“That’s kind,” Bobby said. “But we’ve got our own.”
The look of relief on Grant’s face was unmistakable. “Sure, no problem.” He turned back to the kettle and poured three mugs of instant coffee before settling into a bucket chair and indicating for his guests to sit on the bed.
“So, where you fellas from?”
Before Yuri could put his foot in it, Bobby said, “Salt Lake City.”
“Really? What’s it like there?”
Bobby shrugged. “Doing pretty well.”
Doubt clouded the young man’s face. “So, why didn’t you sign up there?”
Cursing himself, Bobby thought on his feet. “Well, you know how it is. I reckoned we’d be more welcome here.”
Grant looked from one to the other, pondering this. “You guys in some kind of trouble?”
“You could say that,” Yuri said, with an exaggerated shrug.
Again, Grant grinned. “Ah, I get it! Well, don’t you boys worry, the president takes all comers, as long as they’re loyal. Word is, he’ll pardon just about any crime as long as they’ll sign on the dotted line. But hey, neither of you did nothin’ violent, did you?”
“Of course not!” Bobby said, trying to sound casual. “These days, there’s a lot of things that can get you in trouble with the authorities, especially in SLC.”
“I get you, brother. I get you.”
They sat, sipping their drinks as the snow continued to fall outside. Suddenly, Yuri got to his feet. “Well, we better get moving.”
Surprised, Bobby stood up. “Well, yeah, I suppose so.”
“Mr. Grant, you have been kind. Thank you. Maybe we see you after we sign up?”
Grant took their offered mugs, apparently equally surprised. “Well, if you fellas don’t want to warm up any more.”
“We’d love to,” Bobby said, forcing a smile. “But like Yuri says, we need to sign up.”
Bobby followed Yuri out of the door, waving to Grant as he stood in the corridor watching them.
“What are you doing?” Bobby hissed as they rounded the corner and Yuri began climbing the stairs rather than walking down them.
“Downstairs. I saw people running this way. Coming inside. Looking for someone. Come, we go up, then along. Maybe nothing to do with us, but maybe I saw Harlon.”
Chapter 14
Premier
It was like walking into another world, a past reality she’d only ever seen on TV. Ellie picked a hair off her suit and wondered which of the many dignitaries she’d air-kissed had left it behind. But of more pressing concern was the location of the nearest waiter.
Finally, she spotted a young woman in a white jacket and took a glass of champagne from the silver tray.
“There you are!”
Ellie felt a cold hand on her arm and spun around to see a rosy-cheeked Jodi smiling at her.
“Your father told you not to drink alcohol!” Ellie hissed into her ear.
Jodi muttered a curse. “I need it to get through this nightmare. I mean, these people are so boring! And don’t they know what’s going on out there?”
“Oh, they know.”
“And when’s this special guest arriving?”
“I don’t know. Can’t be long. Go take a seat, and don’t drink any more!”
Ellie guided Jodi into a chair at a circular table that was covered in the detritus of a four-course meal.
She turned around, trying to locate Joel and Booker. She didn’t know what this place was called, but it was some sort of conference center outside Santa Clarita. Joel had insisted they accompany him, telling them that Booker wanted them there. They’d endured a series of speeches, with Joel being a warm-up act for the governor.
Ellie had sat at her table watching Baxter in disbelief as he stood there, delivering a speech that had obviously been written for him. He was an actor, so he was pretty convincing except to Jodi, who said he looked like he was a mannequin, spouting propaganda with dead eyes.
Then Booker stood up and he, at least, seemed to believe the words he spoke. Or perhaps he just wanted to believe them. He spoke of a golden future for the Pacific Coast States as they led a glorious rebuilding effort, dragging the old United States into a new form of existence. He said that isolationism was redundant and only by cooperating with the planet’s surviving nations could they survive and flourish.
But the guests of honor hadn’t arrived as expected, and so the speeches ended with an invitation for people to mingle while they waited. Ellie wondered who could be so important that the man who called himself president was prepared to hang around like a bridegroom. She hoped it would be over soon, because if she had to make nice with another politician or member of the military, she’d probably scream.
“Ellie!”
She turned around to see where Jodi was pointing. She could see the tall figure of Booker—with Joel Baxter in his wake—cutting through the crowd like an icebreaker, heading toward the doors of the conference center.
“Come on,” Jodi said. “He told us to be there.”
Sighing, Ellie followed the younger woman into the crowd as she threaded her way between people and tables until they emerged in a foyer that looked through glass doors into the darkness beyond.
She caught sight of Joel looking around and putting his hand out for Jodi to stand beside him. Ellie contented herself with a place in the second row immediately behind Jodi as the doors opened and two figures in military uniforms stood with backs to the glass. A man in a neat, modest black suit walked in followed by a second man who could hardly have presented a greater contrast. He wore an olive-green uniform with a ridiculously large peaked cap. Ribbons decorated a chest that had so many medals Ellie found herself wondering if he was more metal than man.
He moved into lockstep with the first man, and behind him walked other men in dress uniform, including one who was obviously an admiral.
The people alongside her shuffled uncomfortably and many began mumbling to each other, though Ellie couldn’t hear any words. Except one. Chinese.
Booker broke out of the line and strode toward the black-suited figure, shook his hand and guided him back to where the assembly waited.
He introduced the man to his staff, but it was only when he reached Joel, who was only a foot or two in front of where Ellie stood, that she could make out what Booker was saying.
“This is my special advisor, Mr. Joel Baxter.”
“Ah, the actor? Your movies are often censored in my country.”
Baxter’s face, which usually had a healthy complexion despite decades of excess, was noticeably pale.
“Joel, may I present His Excellency Yu Ling, Premier of the People’s Republic of China.”
Ellie drew in a breath, only just managing to suppress her shock. Even she knew that this was one of the most senior people in the Chinese hierarchy. Good grief, is this when they declare themselves openly for the first time?
Joel shook his hand and bowed before gesturing at Jodi and introducing her. She wore a satin dress but, as she nodded, the frilly material covering her shoulder slipped back to reveal the small tattoo of a rose that Ellie had seen before.
The Chinese official’s face was unreadable, though Ellie thought she spotted a look of desire flash across his face. She promised herself she’d keep a close eye on Jodi for the rest of the evening, though she wondered whether she, Joel or even Booker himself had the power to deny these men anything they asked for.
The military man—introduced as a general, but Ellie missed his name—followed the politician along the line and he was followed by the others, and they were led back into the main room and sat at tables in the front that had been cleared while the ceremony went on.
Ellie found herself in a seat near the back where the chairs had been arranged in rows. Jodi had been squeezed alongside Joel, who sat looking uncomfortable on the end of the front table.
There was a palpable nervousness in the room as Governor Booker got to his feet, st
epped onto a low platform box and unfolded a sheet of paper.
“My friends and colleagues,” he said, his rich voice echoing in the otherwise silent room, “it is my honor to welcome this illustrious delegation from our friends, the People’s Republic of China.”
As he spoke, his eyes scanned ahead, as if this was the first time he’d seen the speech. “I extend a particular greeting to His Excellency Yu Ling, Premier of the PRC, who was the first to extend the hand of friendship to us in our hour of need. And also to General Li Chang of the People’s Liberation Army—as well as to the officers under his command—for securing the vital supplies that feed and provide for the American people in this difficult time.
“My friends,” he said, his gaze sweeping across the silent audience, “many of you know that we have been receiving aid from China in the past months. You may not know that without this aid, our people would be starving. All our reserves are exhausted and their help has been essential in enabling us to rebuild our capacity to feed ourselves. Premier Yu held out the hand of friendship and, for the sake of the citizens of our country, I gladly took it.”
As he paused, Ellie noticed the murmuring around her had grown in intensity.
“We are the pioneers of a new world order. We here, and no others, are present at the beginning of humanity’s next great leap forward. An era where no matter the color of a person’s skin, or their gender, or who their parents were, everyone has equal opportunity. This, my friends, is truly the realization of the American dream.”
He paused again, clearly waiting for some form of acknowledgment as the echoes of his final words died away. But the room was silent. Until Joel Baxter stood up, turned to face the audience and began loudly clapping. Hesitantly at first, others joined in, some of them standing, until, finally, Booker smiled, bathed in the applause.
Theatrically, he motioned them to quieten down as Ellie swallowed the last of her champagne, trying to wash away the foul taste in her mouth. Was it only she who’d understood that they’d just witnessed her country prostrating itself at the feet of one of its traditional rivals?
“Now, I invite His Excellency to say a few words.”
More applause as the tall, dark-suited Yu Ling unfolded himself and went to stand next to Booker, who retreated into the shadows.
“Thank you for your welcome, President Booker. I hope you will forgive my English, as it is not good.”
Ah, thought Ellie, fake modesty.
“As the president said, we offered our help in your nation’s time of greatest need. We are here by your invitation, to render aid and provide security as the rebuilding of your great country begins.”
Security? Or occupation?
Only his voice could be heard. The people around and behind Ellie were listening with absolute attention, as if they couldn’t quite believe what they were hearing. Ellie, of course, could believe it only too easily.
“I look forward to the cooperation of the American people and you, their leaders, as we secure and replenish your country.”
Booker stepped forward and raised a glass to the Chinese premier. “To the future and to a new alliance.”
Joel jumped up, holding his glass in the air and, such was the magic of the man, somehow making it impossible for the audience to remain seated. Ellie stood up with the others, raised her now-empty glass and pretended to repeat the toast while her mouth turned to ashes.
#
Ellie was about to go looking for Jodi when the young woman finally made it back to the bedroom they were sharing in the hotel next door to the conference center.
“There you are!” she said. “Jeez, what happened?”
Jodi shook her head, then collapsed onto the edge of the bed and fumbled with her shoes. “Nightmare. Absolute nightmare. I’ll never speak to Joel again.”
Ellie slipped the shoes from Jodi’s feet and turned on the kettle. “Coffee?”
“Sure. I need sleep, but I couldn’t if I tried.”
“What happened?”
Pulling herself backward, Jodi made a wedge with her pillows and collapsed into them. “It was horrible. All those men looking at me. I know what they were thinking.”
“They probably don’t get to see a blonde-haired, blue-eyed American girl very often. Not bad looking, either.” Ellie smiled as she put the coffee on the bedside table.
“It’s not funny,” Jodi said. “I felt like I was being shown off to them. Like as an example of what we’ve got to offer. Jeez, Ellie, maybe I’m safe for now, but what about other women? You saw those soldiers on the beach. There were hundreds—and who knows how many more are coming every day?”
Ellie flopped down on the bed beside her. “I think it’s time we disappeared.”
Immediately, Jodi grabbed her arm. “Oh, thank God! Yes. I can’t wait to get away from here. Do you think we’ve got enough to go back with?”
“I don’t reckon it’s going to matter soon enough. They can’t keep this quiet for long. People must be suspicious already—they see the aid boxes and where they’re coming from.”
“Maybe they think it’s some kind of N.G.O.?”
“Well, when those Chinese troops come marching along Main Street, they won’t have any doubt. Though Booker and his cronies will probably make sure they’re marching with some home-grown soldiers, as if it’s a joint exercise.”
Jodi sipped on her coffee as, outside, they could hear the sounds of people walking along the corridor. “There’s no chance we’re wrong, is there? Couldn’t they just be here to help?”
“Come off it, Jode. I don’t know how China managed to survive the flood better than us, but it’s obvious they did. And they’re taking their chance to achieve what they’ve always wanted to.”
“What’s that?”
“To turn the world’s culture from Western—American, essentially—to Eastern. In the words of the song, they want to rule the world.”
Jodi took another sip and sat thoughtfully looking into the distance. “What song?”
Ellie climbed off the bed. “I’m going to turn in. We can make our plans in the morning.”
“Yeah. We’ll have to wait for Dad to be out, and then go on a road trip.”
“We’re going to have to get completely out of Dodge before they raise the alarm. I don’t think Joel will take kindly to us running off.” She shed her outfit and sighed as she slipped into her pajamas.
Jodi swung her legs off the bed, dropped her dress on the floor and climbed under the comforter in her underwear. She looked thoughtfully at Ellie as she rolled to face her, head half buried in the pillow. “Do you think Dad will be okay? I mean, if we disappear, they could blame him.”
“I know. But we can’t exactly ask him to come with us, can we?”
Jodi rubbed her eyes and yawned. “Jeez. You know, I can’t stand him most of the time, but he is still my dad. And I guess I love him, even though sometimes I wish… Oh, I don’t know.”
“Let’s sleep on it. We’ve got to report to Buchanan, or what was the point in coming here? You’ve seen what I’ve seen, and if this is what’s in store for the whole country, then the president has to know. Maybe she can do something about it?”
“From a hotel in Denver?”
Ellie rolled onto her back. “I don’t know. But we’ve got to try. We’ll protect Joel if we can, but, I’m sorry, Jodi, this is serious. We’ve got to think beyond you, me and Joel.”
“I get it. This is heavy stuff. Yeah, we’ll make plans tomorrow,” she said, then yawned again. “I wonder how Uncle Pat is?”
Ellie nodded as she shut her eyes. “Yeah, me too.”
Chapter 15
Muster
Bobby and Yuri jogged through the slushy snow, looking over their shoulders and expecting at any moment to hear the cry of pursuit. Around the corner, they passed a Comfort Inn with lights shining bright, shadows passing behind closed drapes in the dim grayness.
“Stop…I…stop…”
Bobby turned to see Yur
i standing with his hands on his knees as the snow settled on his coat. “We’ve got to keep moving!”
“I…can’t…”
Bobby looked back along the sidewalk. He saw one or two figures hunched against the cold, but no one coming their way. Then he turned the other way, looking away from the hotels, to a four-way intersection. People were walking around the intersection and heading south.
“I don’t think we’ll have to go far,” Bobby said to the wheezing Russian. “People are heading that way.”
Yuri straightened himself up and looked along the road. “Maybe. But do we go that way? Perhaps best to go around. Head for downtown.”
Bobby nodded. “Yeah. Curiosity killed the cat. But we’re going to have to find shelter. Jeez, it’s hard to make any progress in this weather.”
“And with crippled Russian slowing you down.”
Bobby took Yuri’s arm. “I think six months in space is a pretty good excuse. But this weather just takes it out of me too. I reckon I’m good for another mile or two, no more than that. How about you?”
“Maybe a mile. If we go slowly.”
Bobby caught movement back the way they’d come. “Let’s move. I don’t know whether I’m getting paranoid, but it feels as though the whole city’s looking for us.”
He took hold of Yuri’s arm and together they struggled along the sidewalk.
In the end, they almost stumbled into trouble by accident. They’d been walking along a quiet suburban street when they emerged around the back of what turned out to be a school building, to see a line of people standing in the snow. The queue led into the main entrance of the school and Bobby and Yuri found themselves part of it before they knew it.
“We’d better get out of here,” Bobby said, as figures appeared behind them and began shuffling forward, eager to get inside.
Yuri, whose face was white and stiff, nodded, and allowed himself to be guided along the front of the main school building until he stumbled. “I’m sorry. Cannot go any farther.”
Lost: Deluge Book 5: (A Thrilling Post-Apocalyptic Survival Story) Page 13