by Mark Goodwin
“Yes.”
“Well, anytime the Navy or Air Force would encounter phenomenon that they couldn’t explain, it would get passed to DARPA to investigate. I worked with a team that handled those for a while.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you talking about UFOs?”
Alexander smiled. “We’ll talk about that when the time is right. But for now, just keep an open mind about what could be defined as God.”
She seemed to have lost track of time. “I can’t believe it, but that’s it for tonight’s show. Please say you’ll both come back soon. I’m sure all our viewers are as anxious as I am to hear more about this.”
“Absolutely, Lillian.” Lucius nodded. “It’s been fun.”
***
Thursday morning, Josh and Rev were in the car before sunrise. They had a long trip ahead of them, and they were racing against the virus, which was spreading at record speed.
Josh studied the map as he drove north on I-165. “We’ll pick up I-24 and take it to Oklahoma City. We’ll avoid Memphis and Nashville by waiting to get on I-40 until then.”
“I appreciate you coming with me,” said Rev.
“I’m grateful for the information you’ve shared with me. I’m not sure I would have selected the choices I’ve made nor reached the conclusions I’ve arrived at if it hadn’t been for your thorough explanations.”
“I’m honored to be a part of your little group. If I helped in any way, then I’m glad I could do it.”
“Still,” said Josh. “I worry about Micah. He’s not coming around like I’d hoped. I even resorted to bribing him into reading the Bible by giving him a new gun.”
“Pray for him. That will work wonders.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“I do.” Rev nodded.
“Then why don’t you have faith in this trip?”
“Ouch.” Rev wrinkled his forehead. “I suppose it’s easier to tell other people to believe than to actually trust in God yourself. As for Micah, though, Lindsey is a good influence on him.”
“She’s a believer?”
“Yes. She’s talked to me about it a few times since we arrived at the compound. Christina, too. She’s been slower to come around. I think Micah will, also. Of course, Lindsey doesn’t need as much deprogramming since she’s never been inside a public school. I’m not trying to beat you up, just stating the facts. Remember, it’s my daughter that we’re going to rescue from UC Berkeley.”
Josh smiled. “Maybe it will be easier than you think.”
“I hope you’re right.” Rev put his seat back and closed his eyes as if he might try to grab a nap. “For what it’s worth, I don’t think bribing Micah with the rifle was such a bad idea. Desperate times call for desperate measures. I wish I had something like that to dangle over Mackenzie.”
Rev soon drifted off and Josh took in the countryside as he drove for the next several hours.
CHAPTER 9
Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.
Proverbs 4:14-17
On the following morning, Josh awoke. He’d been asleep in the back seat while Rev drove. He sat up and looked out at the sunrise. “Where are we?”
“We just passed the California State Line.”
“No kidding?” Josh pulled his ball cap over his head. “How long was I out?”
“About seven hours. You slept right through the last gas stop.”
“We’re making good time. How fast have you been driving?”
“I kept it around 90 for some of those long, lonely straightaways. I figure with everything going on around the country, plus the risk of being exposed to the virus, a cop would have to be pretty desperate to pull us over at that speed. But I didn’t want to push it much further.”
“We should be there shortly after lunch if we can maintain our pace,” said Josh. “How are we on fuel now?”
“Okay, but I need to hit the restroom. We’ll top off at this filling station up in Fenner. We’ve got a lot of desert to cover.”
“Yeah, sounds good.” Josh smoothed the wrinkles out of his shirt in preparation for the stop.
Both men took advantage of the facilities. Josh fueled up the Cruze and purchased the largest cup of coffee available. Soon, they were back on the road with Josh at the wheel.
Rev took the back seat. “Wake me up when you get tired.”
Feeling rested, Josh settled into the seat for the final leg of the trip. Shortly after the gas station, he noticed an old white Crown Victoria following him, and a blue van behind the Ford. The Crown Vic looked like a used police vehicle, complete with a heavy iron grill guard. Josh thought nothing of it since they seemed to stay back, but he kept his eye on the two vehicles which appeared to be traveling together.
Twenty miles later, Josh noticed the Crown Victoria closing in on him. “Rev, you better wake up.”
Rev sounded groggy. “What is it?”
“Probably nothing, but I’d rather be safe than sorry.”
Rev stretched and looked out the back window. “I saw that old Police Interceptor back at the gas station.”
“Did you see what the driver or passenger looked like?” Josh glanced at the rearview frequently.
“No.”
“What about the blue van behind him? Did you see that?”
“I didn’t notice it,” said Rev. “Looks like they’re trying to catch up. Have they been behind us the whole time?”
“Yeah, about fifteen minutes or so.”
Rev picked us his AR-15. “Let’s try to outrun them. But if we can’t, we’ll do what we have to do.”
Josh punched the accelerator. “Cop cars have big engines, but they’re heavy. We can try to leave them behind, but we’re pretty evenly matched.” Josh watched as the speedometer reached 120, then 130.
“They’re trying to keep up,” said Rev. “My guess is that they mean us harm.”
“Want to pepper the pavement? See if that slows them down?”
“It could also serve to escalate the situation. Let’s keep trying to outrun them.”
“I’ve got the pedal on the floor. 135 looks like about all we’re going to get. I know for a fact that an Interceptor can reach 150. I’ve done it before.”
“He’s getting closer.” Rev’s voice sounded worried.
“Then you need to roll down the window and let off a couple warning shots.”
“I don’t know about that.”
Josh tightened his jaw, unhappy that Rev was not following his advice. “Where’s the van?”
“It’s way back there.”
“Good. At least if we have to take these guys on, we’ll have some time before the people in the van join the fight.”
The Crown Victoria soon raced right beside Josh. A man in the passenger’s seat wore a black, bottom-half face mask. He held up a cardboard sign, which said Pull Over. When Josh ignored the sign, he held up an AK-47. “Are you seeing this?”
“Yeah,” said Rev.
“Then shoot him!”
“I don’t think that’s the right thing to do.”
Josh hit the brakes and drew his Glock from behind his back. The Interceptor raced ahead but soon slowed down. Josh punched the gas and rolled down his window. He went speeding past the Crown Vic, but the pursuers caught up quickly enough. Josh raised his pistol and fired at the passenger who’d shown him the gun. The instant he saw the window shatter, he tapped the brakes again. The white car swerved. Its wheels went onto the shoulder of the road, but the driver managed to regain control. Josh sped up and overtook the Ford.
“You stirred up a hornets' nest, Josh,” said Rev.
“They were already stirred. I’m just trying to get us through this. Pass me the rifle.”
“If we get int
o a shootout, I’ll fight. You just focus on driving.”
“The shootout has officially begun. He threatened me with a gun, and I fired on him. Stick the rifle out the window and kill the driver, or pass the gun to me!”
Rev sighed. “Okay.” He rolled down his window.
Josh watched the Interceptor getting closer. He kept the accelerator pressed all the way down. “Here they come. Be ready.”
Rev stuck the barrel of the AR-15 out the window.
“What are you waiting for? Fire!” Josh commanded.
POW! POW! POW! Rev shot at the Crown Victoria.
Crack, crack, crack. The assailants returned fire with an AK-47.
“Where is that rifle fire coming from?” Josh managed to put a little more space between the vehicles while Rev shot.
“The white Ford,” said Rev.
“I know that. Which seat?”
“I don’t know. The back passenger’s side I think. Why?”
“Because, if it’s not the front passenger, maybe I hit one of them.” He kept his pistol tucked beneath his leg so he could keep both hands on the wheel. The small car needed only the slightest bump to send it off the road at such a high speed.
“They’re gaining on us!” Rev exclaimed.
“Start shooting!” Josh replied.
Rev let out another volley of shells from the AR, but the assailants were quick to answer with a barrage of their own bullets. One round hit the side view mirror, shattering the glass and leaving the housing dangling from the door. More gunfire erupted and three rounds hit the front windshield of the Cruze. Josh slumped in his seat to create a lower profile. “Are you okay?”
“I’m not hit if that’s what you’re asking,” said Rev. “But I’m far from okay.”
Josh could see the Ford coming up from the side quickly through the rearview mirror. He looked out the window just in time to see the black, iron grill guard bump the front fender of the Cruze. Josh fought to steer the vehicle, but it swerved toward the side of the road. Josh managed to correct the trajectory of the Cruze, but no sooner had he regained control than the Interceptor rammed him again. This strike felt much more forceful, and it sent the light-weight Cruze careening off the road. Josh simply tried to keep the wheels straight so the vehicle wouldn’t get sideways and start flipping. The vehicle slowed quickly when it came into contact with the soft sand and low desert shrubs.
Josh brought the vehicle to a halt. “Get out! Get out of the car now!” He threw open the door and bailed out.
“We’ll be totally exposed!” argued Rev.
“You’ll be trapped like a fish in a barrel if you’re still in this car when they get back.” Josh rushed to the trunk to retrieve the other rifle.
Rev exited the back seat of the Cruze just as the white Ford arrived at their position.
“Try to keep the engine block between you and the enemy,” said Josh. “It’s the only part of this vehicle that will stop a round from an AK-47.”
Rev rushed to Josh’s side. “Okay.”
Josh rested the front of his AR-15 on the hood of the Cruze. As soon as he could identify a target, he began firing.
The back door opened and one of the men from the Ford circled around the back to return fire.
“Get down!” Josh pulled Rev to the ground.
Josh peeked around the bumper to see another man getting out of the driver’s seat. He popped up and unleashed a fusillade of bullets on the assailant. The man fell face down in the sand before he could get his rifle up.
“Watch out!” Rev pulled the trigger of his rifle.
Josh turned to see the man from the back seat of the Ford topple backward. He’d had Josh in his sights. “Thanks.”
“Thank me when it’s over,” said Rev.
Josh ran up to the vehicle to see if any more of the attackers were still alive. He scanned the area looking for others who may have gone into hiding. “I think we’re clear.”
“Until the van gets here,” said Rev.
“Then we need to reload and collect these AK-47s.” Josh rummaged through the front seat of the Crown Victoria collecting all the AK magazines he could find.
“I think we need to get out of here. We can outrun the van,” said Rev.
Josh pried an AK-47 out of the hand of one of the dead men. “Not with that, we can’t. He motioned toward the flat tire on the front driver’s side of the Cruze.”
“Then let’s take the Crown Vic!” said Rev.
“Keys aren’t even in it. We need to brace for impact.” Josh looked up the highway at the dark vehicle moving fast in his direction. “Reload and get into position. They’ll be here in no time.” Josh knelt behind the door of the Ford. “These doors should have ballistic plates, so you can use them as cover in addition to the engine blocks of either vehicle for cover.”
Rev ducked down behind the hood of the Cruze and took aim.
“Start shooting as soon as the vehicle is in range.” Josh let his AR-15 hang behind his back and leveled the barrel of an AK-47 at the approaching van. He targeted the driver’s side windshield and began firing. Rev joined in. The van screeched to a halt more than forty yards away. Josh quickly changed magazines on the AK and waited for someone to emerge from the van. He heard the back doors open but couldn’t see anyone.
The attackers shot several rounds from the concealment of the van. “Get down,” yelled Josh. “Wait for my cue to fire.”
“I got you,” said Rev.
Josh lay on the sand and peered around the side of the tire. He’d wait until the assailants had left the safety of the van before he reengaged them. He could only see the legs, but he watched as one man slowly ventured out from behind the vehicle. “That’s it. Come on out,” Josh whispered. “You’re safe.” Another emerged from behind the van and then another. The three of them began sprinting to cover the distance between the vehicles.
“Now!” Josh sprung from behind the Interceptor and began firing on the men. Rev popped up over the hood of the Cruze and shot also. Two of the men fell to the pavement, but the other retreated to the relative safety of the van.
Josh dropped the AK and ran toward the navy-blue van, pulling his AR-15 from behind his back as his feet pumped against the asphalt. He grabbed the passenger’s side door of the van and pulled it open. Jumping inside, Josh saw the assailant attempting to enter the van through the rear doors just as he’d climbed into the front. Josh pulled the trigger of the AR-15. Several rounds struck the man in the chest, and he tumbled right back out the door he’d just entered. Josh quickly looked for additional threats but saw none.
He called out to Rev, “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” Rev came out from behind the Cruze, his eyes open wide and his face pale. “I’m good.”
Josh sat in the seat of the van for a moment to catch his breath.
Rev kept looking around as if worried more attackers might still be present. “I can’t believe you used to do this for a living.”
“Every day wasn’t like this.” Josh regulated his breathing. “In fact, I was only ever in two gunfights prior to the currency collapse. But now—I’m starting to lose count.”
“Well, that was my first one.” Rev surveyed the carnage. “And I hate to think how it would have turned out if you hadn’t been here. I’m sorry I didn’t follow your lead. If it happens again, I’ll do whatever you tell me to, no questions asked.”
“Thanks. Let’s hope it never comes to that.” Josh looked in the back of the van. “Gas cans, and siphon hoses. I’m guessing these guys were some new breed of pirate—looting cars for gas. A mark and a half per gallon is about $30 dollars in pre-crash currency. They probably watched us fuel up with a full tank. Thirteen gallons is worth almost $400 bucks. People knock over liquor stores for less than that.”
“Do any of the containers have gas?” Rev asked.
“Let’s get that tire changed, then we’ll check it out. But I want to be able to get out of here in a hurry if any other cars come along.�
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“I’m the mechanic,” said Rev. “I’ll take care of the tire. You inspect the fuel containers.”
“Okay. That works for me.” Josh crawled into the back of the vehicle to examine the gas cans. “These two are full,” Josh said to himself. He lifted the filled cans out of the back of the van and placed them on the ground. Next, he found a dingy rucksack in which to place the extra AK-47 magazines. Josh ferried the loot to the Cruze and placed it by the trunk. “How’s the spare?”
“Fine.” Rev removed the last lug nut and took off the tire. “But it’s a donut. We won’t get far on it. We’ll have to stop and get the other one replaced.”
“I’d like to get at least 100 miles away from this location before we stop.”
“These things have no tread. It makes them more susceptible to picking up a nail. Plus, you’ll feel it in the steering if you’re going over 50 miles per hour. I certainly can’t advise driving at 85 on this thing. How far is the next town?”
Josh checked on his burner. “About 50 miles to Barstow.”
“Then I suggest we look for a new tire there.”
Josh nodded. “Okay. That still puts some distance between us and this mess.”
Once all the loot was loaded up, Rev drove while Josh kept an eye out for more trouble.
When they arrived in Barstow, the mechanic was happy to accept some of the old paper currency Josh still had on hand. Josh gave him an extra fifty dollars to ensure he’d have no questions about why they had a bullet hole in the flat. Paper money was quickly losing favor amongst those looking for an alternative to the mark anyway. The peace of mind of not wondering if the mechanic was going to notify the authorities seemed like a sound investment.
CHAPTER 10
History has shown that the masses have been quite receptive to the promises of authoritarians which are rarely if ever fulfilled.
Ron Paul
Josh and Rev arrived in Berkeley at 3:00 in the afternoon. Josh had been driving for the last couple of hours. “Looks like a ghost town.”