The Annihilation of Foreverland

shook Foreverland.
    He’d never seen anything like it.
    The boys were gathered around the sundial where the Director could see them very clearly. He didn’t even sense her nearing, she just appeared out of nowhere. Before he could act, she struck the sundial and let loose tremors that never ended. They were still inside his head.
    The Director threw the needle on the floor.
    He put his feet down . He needed some water, maybe something to settle his stomach. He’d already been on the recliner far too long. The room felt like it was turning ten times as fast as it should’ve been. He was imagining it.
    He stood slowly, hand on the armrest. He let go, took a step and another, quickly leaning over. The floor felt tilted. The Director went several more steps and crashed into the telescope. He rolled to his back, swallowed back bile bitterly surging upward.
    Relax, you idiot. This will pass.
    Foreverland needed to be shut down for awhile. He had to admit, that would be the best thing after what he saw. It was getting too risky. He’d never become paralyzed inside the needle. Not only had he lost track of Danny and the girl, he didn’t see anything after she belted the sundial. He didn’t know where they went or what they were doing. He was half-baked until the day finally ended and he returned to the chair.
    But he couldn’t shut things down. That would require starting everything over. He’d lose the confidence of the Investors. He might not get it back up and running. Besides, the girl… she was out in the open.
    She was getting too strong. For that reason, Foreverland needed to continue, full speed ahead.
    The Director decided right there – staring at the ceiling, swallowing foul gulps of saliva – he would follow Danny into the next round and put an end to this madness once and for all. He’d set a trap for the little bitch and be done with it. He had to do something. Soon.
    But who’s trapping who?
    “Director?” the intercom called. “Is everything all right?”
    “Yes.” He rolled to his side and spent some time on his hands and knees. He decided to sit on the floor a bit longer. “I want Jones and Smith up here.”
    “They are with the boys right now.”
    “Well, send for them.”
    “I think we have bigger problems, Director.”
    Oh, you have no idea. “What would that be?”
    “You’ll need to come down to the network floor. I think we need to consider suspending the program until we can—”
    “No.”
    The Director pulled himself up. He saw the cart driving away from the Haystack with someone lying in the back. He assumed the boy Zin had finally crossed over for graduation and was being transferred to the Chimney.
    “What would you like to do?” the intercom spoke.
    “Right now, I want Smith and Jones in my office.” He filled a glass with water and drank. “Afterwards, I want to see what Danny Boy was up to.”
    “I’m not comfortable with the risk you’re suggesting.”
    “Life is a risk.”
    “You’re risking everything.”
    The world settled around the Director. He smoothed the front of his floral-designed shirt, brushing away the fear that, seconds earlier, churned inside him. He poured Scotch over the water.
    “Get Smith and Jones up here. Now.”

45
    Danny woke in his bed.
    His room was lit up. He pulled open the curtain. The sun was high enough to be noon. The Yard was active. Dozens of campers were playing soccer. Others were hanging out at the tables.
    Something is wrong.
    When the sleep-fog cleared, he remembered. The satellite!
    It should have landed. The impact would’ve been like a bomb. There wouldn’t be much of the Mansion left and there sure as hell wouldn’t be a soccer game. Unless it was off the mark, landing a mile or two in the water. That was possible.
    Maybe the Trojan horses were quarantined. Possible, sure. There was always a chance a security scan picked them up while they lay dormant. Still, they would find him. Eventually. One day.
    He cursed.
    Stupid. Stupid, stupid, STUPID. He should’ve pulled the trigger while he was there, sent them all hurtling toward the island. That way, at least, he could battle off security snoopers and if they caught him they would trace him back to the island.
    Stupid.
    He needed to get dressed, get over to the Mansion and see if anything had landed. Maybe there would be some debris that would indicate an off-target crash. Even if the satellite was fifty miles off, the military would cruise by the island.