Gary Works
First came the rumbling. It was like the Earth's tummy wanted a meal that was long overdue. Then came the sonic boom. Most eyes looked north or west or east; all turned toward Gary. The thoughts of most people in the area were never if there was an explosion at the factories, but when. Sure, small explosions happened from time to time. Noxious gasses erupted and escaped. Grain feed storage tanks exploded. A few times, a train would derail and chemicals would spill. But "the big one". The "great white buffalo" of explosions, the explosions of legend and myth. That day was today. Down to a woman there were tongue clicks of disapproval, scowls and wrinkled noses due to the smell, and a general malaise as people took note, stored it in memory, and went on with their business ignorant of what really happened in Gary, until it was to late to do anything but die. Portage Whitney's asthma was playing up, had been all day. She seemed to reel and gasp for air. Her