And finally at 5:57, a patrol near Hungry Horse Dam called in to report they had found the abandoned lumber truck hidden in a stand of pines. Numerous horse tracks were found around the truck and disappeared into the forest.

Even Nicole was reeling by the time the Major burst back into the Monitoring Room at 6:30, Travis at his heels. The Major seemed under perfect control again now, but Travis was looking hounded, his face strained and lined with weariness. The Major came straight to Nicole and thrust a paper into her hand. “I want this to go out on all wrist computers immediately.”

“Yes, sir.” She cleared her terminal and pushed the keys that would set her up for a general broadcast to all citizens of Shalev. Only then did she look at the paper. Her eyes widened, and she looked at the Major.

“Send it.”

“Yes, sir.” Her fingers punched away even as her mind pictured the effect this was going to have throughout the city.

ATTENTION, ALL CITIZENS. EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY, SHALEV IS UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY. RETURN TO YOUR HOMES AT ONCE. ALL WORK AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ARE HEREBY TERMINATED FOR THE EVENING. SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES OF A CRITICAL NATURE THAT ARE EXEMPT WILL BE NOTIFIED IMMEDIATELY. ALL OTHERS MUST BE IN THEIR HOMES BY EIGHT P.M. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS ORDER WILL TRIGGER THE PUNISHMENT MODE IN YOUR WRIST COMPUTERS. REPEAT, AUTOMATIC PUNISHMENT MODE WILL RESULT FOR ALL CITIZENS FOUND OUTSIDE THEIR HOMES AFTER EIGHT P.M. UNLESS ON EXEMPT STATUS. A GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENT AND FURTHER DETAILS WILL BE GIVEN ON THE TEN O’CLOCK NEWS THIS EVENING.

When she was finished, the Major nodded. “Nicole, there will be a special meeting for all section heads at 9:00 P.M. in the general conference room. I’d like you to be there. Also, I want you to contact the president of the AFC, the mayor of Shalev, all city council members, the editors of both papers, and the directors or presidents of both the radio and television stations in Shalev. They are all to be in attendance. This is not optional.” He spun on his heel and strode out, Travis right behind him.

“Wow!” Shirley said softly, leaning back in her chair.

“Yes,” Nicole answered. “Wow indeed!”

CHAPTER 29

“Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention?”

The Major’s request was totally superfluous and about five seconds too late. The moment he entered the conference room, the excited babble of hushed voices came to an immediate halt. Now every eye was on the somber face.

“I have a brief statement to read,” the Major said, letting his eyes sweep across the faces in the room. “After that, you may ask questions.”

Roy Hartford, editor of the Shalev Daily Herald, lifted his pencil to his small notepad. The movement caught the Major’s eye.

“Roy, I’ll have copies of the statement for each of you when you leave.”

“Good. Thank you.”