The Sky Is Falling by Joe Nobody

Author:Joe Nobody
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Kemah Bay Mareting LLC

The entrance to Village Palms was, to put it mildly, extravagant.

When he and Avery had first driven up to the development, Levi had almost demanded that they bypass the community. “I can’t afford to live here,” the frustrated father had complained. “Look at that fountain and those statues by the gate. This place looks more like a Roman palace than an old folks’ home.”

“Retirement community,” Avery had corrected him, exasperation thick in his voice.

Indeed, the builders had clearly sought to make a strong first impression. Most would agree that they had succeeded.

Rather than common blacktop or cement leading off the state highway, cobblestones had been laid to greet visitors and residents. Two oversized lions adorned each side of the circular entrance, a large fountain dominating the middle of the drive.

Water shot into the air, the arching streams blasting from the mouths of two jumping, bronze dolphins, their graceful forms seemingly suspended in mid-air. Behind the two aquatic mammals stood Thalassa, the Greek goddess of the sea, in all her splendor and glory.

For several hundred yards in both directions, a nine-foot stucco wall separated the Palms from the rural roadway. Levi could only assume it had been constructed for noise control or privacy.

Centered in the middle of the wall was the front, and only, gate.

Heavy iron bars blocking the entrance were evidently designed to give residents a sense of security. At both the entry and exit sides, a stout, metal pole supported a box containing a small digital display, numeric keypad, and emergency telephone. The mechanism, once engaged, prompted the cantilever slide gate to move to one side, allowing entrance to the Palms.

According to Kimberly, the system had been originally intended to remain closed at all times. Visitors, delivery trucks, and other guests were to drive up and use the keypad to either enter the secret code, flash a keycard, or call their hosts in order to gain access.

The sophisticated gate system could dial a homeowner’s phone. Once connected, the host then would be able to open the barrier and allow access.

Unfortunately, the technology was all too complex for some of the residents and their occasional guests.

“We ended up leaving the gate open during the daylight hours and programmed it to close only after dark,” the community manager had admitted. “Even then, I was getting calls at home from frustrated homeowners who couldn’t get the damned thing to open.”

Now, as he gazed at the metal portal for the village, Levi acknowledged that the good people of the Palms would finally benefit from such restrictive access to their homes. Regrettably, he didn’t know squat about programming the damn thing.

Stopping the Eagle near the outgoing control box, the colonel studied the mechanism for several seconds before shaking his head. “This isn’t where or how the gate is controlled,” he grumbled.

The sound of another golf cart interrupted his examination of the system. Turning, he spotted Daniel rolling up to help.

“Any idea how to operate this?” Levi asked, once the vet was aside him.

Before Dan could answer, the two men detected the low rumble of an approaching engine.

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