The Night of the Sciurus by Linda Watkins

Author:Linda Watkins [Watkins, Linda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Argon Press
Published: 2019-04-30T16:00:00+00:00

11

The Evening News

I SAT THROUGH ten minutes of local sports wondering how in the world anyone could care about that crap right now. The segment was followed by a commercial then national politics. I drummed my fingers on the counter, waiting.

Finally, they got to local news. The top story was North Laketon.

“Good evening. Tonight, authorities and residents are asking the same question: What‘s happening in North Laketon? Rumors of a chemical spill, wildlife gone amuck, and even a possible alien invasion are all over the Internet. The governor has called upon the National Guard and ordered that the town be cordoned off. As of this hour, no one goes in and no one goes out.”

When I heard this, I gripped the edge of the counter. No one goes out. Those words reverberated across my mind.

Why? I asked myself. People are dying in here. Why are they doing this to us?

The scene switched to an apparent roadblock set up at one of the main arteries that led to my town.

“Due to the crisis nature of the situation, the National Guard is stationed at roadblocks and checking I.D.s on anyone attempting to go in or out of Laketon. When we come back from a brief break, we’ll check in with reporter, Ben Mathers, who’s on the scene in this once-peaceful lakeside community.”

They went into a commercial break and, not knowing what else to do, I poured myself another glass of wine and waited for the broadcast to continue. Maybe this Mathers character could shed some light on what was actually going on.

Finally, the newscast resumed.

“Returning to our top story of the evening. The entire lakeshore section of North Laketon is under quarantine. No one is allowed in or out. The governor has been apprised of the situation and has called upon the National Guard to enforce the quarantine by sealing off the roads that lead to that section. We tried to get an explanation as to the cause for this action, but city and state officials are keeping their lips zipped.

“However, WKPZ reporter Ben Mathers has managed to get beyond the roadblock that’s about a half-mile from the city limits. Ben, can you tell us what you’ve seen?”

The screen went blank, then suddenly the face of a young man, whom I assumed was Mathers, appeared. He was standing on a street corner in the shelter of a doorway just out of the rain. He wearing a green slicker, hood up, and holding a microphone. Surprised, I recognized the area behind where he stood – it was about one mile from my home – at what the locals called “The Four Corners.”

“This is the heart of North Laketon,” the reporter said. “Usually a busy place, but today it’s deserted. The reason is beyond imagination. It’s like something out of ‘The Twilight Zone.’”

“What do you mean, Ben?”

The reporter hesitated, taking a deep breath.

“Squirrels,” he finally said. “Vicious, aggressive squirrels.”

“Did you say ‘squirrels,’ Ben?”

“Yes, believe it or not, I did. I’ve spoken with several residents, none of whom will agree to come on camera.

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