jdavid.footprintsofthunder-第30章

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us。　Besides；　he　reasoned；　he　knew　what　was　in　these　streets　but　he　had　no　idea　what　he　would　find　on　the　side　streets。
　The　wreckage　in　the　streets　prevented　car　traffic；　so　Luis　walked　down　the　middle　of　the　street。　The　debris　in　the　streets　changed　according　to　the　stores。　In　front　of　the　looted　appliance　store　was　a　toaster　with　its　sides　smashed　in；　a　smashed　boom　box；　and　two　TVs　with　shattered　screens。　Before　the　grocery　lay　smashed　eggs；　vegetables；　squashed　loaves　of　bread　and　various　snack　foods。　The　furniture　store　had　produced　broken　lamps　and　mattresses；　more　TVs　and　crushed　stereos。　Luis　wasn't　surprised　to　find　little　or　nothing　in　front　of　the　liquor　store；　its　stock　was　precious。
　Luis　found　himself　looking　carefully　at　usable；　intact　things　in　the　street。　When　he　realized　what　he　was　doing　he　felt　shame；　but　he　began　to　understand　how　looters　felt。　If　he　took　the　items　at　his　feet；　he　told　himself；　he'd　be　doing　the　city　a　favor　by　cleaning　the　streets。　If　he　gave　into　that　logic；　soon　he'd　begin　to　think　about　items　sitting　in　stores　with　broken　windows；　how　someone　was　just　going　to　steal　them　anyway。
　As　Luis　walked；　the　streets　slowly　filled　with　people；　the　crowd　picking　through　the　debris；　looking　for　overlooked　items　of　value。　A　few　children　mixed　in；　finding　treasures　in　what　others　discarded。　There　was　no　hostility　in　the　crowd；　only　resignation　and　dismay。　Owners　of　some　shops　were　looking　over　what　was　left　of　their　stock。　One　old　Vietnamese　man　was　tossing　what　was　left　of　his　candy　store　into　the　street。　A　small　crowd　gathered；　scrambling　for　the　few　fixtures　and　sweets。
　A　burning　car　served　as　a　marker　to　Luis：　On　its　far　side　the　devastation　reached　a　new　level。　Every　block　contained　at　least　one　overturned　car。　Here　the　stores　weren't　merely　looted；　they　were　gutted　by　angry　or　desperate　people；　not　〃shoppers。〃　Luis　felt　the　tension　increase　palpably。　On　the　first　corner　beyond　the　burning　car；　two　ruined　buildings　sat　smoldering。　He　couldn't　remember　what　had　been　there　before。
　Now　the　people　looked　sullen　and　withdrawn。　Luis　wondered　if　they　were　the　ones　who　had　destroyed　the　neighborhood；　or　the　survivors。　Then　he　noticed　something　else…　across　the　street　were　two　Latino　young　men　wearing　colors。
　Luis　recognized　the　green　jackets　of　the　Diablos；　and　he　paused　at　a　car；　checking　out　the　street　for　others　in　the　gang。　Except　for　their　colors；　the　two　leaning　on　a　car　smoking　were　no　different　from　dozens　of　other　young　around。　Still；　passersby　gave　them　a　wide　berth；　and　then　ignored　them。
　Luis　knew　he　should　do　the　same；　his　promise　to　Melinda　to　e　back　safely　made　him　extra　cautious。　He　watched　the　Diablos　a　few　more　minutes　and　then　he　started　out　again　keeping　to　the　sides　of　the　street；　eyes　peeled　for　green　jackets　or　other　gang　colors。　As　he　walked；　he　tried　to　remember　where　the　turf　borders　had　been。　He　was　getting　close　to　his　building　now；　and　he　was　sure　this　was　Zombie　territory。　Zombies　were　a　white　gang　and　sworn　enemies　of　the　Diablos。　Luis　turned　to　look　behind　him；　still　checking　his　bearings；　when　he　spotted　three　green　jackets。　He　moved　on　more　quickly　now；　trying　not　to　look　scared。　Two　of　them　were　the　same　Diablos　he　passed　earlier；
　Luis's　heart　started　pounding。　He　realized　his　mistake…in　a　crowd　of　the　poor；　he　looked　prosperous。　Luis　started　walking　again；　casually　at　first；　but　then　gradually　picking　up　the　pace。　It　was　possible　the　gang　members　were　simply　going　the　same　way　as　Luis　and　not　following　him。　He　walked　a　block　and　then　cut　across　the　street　to　the　other　side；　pausing　to　pretend　to　look　in　a　car　with　smashed　windows；　but　noticing　the　Diablos　on　the　other　side　of　the　street　watching　him。　Luis　started　off　again；　wishing　Steve　had　e　with　him。　The　Diablos　might　have　passed　on　two　men　together。
　After　half　a　block；　he　looked　over　his　shoulder。　By　now；　he　and　the　Diablos　knew　what　was　going　on。　Now　they　were　behind　him；　and　Luis　started　to　jog。　He　was　only　about　a　mile　from　his　building。　If　he　could　make　it　there；　he　might　be　safe　behind　the　locked　doors。　He　pumped　up　to　a　running　speed　he　knew　he　could　maintain　for　a　while；　but　when　he　reached　the　next　block；　the　Diablos　were　in　pursuit。　Already　the　people　in　the　streets　were　seeking　cover。　The　hunt　was　on　and　the　rest　of　the　herd　was　scattering。
　Luis　pushed　himself　to　full　speed。　He　didn't　bother　to　look　behind　him。　He　was　going　to　run　until　he　couldn't　run　anymore。　He　was　heading　up　the　next　block　when　he　was　tackled；　landing　hard　on　the　sidewalk。　He　began　kicking　and　flailing　at　his　assailant　but　soon　there　were　three　gang　members；　their　fists　pounding　him。　Luis　fought　back　until　something　hard　as　steel　slammed　into　his　skull　and　he　was　lost　in　the　blackness　of　unconsciousness。
　
　27。　　　FLOWERS　FROM　THE　SKY
　
　If　you　were　able　to　hold　a　teaspoonful　of　matter　from　a　block　hole；　it　would　weigh　as　much　as　the　entire　earth。　Near　such　dense　matter　the　laws　governing　time　and　space　are　radically　different　from　those　we　use　to　describe　our　universe。
　…Dr。　Lewis　Connors
　
　Heading　east　at　20；000　feet
　POSTQUILT：　MONDAY；　6：30　A。M。　PST
　
　While　Terry's　body　was　in　a　military　jet　traveling　at　600　mph　toward　Washington；　D。C。；　his　mind　was　in　a　different　place　entirely。　He　was　worried　about　John。　The　rumor　about　Portland　being　missing　was　impossible　to　believe　but　also　impossible　to　forget。　A　city　can't　be　missing；　Terry　told　himself　over　and　over。　There　must　have　been　an　avalanche；　or　an　earthquake；　or　something；　he　reasoned。　Maybe　Mount　Saint　Helens　had　erupted　again　and　the　roads　were　blocked　by　ash。　No；　a　city　couldn't　just　be　missing；　but　then　there　shouldn't　be　a　mountain　in　the　middle　of　I…5　either。　If　something　had　happened　to　Portland；　John　might　need　Terry's　help。　Knowing　that　made　his　decision　difficult。
　He　and　Ellen　had　fought　over　the　course　of　action。　Ellen　wanted　them　to　try　to　get　to　Portland；　to　find　their　son。　But　influenced　by　Bill's　authority；　Terry　had　finally　accepted　that　he　would　be　of　more　use　in　Washington　than　in　Oregon。
　〃This　kid　knows　something；　Terry；〃　Bill　had　argued。　〃He's　barely　hanging　on　to　reality；　and　we　need　to　know　what　he　knows。〃
　〃Our　son　needs　us　too；　Bill；〃　Ellen　retorted。
　〃You　can't　even　get　to　Portland。　The　road's　blocked。　There　is　a　traffic　jam　twelve　miles　long。〃
　〃We　could　try　the　coast　highway　or　a　back　road；　or　maybe　fly；〃　Ellen　said　hopefully。
　〃I　think　Ellen's　right；　Bill；〃　Terry　said　tentatively。　〃I've　got　a　boy　in　Portland。　I　need　to　know　if　he's　all　right。〃
　Bill　was　a　hard　person　to　disagree　with。　He　didn't　use　verbal　gymnastics。　He　just　spoke　with　logic　and　certainty　and　Terry's　own　doubts　convinced　him　Bill　was　right。
　〃I　say　the　best　way　to　help　your　boy　is　to　find　out　what　has　happened。　Help　me　take　this　kid　to　Washington　and　I'll　help　you　find　your　boy。　We　can　fly　that　kid　out　to　Washington　and　fly　back　by　the　time　you　could　find　a　way　to　Portland。　It's　only　going　to　get　worse。　People　will　panic　soon。　Are　you　ready　to　deal　with　looters　and　people　scared　beyond　reason？〃
　Terry　was　weakening　and　it　showed　on　his　face；　but　Ellen　was　even　more　resolved；
　〃We've　got　to　help　our　son；　Terry；　don't　let　him…〃
　〃What　about　your　daughter？〃　Bill　countered。　〃What's　her　name？〃
　〃Carolyn；〃　Angie　cut　in。
　〃Yeah；　Carolyn；〃　Bill　continued。　〃She's　in　the　Washington；　D。C。；　area；　isn't　she？　What　about　her？〃
　〃I　don't　know；　Bill；〃　Terry　stammered。
　〃I　can　get　us　a　helicopter。〃
　That　did　it。　Terry　wasn't　even　sure　he　could　find　another　way　into　Portland。　Ellen；　however；　was　outraged。　She　stopped　talking　to　him　entirely；　and　when　he　left　she　didn't　say　goodbye。
　
　Bill　used　his　military　ID　and　three　phone　calls　to　get　Kenny　Randall　released　in　his　custody。　The　same　procedure　got　them　a　Piper　Cub　at　the　Medford　Airport　and　a　military　707　at　Mountain　Home　Air　Force　Base　in　Idaho。　Now　Terry　found　himself　baby…sitting　a　sleeping　Kenny　as　he　reconsidered　his　decision。
　Kenny　stirred；　momentarily　distracting　Terry。　Kenny's　eyes　moved　rapidly　back　and　forth　under　the　lids。　Kenny　was　dreaming；　and　that　meant　he'd　be　awake　soon。　Terry　wondered　whether　Kenny's　dream　could　be　more　fantastic　than　the　events　of　the　last　two　days。
　Bill　had　been　up　front　talking　with　the　pilots　and　returned　with　a　grim　look。
　〃It's　worse　than　I　thought。　The　pilots　are　picking　up　reports　from　all　over　the　country　。　。　。　strange　reports…　Huge　sheets　of　ice；　deserts　appearing　out　of　nowhere；　floods。　There's　also　another　missing　city　report。　New　York。〃
　Terry's　heart　twisted　in　his　chest。　One　missing　city　report　seemed　fantastic；　two　somehow　seemed　credible。
　〃Any　response　yet？〃　Bill　gestured　toward　Kenny。
　〃No。　But　he's　ing　out　of　it。　He's　dreaming。　You　have　to　be　in　a　light　stage　of　sleep　to　dream。　Once　he　wakes　up　he'll　be　lucid　for　a　few　minutes。　But　the　more　thinking　he　does；　the　more　anxiety　he　will　feel。　He'll　handle　that　anxiety　by　shutting　out　the　outside　world。　We　better　know　what　we　want　to　ask　right　when　he　wakes。　We　may　get　only　one　chance。〃
　〃Let　him　sleep。　We're　almost　to　Washington；　and　I　have　a　doctor　standing　by　to　meet　us。〃
　Bill　and　Terry　spent　the　next　twenty　minutes　writing　down　questions。　They　decided　on　a　strategy　to　build　Kenny's　ego；　confirming　he　was　right　and　then　manipulating　his　paranoid　tendencies　to　get　the　information　they　needed。
　〃Where　am　I？〃
　The　sound　of　Kenny's　voice　rang　like　a　slap　across　the　face。　He　was　looking　around　the　cabin。　He　seemed　generally　confused；　but　not　psychotic。
　Immediately；　Bill　employed　their　plan。
　〃I'm　Bill　Conrad　and　this　is　Terry　Roberts。　And　you're　on　your　way　to　Washington；　D。C。　The　President　wants　to　meet　you　and　shake　your　hand。〃
　Kenny　now　looked　confused　and　pleased；　but　disbelieving。
　〃That's　right；　Kenny。　You　warned　people。　You　did　your　best　to　save　people。　How　did　you　manage　to　figure　it　out　like　that？〃
　Suddenly　Kenny　lunged　at　the　window；　trying　to　see　the　ground　below。　Then　he　unbuckled　his　seat　belt　and　ran　from　window　to　window；　finally　settling　in　a　seat　toward　the　rear　of　the　plane；　his　nose　pressed　against　the　window。　Terry　sat　beside　him　and　Bill　leaned　over　from　the　seat　in　front。　Suddenly　Kenny's　head　snapped　around　to　look　at　Terry。
　〃My　sister？〃
　〃She's　fine。　She'll　be　waiting　for　you　when　you　return　to　Oregon。〃
　Kenny　looked　relieved；　and　then　an　emotion　Terry　couldn't　identify　reshaped　his　expression。　After　a　minute；　Terry　pressed　ahead　with　his　questioning。
　〃How　did　you　figure　it　out；　Kenny？　You　must　be　a　genius。〃　Terry　tried　to　say　it　with　conviction。
　Kenny　pushed　his　nose　against　the　window　again　and　began　to　talk。
　〃I'm　not　a　genius；　I　just　notice　things　other　people　don't。　Like　the　corn。〃
　〃The　corn？〃　Terry　probed。
　〃Yeah；　the　corn。　Me；　Jack；　and　Robbie　went　hunting　and　on　the　way　it　started　to　rain　corn。　Just　poured　out　of　the　sky。〃
　Kenny　paused　and　twisted　his　head；　like　he　had　spotted　something　on　the　ground　behind　the　plane。　Terry　was　worried　about　the　next　question；　but　Kenny　needed　to　start　talking　again　soon。
　〃You　were　the　only　one　who　noticed　it？〃
　〃You　think　I'm　crazy；　don't　you！〃　Kenny's　voice　was　filled　with　venom。　〃Of　course　the　other　guys　noticed　it。　You　think　it　could　rain　corn　and　not　be　not