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Jack rolled his eyes Naturally, his leader of the protest

Becka waved her arrest away, not the least bit apologetic "After we killed the nuclear waste idea, the owners gave us a private tour of the works It’s like an underground palace, what they call room-and-pillar construction The mines run as far north as the Sisters, and there are ventilation shafts that coh so people out through the mines and up on the Sisters," Ross concluded

"It’ll be like the Mines of Moria," Fitch said "Hopefully without the orcs"

Jack nodded "It’s not perfect I mean, you’d still have to work out the food, and there’d be long lines for the Porta-Johns"

"We have tons of bottled water and MREs in the basement of City Hall," Ross said "In case of terrorist attack"

"Well, I’d say this qualifies," Ellen muttered

"The food bank is full," Becka said "We just finished the annual drive But how are we going to get people to go into the mine?"

"Imminent nuclear accident," Fitch proposed "At Ohio Power All of northwestern Ohio could be contaminated It’d be better than a cheo door-to-door and tell people they have an hour to pack…"

"Half an hour," Seph put in

"Half an hour, and then they have to go down into the mines for their own protection until the all clear"

Seph leaned against the mantel "Nobody’s allowed to leave We can’t let word leak out about e’re doing The Anaill be vulnerable once they leave the sanctuary"

Jack shuddered It was his idea, and if it all went bad …

Ross’s thick fingers twitched, beating a tattoo on the table "Once they reach the Sisters, we could fly them out then, or send boats from the mainland, and…"

"No" Seph shook his head "No way If the Roses get wind of it, they’d be even more vulnerable out on the water

"I’ll take care of the phone service on the islands, too," he added "We can’t let anyone know they’re there Whichbefore the food runs out," he said, half to hi crookedly "Once this starts, it’ll be over in no tio door-to-door," Fitch said He was dressed in his urban-pirate garb, khakis and cae and military-surplus boots, heavy chains around his neck, a bandana tied rakishly around his head Next to him, Will looked like a member of the Jaycees

"You’ll need help," Seph said, inspecting hi Some people in toould likely slam the door if Fitch appeared on their stoop in the ht "We have to reach everyone before people begin leaving for work"

"Fitch, why don’t you and Will handle college housing?" Becka suggested "When you finish the dorms, start in on the streets south of campus I’ll work the north end"

"I’ll help, too," Leesha announced

Everyone swung around to look at her Jack had forgotten she was there

"You?" Jack blurted

"You can use my help, you know," she said defensively "I can be very persuasive"

"We can use every willing hand," Nick said

"Deal," Fitch said "You coo" He tossed Leesha a bandana like the one he wore "Tie that on your head or ar into the fireplace, pretending not to be listening, then followed Fitch out the door

Oh, well, Jack thought If Fitch can forgive being kidnapped and dragged to the ghyll as a hostage, I can go with it

"Ellen and I ork the perimeter, to o back to the station and brief first shift," Ross said "I’ll send along some black and whites to help clear the houses, escort people to theaway We’ll stick with the story about a nuclear accident"

He banged through the door

The others left in twos and threes until it was just Seph, Jack, Ellen, and Jason

"Well," Ellen said, sliding Way, too" Ellen looked froo with thele" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>