The rains had come again, and by the time Aaron and Willy reached the downtown area, they were pedaling through a downpour.
As they rode past the Community Plaza Bank building, Aaron checked the big clock. 6:25 p.m. They had to hurry.
Suddenly, from the distant waterfront, a huge flash, like a great nuclear flashbulb, lit up the surrounding buildings. There was a powerful, yet muffled boom — like that of distant thunder — but the boys knew that this was no thunderstorm. They skidded to a stop in the middle of the street, looked back and watched, horrified, as an irregular pattern of smaller flashes followed the first… then the corresponding booms… the ground beneath their feet shuddering with each concussion.
Finally the explosions subsided, and though there was much to say, the frightened boys were unable to utter even a single word.
They rode on, their ghostly shadows, cast by the hellish-red glow of the sky behind them, leading the way.
In the distance, sirens…