In the plaza directly in front of the building, a congregation began to form. Cigarettes were lit and strangers began to converse. As the minutes passed, the group grew in size as people continued to stream from the exit. Mike joined the burgeoning crowd but kept to the street-side periphery.

Within five minutes approaching sirens began to sound. A few moments later two fire trucks rounded the near corner and quickly pulled to the curb directly in front of the building. The first truck had “FDNY Engine 7” stenciled in gold letters on its side.

Mike looked at his watch. It was nine-twenty-nine. Glancing back at the lead fire truck, he saw Curt emerge from the passenger side of the front seat. He was dressed in full turn-out gear, which included his combination Nomex and Kevlar jacket, matching pants, leather helmet, and boots. Strapped to his back was his Scott pack in its harness with the face mask in easy reach. In his hand was a black rubberized canvas bag.

Steve got out from the back seat carrying a red high-rise bag. Together they ran for the entrance ahead of all the other firefighters.

Mike turned and set out for the subway and the ride home. It made him feel proud to have been part of something that Curt had said might possibly save the country.

TWENTY-FIVE

_____________

TWENTY-FIVE

Thursday, October 21

10:15 A.M.

“What time do you think it is?” Laurie asked.

“I haven’t the faintest idea,” Jack said. He stretched and groaned. “I know I slept for a while. Did you?”

“I think so,” Laurie said. “It’s amazing how difficult it is to judge the passage of time, especially when you can’t see anything.”

They had eventually sat down diagonally from each other on the concrete floor with their backs against the respective walls. There wasn’t room to lie out straight.

“I can almost talk myself into seeing daylight when I stare up at the ceiling,” Jack said.

“We’ve got to get out of here before nine-thirty if there’s to be any chance of stopping the firemen before they get into the federal building and disperse the anthrax.”

“I don’t like to be pessimistic,” Jack said. “But as Yuri said, we could be in here for several days, maybe even longer now that he’s been shot. I think he planned to call and have us rescued so he could be sure he got the credit he coveted.”

“Wait a second!” Laurie said.

“I’ve got all the time in the world,” Jack answered.

“Shush,” Laurie said. “I think I heard something.”

They both held their breaths while they listened. They could just make out a distant yet distinct series of thuds coming from above.

“I think that’s someone knocking on the door,” Laurie blurted.

They both scrambled to their feet. In the utter darkness, they collided, then began shouting for help at the top of their lungs.