"No, I don't," I said thoughtfully. "The epidemic has been moving
slowly inland and south. Dr. Hallam suggested that agents must have
started it in the Interior of B.C., because of its explosive character.
That makes sense, because they would want to get it started across the
mountain barriers and the sparsely settled areas, so that the whole
of North America would be affected: but they would still have to come
back to the coast for supplies, and they probably arrange to do that
when the satellite long-range forecast says fog conditions are likely.
Then, too, this is the last night before the curfew and they can still
move freely. However, I'm afraid they are almost finished in this part
of the world and will probably move on. I hope to see some evidence of
them out at Horseshoe Bay. It's a wild chance," I concluded lamely,
"like trying to throw boxcars in a crap game; but what else can I do?"
"What are boxcars?" she said.
"Double sixes ... and an outside chance."
"It isn't even an outside chance," she argued. "Suppose you guess right
and this is a good night for it, what makes you think out of all this
long coastline they would pick Horseshoe Bay? I'd think a lonelier spot
more likely. Why not between here and Squamish on the new highway, or
farther south or north?"
"In the far north there are few roads. Closer to Vancouver the coast
road has ferry crossings in it that would be time consuming and also,
on a small ferry, strangers might be noticed more, coming and going.
The same applies to the Vancouver-Squamish highway. A car parked along
that road might attract attention and the little hamlets where they
could land are too small for them to pass unnoticed. South of Horseshoe
Bay are the busy shipping lanes and then the United States border
country, so, to me, Horseshoe Bay seems the best bet. It's big enough
that people come and go in their boats, even this late in the year, and
don't attract too much attention. Cars are often left parked in the
lots while the owners go fishing up the coast or visit their cottages
for a weekend. Also, the floating docks for the small boats are beside
the main jetty where we can see whoever passes, while we sit in our
parked car. And there are a few lights, enough that we can see them
without drawing attention to ourselves."
"You have it figured, don't you?" Pat yawned, but the yawn was more
excitement than boredom.
"Yeah," I muttered, "but who knows how a communist thinks?"
* * * * *
It was about one-fifteen when we rode down the steep incline to the Bay
and, after circling about the little beach park to look around, pulled
in not far from the restaurant where the first dock light illuminated
a small circle in the fog. We were far enough away under the trees to
be safe, and, with the windows up, in that light, it isn't easy to see
into a Ferguson anyway.
"Better not smoke," I said. "We can pretend we are here on a necking
party."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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