Omega Plague: Collapse Read Free Page B

Taking full advantage of the
opportunity, Bruno and Cristian wandered about, nominally on patrol, but in
reality simply taking in the beauty of the scenes before them. It was the
middle of September, but on Capri, the promise of many warm fall nights
lingered well into November.
    From just off the main square the view was spectacular. The
marina rested at the bottom of rocky slopes, dotted with rich, verdant
vegetation and orange terracotta roofs on whitewashed houses. Figures below
bustled along piers where boats were coming and going. Beyond the marina lay
the semi-circular Bay of Naples, and beyond that, looming over the shore in
grey haze and terrible splendor, stood the cone of Vesuvius. The volcano served
as a reminder that Naples lay under a delayed death sentence. Someday it would
erupt again, and hundreds of thousands would face evacuation or suffocation.
Bruno had heard a scientist on the news mention an increase in tremors over the
last few months, enough to raise some concerns among volcanologists. He had
even read on a British website once that if an eruption from Vesuvius were
large enough, it might devastate the climate around the world for decades, even
centuries. It had happened before in prehistory, long before there had been
people to bear witness. Now the same event might cause civilization to crumble.
If there were ever a serious eruption, Bruno had heard that the government’s
evacuation plans called for cities and towns all over Italy to take in
refugees. But in an emergency like that, what were the chances anything would
go as planned? Zero, he thought.
    Out in the bay, Bruno could see vessels steaming towards the
city. He noted the massive bulk of an aircraft carrier with another vessel
behind it. From this distance, they looked the size of children’s toys. Ships
from the US Navy’s Sixth Fleet, headquartered in Naples, were probably coming
back now from a deployment on the open sea. No doubt the sailors would be happy
to hit the streets of Naples, causing more work for his colleagues tonight.
Bruno smiled to himself. The only crime they saw on Capri was the occasional
inebriated tourist pissing in some alleyway. And anyway, on the island, the
municipal police handled the drunks. There hadn’t been a serious crime in
years. Even then it had been jewel theft, nothing violent. Bruno had plenty of
time for musing while on patrol.
    The contrast between Naples and the island of Capri, the
jewel in the bay, always amazed Bruno. Less than an hour’s ride by hydrofoil
from Naples, Capri seemed worlds away from the city’s chaos, noise, and
delinquency. He wondered if it was the same when the Romans had built their
villas on Capri. Had Naples been hot and sullied then, as now?
    Cristian had wandered back into the main part of the square,
packed with foreigners, and Bruno quickened his pace to catch up. This time of
year, the island was still teeming with tourists from Europe and Asia. Lately,
Bruno noticed more Chinese than Americans roaming in the piazza; the Great
American Debt Crisis a few years back and subsequent Chinese bailout had taken
their toll on America’s economy, and the United States was still digging itself
out of the hole it had dug for itself. Bruno and Cristian picked their way
through the crowd. Tables and chairs from the restaurants were set out in the
square, and waiters buzzed back and forth. Though it was late afternoon, many
patrons were still lingering over the remnants of lunch. Cristian nudged Bruno
when he spotted a woman walking through the square.
    “She’s taken, I think,” said Bruno, as the woman gave a
decidedly non-daughterly hug to a man who was old enough to be her father.
    “Who cares?” said Cristian. “I’m just looking. He’s just
some rich old fart.” Cristian’s voice took on a longing tone. “She’s a dark
angel, for sure; good to look at, but maybe dangerous to touch.” Then as if
realizing the ridiculousness of his own serious tone, he