Deacon and Scott wander along the deserted streets in the fog.  All around them, the world is gray and misty and silent...eerily so.  No birdsong, no barking from dogs, no traffic.  No people...and somehow that makes it worse.<br/><br/>Empty intersections, trash-strewn.  Picket fences with weathered paint.  A floral shop that looks like it's been closed, with inventory still inside, for years...<br/><br/>After a rootless eternity, they see the first sign of cheerful color in this valley of grim isolation--the sign outside a fast food burger restaurant is still lit, the faded and flickering fluorescent bulbs strong enough to cut through the pea soup.  There is just enough light for them to see someone ducking into the Burger Boy!<br/><br/><br/>+++<br/><br/>The weather certainly doesn't seem to be on the verge of improving, at least not so far as Alex can tell.  His new friend shrugs.<br/><br/>"There's supposed to be a bowling alley over on the next block.  Feel like a game?  I mean, since we've fallen down the rabbit hole anyway, why not enjoy ourselves for a bit?"  He pauses.  "And normally I hate bowling, but right now it's starting to sound good."