Endurance: A Post-Apocalyptic Thriller (Highway Book 2)

by ML Banner

  “What the hell is Hunter doing?”

  “It was his idea. When the gunny sergeant was shot and we couldn’t get any closer, Hunter said he would drive the truck into the front of the store and our militia could follow in its cover from behind and then pile in.”

  Grimes was going to argue, but the plan was already in play, and it wasn’t too bad, as long as the enemy didn’t have—

  A whoosh sounded from the roof, and a projectile raced toward the fire truck trailing fire and smoke.

  —an RPG.

  It was a direct hit into the cab of the truck. The smoke trail raced in, and fire and debris exploded out the sides and the front windshield. The truck continued its march, no longer driven by anyone, now halfway through the parking lot.

  Another RPG whooshed down from the roof and connected with the truck’s front axle, momentarily lifting the fire truck off the street. When it crashed down, it ground to a stop. The ten or so of their militia were now trapped behind the truck.

  Grimes barked off a command to two of their men lingering, to give some more cover fire. He let go of his escort and started to hobble in that direction, stopping momentarily to fire off a few rounds toward the roof. He didn’t expect to hit anyone, he simply wanted to help his people get away.

  Two of their militia darted away from the fire truck, following the trail it furrowed. But they were quickly cut down by the enemy’s shooters on the roof.

  “Dammit! Get those bastards there,” he howled to no one.

  Another RPG sang its deadly song from the roof, but this time it was headed toward them.

  “Hit the deck!” Grimes yelled.

  The mini-mart, their temporary command center that he had almost walked into, spewed out shattered glass and other debris.

  He waited a solid minute before he pushed himself up off the ground, dislodging himself from a shelving unit of flaming Doritos and Cheese Puffs. The mini-mart was destroyed and so were their plans. They were losing this battle and needed something to turn it around fast.

  ~~~

  Tariq

  Aziz knew his wounds would be fatal. But before he found Paradise, he wanted to crush these infidels.

  Mohammad had found him outside and pulled him in, bandaging his wounds as best as he could. He felt quite weak, but wanted to see the battle, so Mohammad propped him up on a seat near the front entrance where he could watch.

  Mohammad was doing an expert job fighting the infidel’s advances. After the RPGs, Aziz knew that they had the infidels near defeat.

  A cluster of their warriors, already having discarded their Army uniforms, prepared to advance from the store and attack the infidels directly. They would crush them once and for all in the next few minutes.

  Mohammad walked through the store, striding up to his men in pride, ready to lead the next assault. He stopped in front of Aziz and said, “Are you ready?”

  “Yes, stand me up.”

  Mohammad pulled his superior up and handed him his rifle, commanding one of his warriors to provide assistance.

  Outside, the gunfire had slowed to an occasional pop, but the sound of a low engine was fast approaching.

  “What is that, Mohammad?” Aziz asked, urging the warrior to help him closer to the jagged opening in the front of the store.

  It was a truck, coming from the same direction as the fire truck, but heading toward a side corner. It raced along the side of the parking lot and then turned toward them, its engine howling like it was stuck in a lower gear.

  They aimed all their gunfire at this truck, but it wouldn’t abate.

  Most saw a man roll out of it and take cover behind a line of dead vehicles in the parking lot.

  All their attention was focused on the oncoming truck until it finally exploded and veered farther off to the side. The men stopped their shooting, and that was when they heard the other noise.

  A white Toyota quietly, but quickly, came at them from another direction. A woman rolled out of this vehicle and it seemed to accelerate. Before they could focus their fire, the Toyota crashed through the window and over Aziz.

  Then it detonated.

  ~~~

  Grimes

  At the moment Grimes was thinking that maybe they should retreat and find a spot to defend, a truck raced from the side street and barreled past the fire truck toward the side of the store, with its engines roaring like it was in second gear. It seemed to be heading for a side wall, which might do nothing when it hit—if it hit.

  “Now who the hell is this?” he cried out at the insanity of the ploy until he saw the other vehicle.

  “It’s a diversion,” he huffed.

  The enemy stopped the truck; its gas tank ruptured and exploded in fiery blackness, but they didn’t hear or see the white car careening their way. The trees obscured his vision, but it looked like someone bailed out of it, and a moment later, the explosion that followed almost shook him to the ground again. He recognized the severity of the blast immediately. It was C-4. And the results were total.

  They had just won the battle.

  Grimes and the rest of the town walked or hobbled toward the black mushrooming cloud billowing from where the Saw Buck Store once sat—he always had hated that place.

  None of his militia knew who triggered the explosions, but the heroism was epic, and he couldn’t wait to thank them.

  A woman he didn’t recognize hobbled in their direction. Perhaps it was she who had driven the Toyota.

  Someone yelled a single word, and all eyes, including the woman’s, turned toward the voice. A young man, who looked strangely familiar, ran to the woman and embraced her. They hugged and then both started in the gathering crowd’s direction. Grimes and the crowd stopped as the heat from the fiery rubble was a little intense.

  The smiling couple was covered in soot and other debris, but their smiles were visible.

  It was Porter.

  “Hi, Dad,” Porter said. A grin wrapped around his face. “Let me introduce you to Major Wallace,” he said to the woman whose arm was wrapped around him.

  Grimes couldn’t say anything. He folded his arms around both of them and let flow his tears of joy.

  Chapter 36

  Endurance, Florida

  Ramadi

  This demonstration was not part of the overall plan given to him, but sometimes plans had to be changed.

  Each cell leader would follow their invasion plans in the same way throughout America. They would go from town to town, being welcomed as liberators, wearing the colors of the infidel’s military. Then they would execute all those who had the willingness to fight and who possessed weapons, taking those weapons to use for themselves. They would then post and institute the rules of sharia and demonstrate their power by executing at least two of the townspeople, including one woman. Preferably they would be apostates, but it wasn’t even necessary that they actually commit a crime. It was necessary, however, that there be at least a basic display of their intent. Then they’d move on to the next town, leaving two warriors behind to administer the town’s eventual conversion to Islam.

  Assuming everything went as planned, they would have executed the only men who possessed the will or means to effect a resistance against them. And the execution of two members of that community would be more than enough to force the rest of its members to be pliable to their will. But that was if everything went as planned.

  Ramadi’s own plan was even more elaborate than the one handed down by the Mahdi. Besides storing up twice the weapons and supplies recommended, he had planned for additional contingencies over the last two years by having the leader of Endurance join in an alliance. Ramadi even built up an Islamic community just south of the town. All of this, he believed, would make the transition to the Islamic caliphate, especially in Florida, that much easier. It did not.

  The Endurance leader or his son (which one didn’t matter) broke his alliance, stole all his weapons, and then infected his warriors, allowing their armed men to slip away. Beca
use of this, it was necessary to provide a demonstration to this town that was much more gruesome and fitting for this treason. He would take care of his enemies and show what happened when anyone in a population crossed him. In spite of all the problems he’d had with Endurance, he could use this to his ultimate advantage.

  His Mahdi Abdul taught him to always use one’s own failure against one’s enemy. He would do this today.

  He stood at the top step of the small city hall building, wearing his finest thobe, and faced his new subjects, the residents of Endurance, Florida. His presence with the US Army troops brought obvious confusion to them, and they chattered wildly, asking questions like “Who is this man?” and “Why is he here speaking and not someone from the Army?”

  Normally, he would have had the weapons and ammo they’d confiscated beside him to show the town that they controlled their weapons as well. However, since they had confiscated only a few guns and very little ammo, he would go directly into the punishment phase of this demonstration.

  Ramadi signaled, and over a dozen men and women were marched out by his warriors, still dressed like US Army troops. With their hands bound and pillowcases over their heads, it was obvious to all who watched that they were being held as prisoners. The troops forced the prisoners to stand against a wall, where each had their ankles bound so that they couldn’t run away.

  Then their hoods were removed, revealing their faces. All who were gathered around and could see them expelled a collective gasp. These were their own people: their friends and family members.

  ~~~

  Jasper

  Jasper watched the whole display from a rooftop across the street only a simple two-hundred-yard shot away.

  The black roofing material leached out its fiery breath, adding at least twenty degrees to the outside temperature, which was over eighty already.

  He had to ignore the searing heat, even though it added to his ratcheted panic.

  Through his gunsight, he watched them bring out the prisoners and reveal each. Frank Cartwright was among them. So was the Army sergeant, who looked to be suffering from a belly wound; his face was pale and sickly. Others he recognized but didn’t really know. More importantly, Lexi Broadmoor wasn’t among them.

  Jasper hated this situation, because it offered very few options. He had few choices. If he had to take a shot, he would do so, even though it increased the risks and lowered his chance for success.

  For now, he’d have to watch and wait.

  Their mouths were taped shut, but their eyes spoke of fear. Some were crying, and others tried to scream through their gags. Cartwright and Reynolds were both stoic, as he would have expected. They were looking for a way out, even when there was none for them.

  Then for show, the troops took off their US Army shirts, revealing cream-colored tunics, which were then pulled from their waistbands and allowed to fall over their trousers. This elicited further gasps and a few shrieks.

  Ramadi held up his hands to quiet them.

  ~~~

  Ramadi

  He spoke into a microphone, its cord snaking down to an all-in-one public address system, amplifier, and speaker. “As-salaam Alaykum,” he offered to the crowd.

  All his warriors, including those who shed their American uniforms and others still wearing them around the crowd, responded, saying, “Alaykum As-salaam.”

  A woman in the audience screamed.

  “People of Endurance. I am Imam Ramadi. May the mercy of Allah be upon you. This is a momentous day in your new lives. Soon you will be given a choice: to pledge your allegiance to me, our Mahdi, to the Prophet Mohammad, peace be upon him, and to Allah … or you can die.” He breathed the last syllable, drawing it out so long the speaker reverberated with feedback.

  “This town is now under sharia law. Although we don’t expect you to understand this completely, we have posted a sign to my left”—he pointed to a new sign attached to the banister of the city hall—“that lists the rules of sharia.”

  “The rules are simply this: You will submit to our will or you will die.” Each time he said “die” he paused to see the faces in the crowd.

  “In a few minutes, we will show you how we administer our laws. You see these prisoners standing before you. Each participated in a plan to kill our men or me. As the chief lawgiver, I have found them guilty of treason, and they will pay with their lives. Each will be beheaded.

  “But before this, I have a special treat for you.”

  Ramadi signaled his men, and they brought out Lexi, Cain, and Jonah. Ramadi had them stand in front of him, with Jonah closest to Ramadi, one step down. Then Cain and Lexi in front of Jonah, one more step down. All faced the crowd.

  “You know this man”—he pointed to Jonah—“as Jonah Price. Jonah and I have been working together for over two years. Jonah says that he’s still loyal to me, but I have reason to doubt him. So he will prove his loyalty to me by executing one of these two prisoners. I don’t care which one.”

  Muhammad, who wore similar clothing as Ramadi, although not as regal-looking, handed Ramadi two pistols. One was Lexi’s revolver and the other a Glock.

  “In this pistol”—he showed Jonah, with the cylinder open— “is one bullet.” He closed the cylinder. Ramadi handed it to Jonah while at the same time pushing the Glock up against Jonah’s head. “You, Jonah Price, will shoot either your son, Cain, or this young woman, Lexi Broadmoor, whom I’m told you’ve already saved once before. If you don’t shoot one, my men will shoot them both and I’ll shoot you. If you try to shoot anyone else, my men will shoot them both and I’ll shoot you. You have ten seconds to decide.”

  ~~~

  Jasper

  Jasper heard all of this, as the speakers transmitted very well across the two-hundred-yard span.

  He examined each of them. Cain’s eyes were animal-like with fear while Lexi looked reserved, almost calm. She was a strong one, that was for sure. He understood Mahdi Abdul’s interest in her.

  But like Jonah, Jasper knew that he also had a decision of his own to make.

  If Jasper took his shot, Lexi would most likely be killed. If he didn’t shoot, Lexi still had a high chance of being shot by Jonah, who surely wouldn’t choose to kill his son over someone who was a stranger only a couple of days ago.

  Jasper wiped the sweat pouring down his face as he considered his own next move.

  No matter what, he couldn’t let anything happen to her. He had been charged to protect her and keep her safe. He had been succeeding at it until Imam Ramadi deviated from the Mahdi’s orders.

  This imam was going against the orders handed down directly from their Mahdi himself, the same Mahdi to whom both he and Imam Ramadi had sworn allegiance. Their Mahdi had directed him to protect Lexi “Smith” Broadmoor at all costs, even if it meant giving up his own life.

  Chapter 37

  Northern Panhandle of Florida

  July 5th

  Jasper

  The truck pulled up to him. A small plume of dust arrived a few seconds later. The door groaned open and a dark-skinned man wearing a full beard hopped out. Smiles of familiarity lit both their faces.

  “Good morning,” Abdul said, welcoming the driver.

  “Yes, it is.”

  They embraced like brothers separated by many years. And this was true in many ways, since it had been many years since they had seen each other, only communicating by radio. And this man, Abdul thought, was more like a brother than his brother by blood, Stanley Broadmoor.

  “Come, Imran, let’s sit by the river so that we can talk about what you’ve accomplished and what I have for you next.”

  “Of course, my Mahdi.” He pulled himself away, getting ready to bow. He had forgotten his place.

  “No, my brother. We are equals in Allah’s mind. I shall always treat you no less. Please call me by the same name you have always known me.” He put his arm around Imran’s neck and led him from the drive to the dock, where Leo had set up two chairs and tea.

>   “Tell me, how was your drive?” Abdul asked, letting go of his friend as they walked slowly to the dock.

  “Well, Ma—sorry, I mean Abdul—it was not without some peril, since there are many dead cars on the road, blocking access. But otherwise no troubles. The first phase went as planned, I trust? Jacksonville’s destruction was very satisfying.”

  “I’m sure it was, since you were right there. Yes, Phase One went off mostly as planned, and the other two phases should as well.” He beckoned Imran to one of the seats.

  Imran sat and glanced at the smooth river, a delicate carpet of green glass, gliding by them on its way to the ocean. “This is a beautiful property.”

  “Yes, it is, but no more lovely than the one you’ve been living in.” Abdul picked up the teapot and motioned to him.

  Imran nodded, drawing up both cups to the welcoming pour. He then offered Abdul his choice from the two full cups after the teapot was rested back on the platter between them.

  Imran held his cup, but didn’t yet drink. He stared at the brown liquid, looking for the courage to ask the next words. “Sir, I have been waiting for years, doing all that you have asked. I can only hope that I can take my place and lead your warriors in this glorious fight against the infidel in the next few days?” He took a sip of his hot tea and then watched his Mahdi for his reaction, hoping he hadn’t pushed him too far.

  Abdul slurped a large amount from his cup and examined Imran, considering his words carefully.

  He had expected this from his loyal brother, who was designed for fighting. Imran’s eyes bounced around, plaintively waiting for his reply. So many looked at this man and thought him crazy, with his strange eyes that seemed to be unconnected, so they thought him to be the same. But Abdul knew this man too well and what he had done to help the cause.

  His brother, Stanley, had disappeared after his wife’s death and the world had thought him dead. But Abdul knew better. He was in hiding somewhere. His people found a purchase made under the name “Abby Smith,” his sister’s married name, for over a million dollars. Abdul knew that she didn’t have that kind of money, so it had to have been made by Stanley. The contract confirmed it, with the buyer as “Stanley Broadmoor, and/or assigns.”