Sanctuary: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series)

by G. Michael Hopf

  The servant came in with another covered tray and placed it in front of her.

  Pablo removed the cover. There on the tray was her father’s head.

  “No! No!” she cried out.

  “You asked me for mercy weeks ago. I showed you and your father mercy. I took you into my bed. I trusted you and you stabbed me in the back. You betrayed me!”

  She began to crouch and tried to get up, but vertigo set in and she fell to the floor.

  “I drugged your wine. When you wake up in a few hours you’ll be down in my playroom. I don’t know what I’ll do with you. Maybe you’ll follow in Maria’s footsteps or maybe I’ll just trim parts off of you slowly. I don’t know yet.”

  She crawled on the floor toward the doors.

  “I have to admit, you had me fooled. You really did,” he said as he lay on the floor next to her so he could see her face. “So before you close your pretty little eyes let me tell you what’s going to happen to your country. I’m going to rape, pillage, burn, and destroy everywhere I go, and since you and your president thought it fun to fuck with me, I will go after him now.” He rolled onto his back and looked at the white popcorn-textured ceiling. “I sent a few people to go shoot him, but now that seems so . . . what’s the word? Blasé. No, I’m going to cross the mountains like Hannibal crossed the Alps. I’m going to take my army and march on Cheyenne. I’m going to burn that city to the ground and stick President Conner’s head on a spike.” He leaned over and kissed her quivering lips. “Now, go to sleep, sweetheart. I’ll see you soon.”

  Coos Bay, Oregon

  When the news of the massacre outside city hall trickled down to Gunny Smith, he couldn’t believe it. He had been with Colonel Barone for years. He didn’t always agree with some of his actions, but now this was too much for him. There had been grumbling and dissent brewing within the ranks from the first day Barone had ordered the mutiny. Most of that had disappeared when they arrived in Coos Bay. Many of the Marines and sailors had grown attached to the town and the people. They knew it was politically difficult for Barone to navigate the most recent objections from the mayor but to murder them all, to gun down men, women, and even children in the street was too much.

  “Lance Corporal Jones! Get your ass in here!”

  Jones came into the partially lit living room of the small house that served as the in-town barracks for Gunny’s sniper team.

  “Yes, Gunny.”

  “Go find the rest of the team, have them report here ASAP.”

  “That might be difficult; there’s a lot of chaos going on,” Jones lamented.

  “I don’t want to hear excuses, Lance Corporal!”

  “Yes, Gunny,” Jones said and turned around to leave.

  “Hold on, one second!” Gunny barked.

  Jones stopped abruptly and turned around. “Yes?”

  Gunny exhaled deeply, then asked, “What’s your opinion on all of this shit?”

  Jones looked surprised, then answered with a question. “You’re asking me for my opinion?”

  “Yes.”

  Jones looked apprehensive; he was afraid to speak his mind. The earlier events had created a tension even among the Marines. No one knew who to trust.

  Seeing this delay in answering, Gunny added, “I’m not going to repeat what you say to anyone, I’m not some type of Gestapo. You can freely speak what is on your mind here.”

  Sheepishly, Jones said, “Well, I think what the colonel did was wrong. I’m actually surprised he had Marines pull the trigger.”

  “I’m not surprised. You have to remember, in the end, we’re just people too. We’re not robots, we all have emotions and individual thoughts.”

  “Gunny, how do you feel about what happened today?”

  “Jones, things are going to get a lot worse around here. What the Colonel did today will not end today, he just made things worse. We have a choice, you have a choice, but before any of us go off and do something rash, I want to pull the team together. You all are my family and we should talk about this like a family.”

  Jones nodded, then left. As the door closed, Gunny relaxed into the large leather chair. He thought deeply about everything. When they had arrived in Coos Bay it felt like they were coming home. Now this peaceful and functioning city had been turned on its head. He couldn’t be a part of this new direction Barone was heading in, he just wasn’t sure what direction he should go in. He could just bite his tongue and keep his head down, but silence is nothing more than a voice of approval. Without a doubt a resistance movement would rise up, but for it to matter they would have to have the support of Marines. The question he then asked himself was, could he join that effort or would he and his team be better off outside? If they left, where would they go? The conversation he and Gordon had back in Klamath Falls then came to mind.

  “Idaho, maybe we’ll go to Idaho.”

  Eagle, Idaho

  “Gordon!” Eric exclaimed.

  Samantha turned around when she heard his name. She stood up and stared at her husband, frozen to the spot.

  “Sam!” he called out to her as he walked briskly toward her.

  “Oh my God, Gordon!” she cried out and ran into his arms.

  They both embraced and held each other for a long time. He smothered her with kisses and kept saying, “I love you, I love you, I love you.”

  “Why? Why didn’t you come back?”

  “I’m so sorry, baby. I’m so sorry I failed you, I failed all of you, especially Hunter,” he said, as tears started to flow.

  “I’m so mad at you. But I’m so happy you’re back,” she said, choking back tears.

  “Where’s Haley? Is she okay?”

  “She’s missed you so much, she’s been through a lot. She needs you.”

  Seneca looked up from Nelson’s side and yelled, “Hey, you two, Nelson needs attention!”

  Gordon and Samantha ran over to help out.

  Nelson opened his eyes and said, “Am I dead?”

  “No, buddy, you’re going to be okay,” Gordon said, holding his hand. “We gotta get him inside and get him treated!” They quickly loaded Nelson and Eric into the Humvee and took them to Lucy’s house.

  Hearing of the death of her husband was a shock, but Lucy kept herself composed enough to treat Nelson and Eric. Her prognosis for Eric was good, but she wasn’t sure Nelson would make it. She was able to remove the bullets from Nelson’s back but he had lost a lot of blood. Now it was a matter of waiting and seeing if he’d survive.

  Christopher, Cruz, and Wilbur offered to help but they found that they were more in the way than helpful. They exited the house for the Humvee. It provided a familiar place to sequester themselves while they waited for whatever came next.

  As they sat discussing their next move, Christopher managed to make contact with the command element at Mountain Home Air Force Base over the radio.

  Wilbur quickly took the radio from him, and after a back-and-forth with an officer, she detailed their situation. It appeared that Mountain Home was functioning, but greatly impaired. They would inform Cheyenne of Cruz’s location and situation, and radio back when they made contact. In the meantime, they were sending reinforcements to their coordinates.

  Wilbur tossed the handset aside with a deep feeling of satisfaction. It had been a long time since she had felt . . . hopeful.

  “Should we just head in that direction?” Christopher asked Wilbur.

  “Mr. Vice President?” Wilbur directed the question toward Cruz, who was relaxing in the backseat.

  “Let’s sit tight until we get word back from Cheyenne. I also think we owe it to Mr. Van Zandt to stick around in case we can be of help somewhere.”

  “Speak of the devil,” Christopher chuckled as the front door opened and Gordon stepped out.

  Gordon saw the three in the Humvee and nodded, acknowle
dging their presence. His shirt was stained red with blood. He looked at his hands. They too bore a deep stain from all the blood.

  Cruz exited the Humvee and walked up to Gordon.

  “Mr. Van Zandt.”

  “Yeah,” Gordon responded. He was looking at his clothes now.

  “We just made contact with Mountain Home. They are aware of our status and are contacting Cheyenne for further instructions.”

  “It just gets everywhere,” Gordon commented, his focus on his pants.

  “What’s that?” Cruz asked, looking confused.

  “The blood, it gets everywhere. Kinda like sand in a way.”

  “Ah, yeah,” Cruz answered him. “Mr. Van Zandt, I want to thank you for taking me as far as you did. I know the circumstances weren’t perfect but you did a good job, thank you,” Cruz said, putting out his hand.

  Gordon looked at him, then his hand. He then held up his bloodstained hands.

  “It’s okay,” Cruz said, his hand still hanging out there.

  Gordon took it firmly and shook it. “My pleasure, Mr. Vice President.”

  “Secretary Wilbur told me your story, at least a little bit.”

  “I don’t know if that’s a good thing or a bad thing,” Gordon joked.

  “For whatever it’s worth, we have a lot more in common than you think.”

  Gordon just started at him, not knowing what to say.

  “Both of us are doing what we think best to protect our families. I just believe that doing whatever we can to get this country back on its feet is the best way. I wish I could convince you of that,” Cruz said.

  Gordon looked at the now thin and weathered vice president. It was odd in so many ways that the Vice President of the United States was standing in front of him and having a conversation. He opened his mouth to speak but knew what he’d say wouldn’t add to the conversation and now was not the time to get into a discussion.

  Cruz waited for a response from Gordon but finally figured one wasn’t coming. “Let me know if we can help in any way, okay?” Cruz finished and turned around to go back to stand by the Humvee to await the troops.

  “Mr. Vice President,” Gordon called out.

  Cruz stopped and turned around.

  “There is something you can do for me.”

  Cruz stepped back up to Gordon and said, “What is that?”

  Gordon hesitated.

  “What is it?”

  “When you get back to Cheyenne can you make a call back to Coos Bay for me?”

  “Sure. That’s an easy request. Who am I calling?”

  “Her name is Brittany McCallister. I don’t know where she’s living, but Gunnery Sergeant Smith with STA platoon, Second Battalion, Fourth Marines, will know where to find her if you can’t. Tell her that I made it home.”

  “Is that it?”

  “Yeah, that’s it. Tell her that.”

  “Sure thing,” Cruz said and turned back around.

  Gordon watched him get back into the Humvee. He then looked at his bloody hands one more time. Seeing the blood on his hands took him back to that day in Fallujah after he had been pelted with shrapnel. He remembered looking at his bloody hands then and wondering if he’d make it out of there alive.

  “Daddy, Daddy!” Haley squealed out from behind him.

  The dark memories were washed away with the sweet sounds of Haley’s voice. He turned and saw his precious little daughter.

  “Daddy!” she screamed out and ran toward him.

  Tears welled up in his eyes when he saw her. He could feel the strength leave his legs as he fell to his knees and opened up his arms. “My baby girl! Come here!”

  She ran straight into his arms and hugged him tightly.

  Gordon couldn’t control his emotions and he began to cry loudly. “Oh, my baby girl, how I’ve missed you so much,” he whispered as he kissed her face and head.

  “Daddy, I’ve missed you so much!”

  “I’ve missed you too, honey.”

  “Why didn’t you come home sooner? I needed you!” she said, holding his face in her little hands.

  “I’m sorry, sweetie, but Daddy had to do something,” he said softly, the tears streaming down his face.

  She rubbed the healing wound on his face and said, “What happened, Daddy?”

  “Oh, I got cut, that’s all.”

  The mention of his face brought back memories of Hunter. He pulled her in close again and continued to cry.

  The door opened and Samantha stepped out to the emotional scene. She took a step but stopped herself. She wanted to go to them both, but she knew that Gordon and Haley needed this moment. Tears began to flow from her too as she watched them both hold one another.

  “Daddy, how did Hunter die?”

  The question shocked him, but it was an honest one and needed to be answered.

  Samantha heard the question and now took this uncomfortable moment to step in. “Haley, sweetie, it’s cold and you don’t have a jacket on.”

  “No, Sam, let me answer her question.”

  “Really?”

  “Please, she has a right to know,” Gordon implored.

  “I don’t think this is an appropriate topic,” Samantha scolded him.

  Ignoring her, he looked at Haley and said, “Haley, sweetheart, your big brother died bravely. He was strong.”

  “I miss him every day,” Haley whimpered, tears now coming to her eyes.

  “I miss him too,” Gordon said, and pulled her in close again. Just as he hugged her he reached out and grabbed Samantha’s hand.

  At first, she flinched from his touch. He reached again; this time she allowed it and knelt down.

  He looked at her and said, “I love you, Samantha, so much. I can never say I’m sorry enough for all the pain I’ve caused you.”

  She touched his face. His warm tears ran through her fingers. “I love you too, Gordon.”

  Cheyenne, Wyoming

  Dylan ran into Conner’s office unannounced.

  “Mr. President, good news!”

  “It better be with that kind of entrance.”

  “Vice President Cruz is alive and well. He’s in Boise, Idaho.”

  “Boise?”

  “I don’t know the specifics, but I just got off the phone with the governor of Idaho and they’ve sent troops to his location.”

  Conner interrupted Dylan and said, “I don’t care about the details, send a few helicopters to bring them back here. Go get them!”

  “I thought you’d say that, so I gave the order to Baxter. Helicopters are on the way, sir!” Dylan exclaimed, then left the room as fast as he had entered it.

  Conner swung around in his chair and stood up. He made a fist and raised it in the air. “Yes!”

  The news was very good indeed. Having Cruz back would be a big morale boost. He missed his old friend and was excited for the future. He knew together they could rebuild a future in Cheyenne.

  The one major obstacle was the PAE. But with Barone aligned, and additional ground combat elements close by, they could challenge Pablo and his mercenary army. But today wasn’t a time to think about those challenges. Today was a day to celebrate, and that is just what he intended to do. He jumped up, grabbed his coat, and headed out the door.

  He saw Dylan, who was dialing a number on the phone. He interrupted him and said, “When you’re finished with the call, meet me downstairs, let’s go celebrate. I hear Pat has a damn good Irish coffee!”

  With a smile from ear to ear, Dylan joyfully responded, “I’ll be right down, sir!”

  Conner walked into the hallway and again fist-pumped the air with excitement. After weeks and weeks of bad news, this was a bright spot. Cheyenne had so far proven to be a bold and successful move and now he’d have his friend and colleague back. He wasn’t optim
istic enough to think that more bad news wasn’t around the corner, but he decided to enjoy the brief respite that came his way today.

  Eagle, Idaho

  “What the hell happened here?” Sebastian gasped as he pulled up to the gates of Eagle’s Nest.

  “I don’t think we should go in,” Annaliese cautioned.

  “That last Gordon sign pointed to this place right here. I have to check it out. Slide over and get behind the wheel,” Sebastian said as he stepped out of the truck.

  Dead bodies were scattered everywhere.

  Sebastian walked by each one to make sure they weren’t Gordon or anyone else he knew.

  He moved a few out of the way so Annaliese could pull in without running over the corpses.

  Once in the neighborhood Sebastian jumped back in. “Let’s drive around.”

  The neighborhood seemed empty until they saw a small group of people huddled around a Humvee.

  “Over there, that looks promising,” he said as she pulled up to the house.

  Everyone around the Humvee stared at the truck as it pulled in. Gordon didn’t know who it was and was on alert. They didn’t think Truman’s group would be back, but they could never be sure. He kept his hand on his gun, just in case.

  Sebastian looked at Annaliese and said, “Stay here and keep the truck running.”

  Gordon’s grip on his pistol tightened as he saw the passenger door open. Wilbur too had her gun at the ready.

  When the door opened, Gordon couldn’t believe his eyes. There in front of him was his brother, Sebastian.

  “Sebastian?!” Gordon asked, elated. His eyes lit up.

  Sebastian squinted and noticed his brother. “Gordon!”

  “What the hell!” Gordon exclaimed.

  Cruz looked astonished at what seemed like an endless parade of reunions.

  Sebastian ran up and hugged his brother.

  “What are you doing here?” Gordon asked.

  “I was heading to McCall when I saw the signs.”

  “Same here! I saw the signs with my name on it.”

  “What do you mean?” Sebastian asked, confused by Gordon last comment.