Albert Chambers was at work in his watchtower. It had been a long dry summer away from his family. His wife and kids lived 4 hours away by car in Portland. It had been a week since he heard from his wife. They didn’t mind the time apart. Albert felt like he was underfoot back home. In truth his wife felt the same way. She had a routine and he would mess it up by bringing home pizza on sloppy Joe night, taking the kids out for ice cream before soccer practice, and watching the news when it was time for her televangelist shows. Albert had a few days left before he his watch was over and he would be underfoot again.

He took a bite of his venison jerky and a swig of his wild mint tea. He liked to forage for his food. The phone rang. He did a quick sweep of the vista before answering, all clear.

“Hello.”

“Albert, you need to come home now!” His wife said.

“What’s wrong?”

“Are you living under a rock out there?”

“I haven’t listened to the news in weeks. Just tell me what’s going on.”

“Come home! Listen to the news on your way.”

“I’m not abandoning my post without a good reason.”

“I gotta go, Rainy needs her bandage changed. Come home.”

She hung up. Albert tried calling her back, but she didn’t pick up. Albert turned on the radio.

“I’m coming live to you outside of St. Penelope Hospital, where hundreds of people are seeking treatment for mysterious growths on their body. Doctors are unsure of the cause of the growths, but remain optimistic that they will find a cause for the mystery illness. The hospital is advising people stay home unless the growths become life threatening. For example if the growths obstruct your respiration or other bodily functions like urination or defecation.” The on scene reporter said.

“That’s just tragic news and to repeat what my colleague just said, stay home if the growths don’t bother your breathing, your ability to eat and drink, or use the restroom.” The studio reporter said.

Albert turned off the radio and called his boss.

“Go for Bob.” Bob said.

“Hey Bob, I need a favor from you.”

“Let me guess, you need to leave a few days early.”

“Yea, my kid is sick and my wife is calling for me to come home. Can you get Terry to come in early a few days.”

“I would if I could, but I can’t get a hold of him or anybody. In fact, I was about to call you and ask you to cover for Terry if he can’t come in.”

“I see…listen this job is important, but my family comes first.”

“So you’re quitting?”

“I didn’t say that, I just need to look after my family.”

“What about all those families that depend on you to keep them save from forest fires.”

“I’ve done my job, I cleared the dry brush, I’ve dug ditches, and watch diligently. I need some accommodation here. I can’t just abandon them when they need me. I’m sure you’re keeping up with the news.”

“Fine, just know this. If you leave before your relief comes, you’re done.”

“How long will that be?”

“Give me 24 hrs.”

“Alright, fine.”

Bob hung up on him. Albert tried calling his wife again. She finally picked up after the third call.

“Hello.”

“I got in touch with Bob. He’s going to send a relief within 24 hrs.”

“Just come home. I don’t think anyone is going to come. You haven’t seen how bad it is.”

“He said he’d fire me if I didn’t wait for my relief. How are we going to pay the mortgage or put food on the table.”

“We’ll manage, just come home.”

“Alright, I’m coming.”

Albert wrote a note for his relief begging them not to rat on him, and the condition of the forest under his watch. He hopped in his little single cab truck and headed west.

Storm clouds gathered overhead. A light drizzle turned into a steady rain. He prayed that there wouldn’t be any lightning. A flash of lightning answered his prayers with a definite no.

He was about halfway home before he needed to stop for gas. He stopped at a mom and pop gas station that he had visited at least a dozen times over the years. He tried to go inside to prepay for his gas, but was met with the barrel of a shotgun.

“Get out of here. Pumps closed.” The station owner said.

“Hey, it’s me. Ranger Albert.” He said as he stepped into the light.

“Oh, sorry. I’ve had to scare off gas thieves all day as they try to escape the city.”

“It’s that bad, huh?”

“I tried calling the state troopers but they’re too busy.”

“Listen, I’m trying to get back home to my family. My wife has been calling me nonstop and our baby girl is sick, with I don’t know what.”

“You poor man…I have a can of gas in my car. I’ll sell it to you for $100.” The station owner said.

“A hundred dollars!?” He studied the old man’s face and decided he wasn’t joking.

“Deal.” He handed over the cash and the old man came out from the station and lead him to his black boat of a sedan. He retrieved the full gas can and handed it over.

“Thank you. I won’t forget this.”

“Don’t thank me sonny. Take my advice. Use that gas and head back to the forest where it’s safe.”

Albert filled his truck and left.

As he was pulling away another car pulled in. He was half a mile away before he heard the sound of the shotgun going off. He didn’t look back.

Albert pulled his truck in behind his wife’s station wagon. He put his key in the lock and tried to open the door, but the door wouldn’t budge. He banged on the door.

“Open up! It’s me!” Albert yelled.

He heard the sound of something heavy being push away from the door and a deadbolt unlocking. His wife cracked the door open. He tried to open the door, but she gestured to him to stop.

“Before you come in, I need you to promise to stay calm.”

“I promise. Let me in. It’s pouring out here. I’m going to catch my death of cold.”

“Look me in the eye and promise.”

He looked into her eye.

“I promise.”

Maven opened the door, and Albert almost fainted at the sight. A pair of hands were growing out of the left side of Maven’s face. He stumbled, but she caught him.

“Where are the kids?” He said.

“They’re taking a nap in their room. Don’t go in—“

He ran to his children’s room, and flung the door open. In Rainy’s crib he found a ball of arms and legs. He looked to his son’s bed and found that he son had grown a pair of extra arms, both mutated and malformed. He backed out of the room and bumped into his wife.

“How? Why?”

“I don’t know. Some people say it’s the Russians and they irradiated our water supply. Others are saying that food was contaminated with some kind of cheaper additives. It’s all rumors for now. The doctors don’t know how to stop it. As you can already tell, it affects children worst of all.”

“Oh my god.”

“Go clean yourself up and I’ll warm up some dinner for you.” She said.

In a daze he shuffled off to the bathroom and took a warm shower. He put on his bathrobe and sat on the couch. The TV was left on for him. He saw the twisted figures of the reporters. Nobody had been spared. Maven brought him a TV tray with some warm meatloaf and mashed potatoes.

“Breaking news! A forest fire has spread east of Portland. Firefighters are doing their best to stop the fire, but are undermanned at the moment because of the current epidemic. Stay tuned for the latest coverage.

Albert sank into his seat. Maven put her hand on his shoulder.

“You did the right thing.” She said.