sun returned, clouds would roll in. But now it was clear. It was a matter of time before temperatures stabilized.
Peter predicted it would be a while before it warmed up.
Damnation Alley agreed with that.
Joie and I had a nice three minute walk outside. I returned her to Nelly and then I headed to the Switch room.
My shift had been shortened since the sun returned. No more need to thwart off the dreaded S.A.D. that came with no sunlight.
But I made the best of the time I had in the Switch room.
Damnation Alley reported there was a group of survivors in Kentucky. About thirty of them, and they would be traveling to the Texas bunker as soon as the weather permitted.
Mulligan was back. He coughed a lot over the radio, but at least he beat their flu.
They had eight deaths.
That was sad.
“Okay,” Mulligan said. “Your turn. Six to five is the score.”
I nodded at Peter and then pressed the button. “Heston. Apocalypse. Simians.”
“Planet of the Apes.”
I groaned loudly when he said the correct answer. “You’re right. Tie score. Ask your question.” I looked at Peter and told him to get it right.
“I’m trying.”
Mulligan spoke. “Director. Cruise Ship. Seventies Show.”
“Seriously?” I asked him.
Peter shook his head.
“Repeated.” Mulligan said. “Adding one more. Director. Cruise Ship. Seventies show. Blonde.”
I tossed out my hands. “Who the hell would know that answer? Blond. Cruise Director. Seventies show.”
At that moment, Tom entered the office and hung up his arctic coat. “Julie. That’s your answer.”
When I relayed the answer and found out I was right, I clenched my fist with a mighty, ‘Yes’.
“I’m up and you’re out,” Tom said. “I want to play. I came up with some good questions. Besides Tony needs to see you on the lower level.”
I whined. “He probably wants to gripe at me again for not kicking Clarisse out yet.”
“For what it’s worth,” Peter said. “I don’t blame you for waiting until it hits thirty-two. Besides, she does wonderful things with the snap peas.”
Tom stated. “Just because the woman can work magic with snap peas isn’t a reason to keep her here. She was kicked out.”
“She wants to take her son with her.” I said. “He can’t take that much cold.”
“I’ll give you that,” Tom said.
Hating to leave in the middle of a trivia game we were winning, I went to find Tony.
When I entered the lower floor of Hive Two, I didn’t see him. So I called out. “Hello?”
“Hey.” He replied.
“Where are you?”
He stood up from behind the jukebox.
“I’m here as you requested,” I said.
“Great, thanks. So I saw Nelly.” He pushed the jukebox back to the wall. “She has this elaborate Halloween party planned for the kids.”
“Is that why you wanted me?”
“No. I wanted to see you. I haven’t seen you all day.”
“That’s nice.”
“And…” Tony lifted a finger. “I fixed the jukebox.”
At that instant, it lit up.
“Oh my God, really? What was wrong with it?”
“Puzzle pieces shoved in the money slot. They slipped down and jammed things. We have music for the party. But while fixing it…” He stood before the jukebox. “I found a song. I think it’s perfect for right now.”
“You brought me down here for a song?”
“No, I brought you down here for a moment. Plus, it’ll make you happy. It made me happy when I saw it.”
The song began to play, I was familiar with the bass line, and Tony then snapped his fingers with the recording. He turned around with a serious face, extended his hand to me and started singing.
I laughed.
“I got sunshine…” He sang then grabbed my hand and yanked me into him. “On a cloudy day.”
He cupped my hand in his, and arm around my waist, began to dance with me in a fun way.
“This isn’t you, Tony,” I said. “You’re not romantic.”