Under the Dome

But Rusty, who had learned the belt-and-suspenders approach as a medical student, absolutely was. 'Two warnings to keep out,' he said, 'Dead animals by day, a glowing belt of radiation by night.'

'So far as I know,' Rommie said, joining them at the side of the road, 'radiation only glows in science fiction movies.'

Rusty thought of telling him they were living in a science fiction movie, and Rommie would realize it when he got close to that weird box on the ridge. But of course Rommie was right.

'We're supposed to see it,' he said. 'The same with the dead animals. You're supposed to say, "Whoa—if there's some kind of suicide-ray out here that affects big mammals, I better stay away. After all, I'm a big mammal.'"

'But the kids didn't back off,' Barbie said.

'Because they're kids,' Ernie said. And, after a moment's consideration: 'Also skateboarders. They're a different breed.'

'I still don't like it,'Jackie said,'but since we have noplace else to go, maybe we could drive through yonder Van Allen Belt before I lose what's left of my nerve. After what happened at the cop-shop, I'mjfeeling a little shaky.'

'Wait a minute,' Barbie said. 'There's something out of kilter here. I see it, but give me a second to think how to say it.'

They waited. Moonlight and radiation lit the remains of the bear. Barbie was staring at it. Finally he raised his head.

'Okay, here's what's troubling me. There's a they. We know that because the box Rusty found isn't a natural phenomenon.'

'Damn straight, it's a made thing,' Rusty said. 'But not terrestrial. I'd bet my life on that.' Then he thought how close he'd come to losing his life not an hour ago and shuddered. Jackie squeezed his shoulder.

'Never mind that part for now,' Barbie said. 'There's a they, and if they really wanted to keep us out, they could. They're keeping the whqle world out of Chester's Mill. If they wanted to keep us away front their box, why not put a mini-Dome around it?'

'Or a harmonic sound that would cook our brains like chicken legs in a microwave,' Rusty suggested, getting into the spirit of the thing. 'Hell, real radiation, for that matter.'

'It might be real radiation,' Ernie said.'In fact, the Geiger counter you I brought up here pretty much confirmed that.'

'Yes,' Barbie agreed, 'but does that mean that what the Geiger counters registering is dangerous? Rusty and the kids aren't breaking out in lesions, or losing their hair, or vomiting up the linings of their stomachs.'

'At least not yet,' Jackie said.

'Dat's cheerful,' Rommie said.

Barbie ignored the byplay. 'Surely if they can create a barrier so strong it bounces back the best missiles America can throw at it, they could set up a radiation belt that would kill quickly, maybe instantly. It would even be in their interest to do so. A couple of grisly human deaths would be a lot more apt to discourage explorers than a bunch of dead animals. No, I think Julia's right, and the so-called radiation belt will turn out to be a harmless glow that's been spiced up to register on our detection equipment. Which probably seems pretty damn primitive to them, if they really are extraterrestrial.'

'But why?' Rusty burst out. 'Why any barrier? I couldn't lift the damn thing, I couldn't even rock it! And when I put a lead apron on it, the apron caught fire. Even though the box itself is cool to the touch!'

'If they're protecting it, there must be some way of destroying it or turning it off,' Jackie said. 'Except…'

Barbie was smiling at her. He felt strange, almost as if he were floating above his own head, 'Go on, Jackie. Say it.'

'Except they're not protecting it, are they? Not from people who are determined to approach it.'

'There's more,' Barbie said. 'Couldn't we say they're actually pointing at it? Joe McClatchey and his friends were practically following a trail of bread crumbs.'

'Here it is, puny Earthlings,' Rusty said.'What can you do about it, ye who are brave enough to approach?'

'That feels about right,' Barbie said. 'Come on. Let's get up there.'

2

'You better let me drive from here,' Rusty told Ernie. 'Up ahead's where the kids passed out. Rommie almost did. I felt it too. And I had a kind of hallucination. A Halloween dummy that burst into flames.'

'Another warning?' Ernie asked.

'I don't know.'

Rusty drove to where the woods ended and open, rocky land sloped up to the McCoy Orchard. Just ahead, the air glowed so brightly they had to squint, but there was no source; the brightness was just there, floating. To Barbie it looked like the sort of light fireflies gave off, only magnified a million times. The belt appeared to be about fifty yards wide. Beyond it, the world was again dark except for the pink glow of the moonlight.

'You're sure that faintness won't happen to you again?' Barbie asked.

'It seems to be like touching the Dome: the first time vaccinates you.' Rusty settled behind the wheel, dropped the transmission into drive, and said: 'Hang onto your false teeth, ladies and germs.'