It begins with a fading odor and darkness. Lights out, dark as night. Outside the college building, there are flames, lumps of metal and flesh, and no one moving. When Asher finds his car, he's surprised it works and he drives aimlessly, trying in vain for a radio station, any sign of life. Recovering his wits, he parks at a truck stop and loads up with things that might be useful. In the dark, someone runs into him and urges him to flee. The thought of maybe having to repopulate the world doesn't appeal to either of them -- Asher is gay, and Sandy isn't sure what she/he/they are. Sandy knows a place they might hole up while the world dies around them. It's a cabin that belongs to a friend who might be there. Sandy's friend Wade turns up the next day when there's light, again. Are Wade and Sandy an item or just friends? Asher feels like odd man out, but survival is their first priority. Can relationships be sorted out, later?

Night Scenery

It stopped, well, it dragged to a slowdown, gurgling halt. The driver’s door opened and out stepped a god, one of the best-looking young men I’d ever seen. He was about my age, and just beautiful. Blond curly hair, dyed, I thought, but so what? Rugged good looks and a smile to die for. However, he didn’t even bother looking my way. Instead, he looked over the hood of the car at Sandy and yelled, “Hortense! Gertrude! Babykins, look at you, what are you doing here? I was so worried about you and here you are.” With that he ran around the car, grabbed her up, and twirled her around as if she was a tiny six-year-old, and not a solidly built adult of about the same height as he and I were.


“Oh my Lord you’re home! You found your way home. I was devastated when I got here and you weren’t here!” Waterworks started up. I had no idea that girl could cry.


Chapter 9