Bridgeman - The Time of the Stripes

The Time of the Stripes

AMANDA BRIDGEMAN

They survived the alien visitation. But can they survive each other?

No-one had heard of Victoryville before. But when an alien spaceship appears, hovering over the town, the whole world suddenly knows its name.

After twenty-four hours and a failed military assault, the ship disappears without a trace. When the outside world restores communication to the town, thousands are reported missing.

Those who remain in Victoryville are irreparably changed. However, only some have been left with strange red marks upon their skin.

Quarantined from the outside world and segregated within, alliances are made and relationships are shattered, as everyone fights for the truth - and for their own survival.

This book is set in an entirely fictional town, but it is perhaps a place far too real in the lives of many people throughout the globe.

Abbie Randell watched the strange patch of haze dancing in the distance. It seemed to float across the blue beyond, shifting and morphing, as though blown about by the wind on high. She rubbed her tired eyes and turned them toward the smokestacks of the Clivecorp plant on the outskirts of town. Gray plumes wafted upward from the tall cylinders, leaving a trail that eventually thinned and vaporized into the blue. She looked back to the unusual patch of haze, but it, too, had now vanished. She stared at the sky for a moment, wondering just how much of the air she breathed was fresh, and how much came from the plants old smokestacks. It was a hot topic in the mouths of the townsfolk of late.

She yawned and stretched her body, reaching up toward the sun. It was an unusually warm start to autumn, which made it worth her while to be up this early. She put on her fathers baseball cap and tugged her long, dark ponytail through the gap at the back. Up studying the night before, shed been running late this morning and had accidentally grabbed his. But he wouldnt need it today; he had a big job interview this morning. She smiled and crossed her fingers for him. Hed been out of work for a while and really needed this job. The whole family did.

She reached into her bag, which lay on the grass by her towel, and pulled out a clipboard. She had two classes to teach today and first up were the toddlers. She checked her watch, then looked at the entrance of the Victoryville Aquatic Center. People were starting to arrive.

Morning, Josh smiled, as he walked past toward the lifeguard chair.

Morning, she smiled back. Shed officially met him yesterday in the VACs cafe. Not only was he the new lifeguard, but he was also her new neighbor, having moved in across the street with his family a couple of weeks ago.

Candy, the other lifeguard on duty, a tall and slender blond, slowly walked past, saying quietly: The view has suddenly improved around here, hasnt it? Abbie glanced at her, amused. Turning back to the VACs entrance she saw Deputy Canns green SUV pull up and his wife Claire getting out. Abbie moved toward them, knowing that Claire would need a hand wrangling their two-year-old daughter and baby son.

Morning! Abbie greeted them.

Morning, Abbie, Deputy Cann threw her a wave and a smile from the drivers seat, pulling his sunglasses up to sit atop his short dark hair.

Morning, Claire beamed, as she unhooked Mickeys bassinet and handed it to Abbie. Thank you.

No problem, Abbie said, smiling down at the sleeping baby.

I hear your fathers team made it into the finals, the deputy said.

Sure did, Abbie grinned. Theyre going for back-to-back championships.

Well, if they win, Id say your fathers a shoo-in for local Little League Coach of the Year again.

Fingers crossed, she said. So todays the big Bateson Dermacell opening, right?

Yeah, he replied, Im heading into the station now.

I heard talk of people protesting Clivecorps involvement. You think therell be any trouble? she asked.

Nah. The deputy shook his head. Im sure itll be fine. The chief and I will be there anyhow.

I hope its peaceful, Claire said, unhooking her daughters seat belt. I think the research these Bateson Dermacell guys are doing is important. We need to know what the pollution is doing to us, and if theyre willing to donate the lab to the schools when theyre done, then who can complain? Let them study us.

Abbie nodded in agreement as Claire helped her daughter out of the car. Abbie smiled at the little girls cute brown pigtails and green polka dot swimsuit. Hi, Miss Lena! Are you ready for your swimming lesson today?

Lena gave a big grin and nodded.

You have fun, honey! Deputy Cann said to his little girl, as he pulled his sunglasses back down. Ill see you this afternoon, alright?

Say bye to daddy, Claire motioned for Lena to wave. Lena raised her chubby little arm and flung it about in the air, and they watched as Deputy Cann departed.

Abbie looked back at Lena and saw the girls eyes were no longer on her father as he drove away, but instead were looking up into the sky.

Sparkles! Lena said, pointing into the air.

Both Abbie and Claire searched to see what Lena was pointing at.

Sparkles? I cant see anything, honey, Claire said, holding her hand up to shade her eyes.

Sparkles, momma! Lena said again, grinning and pointing.

Claire lowered her hand and shrugged at Abbie as she took Mickeys bassinet. Maybe you just saw a plane catching the sunlight, honey, she said to her daughter.

Abbie looked into the sky again, searching for the sparkles Lena had seen, wondering if it was the strange patch of haze shed seen earlier. For a moment she thought she saw something shifting across the blue, like a heat mirage or smoke. She blinked her tired eyes again to clear her vision, but whatever she thought she saw was gone. There was nothing but clear blue sky.

Must just be this strange heat, she said to Claire, then turned back to Lena again. What do you say, Lena, shall we get into the pool and cool down?

*

Deputy Leo Cann entered the Victoryville police station and saw Chief Blackstone leaning on the front counter, engrossed in the mornings newspaper, mug of coffee beside him. Leo smiled to himself. The chief was old school, always saying how he couldnt stand reading things on cell phone screens. He looked up from the newspaper, smoothing down the thick, graying mustache that sat upon his dark-brown skin.

Morning, Leo, he said in his deep, laid-back drawl.

Morning, Earl.

Grab yourself a coffee, then well make our way down.

Sure thing. Leo moved over to grab himself a cup. JT and Figgs already down there?

JTs over at the Clivecorp plant, keeping an eye on things, and Figgs is patrolling the area between there and the Bateson Dermacell office, Blackstone answered, standing upright and folding the paper. The other posts are on standby, but I dont think well need them. Josies just gone off shift and Louise is over at Mrs. Morcombes responding to a claim of theft.

What is it this time? Leo asked, amused, as he leaned back on the counter and sipped his coffee.

Her cat.

Her cat? Leo nearly spat his coffee out. Normally, Mrs. Morcombe complained about stolen newspapers and pot plants.

Mm-hmm, the chief nodded. It didnt turn up for breakfast and apparently it always turns up for breakfast.

Who would steal a cat?

If I was a betting man, Id say its under the tyres of some long-haul over on the highway, he said reaching for his Stetson. Anyway, Louise will come back and man the fort while we manage the ceremony.

Leo nodded, taking another sip of his coffee. How many are we expecting at the opening, you think?

A couple hundred maybe. The bigger the crowd, the happier the mayor will be.