Shutting his eyes, Eric massaged his temples gently with his fingertips. Then he stood up and moved over to the mirror to stare at himself, noting the gauntness of his face and his bloodshot eyes. He ran his hand quickly through his hair, then scratched at the heavy black stubble on his jaw. He needed a shave badly. His mother would light in on him like a coyote on a wounded rabbit if she saw—Finally the circuits in his brain connected. The village! His family! Cliff! It all came back with stunning clarity—the ambush at the river, Travis Oakes smiling sadly at him just before the hammer blow to the chest took him out. So where in the world…?

He moved instantly toward the far corner of the room. There was a door, but with no knob or latch of any kind. He ran his fingers along the thin crack, but the door was too finely fit. Not even a sheet of paper would slip through.

He sat back down on the cot. Now he understood the thick mud in his head. Somehow he had been drugged and taken away—but where? Obviously far from the village. And what about his family? Were they here too?

Suddenly Eric looked down and stared at his left wrist. Bound snugly around his wrist was a watch with a gold band. His father, Cliff, and a few others in the village had once worn digital watches, though the batteries had given out years before. This watch was slightly larger and thicker than theirs had been, but it was unmistakably a watch. As Eric held it up for a closer look, the numerals 9:18 were sharp and distinct. In the upper corner was a tiny “A.M.” He studied it closely. Two small buttons protruded on the right side. Curious, he pushed the upper one. To his surprise, the numerals disappeared, and bright yellow letters began flowing slowly across the face. TODAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 5. THE TEMPERATURE IN SHALEV IS 76°, RELATIVE HUMIDITY IS 63%, WINDS ARE OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST AT 4 MPH, BAROMETRIC PRESSURE IS 29.02 AND STEADY. The letters ceased flowing for a moment, then TODAY IS TUESDAY, JUNE 5. THE TEMPERATURE…

Eric released the upper button and pushed the lower. Once again a message moved slowly across the tiny screen. IMPROVEMENTS TO LAKESHORE PARK ARE SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED EARLY NEXT WEEK. FURTHER ANNOUNCEMENTS ABOUT THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONIES WILL BE FORTHCOMING…TRAGEDY STRIKES—CARL QUILTON, OF NORTH HEIGHTS, WAS SERIOUSLY MAULED BY A GRIZZLY BEAR WHILE BACKPACKING IN GLACIER PARK. HIS WIFE AND TWO SONS DROVE THE ANIMAL OFF WITH THEIR SCREAMS. QUILTON IS LISTED IN CRITICAL CONDITION AT SHALEV GENERAL HOSPITAL. PARK RANGERS WARNED CAMPERS AND…