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Json put his arm around Astrid. “Thank you… Wait a minute… You’re burning hot!” He puts his hand on her forehead. “Someone get me a wet cloth. Astrid, you lay down over here on the mat.”

Astrid appeared drowsy. She wasn’t responding. Json hugged her and carried her small body to the mat.

“Do we have any more aspirin in the med bag? Anything that would help?”

One of the women brought a wet red cloth and put it on Astrid’s forehead, as she laid down on the mat.

“No, we’ve only got Bactine left, and a few water purification tablets,” said a man holding the med bag.

Json put his hand on Astrid’s chest. “Are you breathing okay?”

“Yes,” she responded, weakly.

“Do you know what’s happening?”

“I think the surveillance drones or satellites or something is scanning us right now. It always gives me the woozies.”

Json lept up. “ATTENTION people, change of plans. We are out of here in five minutes. Grab your gear, bring the coffee we’ve already packed, and get ready to move. We’ve been found.”

Astrid did not respond. She drifted into an anxious sleep, like a drugged reaction.

“Where are we going?” asked one of the men in the group.

Json, answered, “Outside and up the ocean shore. We will be able to see any incoming drones or military patrol.”

The man asked, “Do we leave the turbines on?”

“No, shut them down. Great question.”

Json was stuffing his laptop and power cable into his bag. He could see Astrid’s labored breathing. He had to get her out of this place. “One minute, people. One minute. Let’s go!”

He knelt down by Astrid. She looked so tiny, so young, so fragile. “I’m going to pick you up now, sweetie. Don’t be scared. We’re gonna move and you’re going to feel better. Get some fresh air. Negative ions from the ocean waves.” He thought about putting her on his shoulders, but she appeared to be sleeping or unconscious. She didn’t register his voice. He adjusted his bag and lifted Astrid and draped her over his shoulder. She groaned once. He could feel her clothes soaking wet against his shoulder.

“We’re out, people. Time to move.”

The group of 9 made their way down the endless East hallway.

“What door was it?” yelled one of the men from the front of the pack.

“147!” (VERIFY THE CORRECT NUMBER FROM PREVIOUS CHAPTER)

Json put his fingers on Astrid’s neck to feel for a pulse. She was alive. Clammy. But alive.

As they emerged through the door onto the beach a firey sunset was in progress. At first Json wondered if it was a massive fire or some other disastrous event. Even as the 110-degree heat took the breath out of all of them, the moment held. Everyone stopped and admired the moment. Some sort of revery for God’s promise or something. Just a sunset. Json was happy it was going down. The temperature should drop for a bit. Then they’d have to look for shelter from the freezing night. He could feel his feet sinking into the wet sand.

“Okay, enough kumbaya. Let’s start moving. We’re going up, North, up the beach this way.”

Json was beginning to feel the weight of Astrid. He knew they couldn’t get far without needing shelter from the freezing night. “Keep your eyes open for drones and a place to shelter when it gets cold.” He touched Asrid’s neck again. Still alive. She seemed to be hallucinating with the fever or whatever she was struggling with. She was mumbling to herself. Occasionally “Rainbow Connection” lines came out. Json remembered her singing, her cartwheels on the beach. He needed this little girl to survive. They all did.

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