Excerpt: In a Pig's Eye

Mr. J. Isaacs grabbed her by the arm. “Maggie! We need your help!” He was wearing a oversized jumpsuit that was made out of a reflective silver material, and he was shoving a similar suit at her. “We need your nose! Terrence is already in there!”

Maggie didn’t have any idea what was going on, but she was obediently climbing into the silver suit nonetheless.

Isaacs continued, a look of panic on his face. “We have people in there, you have to help us locate and pull out as many as you can. Emergency services are on their way, but we can’t wait for them.”

As Maggie fumbled with her suit, and a young woman ran over with two helmets dangling from one hand, and two silver hoods from another. “Brad is coming with the tanks!” she yelled at Isaacs, as she pulled two pair of large rubbery boots and and two pair of gloves from a bag slung over her shoulders.

Maggie donned the boots and gloves. “What do you need me to do?” she shouted at Isaacs.

A man Maggie vaguely remembered seeing around the compound came running up, lugging two cylindrical tanks. Isaacs took one of the tanks from him and began fitting it on Maggie’s back.

“We need you to go in and find survivors! Use your nose! I’ll be right behind you!” yelled Mr. Isaacs as the other man pulled a mask down over her face, smashing her snout in the process, and began hooking it to the tank on her back.

“But I cant…” started Maggie.

“You have to Maggie!” interrupted Isaacs. Don’t worry, these are the best suits that money can buy. I’ll be right behind you.” Isaacs was shrugging on his own tank.

Maggie tried one more time as the silver hood came down over her face. “Mr. Isaacs, this suit…”

“I know it’s scary Maggie, but you need to go! Now!” he shouted back at her, giving her a little shove in the direction of the burning building.

Maggie gave up. She turned and ran towards the building. She supposed it didn’t really matter that she couldn’t smell anything through the mask that supplied her fresh air; she was suited and she was willing. She’d do as well as anyone else. Terrence had obviously made the same decision.