“You’re gonna have to use the pot again today.”

Vivian scowled and rocked in the chair. Civilized people shouldn’t be doing their business in a salad bowl. They’d both had to use the chamber pot last night before bedtime. Vivian, because she had no intention of leaving the security of the house, and Edward, because he claimed he didn’t want to leave her and the baby unattended. Vivian suspected that, in spite of his jolly singing and casual attitude, he’d been just as uneasy as she was. At least until he fell asleep.

“We,” she said in a low voice. “We are gonna have to use the chamber pot. You are not going to work today.”

“Honey, I have to go in.”

“And leave me and the baby here, when those criminals are loose?” Her low voice rose into a squeak.

“The windows are locked, the back door’s locked, and I’ll lock the front door on my way out. You’re safe as long as you stay inside.”

“What if they break a window?”

Edward sighed and wiped his palm across his forehead.

“Fine,” he said. “I’ll stay with you.”

Vivian turned her head into her shoulder and tried to stifle a few sobs.

“Honey, I said I’ll stay.”

Tears spilled over Vivian’s cheeks and she sniffed a few times.

“I’m so tired, Edward. I’m just so goddamned tired.”

“I know, honey.” He took Charlotte from her and laid her in her crib.

“Edward,” she continued in a whisper, measuring her words evenly. “Our next house is going to have a bathroom.”

“I promise,” he said, and made a crisscross over his heart with his index finger.

“A bathroom inside the house.”

“Of course, inside.”

“And a telephone,” she finished.

“And a telephone. You bet. Nothing is too good for my girls.” He leaned over and kissed Charlotte’s forehead. “You know, you’d feel safer if we could get that dog I was talking about.” He stepped back toward the rocking chair, took Vivian’s face in his hands, and planted a smack on her pursed lips.

“Edward, we’re not talking about the dog again. You know I’m allergic.”

“Whatever you say, dear,” he said, his tone signaling doubt. “Why don’t you get some rest?” He helped her out of the rocking chair and over to her side of the bed, pulling aside the rumpled covers.

He waited until she’d fallen asleep and then pulled on his leather boots. Which three? Edward’s pulse began to race as he looked out the front window, up and down the street, before stepping outside. Which three prisoners? He made sure to lock the door and then clicked the flashlight on and walked to the Ford, his boots crunching over the frost-covered grass. He swung the flashlight up and down and around the automobile as he circled, looking inside, outside, and then underneath. The neighborhood was still dark. Most of the neighbors had listened to The Chase and Sanborn Hour all the way through, musical interlude and all. They hadn’t bothered switching to check the other radio station, and so they missed the terrifying Martian invasion. They also spared themselves the near-heart-attacks and the tongue-lashings from their wives. They should put that damned Orson Welles in jail.