Summary

In “The Circle Opens,” Charles “Charlie” Campion woke his wife with orders to get their baby ready to go because they had to leave. He told her that everyone was dead in the military base where he worked. He had been surprised he had not been locked in the control tower, but the automatic locks had apparently malfunctioned as well. Charlie was coughing as they left the base.

In Chapter 1, the first chapter in Book 1 titled “Captain Trips” takes place between June 16 - July 4, 1990.

Stuart “Stu” Redman, described as the quietest man in town, was among the men gathered at Bill Hapscomb’s gas station in Arnette, Texas when Charlie’s car drove into the gas pumps. Charlie was still alive, but his wife and baby were dead. Their necks were swelled and were purple-black. Hap called an ambulance...