Without warning

‘Sorry. I was being obtuse. What I mean, Ronnie, is that I don’t know if I can hold this place together. The council, let alone the city. I wonder if we shouldn’t be planning to get the hell out of Dodge. I mean, look at that thing…’

She kept her eyes on him, rather than looking at the eldritch glow coming from just over the horizon.

‘It took everyone, Ronnie. Everyone. Who’s to say it’s not going to jump out here and take the rest of us in two minutes?’

‘Nothing,’ she replied quietly. ‘Nothing but my faith in the Lord. I know you’re not a praying man, Kip. But I say some extra prayers on your behalf every Sunday to make up. And what the good Lord tells me is that nothing he does is without meaning. It all serves a purpose in the end. His purpose. And I do not believe his purpose would be served by laying another tribulation upon us. What is, is. This is for us to endure. For you to bear, Kipper. Whether you’re a believer or not.’

‘I wish I was, Ronnie,’ he said. ‘I wish I was.’

‘So does Jesus, Kipper.’

From anyone else, he’d have taken offence. But Ronnie and he went way back and he knew she meant only the best.

‘You coming in tomorrow?’ he asked.

‘As if you need to ask.’

‘I’m sorry. I’m on the edge of a decision here. I think I’m going to front Blackstone. Demand he release the councillors and ease off the restrictions on people.’

‘Set my people free?’ Ronnie smiled.

‘Something like that.’

‘And what if he throws you in the clink, too?’

‘Well, we all have our choices to make, don’t we?’

‘We do. And I’m sure you’ll make the right ones.’

Kipper didn’t reply at first, instead looking out the window at the largely empty city centre. ‘You look after Heather,’ he said at last. ‘She’s a good girl, but she’s lost.’

‘She wouldn’t be the first stray we took under our care. Or the last, I’ll wager. And you look after yourself, Kip. Don’t sit here all night. Get yourself home. Your family need you too.’

‘I will, Ronnie. Good night.’

He turned back to the window as she left, staring out into the rain. The city was dark, with only a few lights burning here and there in offices where he could see other people moving around working. As he watched, a few of the lights flickered out too. He tried to pick out the smouldering red light of the Wave but failed. The weather was really closing in.

Ronnie was right. Time to go home.

The walk back to his car was uncomfortable, the rain constant and stinging. They said a big chemical plant had gone up in the Portland blaze, and he thought he could feel it in the pores of his skin where the water soaked through.

It was an uneventful drive home to Mercer Island, thankfully. No riots. No ambushes. Only the usual military checkpoints, through which he sailed without delay, thanks to a new upgraded pass from Blackstone. He tortured himself the whole way, wondering if he should have followed Barney out the door. If they all should have.

He could see candles burning in the kitchen at home as he pulled up, and a curtain twitched aside. He turned off the motor and hurried up the driveway as the door opened.

‘Come in, Kip. Hurry up. That rain’s gone bad again, they say.’

‘Hang on, Barb,’ he said, shaking off as much moisture as he could on the porch, and removing his muddy boots.

‘Come on. I’ve kept some dinner warm by the fire. And I poured you a whisky.’

‘Thanks, darlin’. That’s just what I need.’

‘Barney called,’ she said.

‘Oh. He told you?’

‘Everything… I’m so sorry, Kip. All those people killed. You must feel awful.’

He dried off with an old towel she handed him, and closed the door. It felt good to shut out the weather.

‘Yeah. It wasn’t a great day,’ he replied wearily. ‘And this thing with Barney and the council, I’m just -’

Barb shushed him and took him by the arm through to the lounge room, where a small fire crackled and glowed in the hearth. A plate, covered in foil, sat near the flames, and a tumbler of whisky waited for him on the coffee table.

‘I’m sorry about this morning,’ said Barb. ‘I was a bitch. I shouldn’t have put all that pressure on you. I’m sorry’

‘Damn.’ He squeezed his eyes shut.

‘What?’

He looked at his wife helplessly. ‘I forgot the fucking Piglet DVD.’

She stared at him for a full second before they both burst out laughing.

* * * *

28 HONOLULU, HAWAII