by Bobby Akart
Major reached for his wife’s hand and replied, “Hang on. This is bad.”
Kurt Barling, a thirty-year veteran journalist with the BBC, was reporting from their London bureau.
“Thus far, the only report we’ve received is a brief statement from Secretary of State Damian Williamson from his residence at Carlton Gardens in Chevening. It appears that much of the United States and Canada, from coast to coast, has been thrust into darkness by a cascading failure of the nation’s power grid. There are no reports emanating from the States at this time, and our attempts to reach reporters in our Washington bureau have failed.”
“Major,” started Lucy as she clutched her husband’s arm, “he said Canada, too. The kids are gonna be—”
Major put his arm around Lucy and pulled her head against his shoulder. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. At least we have a source of information.”
Major stopped talking as Barling’s face suddenly grew serious. He was holding his hand to his earpiece and shaking his head from side to side. He grimaced and looked into the camera.
“We have now received further word that the Ministry of Defence has placed the Royal Navy, Air Force and the British Army on their highest levels of alert. Although a formal statement will be forthcoming from Air Chief Marshal Sir Stuart Lovegrove, our sources have told us that it is likely the United States has come under attack, and this may be the beginnings of a broader military conflict. In just a few minutes, we will be taking you to—”
Major’s mind began to race as he tuned out the rest of Barling’s report.
United States has come under attack. Beginnings.
He turned to Lucy. “Listen to me, honey. Now is not the time to panic, but we’ve got to move quickly. This has to be a nuclear EMP attack; otherwise Texas would be in the dark too. It could be the start of all-out nuclear war, I don’t know. We have to get everybody to safety.”
“The phones don’t work.”
“I know. Preacher and I have worked out a system for this. It’s kinda like Paul Revere’s ride to warn the patriots.”
“Okay, what do you want me to do?” she asked as she wiped the tears off her cheeks.
“Get the shelter opened up and the power running. As the families show up, get the women and children settled. Keep them calm. Send the ranch hands here to load up food out of the pantry.”
Lucy nodded her head and fought back the tears. “The kids. They’re all alone.”
Major gently put his fingers to Lucy’s lips. “And they’re levelheaded, practical, and most importantly, they’re Armstrongs. They’ll be fine.”
Chapter 6
November 25
Black Friday
The Armstrong Ranch
Borden County, Texas
Major bolted out the front door and skipped the steps as he hit the mulched walkway leading to the barn. His adrenaline was pumping, raising his body temperature as he entered the near-freezing temperatures outside. In his haste, he never considered grabbing his jacket and gloves hanging on the wall by the front door.
He was in the process of saddling his horse, cursing his suddenly cold, stiff fingers, when he heard the sound of horses racing toward the barn. He reached for a flashlight mounted on the outside of the stall and went by the water troughs to investigate.
“Who’s that?” he shouted into the darkness as the light from his flashlight scanned the field to find the riders.
Preacher shouted his response as his horse closed on the barn. “Major! It’s me and Antonio. Something’s happened!”
“Yeah, huge power outage.” His voice lowered somewhat as the riders came toward the barn at a full gallop.
“Whoa,” the riders said in unison, encouraging their horses to a stop. Dust and a few rocks were kicked up onto Major’s jeans as they arrived.
“Antonio, do you know something?” asked Major.
“Si, señor,” began Antonio, who had arrived at Armstrong Ranch alone when he was sixteen. He had snuck across the border with his mother and sister through Terrell County, with the assistance of human traffickers. Once they’d arrived in America, the traffickers demanded additional payment or the family would not be allowed to go free. When his family gave them the seventy-three dollars in their possession, the traffickers raped and murdered his mother and sister. Antonio received a beating but managed to escape. Preacher had found him on the banks of the river, drinking the muddy water. He’d lived and worked on the ranch since.
Antonio continued. “I was listening to radio from Coahuila—XHRF.” XHRF, one of the original border blaster radio stations on the Mexican side of the border outside Laredo, was known for its traditional Mexican music and lack of political commentary.
“No power in Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, and Chihuahua. Transformadors explode. Power poles on fire. Oscuridad, all dark, everywhere.”
Preacher held the young man’s horse as Antonio dismounted. “San Diego and Tucson, too?”
“Si, Preacher. No power in America.”
Preacher handed the reins to the young man and pointed toward the fence rail next to the barn. Antonio led the horses away and tied them off where they could drink water for a moment.
“Major, did they hit us?”
“I think so, Preach. We were trying to watch Coop’s ride and the screen went blank. We found the British station. They think we were attacked.”
“EMP?” asked Preacher.
“Most likely,” said Major. “You guys need to saddle up again and bring everyone to the shelter. Miss Lucy’s getting it ready out back now. I’ll take the houses by the river and near the barnyard. Send Antonio out to the back forty. You’ve got the south side of the ranch.”
“We’re on it,” said Preacher as he turned toward Antonio and the horses.
Major added more instructions. “Tell everyone don’t pack much. Kids’ favorite toys. Grab only the clothing they can carry. If they have vehicles, and they’re still running, tell them to park them in front of the entry gates to the ranch. I want everyone back here within the hour!”
“Hah!” shouted Preacher as he dug his heels into his horse. “We’re on it, boss!”
Major stood in silence for a moment and gazed at the cold, clear sky. A meteor shower was providing a show as a comet, designated SW-3, made its appearance following its fracturing in 1995. He watched in awe as the comet’s debris painted a broad stripe of glowing pebbles and dust in the sky.
Living on a ranch in a desolate part of Texas, the night skies stood out in a brilliant illumination of stars, planets, and space debris. It was a peaceful experience.
With a chuckle, Major mused at the irony. Now the rest of the country, as it experienced total darkness, devoid of the constant barrage of artificial lighting from vehicles and buildings, would be able to view the beauty of SW-3 as it crossed the horizon. For them, however, there would be no peace—for years to come.
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Table of Contents
Dedications
Acknowledgements
About the Author, Bobby Akart
Foreword by Dr. Peter Vincent Pry
About Dr. Peter Vincent Pry
Epigraph
PART ONE
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
PART TWO
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
PART THREE
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
PART FOUR
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Excerpt from BEYOND BORDERS
Copyright Information