Sand Storm

by Michael R. Stern

  “Sure. Do you have one?”

  “Tony, this is a school. There's bound to be one somewhere. I just don't know where. Do you think it would be all right for me to leave the door for a minute?” The medic said it would be okay and raised his pistol.

  “Give me your gun. But hurry back,” Tony said.

  Fritz ran down the hall. Linda saw him coming and met him.

  “What's wrong?”

  “I need George. We're running out of power. I need an extension cord. Do you know where he is?”

  “Around the corner with Lois. We've split up into groups to try to keep these poor people calm and comfortable. Are you okay? What's going on?” Fritz said, “Later” and ran around the corner.

  “George, do you know where we can find an extension cord?”

  “Of course I do. I'm the principal.” Then to Fritz's surprise, George chuckled.

  “Another joke? Keeping your head when all around you are losing theirs?”

  “I may be over the hill, Fritz, but I have my moments. Let's get the cord. How's it going?”

  “Ashley went into the portal. He said we chased them out of the building, but the major is hurt. Ash carried her out and went to the hospital with her and some medics. The soldiers are still inside. When Ashley came out with the major, Jim Shaw helped in the hall—so he knows now. He led them to the hospital.”

  “Well, you've been busy. Here we are.” George yanked out a heavy-duty extension cord about ten feet long.

  “Anything longer, George?”

  George walked to the back wall and shuffled things on a shelf that Fritz couldn't see. “Here's one. It looks very long.”

  “I'll take both. We're running low on power. See you later.”

  Fritz ran back to his classroom. He surveyed the empty hallway and asked Tony if anything had changed, any men back. Tony shook his head. He took the extension cords to the nearest classroom and power flowed to the generators. One problem solved.

  With the clock approaching eight thirty, Fritz's nerves rivaled Ashley's. Neither relished standing around, at least not in comfort. Ashley had a reason for his impatience. As long as Linda stayed with the settlers, she stayed safe. He didn't know what help he could be. But he wanted to see for himself.

  “Tony, are you okay alone for a few minutes.”

  “As long as we stay alone, I'm fine. But you know as well as I do that we'll be in trouble if we have uninvited guests.”

  “I'm thinking of going in to take a look. Just inside the door.”

  “I hate to rain on your parade, but what good can you do in there?”

  “I don't know. Maybe nothing. But doing nothing and knowing less is making me nuts. Before, I could see into the portal through the open door. But not now. I wonder why.”

  “Fritz, trust me. These guys know what they're doing. When they finish their mission, they'll be back. Don't make their night harder. You don't need to be a statistic. Or a hostage. The portal is another story for another day.”

  “Thanks, Tony.” He took a deep breath, exhaled, and rolled his shoulders.

  “I agree, Mr. Russell,” said the medic. “If they need us, someone will have come back.”

  “I just don't like not knowing,” Fritz said.

  “We haven't had a chance to talk about how you discovered the portal,” Tony said. “I have a ton of questions.”

  “Me too. I'm still learning how it works. As you know, I got a serious shock when lightning struck the school last April. Ashley and I were playing basketball when the storm began. A couple of weeks later, I walked into the classroom, and my class and I met Robert E. Lee at Appomattox. A couple of periods later, another class witnessed the Triangle Fire in Manhattan in 1911. At the end of the day, George and I walked in on the president. You know the rest.”

  The medic listened. “You met Robert E. Lee?”

  “What's your name, soldier?” Fritz asked.

  “Ferris, sir, Joel.”

  “Well, Lieutenant Ferris, that's right, isn't it?” Ferris nodded. “I met him in April, and I've been to see him a couple of times this week. I'd tell you more, but I don't know what I'm allowed to say. You already know the portal is top secret.”

  The medic nodded again and said, “That has to be exciting.”

  “How about the electrical tie-in?” Tony asked.

  “Well, each time, I got a shock from the doorknob. That day had been stormy. We finally figured a connection exists between my desk key, the lightning, the doorknob, and paperclips in books on my desk.

  “Keys and lightning, Ben Franklin.”

  “Yup. I figured it out after looking at a hundred-dollar bill. The president figured it out about the same time.”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Russell, but you've met the president, too?” The young soldier's eyes were wide, in a kind of dazed stare.

  “Lieutenant, what happens in Riverboro, stays in Riverboro. You might see him before this is over.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Tony said, “I know most of the story from when we first investigated. I'm still amazed. Did you use it over the summer?”

  “No. But I did think about how it works. A lot. What's been fascinating to me is how time seems to move. When I went to see Lee last week, he told me it had only been two days since my last visit. But more than two months had passed here. And when we first met him, one of my kids had a textbook with nothing written in it. By the time we left, the words had come back. We found out tonight that the open door drains power.”

  “And we found those images in your classroom. Electrical imprints left by you and your students, the Triangle fire, and Robert E. Lee. That was amazing. Fritz, this portal may have practical uses, but it's a scientific marvel. I'd love to do experiments with you, if you wouldn't mind.”

  “Tony, after this week, I'm not sure I want to have anything to do with it. Well, that's not really true, but it certainly isn't all a good thing. Then again, as a historian, it's a real temptation.”

  Coming from behind them, a single sound, “Wow.”

  Chapter 16

  THE CLASSROOM DOOR opened before Tony could respond. Two soldiers walked through, one supporting the other. “Medic!” shouted Fritz. As Ferris stepped across the hall and a medic ran toward them, Colonel Mitchell arrived, looking weary. Not sure of his condition, Fritz reached for his arm.

  “I'm fine, Mr. Russell. But they have a mess to clean up. We need medical facilities, more than we planned for.”

  “Colonel, can you call the airport? Can anyone there help us?”

  “Yes and no. All the medics and doctors are here, or were. Give me a second, and I'll take care of it.” Fritz walked with him to Ashley's classroom. The colonel sat in the first chair he came to. “Mr. Russell, do you have anything to drink?”

  “We'll get something. Maybe we can open the cafeteria. I'll ask George.” Once more, Fritz ran down the hall. Low-level chatter and subdued crying filled the hallways. Linda waited at the end of the hall.

  “They're coming back,” he said. “We need to open the cafeteria. And maybe some soda machines.”

  “Are you okay?” asked Linda.

  “I'm fine now that it's over. Once they're out, we can send these people home.” The crowd now had spread along the hall and around the corner, almost to the office.

  “Do you know where you're sending them?”

  “Not sure. I think it's on your computer, but it's still going to be a while. Let me get George. We may need to hit a few convenience stores.” Fritz found George, explained the situation, and together they went past the crowd of tired, confused people to the cafeteria. Most of the settlers were sitting on the hard floor. Some stood and watched as Fritz and George hurried by. “George, once we clear the portal, we'll be able to get these folks home. But until then, they may need the bathrooms and something to drink. As much as I hate revealing too much, it might be a good idea to get some Israeli soldiers in here to make them more comfortable.”

  “I'll take c
are of this end, Fritz. If any soldiers can help, send them to me, okay?”

  “Thanks, George. I'll take a bunch of water bottles for now. You might want to open the soda machines, if you can.”

  “Of course I can. I'm the principal.” With an amused look Fritz rarely saw, George said, “Now, get going and send me some help.”

  When Fritz returned to Ashley's room, the colonel had his phone pressed to his ear. Fritz handed him a bottle. When the call ended, the colonel said, “Thanks, Mr. Russell. They're already on the way. The major called them twenty minutes ago. She's hurt. Last night's wound opened. That's where most of the blood came from.”

  “Colonel, what do you want me to do?”

  “Direct traffic. Some of these guys have had a rough time. The Eledorians didn't retreat far. Thank heavens the Israelis moved in. But they didn't know about us, so we had a hell of a time sorting it out. Get the medical people to set up and get the injured in there.”

  “Colonel, the cafeteria's open. George needs help getting the settlers watered, and I think that if we get some Israelis here, it might help.”

  From the doorway, the colonel said, “I'll take care of that. Captain Dolan, we have two things to do. First, send some men to the cafeteria to help Mr. McAllister. Then go back in and find an Israeli officer and bring him to me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Do you need anything, Colonel?” Fritz asked.

  “No. This will be over shortly. Get things set up as best you can. I need a minute to think.”

  Fritz walked to the hallway as the next set of buses pulled up, led by a police car. The buses unloaded, and Jim Shaw walked in. “Mr. R, can you tell me—” Fritz stopped him.

  “Jim, I need to get the hospital set up. That's what these guys are unloading. We'll talk later.”

  “Where do you want them?” Jim asked.

  “There,” he said, pointing to Sandy's classroom.

  Jim directed the first men coming in and then went outside. Fritz returned to his classroom door and held it open. As the teams returned, seeing that quite a few were wounded, he called for the medics. Then his phone rang.

  “Hello, Mr. President.”

  “Fritz, what's going on? I haven't heard anything.”

  “It's busy here now. Our guys are just starting to come back. Colonel Mitchell came through about five minutes ago. The major's wounded again.”

  “The two of them went in? Who's been running things?”

  “Me, I guess. Ashley went to the hospital with the major. George, Lois, and Linda have been taking care of the Israelis. Colonel Mitchell can tell you what happened. Do you want to speak to him?”

  “I do. Fritz, when you can, come and get me.”

  “Sure, Mr. President. But I don't know how soon. Hang on a sec.” He called for help again, and returned to his call. Fritz told him he didn't want to close the portal until everyone had returned. He also said that he suggested bringing some Israeli soldiers to help with their people.

  “I like that idea. The prime minister will too. Let me talk to the colonel, Fritz.”

  As more Americans and the Israeli settlers who had been fighting came through the portal, Captain Dolan returned with a dozen Israeli soldiers, half of whom were women. Fritz watched as they stared at their surroundings and then at each other. Dolan introduced Fritz to Colonel ben Ami, tall, tanned, and dirty.

  “Colonel, would you ask your soldiers to go to your people?” Fritz requested. “They're down there. And would you come with me to Colonel Mitchell?” The Israeli officer looked at Fritz, then up and down the hall. Fritz marked the rapid change of expression. “This way, Colonel.”

  Mitchell finished talking to the president. “He wants to talk to you, Mr. Russell. He said to call him when things quiet down.”

  “Colonel Mitchell, this is Colonel ben Ami,” said Fritz. “Do you need anything?”

  “Nothing for me. Get some water for the colonel, please.”

  Fritz found the extra water bottle he had left earlier, gave it to the Israeli officer, and went back into the hall. With the controlled chaos around him, Tony had a book open, still sitting on the floor.

  “Tony, what are you reading?” Fritz leaned in.

  “One of your books about the Civil War. I grabbed it before we started. Hope you don't mind.”

  “No, that's fine. Do you want anything?”

  “Yeah, a chair. My butt hurts. And some water.”

  Fritz took a chair from Ashley's classroom, which was now filling with both returning and newly-arrived soldiers, and grabbed a bottle of water. Down the hall, more soldiers arrived with boxes of sandwiches. He directed the first man to Ashley's room. What else? Oh, yeah. Bathroom.

  “Anyone who wants to use the bathroom, follow me.” To avoid the crowds, he took them up a staircase to the second-floor bathrooms and asked if they would handle the bathroom runs from then on. By the time he turned back to his classroom, the hall teemed with returning troops, filthy and still sweating. He looked into Sandy's now-crowded room. I wish Ash were here. I could use a hand. He asked from the doorway, “Do you need anything?”

  Sir, we could use some water bottles,” said one of the medics. Seeing the number of people in the room, Fritz stopped a soldier carrying a case and sent him in. He walked to the end of the hall and spotted Jim Shaw, directing the flow and moving everyone inside. He looked to the other end of the hall and saw Linda, still helping the settlers. She needs to sit down.

  “Lin, you should sit. Are you okay?”

  “I'm a little tired. When are you going to get them home?”

  “Captain Burnett hasn't come back. So I don't know what's left to do on the other side. I haven't talked to the colonel, either. Are the Israeli soldiers helping?”

  “Having them here has made this much easier. You could feel the settlers' anxiety ease.”

  “Why don't you come down to Ash's room and sit for a while? I'll speak to Mitchell.”

  Linda said that she would go straight away, but Lois needed a break too. He said he would get Lois then meet her. Linda nodded and started down the hallway.

  “Is George still at the cafeteria?” Lois asked.

  “I think so. I haven't seen him since he opened it.”

  “Fritz, I'll go and help him. Is everything over?”

  “They're not all back, Lois. I don't know what's happening inside the portal. I'm going to talk to the colonel now. I'll see you later.”

  Soldiers were still straggling through his classroom door. Tony ignored them, still sitting, but on the chair. He thanked Fritz and rubbed his butt. A new group of soldiers arrived with more food and water. Fritz absorbed the again-changed environment. From quiet to very busy. “Amazing,” he said. He found Linda sitting with Colonel Mitchell when he walked in.

  She said, “Colonel Mitchell described some of what happened.” Her cheeks reflected the dampness of her eyes. “The Eledorians bunched up around the community house but didn't expect us to be inside. When they got in, there was a lot of shooting.”

  The colonel picked up the story. “Then we battled hand-to-hand. They got upstairs and almost reached the portal. The major and Captain Burnett were on the other side of the balcony and started shooting. It looked like a whole clip hit her, so hard that she flew and banged her head on the wall. The captain held them back until they went back downstairs. Then he followed them. But he hasn't come back.”

  “About thirty still haven't come back,” Linda said

  Fritz turned to Colonel Mitchell. “Sir, are you planning to go back in? It should start getting light there pretty soon. Do you think the guys inside need help?”

  “Something just doesn't smell right to me.” The colonel's stare distracted Fritz from all the surrounding activity.

  “What do you mean, Colonel?”

  “I have to think about what's happened, Mr. Russell. I've seen their standing army. These guys don't look like soldiers.” His focus returned. “But we have work to do now. Sorry.
We need to make sure the Eledorians can't use the community house for cover. We don't have reserves or supplies, and I don't know where the Israelis are. Colonel ben Ami says he needs to go back shortly, but that he'll leave a few of his men to help with the settlers. We'll go back through in about five minutes.” He stood and addressed the roughly forty soldiers sitting in the classroom and told them to get ready to go again.

  “Colonel,” asked one of the men, “do we have any extra clips? Most of us are low or out of ammo.”

  Fritz said, “Colonel, I think the new guys brought some with the food and water.”

  “Go see,” said Colonel Mitchell. “Then everyone, line up in the hall. Mr. Russell, do you know where Colonel ben Ami is?”

  “I think he's down the hall. I'll tell him you want him.”

  “Tell him we're getting ready to go.”

  In the other hallway, order began to settle in. Fear had been replaced with calm faces and relieved chatter. Fritz found the Israeli officer, passed along the message, and went to the cafeteria to check on George. I could use Ash's help here. George and Lois remained at the cafeteria handing drinks to the soldiers and settlers. Fritz updated them. Then he asked, “Are you okay? Do you need more help?”

  “We're fine now, Fritz,” said Lois. “The chaos ended when the Israeli soldiers showed up. Now it's manageable.”

  George said, “Go finish up, Fritz. Let us know when the settlers start to leave. How's Linda holding up?”

  “She's sitting in Ashley's room. She says she's all right.”

  Lois said, “Go. Get this over with.”

  Fritz returned just as the colonel entered the hallway, ready to go. Walking straight to the door, he looked for Tony's nod and touched the doorknob. Once the portal reset, Fritz could hear distant, intermittent pops as the soldiers re-entered. When he shut the door, he still wished he had stepped through to look.

  “Now we wait again,” he said to Tony. Linda had come out of the classroom. Fritz waved her behind him and took her hand.

  “I'm glad you're okay, Fritz. But I hope this can stop,” she said, soft enough that Tony wouldn't hear her.