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was done, he sat on the couch to think and make sure he hadn’t forgotten anything. He looked around as if to say good-bye to the apartment and then, satisfied that nothing was forgotten, he called the driver, who indicated that he was waiting downstairs in the parking garage.  Carlos pulled up the handles on his suitcase and carry-on and took a last look around.
         I’ll be back.  I hope.
         He turned, opened the door, and walked out, rolling the bags behind him.
         Down in the parking garage, Henry the driver exited the black Lincoln and greeted Carlos with a warm smile and handshake.  He put his luggage in the trunk of the car.
         “Looks like you’re leaving for a vacation.  I thought it was just a short trip.”
         “Under these circumstances, you never know.”
         The car pulled out of the parking lot and it was a slow crawl to the I90.  Once they hit the on ramp, it seemed even slower.
         “I think we should get off and take South Clark Street.  Might be better.”
         “You’re the pro, man.”
         As they crept down Clark Street, they saw nothing but chaos.  The local Target store had been besieged by a large mob of looters, some of whom were running down the street pushing shopping carts full of food and merchandise.  News crews were running around catching everything on video.  The police seemed to be letting the looters go.  They were more concerned with protecting the firemen, who were responding to a blazing fire in the parking garage. 
         “Look at that.  The police aren’t doing nuthin’.”
         “They’re too busy arresting protesters at the Federal Reserve to worry about Target.”
         “It’s a damn shame.”
         “It sure is, Henry.  And it’s going to get worse.  This is just the beginning.”
     
    ***
    Bob waited outside his office building, his bags packed, nervously puffing on a cigarette.  A beggar came by, holding out his hand.
         “Got some spare change for a guy hard on his luck?”
         “Dude, everyone’s hard on their luck.  You probably have more change in your pocket than me!  Here, have a cigarette.” 
         Bob held out a cigarette and the man grumbled, took it, and walked away without so much as a thank you.
         Carlos and Henry pulled up and Carlos rolled down the rear window and waved to Bob.
         “Man, I didn’t know you smoke!”
         “I quit about two years ago.  Just took it up again today.”
         “Well, toss it out.  Henry doesn’t allow smoking in his car.”
         Bob threw his cigarette down, crushed it under his foot, put his bags in the trunk, and slid in the back seat next to Carlos.
         “Ready for the longest 15-minute ride of your life?”
         They drove through the smoking streets, dodging fire trucks and police cars.  Outside a Walgreen’s store, a group of cops confronted a band of looters who had just exited with their spoils.  As the thieves crunched through the glass snow (which had once been the shop's windows) on the sidewalk, the police alerted them to stop. 
         They ran in all directions, and the cops pursued on foot.  Another band of looters, seeing the police car left unattended, got together and started pushing the police car.  More and more rioters joined them, rocking the car back and forth until they finally pushed it completely over.  Then they lit it on fire. 
         “Teamwork.”
         “Yeah, Bob.  That’s the power of the people.  Too bad they didn’t use it the way they should have before it was too late.”
     

 
     
     
     
    CHAPTER EIGHT
    APOCALYPSE? NOW?
     
     
     
    The students looked up at Harry in surprise, as if they could not believe what they had heard.
         “I’ll bet you didn’t think a handful of economists could save the world, did you?  You thought the world would end with nuclear war or something?  No, it’s