military personnel under strict security and need-to-know access — Special Operations groups who are simply told that the victims are dangerously sick and the illness is incurable. Second, to determine the source of the infection and a possible cure.
Arizona, 1986
She takes a quick break from her work and leans against a corner of the barn, sweating through her thin shirt as the bright Arizona summer sun pours down on her. Even for Arizona it’s hot, and it isn’t normally this bad so close to sundown. A sudden strong breeze brings her upright, and she lifts her chin into the wind, sending her long red hair streaming out behind her.
A child’s laughter captures her attention, and she smiles as she looks over at her little brother, Johnny, playing in the front yard in the sprinkler. She wants to join him, but her father will tan her hide if she shirks her chores, so she turns back to the task of mucking out the horse’s stalls. Even at thirteen, she has a strong work ethic and knows her responsibilities.
Her favorite, a mountain of a horse named Jack, whickers from the next stall and she smiles at him, extending a treat for him to munch on. She loves his chestnut brown coloring, and rides him every chance she can, which isn’t much these days, what with school and chores and homework.
As she finishes clearing the stall, she hears her mother call her and her brother inside for dinner, and puts back her tools, making sure the barn door is closed and secured. She can smell the delicious aromas of the food, and her stomach rumbles as she realizes just how hungry she is.
She turns off the hose as she passes the corner of the house, causing little Johnny to set up a wail that is probably heard miles away. She just rolls her eyes and pushes him inside to wash up. Her father comes in just behind her through the screen door and starts to head for the table, but is stopped short by his wife.
“Johnathan Michael Barnes, you know better than that. Get over here and wash your hands,” she says. “And take off those dirty boots!”
John Barnes laughs as he picks up his wife in a huge bear hug and swings her around. “Ellen, one of these days I’m going to eat with dirty hands, and I’ll survive just to spite you.”
Kimberly looks at her parents laughing, the love they feel for each other clear in their eyes and smiles and little touches. Being a normal young teenage girl, she is concerned with such things, and sighs with hope that she will find that sort of love someday.
Her reverie is broken by the sharp pinch Johnny gives her as he sits down at the table, having run some water over his hands — his version of ‘washing up.’ She jumps and smacks him on the back of his head, causing a fight, which is quickly broken up by their mother.
Having washed his hands and taken off his dirty boots and gloves, her father sits down at the table and leads them in saying grace.
“Lord, we thank you for blessing our table with this bounty. In your name, we pray. Amen.” He smiles as he looks around at his family. “Now, let’s eat!”
The evening air is warm and heavy, and her mother allows them to sleep on the screened-in front porch. She lies on her pallet, her long legs sticking out from the too-small blankets, and looks up at the stars through the screens. The night wind blows, taking much of the day’s heat away and leaving her goose-bumped and shivering, but she doesn’t mind one bit. She prefers to sleep outside when she can get away with it.
Sometime later, she starts awake. Something feels wrong, and she lies there for a few minutes trying to figure out just what it is that has awakened her, listening for even the smallest sound.
Suddenly, she knows: there is no noise at all. No crickets, no owls, none of the normal country night-noises that bother city-folk so. Not even any soft snorts or whickers from the horses in the stable. She glances
Arizona, 1986
She takes a quick break from her work and leans against a corner of the barn, sweating through her thin shirt as the bright Arizona summer sun pours down on her. Even for Arizona it’s hot, and it isn’t normally this bad so close to sundown. A sudden strong breeze brings her upright, and she lifts her chin into the wind, sending her long red hair streaming out behind her.
A child’s laughter captures her attention, and she smiles as she looks over at her little brother, Johnny, playing in the front yard in the sprinkler. She wants to join him, but her father will tan her hide if she shirks her chores, so she turns back to the task of mucking out the horse’s stalls. Even at thirteen, she has a strong work ethic and knows her responsibilities.
Her favorite, a mountain of a horse named Jack, whickers from the next stall and she smiles at him, extending a treat for him to munch on. She loves his chestnut brown coloring, and rides him every chance she can, which isn’t much these days, what with school and chores and homework.
As she finishes clearing the stall, she hears her mother call her and her brother inside for dinner, and puts back her tools, making sure the barn door is closed and secured. She can smell the delicious aromas of the food, and her stomach rumbles as she realizes just how hungry she is.
She turns off the hose as she passes the corner of the house, causing little Johnny to set up a wail that is probably heard miles away. She just rolls her eyes and pushes him inside to wash up. Her father comes in just behind her through the screen door and starts to head for the table, but is stopped short by his wife.
“Johnathan Michael Barnes, you know better than that. Get over here and wash your hands,” she says. “And take off those dirty boots!”
John Barnes laughs as he picks up his wife in a huge bear hug and swings her around. “Ellen, one of these days I’m going to eat with dirty hands, and I’ll survive just to spite you.”
Kimberly looks at her parents laughing, the love they feel for each other clear in their eyes and smiles and little touches. Being a normal young teenage girl, she is concerned with such things, and sighs with hope that she will find that sort of love someday.
Her reverie is broken by the sharp pinch Johnny gives her as he sits down at the table, having run some water over his hands — his version of ‘washing up.’ She jumps and smacks him on the back of his head, causing a fight, which is quickly broken up by their mother.
Having washed his hands and taken off his dirty boots and gloves, her father sits down at the table and leads them in saying grace.
“Lord, we thank you for blessing our table with this bounty. In your name, we pray. Amen.” He smiles as he looks around at his family. “Now, let’s eat!”
The evening air is warm and heavy, and her mother allows them to sleep on the screened-in front porch. She lies on her pallet, her long legs sticking out from the too-small blankets, and looks up at the stars through the screens. The night wind blows, taking much of the day’s heat away and leaving her goose-bumped and shivering, but she doesn’t mind one bit. She prefers to sleep outside when she can get away with it.
Sometime later, she starts awake. Something feels wrong, and she lies there for a few minutes trying to figure out just what it is that has awakened her, listening for even the smallest sound.
Suddenly, she knows: there is no noise at all. No crickets, no owls, none of the normal country night-noises that bother city-folk so. Not even any soft snorts or whickers from the horses in the stable. She glances
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