March 4th, 1945

Salem

Salem County

Down Jersey

"So, there it is, brother. The rest of the tale." Benny ends the war story on a hearty sigh. He's got on the fine suit he wore on the date with Crank, the fedora tipped to the left. Color has returned to his face the last few weeks. The cast came off, though Benny retains the cane and a swell limp. Skinny Bubba has been sitting up in his hospital bed, digesting the story Haskins told of another world and the downfall of Mother.

"Heh! Just like that, huh? Crumbled like dried up cake. So, what are they gonna do about the tower?"

"Study it. We can't dent the thing, so it ain't going anywhere. Have to face the fact that--"

"We're stuck with her. Sooner or later, she'll rebuild too."

"Yeah, Skin, yeah. You know what? You're a regular breath of fresh air, aren't you?"

Skinny laughs and gets off the bed. He's dropped loads of weight, but therapy and time have given him more muscle and a second lease on life. "Oh! Floor's cold as ice water! Where are slippers at?" He finds them, shoves them on and scuffles to the other side of the ward to check up. Benny follows.

Lying on the bed, ghastly but alive, is Larry.

"Morning, brother. Can you hear me?" He holds his hand and looks at Benny. "Yesterday he spoke for the third time. A few sentences. All of them about girls." He chuckles.

"Hey pal, it's Benny. Don't you worry, you'll be as good as new any day now." He looks at Skinny Bubba for confirmation.

Skin nods and gives a thumbs up. "Doctors say he'll pull through. Around noon they sit him up in  a wheelchair and let him get some sun. By the time you and Crank get back...speaking of which, Mister Haskins."

"Right, right!" He shakes Skinny's hand with an added hug, the way men do. He ruffles Larry's hair, and limps for the door.

"Benny!"

"Yeah, Skin?"

"Leave the war behind you, man. The world ain't on your shoulders. It's on all of ours. keep it in mind."

The statement floors him. "Got it."

                                                                                                     ***

Where was all of this amazing weather and fragrant scents during the entire war? Salem is pristine in terms of climate. Maybe the storm did it. Who knows? But spring has blossomed early and the dogwood is pink and white and the air is majestic. Benny breathes wholesome oxygen. His spirit is light, and he can't recall when it last had the pleasure.

Parked out in front of the hospital, green and glossy, La Donna. His ace gal sits behind the wheel in her ST cap, jacket, a tight sweater and a black skirt with violet border. She radiates happiness while chatting it up with two locals.

"...I've had her up to two hundred, but only one time! I'm thinking of replacing the machine gun with a pulsating beam of light. You know, like Buck Rogers has! Yeah, and..."

She gabs on as the locals feign understanding. Benny catches their eyes. He gives them a goofy smile, hands in his pockets. "Hey, Crank."

"...but without the added output of the peri-dimensional engine, I haven't yet figured out how to account for stockpiling an extra energy..."

"CRANK."

"...I'll get it sure enough! Once Roy feels better he can help me--"

"Crank!" Benny gets into the car and slams the door.

"You don't have to yell, or slam my door, Vecchio! I told you to be careful with her!" She gives her guy the face of death before turning back to smile at the Locals. "This is my boyfriend, Benny! I'm taking him to Avalon to meet my family! Well, nice talking to you!"

"We're taking a nice, slow country ride to see them, right? These back roads are long." Benny would love nothing more than peace and quiet, a breeze on his face. He rolls the window down to await it.

Crank goes dead. "What's that mean? You don't like how I drive? I'm the best driver in the world."

"I'm not saying that, kid. I'm saying after all we've been through it'd be nice if--"

She floors it. Right down Market headed for Broadway. "Arrivederci!" She looks back at the locals and not at the road. La Donna burns rubber tearing around the corner.

"Crank!"

Down the road she zooms, headed east. All the way, a middle-aged man screams and holds on for dear life. The locals, watching the auto disappear, shake their heads.

"Dead man walking."

"Yessir, I second that motion."

And the cranes rolled into town. The cranes, the supply convoy, the food and Special Technologies came into the city of Salem by every conceivable means of transport. They brought a new architecture, a new defense and a new way of life. Salem County started on the road to change.

As she slept, Down Jersey transformed.