Chapter Four

Abilene gave an annoyed sigh when she saw her father’s big hand shoot out the window and frantically point them off the road. Jim jolted awake, ran his hands through his hair and rubbed his eyes.

“What’s going on?”

Abilene gritted her teeth. “I don’t know. Mom probably has to pee or something.” She hated having to stop driving.

At first the two just sat waiting. Abilene didn’t even unbuckle her seatbelt. But then Jim caught a glimpse of their parents standing on the driver’s side, looking off into the horizon.

“Hm,” he said, opening his door. “I don’t think they’re taking pisses.”

Abilene freed herself and also made her way out of the car. Both siblings were more focused on their parents, Dad with a big awed grin on his face, Mom a more quizzical expression, than on what they were looking at. But as the group came to stand together everyone found themselves staring out into the distance.

“What on earth is that?” Jim said.

Henry patted him on the back. “That’s where we’re working, kid.”

Abilene was surprised, but couldn’t turn her head. “That’s the factory?”

It was on top of the largest hill in the area, at least five miles away. But it towered over the family and what little else covered the surrouning expanse. It was a tremendous box – a perfect cube, Jim would have bet – that against the totally clear sky seemed majestic, and against the empty green landscape loomed somewhat eerily.

The bottom two-thirds were a solid steel gray, the remaining portion similar, but tiled with row on row of mirrored windows. “Think what it’s like when the sun catches on those,” Henry whispered. But with the sun in the sky the way it was it didn’t catch on anything at the time, didn’t even cast a shadow they could see. The only proof of life it emitted came from the red light atop a thin pole protruding from the roof. In a heartbeat rhythm it warned away low flying planes (though Abilene couldn’t remember seeing any sort of aircraft for days) and was actually the least noticeable facet of the building.

All lined up on the side of the road, transfixed by this giant, Mary broke the family’s spell first. “Well, we’re almost there. I imagine the building’ll only get bigger. So let’s get going, huh?”

Henry chuckled and nodded. He was relaxed and happy again, free of all the stress built up in the van. The couple started making their way back to the truck before the two kids had even ceased their gazes. A few moments passed and Abilene looked away, rubbing her eyes to get them used to looking at things close up again. Quickly she was back in the car and buckled, and only Jim remained outside, still looking up and out.