The town hall meeting took place outside: good weather, Monica wanted to project the view from the telescope in real time, and too damn many people to fit inside.

Surprised gasps gave way to concerned mumbling, which gave way to frightened shouts.

“Who survived the rocks well enough to put up satellites?”

“Do they know we are here?”

“How long have you been hiding this?”

“How do you know it isn’t the aliens?”

Monica did her best to answer everyone, mostly with a comforting version of, “I don’t know?”

Ellie passed Luiz and Hutch a concerned look of her own.

Chapter 50

Chapter 52