up a pinch between his fingers, rubbing his fingers together. The fine dust
is everywhere now - blowing off the tops of moving cars, settling into cracks
in the sidewalks, and coming down onto the anxious up-turned faces like a fine
mist.
_______________________________
It’s now 11:30 am in the Rockies. At the campground, the fine red dust is
powdering everything, but this passes notice due to being scattered by the
branches overhead. Danny has come back from picking up groceries at the local
Stop-n-Shop, and goes to open the trunk, finding that his finger leaves a mark
on the trunk lid. He runs a finger through the dust, staring at the tip,
puzzled.
Frank is returning from the stream, fishing pole in hand but otherwise empty
handed.
The stream is turning red, like blood, and the fish
are bobbing up one after another, belly up, dying from
whatever it is.
Daisy puts her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide open, an anxious look in her
eyes. Jane says,
My God, the prophecies are coming true.
Danny is punching the buttons on his mobile cell phone now, listening, then
punching another set and listening again. He's getting static, no ringing.
I'm not getting through, nothing's working.
Danny glances up into the sky.
These things work off the satellites . .
Frank is already bringing their camping supplies to their car, breaking camp.
Jane is taking down their tent, throwing the poles in a pile as though she
were racing against time. Danny is rubbing his forehead, trying to
understand.
The campground store didn't have any news either.
Their newspapers haven't been delivered, nor any of
the regular delivery runs.
29
Seeing everyone in the campground starting to break camp, as though what
others are doing is an imperative, Danny also starts to break camp. He walks
to the campfire and starts stacking supplies in a box, silently. Daisy pulls
her makeup case close to her as she sits on a log and begins to do her nails
with great concentration. She begins a monologue about polish types and
broken nails that she or her friends have experienced, though no one is
listening.
I just can't get my nails to grow! . .
30
-The Horror-
Big Tom has his tool box open along the fence he is repairing. His jeep
stands several feet away on solid ground, as cattle tend to walk along fences,
creating deep ruts well hidden by the tall grass. Like many ranchers, Big Tom
tended to take better care of his equipment than himself.
The cattle begin milling about and mooing, groups starting to bolt in this
direction or that, then changing their minds and bolting in the other
direction. Some groups are even running into each other, like a misdirected
stampeded. They are alarmed yet confused, getting some signal that Big Tom
can't sense. The earth emits a low moan, barely perceptible at first. However,
this low moan keeps up, rising and falling, as though the earth were in agony.
Big Tom has turned pale, drops his tools, leaving them where they lay on the
ground, stumbles back toward his jeep and drives off crazily, not even
shutting the door until well on his way up the dirt road. Big Tom careens up
to the ranch house, screeching his brakes and walking quickly to the house. He
barges in the kitchen door and heads for the phone. Martha says,
Won't do no good. I can't get through. Nobody can get
through.
Martha is calm, her daughter Tammy leaning into her where she sits in a
kitchen chair, having a beer. Martha and Big Tom exchange a long look, no
words spoken. Finally, Big Tom breaks the silence, glancing at the beer.
That looks good, think I'll have one.
Red comes into the kitchen and announces he's stocked the storm cellar. He
has Billy in tow, his helper, who goes to wash his hands as he has been
brushing his hands together, but glancing at them sees they are dirty. Billy
casts a glance at his mother Martha and heads toward the sink, not realizing
that something more serious than getting a reminder is pending.
A loud knock on the front door stops Big Tom from easing into a relaxed
posture in the familiar wooden chair he has just dropped into, beer in hand,
and he recoils to go answer it, his curious Billy at his heels. Danny is at
the door, dust streaked in the sweat running off his face, the others in the
foursome (Daisy, Jane, Frank) standing alongside the car in the drive. Danny
says,
Do you have any gas to sell, the stations don't seem
to be open.
Big Tom, surveying the visitors and sensing they pose no threat, allows
himself to be relieved to be getting some news.
31
Not surprised . . Jed probably took his hounds into
the hills already, he's been talking about the end of
the world, and probably figures it's come.
Danny doesn't answer for a few minutes, the sounds of insects singing in the
sun loud in the silence between the two men. Then he says,
Well, has it?
Big Tom motions to the foursome now all on the porch.
Might as well come in for a spell, the day's getting
hot already and it doesn't look like its going to end.
At the mention of time, Danny glances at his watch and gasps.
My God, it's almost midnight!
_______________________________
What seems like days have passed, and the long dawn that doesn't end and the
accumulating heat are wearing at the group. Grim and focused on the drama
being played out on the world's stage, which they all sense will end at some
point soon, the adults are being civil, not wanting to add to their problems.
The men are simply quiet, looking out the window as though expecting something
to happen.
The women peel potatoes and help Martha with her mending, making small talk to
keep the youngsters from realizing the seriousness of the situation. Jane
says,
Let me see if I can find a matching button. Want to
help me, Tammy? I’m looking for a small brown one like
this.
Everyone is in shorts, a film of sweat evident, but no one complains about the
heat or worry except Daisy who is almost whining, a continuous expression of
exasperation on her face. Daisy is going through the motions of being an
adult, but makes little noises of frustration when drawers don't open smoothly
or something isn't where she expects to find it in the cabinets. Finally she
looks pointedly at Danny but he just looks grim and shakes his head. Danny