Neighborhood Watch 8: After the EMP by EE Isherwood

Author:EE Isherwood [Isherwood, EE]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Isherwood Media
Published: 2023-08-18T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

We all watched the plane as it continued its steep climb toward the clouds. The fake version of Emily still whipped back and forth at the end of the line, though the plane itself was starting to level off. Despite what Emily had said, I didn’t see any evidence the driftwood was being brought onto the aircraft. In fact, the rear cargo door at the back of the plane was still closed.

“They should pull it on board,” Emily said with disappointment.

“But it’s not going, is it?” Gretchen wondered.

We all strained our necks looking up. The plane had continued along the line of the beach, to our north, so we saw the plane from behind, and a little of its top, since it was going upward.

“They have to bring it in,” the VP complained.

The rear door still wasn’t opening.

“Look!” Jammer yelled.

Grace pointed.

The dummy began to tumble backward.

The plane stopped its climb an instant later, as if an order to release the vice president had been given and the aircraft was moving on to other problems.

Fake Emily rolled and twirled as it came down.

“Crapple,” Real Emily cursed. “You were right.”

The driftwood dragged much of the tow rope down with it, as if the line had either been cut from the plane, or it had come undone by accident. I might have believed it was accidental if the rear cargo door had ever opened, but the steep climb and sealed door suggested they never intended to let her in.

“I’m sorry,” I said.

Emily sidestepped her way toward the edge of the trees. We’d all come out a little to be able to see the falling object. In seconds, it struck the beach far to our north. My hat had come undone from the log and drifted into the woods.

“I would have died,” the shaken VP said.

“They didn’t radio, either,” I acknowledged. “If they’d seen the driftwood and knew it was a fake, I would have expected them to call and ask why you’d tricked them. As it is, they didn’t need to radio because they assumed it was you going up and then back down.”

“This can’t be happening,” she answered.

“Come on, get off the beach,” I coaxed everyone.

The big four-engine beast was already turning away from us, going out to sea.

Emily had taken a step and a half when the world turned white.

A crack of thunder followed.

Then I was on the ground, looking at the sand.

I did half a pushup to try to get up, but my arms were still fried from the paddling.

Vaguely, I heard voices.

“Frank!” Carmen yelled. “Frank! Get up!”

My ears rang constantly, but I’d heard her.

“What happened?” I asked, getting into a sitting position, still stunned.

The door of the VW bus was wrapped around a tree about twenty feet away. Beyond it, there was nothing but black smoke and flames.

“A bomb!” she said as she tugged at my arm.

My head was stuffy, like it had been filled with a bad cold. It also seemed extra bright, as if I’d lost an object that had once kept me in the shade.

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