came walking calmly down the passageway they’d made for
him. With each step, Zeus grew taller. Gonzalo stopped. He
couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Zeus closed the distance
until they were two feet apart, and Zeus stood at least three
feet taller than Gonzalo.
Gonzalo kept the shotgun aimed at Zeus’s chest. “Everybody
keep their distance,” Gonzalo shouted through the muffle of
his gas mask. He hoped he didn’t sound as scared as he was.
Zeus raised his hands up, and it seemed to be a signal
because all the Thunder moved back. Gonzalo stood perfectly
still, but he felt like the mattress underneath him was bob-
bing him like a milk jug on top of the ocean. He kept his eyes
on Zeus looming over him. He wore the same style gas mask as
Gonzalo, and he wore his red union suit unbuttoned to mid-
belly. His face was obscured by the reflection of fire stretch-
ing across his face shield.
“Why is he here?” someone said.
“Are they coming for us?” someone else said. “Do we have
to leave?”
“No, no,” Zeus said. “Be calm.”
Zeus was bigger than any human being Gonzalo had ever
seen. He had to be nine feet tall, maybe ten.
“Sasha!” Gonzalo called out, but he didn’t hear her voice.
The crowd of Thunder gasped and tittered at Sasha’s name.
Gonzalo thrust the gun at Zeus. “Where is she? Bring her out
or I’ll blow a hole through your chest.”
271
