This Shoal of Space:

Preface   Chapter 1   Intralog  Part I-Chapter 2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9   10   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21   22   23   24   25   26   27   28   29   30   31   32   33   34   35   36   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54   55   56   57   58   59   60   61   62   63   64   65   Part II-Chapter 66   67   68   69   70   71   72   73   74   75   Outlog

Chapter 73.

"We have something to tell you," Elisa told Zoë with a meaningful glance toward Max.

Max took a deep breath. "Mom, we got into the computer games again."

Zoë sat down. "I don't believe this—"

"We didn't mean to," Rudy said.

"Shut up," Elisa told him. "I was doing my homework on the computer, and Jeremy kept pinging me with electronic mail messages. That's how it got started."

"I knew you'd be angry," Max said.

Zoë picked up the phone and dialed Anne's number. The phone endlessly burred, but nobody answered. A faint tremor made the walls crackle, and the line went dead. Zoë let the phone slip from her hand and held her aching forehead. She felt overwhelmed. The hand shook, making her fingers spasm silently against her eyebrow, as if scratching or pointing. "Why?" Zoë asked.

The children looked down. "Because," Max said, "it's Captain Colorado."

"That's make-believe!" Zoë yelled.

"Please don't yell," Max said. "I think it's the only way I can save my legs. I think only Captain Colorado can save me."

"Stop that!" she yelled. "Stop it, Max. There is something out there in the sea, and it's evil. It's killing people right and left. It's eating our minds and turning us into vegetables like your grandmother. Doctor Boutros is going to do everything he needs to..."

But Max turned over on his side, facing away from her, and pulled the blanket up to his face.

"Honey..." she started to say, then anger got the best of her.

She stormed out into the hall, taking a chair with her. She propped the chair against that door. The draft from the other side was cold and smelled oceanic. Bits of White Stuff fluffed up like idly warning fingers. Zoë puffed and groaned, sliding a heavy dresser into place against the door. Why in the hell couldn't Roger get home and help her? The hell with him. She pressed the four nails back into place. Then she piled chairs, a desk, the dresser, books, magazines into place until she had formed a solid wall five feet tall. That would block them. For good measure, she went into the kitchen to get a hammer and more nails from the odds 'n ends drawer.

Elisa stepped forth from the shadows. "Zoë?"

Zoë knelt down and opened her arms to her.

Elisa came closer, but not enough to be held. "Zoë, we love you but we are very worried." Elisa's words rained like nails and tacks on Zoë's wounded ears. "We think you should wash yourself and go out more. Buy some new clothes. We're ashamed because you look terrible."

Zoë rose. "You horrid little brat!" She slammed Elisa with the palm of her hand, leaving a red palm print on her cheek, and Elisa flew off in silent shock.

Zoë sniffled, rubbing her forefinger on her cheek. She went to the living room and dialed Dr. Stanislaus' number. A receptionist service answered: "Dr. Stanislaus has closed his office here. Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"I think I have lost my mind," Zoë said, letting the receiver rattle into the switch hook.