Part 8 (1/2)
”I guess you're right,” I said. ”It's just sort of depressing. You'd think that after landing a man on the moon and a robot on Mars and inventing the G.o.dd.a.m.n internet, we'd be a bit more evolved by now.”
”Nah. We're animals, Robbie. Always have been. Always will be. If dolphins had opposable thumbs, they'd replace us as the dominant species in a heartbeat.”
I was getting depressed again, so I decided to change the subject. I took another swig of tea. It was already going cold, and the whiskey in it tasted stronger now.
”So even though it's dark outside, it's not technically nighttime. Shouldn't you wait to go stargazing?”
”Nope. The only reason we don't do it during the day is because of the sunlight. We don't have to worry about that now. And with the power still out, now's the perfect time. There won't be any light pollution at all. I should be able to see stars that I've never seen before from this rooftop.”
I glanced up at the sky. ”I don't see anything.”
”Don't worry. There are about three thousand stars visible from earth's surface without a telescope or binoculars on dark, moonless nights. Tonight is the exception.”
”That's an understatement.”
He chuckled. ”But those stars are still there, even though you can't see them. They aren't going anywhere. Now, it could be this darkness is some kind of dense, uniform cloud cover or smog. If so, this telescope is powerful enough to see through that.”
”You really think it's just smog? Even after today?”
He paused before answering. ”Not really, although it would explain why we can't see the stars with the naked eye. But we will with the telescope. You wouldn't believe how much this thing cost. It was the only item I kept after Olivia and I got divorced, other than my books and music collection and a few photographs. It's my pride and joy. Like I said, this baby can see right through cloud cover and stuff.”
”I hope so.”
”It's not like the stars move or suddenly all wink out of existence. No matter what's happened, you can count on this, Robbie-the stars are are still there.” still there.”
But they weren't.
At first, Russ didn't say anything. He fiddled with the telescope, staring through it, then adjusting various k.n.o.bs. I watched him and waited patiently. I didn't know anything about telescopes, so I figured I could help best by staying quiet and out of the way. His posture grew stiff, and he started muttering and cursing to himself. His breathing grew louder.
”f.u.c.k me,” he gasped. ”This is-”
”What's wrong?”
Russ waved his hand, growing more agitated. Grunting, he bent over and picked up the telescope, then moved it to another spot on the roof. He stared back up at the black sky and moaned.
”Russ, what the h.e.l.l is wrong?”
I turned the flashlight on and directed the beam at his face. He turned to me, his mouth hanging open, eyes wide. He'd grown pale and seemed to be in shock.
”Jesus Christ, Russ! Are you okay? You look like you're having a heart attack or something.”
”There's nothing,” he whispered.
My heart rate increased. I had a bad feeling in my stomach.
”Well, like you said, the darkness might be some kind of cloud cover.”
”No. You don't understand. I told you, this telescope can penetrate through s.h.i.+t like that. This ain't some Wal-Mart special, man. This is a top-of-the-line unit. If there was anything up there, I'd see it-and there's not. The stars are f.u.c.king gone gone, Robbie. And it's not just them. The moon. The international s.p.a.ce station. All the f.u.c.king satellites. You have any idea how many satellites there are circling the Earth? And now they're not there anymore. They're all missing. It's like the darkness swallowed them, too. Like Walden is the last thing in creation, floating all by itself in some black void...”
He trailed off, his voice choked with sobs.
”They can't be gone,” I whispered. ”If they were gone, then we'd be dead. We couldn't live without the sun.”
”No, we couldn't. And if the moon suddenly disappeared...well, let's just say it would f.u.c.k this planet up in ways you can't even imagine. But see for yourself. They're not there.”
”There has to be a logical explanation.”
If Russ heard me, he gave no indication.
”What has happened?” he muttered. ”Oh my G.o.d, what is going on here?”
Before I could respond, a gunshot boomed in the darkness. It sounded very close, and both of us ducked instinctively. The echoes rolled across the roof, and my ears rang.
”d.a.m.n, that was close.”
Russ nodded. ”Way too close. Next door or downstairs.”
I ran to the edge of the roof and peered over the side. The street was mostly deserted now, but there was still a small crowd huddled around one of the burn barrels. They were all staring and pointing at our building and the one next to us-the one where Tom Salvo, the guy I'd met that morning, lived.
Russ drew alongside me. He seemed to have recovered from his shock, at least momentarily.
”See anything?” he asked.
”Those people down there are pointing at our building. I need to check on Christy. You'd better check on Cranston.”
I started toward the fire escape, but Russ stopped me.
”Be careful,” he whispered. ”If somebody broke in, they could still be down there. And I'm betting they're armed, because I know you and Christy don't own a gun, and I doubt Cranston does either.”
”s.h.i.+t. You're right. Do you own a gun?”
He nodded. ”Several. I'll get them. No sense going into this unprepared.”
”But Christy-”
”You can help her a lot better if you're armed, Robbie.”
”Come on.”
Leaving our mugs behind, we went as fast as we could in the darkness and made our way back into his apartment. Russ hurried to his bedroom closet and pulled down a pistol box. He unlocked it and pulled out a .357 and a .38, both Taurus revolvers. He flipped open the cylinders. Both weapons were loaded. He handed me the .38.
”Hollow points,” he said. ”Extra stopping power. Aim for the biggest part of the body, like the chest or abdomen. No warning shots, and no shooting to wound. If you're gonna pull the trigger on somebody, then you should be prepared to kill them. Okay?”
Swallowing, I nodded. ”Okay. Jesus Christ...”
”Just be careful. There's no safety on a gun like that. Don't put your finger on the trigger unless you intend to pull it. You know how to shoot, right?”
I nodded again. ”Yeah, I've been to the range a few times.”
”Then let's go.”