by Mark Goodwin
“Yes, ma’am. It was hard when they disappeared, especially my youngest daughter and the baby. But I’m glad they were spared the hardships we’ve had to abide.”
“Mama took it harder than anyone. Had a real hard time for the first year. She’s better, but she’s anxious to get on to Glory so she can see her babies.” Michael’s was the voice of a young man who’d seen his mother suffering great anguish and could barely handle it.
Everett considered all the pain and heartache brought on the world by the Tribulation. With the constant chore of surviving disaster after disaster, the emotional aspect of it all was often overlooked. He said a short silent prayer, thanking God that he and Courtney had not been subjected to the pain of losing a child in the rapture.
Everett followed the convoy as they skirted mid-sized towns and major cities that had the potential to be infested with desperate people willing to do anything for the few supplies they carried with them. The team passed between Dayton and Cincinnati, heading west to Indiana State Road 44, which would take them across the dusty and barren farmland that had once been filled with corn fields. Sunset was a welcome event as the darkness of night served to shroud the hopeless scenery.
The members of the convoy avoided Martinsville Indiana, then having put sufficient distance between themselves and Indianapolis, proceeded north to US-36.
The team stopped at an abandoned bar when they reached the intersection US-36 and Illinois Route 32. The darkness and the building offered visual cover for the team to relieve themselves in an otherwise wide-open and sterile landscape. Sarah and Kevin took the front seats while Everett and Courtney returned to the bed of the truck. The convoy would take Route 32 north to keep away from Decatur.
In all his travels since leaving early that morning, Everett had not seen one single person besides the other members of his team.
Once the convoy was back on the road, Everett lay back on the unrolled sleeping bag. “I think I’ll close my eyes for a while if you don’t mind keeping watch, Preacher.”
“Rest easy. I’ll keep an eye out for trouble.” Preacher smiled.
“Wake us if you see anything, or if you start feeling tired.” Courtney put her head on Everett’s chest and closed her eyes.
“Will do. Sleep tight,” Preacher said.
Everett awoke to the sound of Kevin’s voice. “Hey, buddy. Think you can drive for a while?”
Everett felt stiff from sleeping on the hard bed of the pickup. “Where are we?”
“Avoca, Iowa.”
“That doesn’t tell me much.” Everett sat up.
“Half an hour from Nebraska,” Kevin said.
The sun shined brightly, maybe brighter than Everett had seen it since the ash cloud of Wormwood had darkened the sky. He shielded his eyes. “How long have we been out?”
“A good eight hours,” Preacher replied.
Sarah tittered as she crawled into the bed of the truck. “I hope we can sleep that good.”
After a cup of cold instant coffee and some long-expired granola bars, Everett and the rest of the team were back on the road. The sunlight once again revealed the desolation of the country, which had once been the world’s richest and most prosperous. Now, it was little more than an afterthought of history. The hours crept by as Everett had nothing more to look at besides the truck hauling the fuel tank in front of him and the utter emptiness on either side.
The drivers switched one last time outside of Cheyenne, then continued to their final stop at Bear River State Park just outside of Evanston, Wyoming. The park would serve as the forward operating base.
They arrived at 8:00 PM according to Everett’s watch. They’d leave the Dodge, the water tank, the fuel tank, and all the bicycles at the state park, which was one hundred miles from the objective.
Monday would be spent recuperating from the drive. Then, long before dawn on Tuesday, Tommy’s team would cram into his truck and go directly to their assault position. Everett, Courtney, Kevin, and Sarah would take the other vehicle straight to the water pump station.
CHAPTER 5
Jesus said unto her, “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”
John 11:25-26
Everett could see his breath by the ambient light of the truck headlights. He finished his breakfast and glanced at his watch, which had been synchronized to the Mountain Time Zone. “Two thirty. We need to be on the road by three. It could take us two hours to get through those mountains.”
Tommy chugged the rest of his coffee. “Yeah. It’s gonna be a long day. Come on over to the truck and pick out what you need.”
Everett and Kevin walked with Tommy. They watched as he pulled the tarp back from the bed of his pickup and shined his flashlight on a large assortment of rocket-propelled grenades and a few tube-fired weapons. “This here is an AT-4, anti-tank missile. I’ve got six of these.”
“What about that big one?” Everett pointed to the single tube in the middle of the bed.
“That’s my pride and joy.” Tommy ran his hand over the large green tube.
“That’s a Javelin,” Kevin said. “It’s an anti-everything missile.”
Tommy gingerly lifted the giant tube up and stood it on its end. “It cost me a pretty penny. I got all this stuff before Jesus saved me. Well, most of it anyways.” He hoisted the Javelin out of the truck and set it at Everett’s feet. “I’m giving her to you.” He glanced up at Kevin. “You know how to fire one of these, I assume.”
“I shot one once in training. It’s been a while, but I can figure it out.”
Tommy looked like a man who’d just lost his favorite pet as he pulled his hands away from the weapon. “It should take out the wall of the pump house. I expect it’ll take down most of the pumps as well, but you’ll have the AT-4s to clean up any of the pumps that remain. You said the pump station has four pumps, right?”
“Yeah. That’s what Jones had on his diagram.” Everett passed the heavy tube to Kevin.
Tommy reached into the back of the truck and extracted four AT-4s, handing the first two to Everett.
Everett took one in each hand. “Wow, these are a lot lighter.”
“And a lot cheaper on the black market. I think they’re around fifteen pounds each. That Javelin is about thirty-five pounds.” Tommy carried the last two AT-4s over to the pickup Everett would be driving.
Everett followed with the first two shoulder-fired missiles. “That only leaves you two.”
“I’ve got thirty-five RPGs. They don’t make quite as big a hole, but I’m just lookin’ to create some smoke and racket.”
“RPGs will certainly do that.” Kevin lugged the large Javelin missile over to the truck on his shoulder.
“We appreciate everything you’re doing, Tommy.” Everett carefully placed his weapons in the back of the truck.
The big man helped Kevin lower the Javelin into the bed. “It’s all for the glory of the kingdom, right?”
“Yes, sir,” Everett said.
“I had Devin put just enough fuel to get my truck and this one to the objectives and back.” Tommy pointed at the Dodge. “I had him put the rest in the Ram. It’s got a full tank. That will get us to Cheyenne. It’s still gonna be a long road home.” He paused. “For those of us who get out alive.”
Everett understood that twenty people weren’t going to fit in the Dodge. He knew Tommy’s math had already figured on some of them not coming back from the raid.
Tommy looked at the dirt for a moment, then back up. “If you’re followed, don’t bring ‘em back to the state park. You gotta lose your tail before you come back. We’ll do the same. If everyone isn’t back here at the same time, whoever’s first will give the other team twenty-four hours to get back. Remember, if somebody has to shake a tail, they might run out of gas and have to hump it back on foot.”
“Agreed.” Everett nodded.
/> “Good. Let’s get movin’,” Tommy said.
Everett put his hand on the tall man’s shoulder. “I think we should pray before we go.”
“I think you’re right.” Tommy turned toward the other men. “Y’all gather round. We’re gonna ask the Lord’s blessing, then we’re gonna go kick some new-world-order tail!”
The men hooted and hollered as they made their way over and formed a circle. They stood with arms locked and grew reverently quiet.
Everett bowed his head and held Courtney’s hand. “Father God, we are here to do your will, so we know that your will shall be done on this day. We only ask you for courage, strength, and a good measure of confidence so we might faithfully execute the high honor to which we have been called on this morning. We pray that you will watch over these warriors, and the ones they’ve left at home. Grant us your perfect peace until you call us home and our worries in this world are no more. Amen.”
“Amen.” Kevin echoed as he patted Everett on the back.
“Let’s go shut down Dragon!” Sarah held her rifle in the air as she marched to the truck.
Everett waved to Tommy and the rest of the team as he, Courtney, Kevin, and Sarah drove off to the pump station. They drove through the mountains, exiting I-80 onto US-40 south to avoid Salt Lake City. Kevin reviewed the plan as they drove.
Once they got closer to Lake Utah and the location of the pump station, Everett slowed his pace, giving Tommy’s team ample time to get into position for the diversionary attack on the GR military base.
Kevin rode shotgun. He glanced at his watch. “Tommy’s team is supposed to launch their assault at 6:00 AM. We should be in position by 5:45.”
“Roger that.” The anticipation grew in Everett’s stomach as he got closer to the pump station.
Sarah leaned forward. “Let me make sure I’ve got this straight. We’ll fire the Javelin from the truck. From there, we each have to carry an AT-4 to the pump house. Then, we fire an AT-4 at any of the pumps that aren’t destroyed. What if we’re taking fire? I’m sure they’ll have at least a small security force defending the most important water pumps in the world.”
Kevin turned to face the back seat. “Then Everett and Courtney will lay down cover fire, and we’ll carry two AT-4s each. We’ll have our rifles slung over our backs. If it’s more than the two of them can fend off, we’ll shoot until we thin out the hostiles, then continue with the mission.
“But one way or the other, those pumps have to be taken out. Even if it costs all of us our lives.”
Everett glanced at the rearview to see his precious wife in the back seat. He was ready to sacrifice himself. Sarah and Kevin were also acceptable losses, but not Courtney. Somehow, some way, the mission had to be accomplished, and Courtney had to live.
The pump station was on the north side of Lake Utah. Every possible approach forced Everett to drive through neighborhoods, which he did not want to do. The abandoned homes, stranded vehicles, and deserted streets were the perfect ingredients for choke points, traps, and ambushes.
“Everybody, look alive.” He kept his attention on the forsaken community roadways, watching for potential roadblocks. “Every one of these dilapidated houses is a potential snare for would-be bandits.”
“I’m watching the houses, you just keep driving.” Kevin held his rifle with his left hand, ready to fire out the window at the first sign of trouble.
“And keep moving fast,” Sarah said from the back. “Don’t give anyone an opportunity to hit us.”
Everett eventually emerged from the residential streets, turned onto I-15, and followed it four miles to the north side of the lake. He maintained a high speed when he exited and drove to the road which would take them straight to the pump station. He slowed down as he got closer. “How are we looking on time?”
“It’s five thirty,” Courtney said. “We’ve still got a half an hour.”
“Good. That gives us time to make a quick drive-by.” Kevin continued to watch out the window.
Everett proceeded down the perimeter road which followed the contour of the lake. “Look, a sign that says Pump Station. They couldn’t have made it any easier. I told you, you can’t underestimate human complacency and stupidity.”
“That’s the service road.” Kevin pointed ahead. “But let’s keep going forward. According to our map, there should be a bridge going over the Jordan River just ahead.”
“Crossing the Jordan to take the promised land!” Courtney exclaimed.
Everett pressed his lips together. “Wrong Jordan.”
“Wrong promised land, too,” Sarah added.
Seconds later, Courtney pointed ahead. “There’s the bridge, and a perfect view of the pump station!”
Lights illuminated the concrete building, which had been constructed across the Jordan River like a bridge.
“Correction,” Sarah said. “A perfect shot to the pump station.”
Kevin nodded. “Those are the four intake valves, going straight into the river. From this distance, I should have no trouble hitting the station dead center. No question that the two middle pumps will be out of order. I’m sure it will disable the outer two pumps, but we’ll have to get inside to be sure they’re beyond repair.”
Everett kept driving across the bridge. “What if you try for a direct hit on the third valve? We’d be certain to eliminate that pump, plus the second and fourth pumps on either side. Then, we’d only have to worry about the first water pump. We could hit it with two AT-4s for good measure.”
Kevin turned to look at Everett. “I think that could work. But we’ll still have to get inside to confirm they’re all down.”
“Okay.” It wasn’t for his own sake, but Everett was feverishly trying to reduce the risk for Courtney. “I’ll turn around at this park. We can get everything ready, and be back on that bridge at exactly 6:00 AM.”
Everett pulled into the parking lot of the inlet park just a few hundred feet away from the bridge.
“I’ll take the scope down to the water and see if I can get a visual on any guards around the pump house.” Sarah got out of the truck.
“I’ll come with you.” Courtney was next out of the truck.
Everett and Kevin exited the vehicle, opened the topper and dropped the tailgate.
Kevin prepared all the shoulder-fired missiles for deployment. “Sarah and I will ride on the tailgate, tubes ready to fire. I’ll shoot the Javelin, then she’ll set off the first AT-4. I’ll hit the first valve with a second AT-4 to be certain. We’ll toss the tubes on the ground, jump in the truck, and you can drive straight down the service road.”
Everett didn’t like it, but military decisions were made by Kevin, and he didn’t argue.
Minutes later, the girls returned from the bank of the lake.
“Did you see anything?” Everett asked.
“No,” Sarah replied. “The river splits as it’s emptying into the lake. The pump station isn’t even on this fork.”
Everett gritted his teeth. “So, we’re going in blind.”
“Livin’ by faith!” Courtney said exuberantly.
“Or stupidity,” Everett mumbled.
Kevin looked at his watch. “Time to roll.”
“Let’s get it over with.” Everett got in the truck and started the engine.
Kevin slapped the side of the truck once everyone was in position with their weapons ready.
Everett eased out of the parking lot, careful not to send Kevin and Sarah sliding off the tailgate. He crept onto the bridge, stopped, and looked at his watch. “5:59.”
He heard a faint boom in the distance.
“That must have been Tommy’s team initiating their attack on the GR military base,” Courtney said.
Everett nodded and watched as Kevin lifted the large launch tube, pointing it at the pump house. Kevin fired the weapon, and a bright flash of light and flame flared out of the tube with a loud whoosh. The Javelin missile careened into the building, at precisely the point of the
third intake valve.
Unable to look away from the spectacle, Everett closed one eye to preserve his night vision on that side.
BOOOOM! A flash of fire and smoke billowed out from the side of the building, mushrooming toward the night sky like an enormous lantern. Brilliant red, shining yellow, and radiant oranges glowed from the center of the cloud. The sound of metal and concrete dropping into the river below could be heard over the echo of the roaring explosion.
Sarah fired the AT-4 at the first intake valve. The missile left a much smaller trail of illuminated smoke as it flew toward the remnant of the pump house. It struck the wall, just above the valve and exploded into a shower of spark and debris. While much less impressive than the Javelin, it too created a bright blast and rumbling clamor. Kevin wasted no time in sending the second AT-4 missile to the target. Another thundering eruption, and another dazzling cloud of flame and smoke.
Sarah and Kevin jumped into the cab of the truck. Kevin yelled, “Drive!”
Everett killed the headlights and sped to the service road. Immediately after turning onto the gravel drive, he saw the beams of several flashlights pointed toward the smoldering pump station. One flashlight turned toward the noise of Everett’s pickup truck rolling across the gravel. It was instantly joined by a second flashlight, then another.
Everett threw the truck into reverse and floored the accelerator.
“What are you doing?” Kevin snapped.
“I’m not running headfirst into a brick wall. If we’re going to do this, we have to be smart about it.” Everett backed onto the perimeter road and let the vehicle roll to a stop. “We can hit them from the bushes on the side of the service road. As long as they keep their lights on, we can see them, but they won’t see us.”
Kevin scowled at Everett as he pushed his door open. “Okay, I guess we’re doing things your way.”
Everett tucked low and led the team toward the brush. The ambient glow from the flashlights revealed the faint forms of six GR peacekeepers jogging up the gravel drive in the direction where the truck had been.