Copyrighted Greg L. Miller 2011.
Chapter
20: Flooding of Union Station
Mary clings
tightly to the cops side. The police
dog looks young and fierce.
The K9 smells Mike’s palms as they hurry down
the street. Pixel is covered in dust,
leaving the dog looking as if it’s a ghost coming deep from the Amazon. The
sidewalk is uneven an many pipes spill water onto the earth. Mike’s back hurts
each time he lands on a jilted fragment of pavement. Dress shoes give no
traction.
The Librarian from the Jefferson buildings whines, “I haven’t made it a block and my
back hurts.”
April and Mark sound apologetic.
Larry snorts, “How can you work in the Capital
without being able to walk a block?”
Mike blushes and quiets down. The sidewalk lies
fragmented for about thirty to forty feet and then evens out.
Mark dreamily states, “Did you know much of D.C. is
built over water canals? I wonder if the earth is stable underneath us.”
The cop sounds like a jerk, “Why do you keep on
talking about history? Who cares?”
April comes to Marks defense, “It’s his way of
coping with stress. At least he isn’t drinking his problems away.”
Mike peers at a water pipe that sends thousands
of gallons of water into the street a second. The groups shoes get a little
water logged but not to much. Sewers do their best in draining the water from
the street but many are over filling. Multiple layers of rock and gravel give
testimony to once finely engineered city sidewalks as the group struggles
forward. Two people ahead appear to be dead;
a cable line dangles into the water.
Mike and Mark give each other a look as the
fellow from England swoons on his words. She looks like a bee going for honey.
Mark says, “Let’s simply walk around them. There’s
really not much to E Capital Street, now is there?”
Without incident the group passes the still
corpses. There are no current signs of
volts of electricity being active. The US Supreme Court is to the left.
Susan remarks, “I have been to war zones in
Iraq and Sudan for CNN and have seen countless corpses, but something about
today doesn’t sit well. The dead bodies scare me.”
Her ranting catches short when Berry points to
a group of reporters near the Supreme Court Building. They hail Susan over and
she says by to the group of survivors. The building is still intact as another
dozen public workers mill in the front steps.
The side walk has many cracks but it’s not anything as bad as the block
before. Aftershocks occur less frequent,
about twenty to thirty seconds in between five to ten minute intervals. The earth rolls gently, no longer abrupt
shifts tumble buildings and blocks. Periodically
a building groans and buckles due to unstable earth.
The remaining group makes it to Constitution
Avenue NW; the street connects the capitals northeast and northwest
region. Hundreds of people stumble with
dazed and confused expressions.
Mark comments, “People should be going to designated
evacuation centers. Where are they going?”
April goads him, “The President is probably
watching television in a ranch in Texas.”
The cop mutters as he takes a swig of vodka, “Show
some respect to our president.”
Mark sounds agitated and anxious, “Did you guys
know this street was originally named North B Street? Back in 1931 Congress spent 75 million
dollars and made it what you see today.
People used to throw garbage into a canal which was the foundation of
the street. You know, I’m soon going to have to go see if my dad and mom.”
Mike pauses as he looks both ways before
crossing the road. Old habits die hard.
Larry doesn’t seem to want to stop being a jerk,
“I think it’s safe to cross the road, if you haven’t noticed there has been an
earthquake. You’re a sissy.”
The group sticks close to 1st Street
NE. Union Station is a couple of more
blocks away.
Mark continues, “There is a fallout shelter at
Union Station. I bet they know what to do.”
The next block goes by without incident. Dozens of people ask the group where we are
going, or if we know what’s happening. Everyone is confused. Gunshots can be
heard which stall conservations, know one comments on the violence that might
be occurring a couple of blocks away. A mother attempts to cajole her crying
children.
The group makes it to C Street. Police officers seem to be having an issue at
a newly erect police barricade.
Teenagers look like they are in gang’s line up on the street with their
hands behind their heads. Half a dozen bolt into all directions with handcuffs
on. Only four officers attempt to give
chase which only leaves two watching over a dozen gang members. One police
officer desperately tries getting communication with someone from dispatch but
only receives static. The remaining youth
become hostile; the small group hurries past them.
Larry quickens his pace and doesn’t acknowledge
the cops. The group gets hits the corner
of D Street NW. The buildings to the left
and right are no longer intact. Once
smooth polished walls are now broken. Debris falls in an alarming rate. Mike marvels at the cold smooth marble looming
over them.
A younger looking gang member stumbles ahead of
us, he doesn’t look rational. The kid holds a hand gun but doesn’t seem to know
what it is. His milky white eyes are flat of emotion and look like the eyes of
a lizard. They look lifeless. The youth points his gun at the group but doesn’t
pull the trigger.
Pixel growls and leaps forward. Within seconds she’s across the street and
leaps at the armed man. He doesn’t make
any noise or try to shield himself from the assault. Within moments man and
beast hit the ground. Pixel holds the man’s arm with her teeth and grows ferociously.
Larry drunkenly commands Pixel, “KILL!”
Pixel doesn’t obey as she continues to sound
menacing. The man begins convulsing and Pixel lets go. The group looks at the youth
in confusion.
Mark comments, “Maybe the guy is overdosing and
as is a junky?”
Multiple gun shots can be heard a block away. The group runs as Larry
loads new bullet in his chamber. The
gang members caught earlier on Constitution Avenue have
overwhelmed the police officers. Fear courses through the group. No one thought they were going to be dodging
bullets down town DC after an earthquake!
The sun is extremely warm; the heat in the breeze only makes the group sweat heavier as they walk faster. The Liberty Bell is a good resting spot at the entrance to Union Station. Mikes sides hurt from exertion and his inner thighs burn from being overweight.
The sun is extremely warm; the heat in the breeze only makes the group sweat heavier as they walk faster. The Liberty Bell is a good resting spot at the entrance to Union Station. Mikes sides hurt from exertion and his inner thighs burn from being overweight.
Mark looks fit and barely broke a sweat. Larry reprimands Pixel for not killing the
armed man and looks to see if anyone followed.
The Freedom Bell is on its side.
A new crack crisscrosses with the old.
A three to four foot marble wall blocks the group from the street. Bushes are torn and no longer look
impressive. It doesn’t feel safe to be
in the open or in a building. Pieces of
the memorial for the Liberty Bell lie to the side. Mike reads, ‘…given by the
American Legion…’ the rest is fragmented and broken. The gun shots putter off.
April tries to find some humor in the
situation, “At least we haven’t experienced any crazy shooters like in New
Orleans during Katrina.”
Mark takes the moment to tell April a little
about Union Station, he hands shake hard, “Did you know this station is a
national treasure? In 1981 Congress
spent 180 million dollars on it; the task made it the biggest public/private
restoration project America ever took. Let’s
get down to the fallout shelter. It’s on one of the lower levels.”
Mike asks, “Is the fallout shelter still
functional?”
Larry responds, “It is. But it only can hold a few hundred for a long
time or a few thousand for a very short span.
I know where it is. It’s near the steam room, which used to be used for privileged
passengers.”
Mike flinches as he notices a homeless man
buried underneath rubble near the entrance twitch. It’s the man he gave a few
dollars to. The man’s upper torso sticks out of the rubble, his arm and hand
buckle like a dried up fish.
White granite from Vermont makes up Union
Station. Large chunks fall on hapless
victims when the earthquake began. The Columbus Memorial Fountain is totally
destroyed, granite no longer fits together. Flags from around the world lie in
heaps, dust bellow while warm wind creates an impressive visual of mini
tornadoes that lack danger. Looming ahead of the group is some very impressive
Beaux-Art architecture. No longer can gold leaf be seen.
Knowing a little about Union Station Mike
attempts to impress Mark, “Augustus Saint-Gauens was the dude who inspired this
place. See that statue still standing? It’s about the American Renaissance movement. Back in the day it was all about fire,
electricity, freedom, agriculture and a few other things.”
No one says anything; my narration isn’t as
impressive as Mark’s.
The exterior spans 600 feet and has a waiting
room of reaching hundreds of feet. A
very impressive gilded ceiling shows cracks allowing sun light to stream
in. The Grand Concourse parallels the
Baths of Diocletian in Rome. Two children
catch our attention near the non functioning escalator.
Two nicely dressed kids cry out, “We need your help!”
They pinpoint the group as their possible
saviors. One of the children runs
towards Mark with pleading eyes.
Before we ask what’s happening her
companion shouts, “Please help us! Our
family is stuck in a train on the AMTRAK; or I mean, we were supposed to be on
the AMTRAK but they are stuck in the AMC movie theater and can’t get out! Water is flooding the lower level and they
are going to die! Please help us!”
Pixel doesn’t growl at them, but immediately
runs to help the best she can. The children
cry and look like angels. The group
doesn’t know what to do outside of give a lending hand.
Larry cries out, “It’s not safe to go down
there.”
He’s drawn to Mary and lacks conviction.
Mary responds, “They need our help! What’s the big deal? You’re a cop, this is what you do.”
Larry sighs and tells Pixel to follow him but
the dog is already half down the escalator.
The cop doesn’t look to happy as he shines his light down below.
Mark says, “They need our help.”
April replies, “I’m coming.”
Union Station appears to be withstanding the
damage of the earthquake. Burger King’s
entrance has caved in, Mike shakes in fear.
Mike points and says, “We ate their earlier. We
could have died in there.”
The entrance is full of rubble. A small fire rages in Subway to its left. The
fire is isolated and isn’t creating an immediate danger. A dozen survivors
shuffle in confusion. A group can be heard, they are hopeful the National Guard
will soon arrive. Many restaurants and retail shops have metal shutters firmly
closed and their employees have long evacuated the premises. A dozen homeless men peacefully scavenge pizza
from Pizzeria Uno and a few businesses that didn’t have the opportunity to
close properly. No one else cares about
the children or the small group.
Mike pauses before going down the escalator. He
knows it’s a bad idea. The Asian teen breaks from the group as he runs towards the
Verizon Wireless. No one stops him. Nearby
another store flaunting barber hair products is empty; no shutters keep the
poor away.
The group decides to use the stairs near the
escalator. A few dead bodies dot the dark tunnel. The police officer takes out a extra
flashlight and hands it to Mary. April and Mike use the light from their cell
phones. Two thirds of the way down mark
sees a utility cabinet built within a compartment for a fire hose. It’s locked.
At the bottom of the stairs the group takes the
northwest corridor. The children talk
over each other while thanking us for our help.
The girl spurts, “Our family came from Boston.
We were watching a movie but my brother wanted a shake. It was a boring movie.”
Large segments of the ceiling have caved in
near the theatres entrance. The granite is built over a steel frame that has a
brick core.
The group freezes as they see the food
court. A partially collapsed train lies
in between two stories and makes half of Union Station unavailable. Hundreds of people are dead. There is enough light to illuminate giant
size rats that scurry into the shadows.
A few survivors remain on this floor but many have evacuated. The ones
who are left do not want to be bothered.
An older woman wale’s as she holds her dead husband. Metal from the locomotive twists in all
directions but the main body is still intact.
Smoke unfolds from the engine. Water gushes and builds in the far corner
but it doesn’t look dangerous as it empties into a lower level. The children
direct the group towards the Phoenix Theatres. The children run ahead as they
scream for their parents and family.
April yells, “It’s not safe to run, please slow
down!”
A new aftershock rocks the building as the
children disappear inside. The ceiling
above the entrance gives. Thousands of pounds of rubble tumble cover the
entrance. The children don’t have time to
yell, they simply disappear.
Mike yells in defeat, “NO!”
No one knows what to say as the group looks at
the entrance of the theatre in confusion.
Mark yells, “The water is rising, we need to
get out of here now!”
Larry swears as new rushing water hits emerges
from below levels. The group scrambles to the above level.
The cop and Mary are sharing what looks to be a
fifth of alcohol a minute later. The
group is back on the first floor. The
group has a lot of new survivors, there are around thirty. Many look at Larry
with curiosity but no one interferes with him drinking. Water can be heard from the lower levels, it
sounds like its closer. There’s too much confusion to make a sound decision. No
one is worried about the floor caving in, maybe the survivors should have.
April whispers in horror, “The children are dead.
Why is this happening?”
Sadness
and depression engulf the group. Mary says something to Larry which makes Larry
respond sounding like an ass hole.
The cops voice carries over, “You don’t need
these people. They are weak and won’t
take care of you. Come home with me.”
Mary answers, “No, these are my friends. I can’t leave them. Give me another drink asshole.”
Larry doesn’t know how to communicate with Mary,
he responds, “Get your own bottle! Or come with me and have however much you
want.”
He downs the rest of whatever he’s drinking and
throws the bottle at a far wall. The
bottle shatters and creates an echo.
Mary stomps off, “You’re a prick!”
Larry doesn’t take long to rethink his strategy
as he changes his tune.
The cop calls out, “Sorry, I have another
bottle stashed away. Please come back.”
Mary is near the Pizza Uno restaurant. She
twirls around and stomps her foot in defiance, her eyes grows big as the ground
under her feet falls apart. She and a
half a dozen poor people disappear as booths and tables fall into the roaring
water of the lower level. Larry stops his tirade and looks in disbelief.
Disbelief quickly becomes drunken rage as he
bellows, “NO, we were supposed to have sex!”
Through his drunken haze it becomes apparent
she was only a sexual object.
April gasps, “Dirt bag.”
Larry steps forward, refusing to acknowledge
the floor isn’t safe to cross.
Mark yells, “Stop, it’s not safe.”
Larry doesn’t listen. Pixel barks.
Larry gets on his stomach and wriggles to the the hole in the floor. He shines his light down below but only sees
dirty water.
The cop screams, “Mary?”
Larry gets to his feet and storms out of Union
Station. Most of the people leave with
him. The Asian teen reappears, he points towards Burger King. It crosses Mike’s mind to tell the lad to get
lost but something holds his tongue. Pixel looks mentally confused as she looks
towards where the Asian boy points and where Larry stormed off.
Mark and Pixel tiredly follow the Asian boy to
the ruined Burger King. Rubble blocks the entrance. Pixel paws at some rubble
and barks.
Something snaps in the small group. For a
moment they don’t care if they bruise or cut their hands. Enough people died today. Not knowing why, the group attempt to heave giant
slabs of granite and red bricks. Mike
hears a large rumble coming down the road.
April screams, “Wait, over here!”
April flags down a large group of National
Guard personnel who have heavy machinery.
The artist shouts, “Over here! People need rescuing over here!”
One of the national guardsmen replies, “Is
there any high ranking official needing to be saved?”
April lies, “Why yes. There’s a congress man trapped in Burger
King.”
The National Guard unit stops, they are more
than willing to help politicians. Susan emerges
from the group with her camera man.
Susan excitedly says, “I can’t I ran into you
guys again.”
She tells her camera man to start filming. Unlike other national guards, this unit beams
and is happy to be filmed. Within
minutes the National Guard clear an entrance to the Burger King. It doesn’t
take the National Guard more than fifteen minutes to rescue the people inside;
thankfully they are not too annoyed when they find no politicians.
The National Guard suggests the group head
towards the hospital to get proper medical attention. If things couldn’t get bad to worse a new
threat comes as soon as the people in Burger King are rescued. One of the National Guard reports the
basement has been flooded and the fallout shelter can’t be reached.
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