The Infection

by Craig DiLouie

  “How? Who are they? Where are they going?”

  “It’s the Army, babe. The Army. Here, take a look.”

  Sarge hands her the binoculars. She watches the helicopters move across the sky. There is an elegance to the ungainly beasts that she finds inspiring.

  “See that?” he says, sounding wistful.

  Behind the first formation, another approaches, five black dots in the sky heading west.

  Wendy nods, swallowing hard. Tears roll down her cheeks and she smiles.

  “Look at them go,” he adds.

  America’s far-flung armies are coming home.

  The fight is not over. It is only getting started.

  The counterattack has begun.