Alas, Babylon

Randy wakes to his couch shaking. At the window, he thinks he sees a sun setting and a sun rising at opposite ends of the sky. Two nuclear explosions have woken him. The bombs hit Homestead and the Miami airport.

Randy hears aircraft and sees another explosion with a mushroom cloud. He calls Dan Gunn. A shock wave hits the house. Ben starts filling pails with water. Randy drives and sees a dead woman on the road. He drives by her at first, thinking that only his family matters, but then stops and verifies that she is dead of a broken neck.

Back in the car, Randy hears a broadcast declaring a red alert. He is skeptical for the moment. Mark has told him that news will be inaccurate and lagging until Phase Two—mopping up after the initial attack.

Traffic is heavy on the edge of town. Randy goes to the Riverside Inn. People in the lobby are complaining and trying to get the staff to make flight reservations. Dan Gunn is staying on the second floor. His room is empty.

Randy hears arguing in the hall: It is Jennings, the inn’s manager, and John Garcia. John’s wife is there in the hall, about to give birth.