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Caleb was sitting on the front stoop, watching the night come on

That afternoon, he’d inspected the hardbox, which he hadn’t looked at in months He’d built it only to please his father; it had seemed silly at the time Tornadoes happened, yes, some people had even been killed, but ere the chances? Caleb had cleared the hatch of leaves and other debris and descended the ladder The interior was cool and dark A kerosene lantern and jugs of fuel stood along one wall; the hatch sealed from the inside with a pair of steel crossbars When Caleb had shown the shelter to Piht at the far, which seeence, completely out of step with the optimism of their enterprise But Pi or two, she signed Stop apologizing I’ west, Caleb tookthe top of the ridgeline In its final , going, gone

He felt the air change Everything around hiht his eye--a rustling, high in a pecan tree at the edge of the woods What was he seeing? Not birds; the ot to his feet A second tree shuddered, then a third

He recalled a phrase from the past When they come, they come from above

He had levered a round into the chamber of his rifle when, behind him, in the house, a voice cried out his name

--

"Hold up a second," Hollis said

An Army truck was tipped on its side in the roadway; one of its back wheels was still spinning with a creaking sound

Sara quickly disht be hurt"

Hollis followed her to the truck The cab was empty

"Maybe they walked out of here," Hollis said

"No, this just happened" She looked down the road then pointed "There"

The soldier was lying on his back He was breathing in quick bursts, eyes open, staring at the sky Sara dropped to her knees beside hi like a man as badly injured, yet there was no blood, no obvious sign of anything broken The sleeves of his uniform bore the two stripes of a corporal He rolled his face toward her, exposing a sht with blood, at the base of his throat

"Run," he croaked