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Page 85
'And don't touch the intruder. That black liquid on him . . . it may be dangerous. It may be contagious.'
'What, you think I'd touch him? No, I don't think so. No, I don't think so. What do you mean, contagious? He was sick?'
'I just don't know. I think the rain might be making people crazy. Look, I've got to go now.' He disconnected.
He realized he'd told the woman that he would send a patrol car and she shouldn't let anyone in. Good move, he thought.
But no response had come from the radio.
He activated the mike again. 'Anybody out there? Hanson? Yarbrough? Gonzales? Paxton?'
The crackle and hiss of white noise came from the receiver. Nothing more.
'Where are you guys? This is Hudson. Talk to me, damn it!'
Nobody answered.
He took another call, this one from a man.
'You better hustle some troops over here, pal. Man, I never seen nothing to beat it. Place is going wild.'
'Where are you calling from?'
'My shop on Third. Jiffy Locksmith? I go to leave and, man, there's a fucking riot going on in the street. Must be a dozen of 'em, yelling and running around getting soaked, bashing in windows. Shit! They're killing folks, man. Honest to God. I seen 'em run in the fucking doughnut shop across the street, and they just started tearing into the folks in there. Killed every last

 
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