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in a diligent and professional manner。 It seemed to mean the structure was intact。
We passed a sign for the most photographed barn in America。
It took an hour to funnel traffic into the single…lane approach to the camp。 Mylex…suited men waved flashlights and set out Day…Glo pylons； directing us toward the parking lot and onto athletic fields and other open areas。 People came out of the woods； some wearing headlamps； some carrying shopping bags； children； pets。 We bumped along dirt paths； over ruts and mounds。 Near the main buildings we saw a group of men and women carrying clipboards and walkie…talkies； non…Mylex…suited officials； experts in the new science of evacuation。 Steffie joined Wilder in fitful sleep。 The rain let up。 People turned off their headlights； sat uncertainly in their cars。 The long strange journey was over。 We waited for a sense of satisfaction to reach us； some mood in the air of quiet acplishment； the well…earned fatigue that promises a still and deep…lying sleep。 But people sat in their dark cars staring out at each other through closed windows。 Heinrich ate a candy bar。 We listened to the sound of his teeth getting stuck in the caramel and glucose mass。 Finally a family of five got out of a Datsun Maxima。 They wore life jackets and carried flares。
Small crowds collected around certain men。 Here were the sources of information and rumor。 One person worked in a chemical plant； another had overheard a remark； a third was related to a clerk in a state agency。 True； false and other kinds of news radiated through the dormitory from these dense clusters。
It was said that we would be allowed to go home first thing in the morning； that the government was engaged in a cover…up； that a helicopter had entered the toxic cloud and never reappeared； that the dogs had arrived from New Mexico； parachuting into a meadow in a daring night drop； that the town of Farmington would be uninhabitable for forty years。
Remarks existed in a state of permanent flotation。 No one thing was either more or less plausible than any other thing。 As people jolted out of reality； we were released from the need to distinguish。
Some families chose to sleep in their cars； others were forced to do so because there was no room for them in the seven or eight buildings on the grounds。 We were in a large barracks； one of three such buildings at the camp； and with the generator now working we were fairly fortable。 The Red Cross had provided cots； portable heaters； sandwiches and coffee。 There were kerosene lamps to supplement the existing overhead lights。 Many people had radios； extra food to share with others； blankets； beach chairs； extra clothing。 The place was crowded； still quite cold； but the sight of nurses and volunteer workers made us feel the children were safe； and the presence of other stranded souls； young women with infants； old and infirm people； gave us a certain staunchness and will； a selfless bent that was pronounced enough to function as a mon identity。 This large gray area； dank and bare and lost to history just a couple of hours ago； was an oddly agreeable place right now； filled with an eagerness of munity and voice。
Seekers of news moved from one cluster of people to another； tending to linger at the larger groups。 In this way I moved slowly through the barracks。 There were nine evacuation centers； I learned； including this one and the Kung Fu Palace。 Iron City had not been emptied out； nor had most of the other towns in the area。 It was said that the governor was on his way from the capitol in an executive helicopter。 It would probably set down in a bean field outside a deserted town； allowing the governor to emerge； square…jawed and confident； in a bush jacket； within camera range； for ten or fifteen seconds； as a demonstration of his imperishability。
What a surprise it was to ease my way between people at the outer edges of one of the largest clusters and discover that my own son was at the center of things； speaking in his new…found voice； his tone of enthusiasm for runaway calamity。 He was talking about the airborne toxic event in a technical way； although his voice all but sang with prophetic disclosure。 He pronounced the name itself； Nyodene Derivative； with an unseemly relish； taking morbid delight in the very sound。 People listened attentively to this adolescent boy in a field jacket and cap； with binoculars strapped around his neck and an Instamatic fastened to his belt。 No doubt his listeners were influenced by his age。 He would be truthful and earnest； serving no special interest； he would have an awareness of the environment； his knowledge of chemistry would be fresh and up…to…date。
I heard him say； 〃The stuff they sprayed on the big spill at the train yard was probably soda ash。 But it was a case of too little too late。 My guess is they'll get some crop dusters up in the air at daybreak and bombard the toxic cloud with lots more soda ash； which could break it up and scatter it into a million harmless puffs。 Soda ash is the mon name for sodium carbonate； which is used in the manufacture of glass； ceramics； detergents and soaps。 It's also what they use to make bicarbonate of soda； something a lot of you have probably guzzled after a night on the town。〃 People moved in closer； impressed by the boy's knowledgeability and wit。 It was remarkable to hear him speak so easily to a crowd of strangers。 Was he finding himself； learning how to determine his worth from the reactions of others？ Was it possible that out of the turmoil and surge of this dreadful event he would learn to make his way in the world？
〃What you're probably all wondering is what exactly is this Nyodene D。 we keep hearing about？ A good question。 We studied it in school； we saw movies of rats having convulsions and so on。 So； okay； it's basically simple。 Nyodene D。 is a whole bunch of things thrown together that are byproducts of the manufacture of insecticide。 The original stuff kills roaches； the byproducts kill everything left over。 A little joke our teacher made。〃
He snapped his fingers； let his left leg swing a bit。
〃In powder form it's colorless； odorless and very dangerous； except no one