He looked over at the boy, who had a surprised look dawning on his face. Raven stepped away from the podium. Charlize took his place there and said, “You are a hero whether you want to be or not.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” Raven grabbed Creek’s leash to lead him back to his seat. For the first two seconds, they walked in silence, everyone staring at the American Indian man and his dog. And then, to his surprise, the audience broke into applause and stood. Even the woman with the fur coat rose to her feet and clapped.
Raven returned to his seat, heart pounding with pride.
“Good job, brother,” Sandra said. She placed a hand on his thigh and he couldn’t help but smile. The grin lasted for the rest of the award ceremony. When Secretary Montgomery finished handing out medals, her words took on a more serious tone as she spoke about the state of the country.
“It will take a long time for our country to recover, but one thing is certain. People like the heroes we have recognized today will help us get there. We have already had great success in bringing the power back on in several states. Our supply lines and distribution efforts are running smoother than ever. Our Survival Centers are operating at full capacity, but with the help of our NATO allies and the Chinese, our citizens are staying alive in desperate times. However, there are still threats out there.” She paused to look again at Raven.
“Domestic terrorists, gangs, and outlaws have taken advantage of suffering Americans, and while we have brought down Dan Fenix, there are more like him out there. On top of that, the North Korean threat persists. We have already taken out two terrorist cells in Chicago and Los Angeles.”
The Secretary of Defense stopped again to let the words sink in. Raven appreciated her candor with the crowd. They needed to hear this.
“I’m dedicated to preventing evil from planting roots and growing in our country. I will eliminate every Dan Fenix out there, with the help of men and women like Staff Sergeant Spears and Officer Hawks.” Secretary Montgomery looked over her shoulder to Albert, who walked forward with a pair of scissors.
“What does she mean?” Sandra asked Raven.
“I think she has something planned for me and Creek.”
Secretary Montgomery gestured toward the crowd. “If our honored guests would please join me.”
Raven led Creek back up to the ribbon, where everyone crowded behind Ty’s wheelchair. The boy held up the scissors and cut through the ribbon to the sound of applause.
“Today marks a new beginning for our country,” Secretary Montgomery said. “Today, our government has a home again.”
The clapping continued for several minutes. The glass doors to the One World Trade Center whisked open, and tour guides began instructing people to follow them into the building. While Sandra and Allie made their way toward Raven, the Secretary of Defense pulled him to the side.
“So, Staff Sergeant, how would you and Creek feel about hunting some Nazis and North Koreans?” she asked.
Creek looked up, his tail wagging.
Raven patted the dog’s head. “We thought you’d never ask, ma’am.”
—End of Book 4—
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Books by Nicholas Sansbury Smith
The Hell Divers Series (Offered by Blackstone Publishing)
Hell Divers
Hell Divers II: Ghosts
Hell Divers III: Deliverance
Hell Divers IV: Wolves
The Extinction Cycle Series (Offered by Orbit Books)
Extinction Horizon
Extinction Edge
Extinction Age
Extinction Evolution
Extinction End
Extinction Aftermath
Extinction Lost (A Team Ghost short story)
Extinction War
The Trackers Series
Trackers
Trackers 2: The Hunted
Trackers 3: The Storm
Trackers 4: The Damned
The Orbs Series
Solar Storms (An Orbs Prequel)
White Sands (An Orbs Prequel)
Red Sands (An Orbs Prequel)
Orbs
Orbs II: Stranded
Orbs III: Redemption
Orbs IV: Exodus
About the Author
Nicholas Sansbury Smith is the USA Today bestselling author of the Hell Divers series, the Orbs series, the Trackers series, and the Extinction Cycle series. He worked for Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management in disaster mitigation before switching careers to focus on his one true passion—writing. When he isn't writing or daydreaming about the apocalypse, he enjoys running, biking, spending time with his family, and traveling the world. He is an Ironman triathlete and lives in Iowa with his wife, their dogs, and a house full of books.
Trackers Omnibus [Books 1-4] Page 104