The Gates: An Apocalyptic Novel by Iain Rob Wright

with his cell phone in his lap and hands shaking as he
found himself unable to dial.
    Just make the call , he told himself. You
have a job to do, and this is the only chance you will get to speak to your
family. Make the goddamn call, Guy. Find out if Kyle and Alice are okay.
    He unlocked the phone and brought up his contacts.
His hands shook, but he kept his forefinger straight enough to press his ex-wife’s
name and start the call. He placed the phone to his ear and waited.
    “Guy, is that you?”
    “Nancy, are you okay?”
    “No, I’m not okay. What’s going on? Brunswick is
under attack. That’s only the next town over.”
    “But Durham is okay?”
    “Yes, I think so. The local police have gone to
help in Brunswick, but things are okay here. They say those stones opened up some
kind of gate and monsters are pouring through.”
    “I think that’s correct,” he admitted, “I’ve seen
the monsters. They’re real.”
    “Oh God.”
    “Nancy, where are Kyle and Alice? Are they with
you?”
    “No.”
    “Jesus, where are they?”
    “They’re in London. You know that.”
    Guy’s eyes went wide as he realised. “Damn it.
Their school trip was this week?”
    “And all of next. I can’t believe you forgot. I
suppose I should be used to it by now.”
    “Nancy, I’m not calling for an argument. I want to
know my family is safe, so just tell me. Are the kids okay?”
    “Guy, I haven’t been able to reach them all day.
The news said London is under attack.” She sobbed.
    Guy almost dropped the phone. His hands shook. “Nancy,
when did you speak to them last?”
    “Yesterday. It was night time there, but around
midday here. They were having fun; said they were going to visit Big Ben in the
morning.”
    That put Kyle and Alice in the heart of the city.
    Guy closed his eyes and tried not to scream.
“Okay, Nancy, don’t panic. Give me the details of where they’re staying and
I’ll contact the U.S. embassy; see what I can do from here.”
    “Thank you, Guy. Clark has tried to get in contact
with the school, but hasn’t gotten anywhere.”
    The mention of his wife’s lover dispelled some of
Guy’s desperation and replaced it with anger. “Is Clark there with you now?”
    “Yes, did you want to speak to him?”
    “No! I mean, I don’t have anything to say to him.
Just stay together and don’t leave home. Things are bad, Nancy, but at least
it’s not everywhere. If Durham is okay, then stay put. I’ll try to find Kyle
and Alice. Contact you as soon as I hear anything.”
    “Thanks, Guy. You stay safe.”
    “I always do.”
    He ended the call and once again stared at the
cell phone in his lap. Nancy was okay, and that was good, but nothing told him
his children were safe.
    There was a knock at the door.
    When Guy opened it, he found Frank standing there.
    “My aunt is gone,” he said. “I tried to get a hold
of her, but a nurse at the local hospital answered the phone.”
    Guy sighed. “I’m sorry, Frank.”
    “Thank you. Have you got a hold of your kids? Nancy?”
    “Nancy is okay, but Kyle and Alice are in London.”
    “Their class trip?”
    Guy huffed. “Now I really feel like an asshole. I
forgot all about it, Frank. They’re stuck on the other side of the Atlantic,
and Nancy can’t get hold of them. I… I don’t know if they’re okay.”
    “Of course they are. I’ve never known a thirteen year
old boy as grown up as your Kyle. He’ll be looking after Alice even as we
speak. They’ll be okay.”
    “I hope you’re right.”
    “I am. So what’s our next move, Captain?”
    “We head for Norfolk, as commanded. We can refuel
and get new orders.”
    “Sounds like the smart move. You will have a
problem on your hands though.”
    Guy tilted his head. “What problem?”
    “Begins with a T.”
    “Tosco? What’s my second-in-command up to now?”
    “Some of the men want to leave, go to their
families. Tosco told them they could.”
    “He said what? I’ll throttle