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pickup point。 They were close this time。 Closer than they had ever been。
The others were excited by the news。 Kenny； Phat； and Dr。 Piltcher immediately returned to the campsite and began modifying the model to make it fit the new data。 The others fanned out； looking for other witnesses； who gave descriptions nearly identical to those of the women？ Phat and Kenny ran the puter simulation again two days later and they traveled to a spot near Provo； Utah。 After seven days there； nothing had happened。 Then Mrs。 Wayne turned up an article about a house that burned up two days before they arrived when the linen closet suddenly burst into flames。 Dr。 Piltcher bed his hair a couple of times before agreeing to count it as an event。 The model next sent them to Las Cruces； New Mexico。 They were still setting up camp when they heard of a backyard swimming pool suddenly overflowing with saltwater and drowning a family dog。 They chased the next events to Colorado and then to Idaho； where they arrived the day after the campground had been showered with gravel。 That's when Dr。 Piltcher called a halt to the chase。
Dr。 Piltcher and Dr。 Coombs became reclusive for a few days； poring over their notes and manuscripts； and debating vigorously。 Finally one evening； they came to Kenny and Phat in the RV。
〃There is；〃 Dr。 Piltcher said； 〃a fundamental flaw in our thinking。〃
Kenny and Phat listened attentively。
〃This may not be a static phenomenon。 What I mean is we have been just missing the events。 They happen either before we arrive； or as soon as we arrive。 I think we misled you with our historical data。 We relied too much on the Zorastrus manuscript。 Zorastrus detected the pattern but he didn't have enough data to refine his model。 It lacked temporal specificity。 I'm trying to say Zorastrus； and we； believed the events occurred at regular intervals。 That's not the case。 We now believe the events in the past occurred in waves。 Waves that bee farther apart as you move into antiquity。 The events we are tracking； however； seem to be getting closer together。〃
From then on they fully understood the implications of the model and began to fear the future。 Each day after that Kenny's anxiety grew slowly and steadily toward the panic that drove him to desperate measures。 It was the panic that made him purchase the gun and plot to kidnap his own sister。
He couldn't stand being a pariah much longer。 Whatever is going to happen； Kenny prayed； let it happen soon。
8。 CAVE CRISIS
The Lord thundered from heaven； the voice of the Most High resounded amid hailstones and bolts of lightning。
…Psalm 18：13
Oregon Caves
PREQUILT： SATURDAY； 7：30 P。M。 PST
It took Deputy Kyle over four hours to reach the Oregon Caves。 It was normally less than a two…hour drive； but he had been extra cautious and slow to get started。 First he stopped by the station and picked up his climbing gear。 He brought two 165…foot kermantle ropes； an assortment of oval and D carabines； tapers； camming devices； pitons and a piton hammer。 He then realized his climbing shoes and helmet were at home。 While he was home he decided to change into his climbing clothes。 After all； he reasoned； there might not be a place to change at the caves。 As long as he had his clothes off he decided to shower。 He made one last stop at McDonald's for a Big Mac； large fries； and super…size Coke。 As a concession to the repeated requests for his presence at the cave； Kyle violated his personal rule about never eating while driving。 Ten minutes down the road he spilled secret sauce on his climbing shirt。
When he arrived at the cave Kyle was disappointed to find that the hostage situation had not been resolved。 A park ranger ushered him through the excited crowd of spectators that had gathered around the park entrance。 Off to one side Kyle spotted a small group of people who were probably the hostages' relatives。 They looked at Kyle's climbing gear hopefully。
In a small building near the cave entrance； fifteen people were in a strategy meeting。 Three wore climbing clothes。 Kyle decided they were either rangers or state police。 Two other men wore ties。 Kyle was introduced around to handshakes and 〃glad you're heres〃 from everyone in the shed； ments that made Kyle apprehensive。 The two men in ties turned out to be FBI agents； and Jenkins； who had wet armpits； turned out to be in charge。
〃Glad you made it； Officer Kyle。 We've been waiting for you。 I understand you've had some experience at this。〃
〃I'll do whatever I can。〃 Kyle tried to say it like he meant it。
〃Good。 I understand you finished top of your class in marksmanship too。〃
Jenkins was referring to Kyle's training in special weapons and tactics。 It had been another opportunity to spend a couple of weeks with his buddies； drink beer； and end up with a little extra in his paycheck。
Kyle laughed； and then said； 〃Oh not me； sir。 I wasn't at the top of my class。〃
〃Oh； where did you finish？〃 Jenkins seemed concerned。 〃Second；〃 Kyle said reluctantly。
Jenkins looked relieved； and his partner broke into a smile。 〃That should be good enough；〃 he said。 〃You're much too modest； Officer Kyle。〃
Kyle grinned weakly； nodded； and promised himself never to take another special training course again。
〃Now listen up everyone；〃 Jenkins said。 〃Now that Officer Kyle has arrived we can get started。 We are going to assign a few of you to positions inside the cave。 There are only two entrances to the cave where the hostages are being held。 Most of you will be assigned to positions around the main entrance。 Fortunately； the egress is actually quite narrow and you will have a clear line of fire。 Unfortunately； if you do fire you can't miss the target or the ricochet could kill a hostage。〃
〃Won't a hollow point load minimize ricochet？〃 one of the state policemen asked。
〃Minimize； yes； eliminate； no。 There will be no firing unless 1 give the word；〃
〃Excuse me； Agent Jenkins；〃 Kyle interrupted。 He didn't like the direction of the meeting。 〃I seem to remember from my training that the best way to handle hostage situations is to negotiate。 The best weapon in these situations is time。 Wear the criminal down； maybe send in some tainted food。 I'd say； for the hostages sakes； we should give this another day or so before we attempt a rescue。〃
Jenkins stared at him quizzically。
〃Thanks for your advice； but this situation is a little different for a couple of reasons。 First； we are getting no demands。 Every time we attempt to negotiate he refuses to talk。 He doesn't seem to want anything and has no political agenda that we can discern。 Second； the man holding the hostages seems to have a deadline in mind。 He keeps saying things like 'it will be over soon' and 'I'll let them go when it's over。' It's a vague deadline； apparently meaningful only to him； but he appears to be getting more agitated。 If he does go off the deep end 。 。 。 well； I'm not waiting for that to happen。〃
He was staring at Kyle when he paused； so Kyle nodded firmly with a serious look。 As expected； Agent Jenkins took that as agreement。
〃Officer Kyle；〃 he continued； 〃we've got a special job for you。〃
Kyle felt like saying 〃Yippee。〃
〃The