Manquake

Cooper Janis took his last breaths in a slow, thoughtful rhythm. He lay on his back in the snow and fought to keep his eyes open.

Blue.

He wanted to remember. What do they call it when the earth shakes? He tried to say it out loud, but wasn't sure if he was speaking or thinking.

Manquake.

Something wrong with that, he thought. It was the ground that shook and fractured the earth, eliminating all men except for Cooper Janis.

Manquake.

No. The mountains, the dirt, the buildings, the earth, sank into themselves, but what was the word? The earth shook.

His bed of snow was comfortable. He closed his eyes.

Blue.