The Alpha Chronicles by Joe Nobody Read Free Book Online Page B

after the power was restored. Appliances having electricity for the first time in months were no doubt the cause of some fires. Any electrical connection could short out. HVAC systems overheating and general wiring faults were probably as much to blame – but there was no way to be sure.
    It was clear from several blocks away that they were approaching a full-fledged inferno. The red and yellow flames flashing skyward outlined the dark shadows of numerous onlookers. There were a half dozen men with garden hoses trying to spray water on the blaze, but they were completely outmatched. The heat was so intense the would-be firefighters couldn’t get close enough for their weak streams of water to arch onto the flames.
    Nick hopped out of the cart before it came to a complete stop, sprinting as close as possible to the firestorm to assess the situation. The clapboard-clad bungalow where the flames had begun was a total loss, already consumed by the roaring blaze. He prayed there wasn’t anyone inside. The neighboring, downwind Victorian would reach the same state in a matter of minutes. A dense cloud of dark, black smoke already enveloped the structure, intermittent wisps of flame visible through the windows.
    “Forget about that house!” Nick yelled at the hose-men. “Move next door. That one’s gone, but we might keep the flames from spreading.”
    Diana was now behind him, quizzing several onlookers. “Where’s our fire truck?”
    “It’s still inoperable. We haven’t got ten around to having it repaired,” replied one man.
    Nick hustled to Diana’s side and shouted over the noise, “Send someone to the fire station, and at least bring back some serious hose.” He pointed to the fire hydrant in the middle of the block and continued. “Make sure and retrieve the tools to break that hydrant loose. If we can hook up the big hose there, we might be able to keep the blaze from spreading.”
    Diana nodded, “I’m on it,” and then hustled off to organize some men.
    Just as Nick turned to see how the small hoses were doing, a man raced toward Nick, grabbing him in a panic. “There are people in the second home. I just talked to the neighbors, and they’re sure. At least two adults and one child.”
    “Are you sure? How can anyone be sure?”
    “The neighbors and I have looked all around for them. I’ve circled the house twice and asked everyone. They have to be inside.”
    “Shit!”
    Nick ran to the golf cart where he knew Diana kept a blanket. Being cold natured, she often wrapped herself in the spread while riding in the open-air vehicle at night. Rushing back with the quilted wool cover, he approached one of the men using a hose and yelled, “Soak me!”
    “What?” responded the surprised man.
    “I said, ‘SOAK ME!’ Spray me down with your hose. I’m going inside. Spray down the blanket, too!”
    Shrugging his shoulders, the man turned the water on Nick and began drenching the big fellow from head to toe. While Nick was receiving his shower, Diana realized what he was going to do and scurried over.
    “What are you doing? You’re not going in that house, Nick!”
    “There are people inside, and I have to try and get them out. I need an axe or crowbar or something heavy.”
    “I’ve got a big axe in my garage,” offered the man operating the hose.
    “Get it, please, and hurry.”
    Handing off his hose to Diana, the gent hustled off.
    Nick, now dripping wet, pointed to the blanket lying on the ground and instructed, “Soak that, too. I’m going to use it as a cocoon.”
    Diana could tell there was no talking him out of it. Shaking her head in disgust, she redirected the water. While Diana worked the hose, Nick ran dripping back to the cart and began digging around in his chest rig. He found his goggles, gloves, and baklava mask, quickly pulling the gear on.
    By the time he returned, the axe owner was back, and the blanket was ready.
    Nick looked like some sort of robotic mass murderer as he