The Home

FORTY-NINE

Starlene pressed her damp palm around the gun. Was this the answer to her prayer? A sign from God?

God didn't send you anything you couldn't handle.

What could she do? There didn't appear to be a safety switch. She knew how to point and pull the trigger, but could she actually shoot another human being?

"I see another future," Dipes said.

"Great," Isaac said. "Please tell me in this one we all live happily ever after, even the Jews."

"That never happens in any future."

"Well, how about this? Starlene makes like one of Charlie's Angels and blows away the bad guys."

"Sort of. Except, we better get out of the basement."

"Because it's going to collapse, right?"

"No. Because it's all going to be a deadscape."

Starlene said, "You guys head for the stairs. I'll be right behind you. I have to do something first."

Isaac grabbed Dipes's hand and Starlene pushed the two of them into the corridor. The basement was a crazed kaleidoscope of lights and noise. She waited until she saw the stairwell door swing closed, then slipped to the opening of the main area, where the lights strobed and the machinery whined. She peered down the corridor and saw Kracowski slumped to the floor, holding his head in his hands. McDonald lay inert by the cell where Vicky and Freeman were locked away. The large curved panels, like something off a space station, shook with whatever Dr. Mills was pumping into them. Mills himself stood behind the computer, eyes closed, a twisted smile on his lips.

"What now, God?" she asked, holding the gun in front of her.

A hand fell on her shoulder, she turned, half-expecting to see the face of God, or maybe the Miracle Woman, but it was Randy. His punch landed and her mind screamed blue and she heard the distant clatter of the gun falling to the floor just before her head cracked against the cold concrete.