Tiny beads of sweat glistened on Collin's brow. He shoved his headset back, closed his eyes and took a deep, forgotten breath. His hands were trembling. Slowly, he replaced his headset and leaned closer to his mike. "Earth…," he started, pausing to clear his throat, "Earthquake, right?"

"Right." Max brushed a lock of curly blond hair off his forehead and expertly adjusted the sound. "We get a little shaker now and then, you'll get use to it."

But Collin Slater rolled his eyes, "I doubt that." He took another deep breath and tried to stead his nerves. "We still on the air?"

"Yep."

"Okay folks, the number is 789-1001. Give us a call. I thought I heard rumbling, anybody else hear it?" He paused, watched four lights on the ten-line phone begin to blink, grinned and punched the first button. "KMPR."

"Wow man, did you feel that? I was just getting out of my car, and… "

Seely Ross did not quickly let go of the door jam. Instead, she waited until she was certain the earth wasn't still moving. She crossed her hands on her chest, took three deep breaths and tried to quiet her racing heart.

Two apartments down and across the hall, a man stood in his doorway watching. "You alright?"

"Yes, just scared."