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d in some areas； growing into firestorms that the survivors were ill equipped to fight。 Numerous avalanches of rock； snow； and mud poured down from the hills and mountains； some onto people and houses。
The third wave of destruction was the most frightening。 The breakdown of civilization came slowly； but inevitably。 Those regions without power were the most dangerous。 With no lights； no burglar alarms； and the police needed everywhere； the professionals went right to work； breaking and entering at will。 But soon the looters appeared； mon folk who blended anonymously into crowds and began to help themselves to the luxuries of life that had eluded them。 Other less…noticed tragedies took place with increasing frequency。 People died waiting for transplants that never came； or for surgical teams that no longer existed。 Blood； at first ample； quickly became precious as those suffering from the disasters were ministered to。 Medicines too quickly became as rare as blood。 Some pharmaceutical panies were gone； others lost stock or couldn't get supplies。 Those that could deliver found the interstate system shredded with precious few alternatives。 Deaths from formerly curable diseases began to mount。
Unlike a drought； or storm damage； people were more affected than crops。 Concentrated in cities； people were lost by the millions。 Some canned and preserved foods were lost with warehouses； but more problematic was distribution。 Food shortages； unheard of in the United States； became mon as panicky citizens stockpiled。 Those with much had to make do with little。 Those with little soon faced hunger。 Those with nothing faced famine。
New York City
POSTQUILT： SUNDAY； 8：10 P。M。 EST
Luis watched his kids sleep。 He was using a candle for light； and its flickering gave the room an eerie look。 Everything in the room was normal though。 His kids were doubled up with their cousins。 Ramon was in with Randy。 Just the same size； the five…year…olds had giggled for an hour before falling asleep。 Jose was on the floor in a sleeping bag。 Though the nine…year…old went to bed with a worried face； he slept soundly now on the floor next to his cousin Nicky。 Luis went next door to check on Charlotte； who was in a trundle bed next to her favorite cousin； Mindy。 They were still awake and talking about boys。 At eleven and ten they were each other's best friend at family gatherings。 Katrina was in a sleeping bag near the far wall。 She had no cousin to match her three years； but she'd gone to sleep easily enough； listening to her sister and cousin。 That left only Cinda； who was asleep in a dresser drawer in the room Luis and Melinda would share。
Luis returned to Melinda in the living room； assuring her about the children with a nod。 Placing his candle with the others； he flopped down on the couch beside her； his head on her shoulder。 Melinda began stroking his head。 They sat silently like that until Melinda's brother and his wife came in with coffee heated on a propane stove and homemade zucchini bread。
〃Sounds quiet in there；〃 Steve said。
Luis sat up taking a cup of coffee from Tanya。 〃The little ones are asleep。 I know ours were exhausted by the walk。 It's funny； I thought Charlotte and Mindy would be scared the most； but you know I think Jose was。 He hardly said a word after we saw the dinosaur。〃
〃I still can't believe it；〃 Tanya said。 〃I mean； I believe you； but I can't believe it happened。 You know what I mean； don't you？〃
Melinda smiled at her sister…in…law。 〃Yes。 We can't believe it either。 You should have seen it； though。 First the city out our window was gone and then this huge monster came walking through the grass。 It was bigger than any animal I've ever seen。 And more terrible…looking than any dinosaur I've ever seen。 I mean seen in movies and books。〃
Steve began munching on a piece of the zucchini bread； then started talking with his mouth full。
〃You know； it's almost worth going back over to see it；〃 he said。 〃If we had some power I could probably see it on TV by now。 The only thing we're picking up on the radio is there's been a blackout。 Nothing about a big chunk of the city disappearing and especially nothing about dinosaurs。〃
〃If you really want to go； you can e with me；〃 Luis said。 〃I've got to go back。〃
〃No；〃 Melinda said immediately。 〃You can't。 It's too dangerous。 You saw what the streets looked like。〃
〃You know I've got to。 Mrs。 Weatherby is there。 She's got to get out。〃
〃No。 You asked her。 You tried to help her。 You've got no reason to feel guilty。 Did Mr。 Moreno offer to help？ Did the McGregors？ No。 You did； Luis。 God will love you for it。 Now God wants you to think only of your family。〃
〃God wants or you want？〃
〃Luis…〃
〃Mrs。 Weatherby is a nice old lady who is defenseless。 How can I leave her there？ I'll go； I'll get her 。 。 。 carry her out by force if I have to 。 。 。 and then I'll e back。 Can I bring her here； Tanya？ Only until we find her family。〃
Tanya started to answer yes but Melinda talked over her。
〃Luis； you're scaring me。 Don't leave me and the kids alone。 What if you don't e back？ What would we do？ Cinda would never remember her dada。〃
〃It'll be okay； Melinda。 I'll be extra careful。 Just right there and back； I promise nothing will happen to me。〃
Luis was only stubborn when it came to his honor； and somehow this was the honorable thing for him to do。 But she managed one last concession。
〃You'll wait till morning？ Not in the dark； Luis； it's just too crazy out there。〃
〃Not until morning；〃 he conceded。
Then they snuggled together； both secretly worrying it could be their last night together。 Then Steve put out the candles and opened the curtains a little。 The street below was empty but in the distance they could see fires；
〃Don't go； Luis；〃 Melinda whispered； then took his hand and squeezed it。
Luis put his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close。 He never answered。 He didn't have to。
Luis left the next morning by himself。 The street was sprinkled with abandoned cars； the streetlights off。 There were no cars moving on the street but Luis could hear the sound of traffic somewhere in the distance。 He didn't bother to try the subway； they'd discovered the day before the trains weren't running。
He walked the streets； watching the shadows and avoiding the alleys and dark doorways； but he made good time。 The apartment building's doors were closed and curtains drawn。 The corner groceries； video stores； and delis were locked up but intact。 The only businesses open were the two bars he passed。 Luis gained confidence with each step through the quiet streets until he turned a corner to face unbelievable destruction。
The street was filled with broken glass； pieces of concrete； and goods looted from the stores。 In the distance Luis could see a smoldering overturned car。 A few people were milling around； looking through the loot in the street or shop windows。 Luis thought of finding another way to Mrs。 Weatherby's but whatever had happened here was over； and the people in the streets looked anything but dangerous。 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 s