Things were settling down in Eagle Rock. During the month Eagle Rock University first started, students from all over flocked to the small town. It was hard to go anywhere without stepping on some one's toes. The cars on the roads doubled and the stores were sold out of things like toilet paper and notebooks. The long time residents of Eagle Rock knew when to hunker down and prepare for the hoards. They also knew when it was safe to emerge. 

The safe zone was usually two weeks into the semester, as school really got into the swing of homework and deadlines. The month was of February was winding down. It wasn't quite three weeks into the semester, more like two and a half. It was a Monday. 

The crisp winter bite was still in the air. Forecasts were staying that winter might linger until April or later. A clear sign of this was the snow still on the ground. There hadn't been much snowfall during the winter. It had been too cold for that most of the time. Mainly the snow on the ground was old, dingy and blown flat, nearly a sheet of ice, by the ever present wind. 

Lola was bundled up against the cold as she peered out her window. According to the last message she had received from Mr. Dresden he would arrive soon. Chances are he got lost, or went off the road. Wyoming was terrible with snow on the roads. Ian was off with his friends, undoubtedly raising a ruckus somewhere. The old fool.

The older woman's lips quirked into a smile at the thought. She let the blinds closed, to retain warmth, and turned back to the TV. The news played new only at certain hours in a small town. Currently it was repeating the morning news. The main story was out at Eagle Rock Campus.

Lola's shiver had nothing to do with the cold. Nasty rumors had been floating around about a strange illness hitting students at the university. First they'd come down with what appeared to be a common cold. Then they'd slip into a coma. The earliest known stricken student had just passed away. The doctors were urging everyone to get vaccinations and if they did develop a cold, to get checked out by the hospital.

The whole thing was very odd. And disturbing. It was what propelled Lola to finally contact Mr. Dresden. At first it had started with strange sightings up at Yellowstone. Which matched the strange winter. Then the minor earthquakes started. And now this illness. It was the talk of the town, and all the towns nearby certainly.

The sound of a car in the drive had Lola up and heading to the door. She didn't move very quickly in her old age. Farming had taken it's toll on her body. Her knees didn't bend and she was slightly hunched, but she was still full of life.

[i]ding dong[/i]

The door bell rang and Lola opened the door.