“And there’s no place in Delta where food can be bought.”
“Not that I know of. Only a few relief kitchens were set up last night. They can’t begin to take care of the mob.”
Penny peered out into the crowded waiting room. Mothers with babies in their arms had sat there all night. Some of the refugees were weeping; others accepted their lot with stoical calm. Seeing such misery, Penny forgot her own hunger and discomfort.
“Don’t you think help will come soon?” she asked Quigley.
“Hard to tell,” he replied. “It should.”
Penny went out into the waiting room but there was very little she could do to help the unfortunate sufferers. She gave one of the women her blanket.
“That was foolish of you,” Quigley told her a moment later. “You’ll likely need it yourself.”
“I’d rather go without,” Penny replied. “Anyway, I can’t bear to stay here any longer. I’m going to the telephone office.”
“Why there?”
“The building stands high and should be one of the first places to reopen,” Penny declared hopefully. “Maybe I can get a long distance call through to Dad.”