"And if we get caught?"
"We're both under age. The worst they can do is send us home."
"Yes, to Dad."
"NE7G."
"NE, go ahead Ned."
"Sarah, it's really awful downtown. I don't know where to begin. NE7G, over."
"NE, what's your location?"
"NE7G. Well, as best I can tell I'm in Pioneer Square, or what's left of it. The Smith Tower held, but that's about all. This is the oldest part of the city and it just crumbled. We've got injured walking toward the courthouse and more just sitting in the streets. People are covered with blood. There's a guy with a megaphone somewhere, but I can't get what he's saying. Army just dropped a dozen or so guys from a chopper and they've got more coming in. Over."
"Glad to hear you're getting help. NE, we got a report that the bus tunnel collapsed. Can you confirm that? Over."
"Negative. I can see what's left of the Mainland Tower leaning against the Winningham Blue Building though. The tower has a huge crack in the middle and could fall at any time. But the Mainland Tower is on the other side of the bus tunnel which runs under third and I'm on Second...maybe I’m on third, I can't tell, everything shifted. Let me get back to you on that, NE7G, out."
Collin turned from the window to look at Max. Max had his head down, concentrating on something, so Collin walked to the control room. "There must be a dozen news choppers up there by now. We got enough power to turn on a TV?"
"Power yes, cable no...unless you've got an antenna."
Collin folded his arms and stared at the floor. "They still make TV antennas?"
"I don't have one either. On the other hand, we could use speaker wire. Of course that would only work for local stations, but it's worth a try."
"Great. I'll go see what I can find." With that, Collin headed down the stairs to his apartment.
"NV7SK"
"SK, go ahead," Sarah said.
"I finally made it to Broadmoor Golf Course. University Hospital set up another Triage area there. Sure could use the Mountlake Bridge cleared. I count 27 critical awaiting transport, 173 serious and more than 400 with minor injuries like broken bones. It looks like that war scene out of
Gone With the Wind
. NV7SK, over."
"Copy SK. What about the sink hole?"
"NV7SK. They got everybody out, but it looks like it’s growing wider. Sarah, I can see the Evergreen Point Floating Bridge from here, at least part of it. I think it held, but traffic is stopped so there must be a problem somewhere, over."
"Roger, SK. Okay, anybody in contact with the Red Cross in that area yet?"
"A7MMA."
"MMA, go ahead."
"A7MMA, First Hill Red Cross. We have serious staffing problems, only three reporting in so far. First Hill has major damage, mostly to older buildings and people have lost their minds. They don't know what to do or where to go. Most are too scared to do anything. And Sarah, looters raided our warehouse. We have very few supplies left and we've had a shooting. Ray Croft is dead. Over."
Max hung his head, "Maybe we do need a curfew."
"Copy, MAA." When Sarah glanced up, Max was waving to her. "This is Net Control, stand by."
"It's after seven. We need food, we need rest and most of all, we need to tell people where to go."
Sarah nodded, and then went back to her duties, "All stations, this is Net Control. We have less than an hour before our dear Mayor's curfew. Max wants a list of shelters. Unless you have an emergency, please stand by. Give me shelter locations only, over."
*
Sam was amazed at the size of the angry mob gathered outside Clifton's Hardware store, and he was careful to stay well away. So was KD7BN, a rotund man with light hair and a matching beard. Both men stood atop a hill, not ten feet apart, gazing into the threatening mob.
It was Sam who spoke first, "Think they'll kill him?"
"If they haven't already? I know I'd be tempted. Aren't there laws against price gouging in a disaster?"
"I think so. If not, there should be. $50.00 for a flashlight? It's obscene."
Just then, two shots rang out. The crowd froze for a moment, and then the double doors to the hardware store came open and the crowd moved forward, nearly trampling each other.
"Well, that answers that," Sam muttered. "By the way, could you let Max know his Dad is alive?"
"You're Max Taylor's Dad?"
Sam smiled and nodded, "Sure am. The boy's probably beside himself with worry about me."
"I'll do it as soon as I can, Mister Taylor."
"No hurry." Sam brought a finger up and tapped his earphones. "It can wait till they've finished with the shelters."
*
At length, Collin returned from downstairs empty handed. He looked at Max, slowly shook his head, and then mouthed the word, "Smashed."
Max motioned for him to help Sarah and Collin agreed. He walked up behind her, and then watched as she tried to write down the locations. Collin quietly moved his stool closer, pulled out his drawer, removed pencil and paper, and then whispered in Sarah's ear. "I'll take every other one."
Relieved, Sarah nodded.
"NP7WS."
"WS, go ahead, over."
"Passing along a list from the Navy, Sarah. Ready? Over."
"Roger, WS, go."
The loud clapping sound of an incoming chopper interrupted them. The red and white news chopper hovered briefly over the collapsed buildings across the street, and then turned toward the attic station. Slowly, it moved closer and closer, until the noise became deafening. Collin raised an arm and motioned for the chopper to move back, but the cameraman hanging half out of the side door was not satisfied. Instead, he pointed the camera at Sarah.
Furious, Collin stood up and blocked the view. Livid, he glowered and narrowed his eyes -- until at last, the chopper flew away. As soon as the noise dissipated, Collin grabbed the station mike. Mister President, if you're listening we need a no-fly zone around the station. We're trying to save lives here, not make the evening news!" He shoved the mike back where he got it and sat down hard on his stool.
Sarah watched the muscles in his jaw twitch, and then got back to work. "Okay, WS give me your list again."
Patiently, KD7BN waited outside Clifton's Hardware until finally, Sarah finished listing shelters and asked for regular calls again. Anxiously, he pushed his speak button, "KD7BN reporting a probable murder at Clifton's Hardware, over."
When two Hams tried to call in at the same time, Sarah reeled back, "That was another double, and I didn't get either of you. Let me have the one about the murder first, please, over."
"This is KD7BN. I'm at Clifton's Hardware and I think they killed that guy over the flashlights. I haven't been inside yet because people are still going in and out. Oh, and tell Max I just talked to his Dad. He's fine, over."
"Copy KD. Is he there with you now? Over."
"Negative, Sarah. He left here about half an hour ago, headed up 15th on foot. He said a fissure opened up on the golf course and swallowed two guys right before his eyes. He also told me about some unearthed caskets over at Evergreen Cemetery. KD7BN, over."
The next Ham was WJ7V.
"WJ, go ahead."
"Sarah, we're still trying to get that little girl out of the department store. She's alive and a chopper dropped off a doctor. We've got nearly a hundred people pulled out of the top floors, but we're gonna need lights so we can keep digging after dark, over."
"Roger Mattie. WJ7V needs lights at the Cleveland Department Store. Anybody else? Over."
"SC7NJT."
"Well, if it isn't the Mayor's office. Is that you Mister Mayor or just the hapless messenger? Over."
The Mayor's attitude and tone came across much more mellow than when he first called, "Sarah, I want you to know I…that is we, think you're doing a great job. You, and the boys at KMPR, over."
Sarah snickered, glanced at Max and whispered, "Boys." She giggled, deepened her southern drawl, and then leaned into her mike, "Why thank you Mister Mayor. Why ever did you call…Hun? Over."
"Now you listen here, Sarah. You tell your people I've ordered all looters shot on sight. We'll have none of that in Seattle, not on my watch! Over."
"Oh really? And how are you going to get the cops up the streets? We need the cops, Mister Mayor, to help us save people, not shoot 'em. Net Control out!"
Sarah slammed her pencil down and folded her arms in a huff.
Several seconds later, A7BB broke the silence, "Net Control can't say 'out.' Everybody knows that, Sarah."
Sarah started to laugh, "Good heavens, BB, you off that cliff yet?"
"Don't I wish. The good news is, I think the aftershocks have stopped. The bad news is, the Mayor forgot to give his non-existent call sign. A guy can get in a lot of trouble with the FCC over that. A7BB, over."
Both Max and Sarah started to roar with laughter.
"NE7G, emergency."
Sarah quickly grabbed her pencil again, "Go ahead, NE."
"NE7G, the whole city fell in. It's a blood bath down there. We've got people on the sidewalks covered with glass and bricks ... and cement. All I can see are hands and legs sticking out. They're dead Sarah, they're all dead."
"NE, give us a location, over."
"I'm on a bluff on Third Avenue, NE7G, over."
"NE, take a deep breath and tell us -- what bluff?"
"The city sank, Sarah. It must have. God in heaven, what are we going to do?"
Sarah waited for him to say, "Over." When he didn't, she went on, "NE, what's wrong with you? You sound like you're having trouble breathing, over."
"Just a broken rib, I think. I can't do this, Sarah. I just can't. NE7G, out."
*
In the last rays of sunlight, Seely's daughter, Michelle, helped her husband bring the barbecue out of the back yard to the front. Theo started a charcoal fire while the girls sat in lawn chairs and played with dolls.
When he finished, Theo Wesley wrapped his arms around his wife, "I really owe your Mom an apology. I've never been so scared and the next time she tells me to check the earthquake kit, I'll actually do it."
"Me too. How long till the phones work again?"
"Who knows? Meanwhile, my business is looking up. Lots of rich people will want their yards groomed after this. Maybe they'll even want me to replant. I don't think two crews will be able to handle it all."
Michelle snuggled deeper into her husband's arms and watched the sunset. "Have you decided what we should do?"
"Decided, no, thought about it yes. I think we should make all future decisions together. Isn't that what you're always telling me?"
Michelle smiled and moved away just a little to watch his eyes, "I guess earthquakes have a purpose after all."
"The truth is, I didn't know how much my family meant to me until today. Honey, I think we should stay here. If your Mom makes it out, she'll look for us here."
"What about our supplies?"
Theo grinned and pulled her close again, "No one knows how much we've got. When they ask, we'll share, but pretend to share our last crumb. What else can we do?"
"I think you're wonderful."
"I think you're wonderful too." He kissed her forehead, and then glanced up the street. A white-haired man with earphones, white shoes and a checkered red vest was headed their direction. "Would you look at that? He looks like something out of a golf magazine."
Michelle turned and studied the face, "Hey, that's Mister Taylor from the bank. You know, the guy who loaned us the money for the house."
"By golly, you're right." Theo released his wife and started to wave, "Mister Taylor, over here."
At first, Sam couldn't tell who was yelling at him. It didn't matter, he was tired enough to call just about anybody friend. Finally he saw who it was, hurried on, grabbed Theo's outstretched hand and vigorously shook it. "Am I ever glad to see a friendly face! You all okay? Anybody hurt?"
"We're fine," Theo answered. "Have a seat."
Gladly, Sam lowered his aching body into a soft lawn chair and removed his earphones, "I've never felt anything so wonderful in my life."
Michelle giggled. "Are you thirsty? We've got water."
"No thanks. I managed to buy some up the way. Tell me, have either of you been to Ballard? I've been worried sick about the bank, what with looters and all."
"No, we've been here all day." Theo leaned against the car and once more put his arm around his wife. "Where did you come from?"
"Evergreen golf course. Saw two men fall head first into a fissure. Don't think I'll ever forget that. The city's a mess, but I guess you already know."
Michelle lowered her head and stared at her feet, "We haven't heard much. The radio stations don't seem to know anything and we're worried about running the car battery down."
"My dear, you've been listening to the wrong station. My son Max owns KMPR and he's had the wherewithal to let us listen in on the Ham operators. I suspect I know just about everything that's happening. You just ask me, go ahead, ask me."
Michelle bit her lip and looked into her husband’s eyes. "My mother is in the Winningham Blue Building."
"Still standing."
Instantly Michelle's eyes brightened, "Thank God."
"Thank God indeed. Several others fell but NE7G mentioned that one by name. It's still there, all right. Say, you folks don't know of a place I can spend the night?"
"We'd be pleased if you stayed with us," Michelle answered. "I was just thinking about cooking some of the meat in the freezer before it spoils."
Sam's grin was as wide as his vest was bright, "My dear, I was hoping you would offer."
Tim eyed the freeze dried food Seely pulled out of her earthquake kit with a suspicious glare, "Are you sure that's edible?"
"Well, I've never tried it, but the guy at the store assured me it was."
"Aren't you the one who wanted to break into the candy machine?" he asked.
Seely's eyes lit up, "Indeed I am. Help me up, I wouldn't miss this for the world.
Worried, Jenna kept her hold on Seely's arm, "How's your heart? Are you okay?"
"I feel pretty good, but maybe you should bring the pills just in case."
Jenna reached down, grabbed the bottle, and then followed Seely and Tim through the rubble. Soon, they entered a short passageway leading to another hallway on the east side of the building.
Tim moved cautiously, repeatedly glancing up at the ceiling. It appeared stable. He walked into the lunchroom, turned left and grinned at the toppled and smashed snack machine with candy bars, chips and gum packages strewn across the room. "What's your pleasure, ladies?"
"All of it," Jenna giggled.
"Good idea." Tim swooped down, gathered snacks off the floor, and then handed them off. "Let’s eat, then have another look around. You never know what people hide in their offices."
*
"KR7BM."
"BM, go ahead."
"Sarah, the Freemont drawbridge is still stuck in the up position. However, people are gathering at Waterworks Park. They're bringing canned goods and have camp fires started. At least we don't have to worry about water. Lake Washington is fresh, not salt water, over."
"Copy, BM. You're right. Water shouldn't be a problem for people near Lake Washington or Lake Union. Thanks. WD7DHZ, you're next, I think."
"WD7DHZ, passing a message from the governor. All hospitals able to provide services in Tacoma, Olympia and surrounding areas are full. The Governor is shutting down Lincoln Hospital in Tacoma and transferring patients. Engineers say it isn't safe, over."
"DHZ, copy. Anybody else?"
"A7GLG."
"GLG, go ahead."
“A7GLG, we've got a sewage spill off West Point, over."
"GLG, where is that exactly? Is it salt water or fresh?"
"I'm just south of Shilshole Bay on the tip of Fort Lawton Military Reservation. It's dumping into salt water, Sarah. Hope you don't mind if I don't stick around. It stinks out here. A7GLG, over."
"GLG, I don't blame you a bit. Can you go to the east side of Discovery Park? We should have a shelter setting up there, but we haven't heard?"
"Roger Sarah, I'm on my way. A7GLG, out."
"This is net control, anybody else?"
"WC7NJT."
"You sure are a busy man today, Mister Mayor. What now? Over."
"It's me again, Sarah. The mayor wants to remind people we have industrial businesses on Lake Washington. As a precaution, we should boil the water. WC7NJT, over."
"I forgot about that. Tell the Mayor we appreciate the reminder."
*
For more than an hour, Tim and Jenna rummaged through the forty-third floor offices -- the ones that looked safe to enter. When they came back, they handed Seely an apple, a banana and one cell phone.
Tim anxiously sat down and licked his lips, "Hand me the booze, will you. I feel like celebrating."
Jenna huffed and sneered, "Celebrate what?"
"Seely feels better, my face doesn't hurt so much, you look a mess, and we stopped having aftershocks."
"What do you mean, I look a mess?"
"Jenna, you're always so, you know, well dressed and immaculately kept. Finally, you look like a regular girl."
Jenna giggled, "You like regular girls better?"
"Yes I do. My Sue is as regular as they come. She helps fix the car, works in the yard ..." Suddenly, his eyes turned sad.
"Don't go belly up on us, Tim." Seely finished pouring a drink into his paper cup and handing it to him. "We need you to stay level headed."
"I know. I was just wondering if she's okay. Turn the radio up will you. Maybe they'll say something about Northgate."
"She wasn't at that new department store, was she?"
"I don't think so. She said something about getting more plants for the back yard at Northgate Mall. She loves pansies." He took a deep breath, drank several gulps, and then reached for the radio. "Okay, I'll do it myself." With that, he turned the volume up.
*
The Mayor's curfew came and went with little change at KMPR. Hams still reported damage and injuries, Collin still took his station breaks and Max downed more ibuprofen. When the sun faded, Collin went downstairs, found a lamp with an unbroken bulb and brought it back up. Theirs, was the only electric light for blocks.
"NP7WS."
"WS, go ahead," Sarah answered.
"Navy wishes to know if you have enough food and water. Over."
"WS, tell Navy we're fine. We've got a well-stocked refrigerator full of drinks and generator power. Can you tell us about the fire at South Center? Over."
"NP7WS. The fires in West Seattle, Bremerton and South Center are still burning, but more help is on the way. Hospitals report 963 dead, but we could have duplicate reports. We have over five hundred collapsed buildings, not counting the ones downtown. Several search teams will arrive in the night and we are assessing which buildings show the greatest potential for saving lives. We..."