Jeff Ragan’s Reviews > Wildfire > Status Update

"'I don't know if I can stay here, Kelly. It's not home.' 'Give it a chance. All you've been in is a hospital. It gets better. I promise.' 'Oh, it's wonderful here. Everyone is nice. The food is incredible...But it's not home. I wish someone had told me that you don't share your pronouns & ask theirs when you first meet someone here.' 'Yeah, I can see it being an adjustment. Freedom takes getting used to.'" (312-3).

"Carter was shouting 'Go, go!' to the pilots. The pilot did not take off, so Carter shot the co-pilot. Ernie Smith was right - the Glock would fire no matter what it was covered with. The pilot complied, and as they rose veering south, they watched Marshall run hunched over to the access door, cradling his ruined right hand. Carter took aim, but Turnbull pushed her arm down, shaking his head and smiling" (303).

"Carter got to the doors and pushed. Firm. She pounded and shouted. Nothing. Turnbull trotted up. 'Where is he?' Turnbull muttered, pounding the door. Nothing. He turned, his weapon's flashlight on, aiming into the darkness. Carter lifted her MP5. They were coming. 'Save one for yourself,' Turnbull advised. He opened fire, and so did she, and the noise from her weapon was deafening" (286).

"The corridors - there were five concentric rings of them above ground and more below - reeked of piss and shit. Graffiti & filth marred the walls. The wooden doors were largely gone, burned long ago, and much of the plaster was destroyed in a search for copper & other metal. Most offices were occupied as living spaces. The luckiest were in the outside ring - some of them got windows to the outside breeze" (261).

"'You want in?' asked a short, thin man, mid-twenties, with wild eyes...He had a knife in a scabbard. 'What if we do?' Turnbull replied. 'Well, you got nice stuff. Bet you got something in that bag you wanna trade inside without paying tribute.' The man leered, his eyes darting to Turnbull's knapsack & back. 'What if we do?' 'Well, then you gotta let the Sly Boy help you. He knows all the ins & outs.' (256).

"Carter looked over the maps Blue Hair brought into the Director's office. They were the structural plans of the pentagon, which had been the largest office building in the world at one time. And there were tactical maps showing ways in and out. But it had been years since the squatters took over the building - who know what had happened inside?" (247).

"'So, who were you calling?' she demanded. 'Ordering a pizza. No pepperoni out of sensitivity to those of Italian heritage.' Carter was puzzled - she had learned about Chris Cuomo's courageous struggle against the 'Pizza man' stereotype in college, but the PR was far past that kind of hateful imagery. 'Wait,' Carter said. 'You're just messing with me.' 'What? That's so insensitive" (229).

"'I want to be clear. You are an American agent pretending to be a People's Republic agent who pretended to be an American agent when we arrested you and who now wants to pretend to be a People's Republic agent for the benefit of your partner who actually is a People's Republic agent?' Turnbull took a moment to diagram it in his head. 'Yeah,' he said. 'That.'" (226).

"'Diversity is strength,' Carter said, fuming. Turnbull, as he clenched his fist in irritation, observed that despite the Split, some Americans still retained their natural inclination to tell other people how they should live. 'Does Germany look strong to you, fraulein?' the mayor replied" (201).

"Ahead, it was wooded and hilly, even mountainous. Other signs pointed to Zurich and southeast to Basel, both in Switzerland and both off-limits to most travelers these days. The Swiss, as was their habit - a habit that had kept them free for centuries - was (sic) hunkering down again and largely shutting the world out. Of course, they did not exclude the world's money..." (192).