Sweetness in the Dark

by W. B. Martin

  Chapter 39

  North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

  The Battle of San Francisco, as recorded, was as bloody and destructive as had been predicted. But the blood was mostly suffered on the Chinese side. With fixed defensive lines similar to the Russian Front in the 1940s, the Chinese were determined to extract as many American casualties as possible.

  Like World War II, Japan had attempted a similar strategy. Hopelessly cut off from any chance of resupply, the Japanese devised a defensive posture on their islands that would kill as many American troops as possible. Of course, all the Japanese troops had died in the process.

  But unlike the Japanese or the Russian defenders, neither had to deal with the A-10. While ground attack planes existed in World War II, none reached the level of lethality that was designed into the A-10. The ‘Warthog’, as it was affectionately called by its pilots, was a fearsome weapon against fixed targets.

  When General Ed Gale turned them loose on the Chinese lines, its 30 mm Gatling gun literally tore the Chinese apart. Without any air cover, the ‘Hogs’ were free to roam the skies looking for targets.

  After a week of air attacks by the ‘Hogs’, with supplemental bombing and rocket attacks delivered by other units of the Air Force, the Chinese defensive line was substantially reduced. While the American infantry still fought hard for ground, any resistance was immediately subdued by a call to the A-10s.

  Two weeks later, it was all over. The remaining Chinese troops surrendered and asked for asylum. The top Chinese officials committed suicide rather than face shame at having lost their foothold in North America.

  Few of the hostages were still alive, unfortunately. The ones that hadn’t succumbed to ill treatment, were machined-gunned by the Chinese in the closing hours of the battle.

  Of the original United States, only Guam and Hawaii remained under foreign control. But an expanded Maritime Exclusion Zone that covered both island groups was doing its job. Slow starvation on the islands set in and the occupying forces slowly succumbed. When word of the fierce fighting around San Francisco reached the islands, the local troops took their fate into their own hands.

  The Chinese Red Army rose up and fought for their lives. The Chinese High Command and Communist Commissars were all captured or killed by their own troops. Word soon reached the UAS Command of the surrender of both islands.

  Under protest, General Ed Gale had accompanied the victory fleet of Admiral Lanciani’s Carrier Battle Group to Honolulu for the formal surrender. On the way, word reached the fleet reminding them that hostilities with mainland China were still very active, as a Chinese nuclear submarine had recently been sunk.

  Paul and Amanda joined the Presidential entourage that flew to Hawaii after the security of the islands had been assured. They were meeting with representatives of New Zealand and Australia to decide the final disposition of forces still arrayed Down Under.

  “Prime Ministers, let me welcome you both to a free Hawaii. I hope your journey was satisfactory,” the UAS President said at the first meeting of the three leaders. The two Prime Ministers had traveled secretly by Australian frigate and had arrived two days before. It hadn’t been the most comfortable ship on the open seas and the President planned a safer and smoother trip back. A Los Angeles Class nuclear sub would be available as it returned to duty off the north coast of Australia.

  “Thank you, Mr. President. I know I can speak for my colleague from New Zealand in expressing our profound gratitude for what your country has provided to our two countries. It will be remembered, I can assure you,” the Aussie Prime Minister said.

  Mr. Muldoon, the New Zealand Prime Minister nodded in agreement. Then he added, “And congratulations on your country adopting a ‘gold standard’. That will set a new tone of financial responsibility for others around the world.”

  The President had worked hard for adoption of a ‘gold standard’. It had been a close vote but the Amendment to the Constitution had passed all three bodies.

  Now it was up to his allies to get the Amendment passed by three-fourths of the states and provinces. Amanda was personally making sure that the Texas admission to the UAS would be on hold until the Amendment’s approval.

  “Well, we need to lay out our strategy for sending your uninvited guests back home. I understand the embargo has been very effective,” the President said.

  “Quite. I know that the Chinese in Queensland have resorted to gleaning the local fields for food. I know they would love to attack south into New South Wales where we have more substantial food stocks, but our Aussie and your American troops have been itching for them to try. I’m afraid Western Australia is in a very tight way,” the Aussie Prime Minister offered.

  The Prime Minister of New Zealand interjected. “We have heard, rather quietly, that the Indonesians are looking for an out. They have contacted India to act as an intermediary to negotiate the withdrawal of their troops and settlers.”

  “And we have heard the same, sir,” the President said. “How should we handle it?”

  “I believe the Indonesians are hesitating to save face with their Chinese allies. If we can resolve the Australia issue, I think the ‘Indos’ will gladly scoot for home,” the New Zealand Prime Minister said.

  “Then I guess Australia and the Chinese are first,” General Gale spoke up. We’ll just have to hit them from the Indian Ocean direction so we don’t have trouble with our supply lines around New Zealand. That would make Western Australia the initial battle site.”

  The Australian Prime Minister agreed that Perth and vicinity had priority. Cut off from the rest of Australia by the Nullarbor Desert, the few Australian’s still clinging to a little bit of southwest Australia were in a very bad way. Liberating the Australian west coast first would relieve their situation and hopefully compromise China’s position in the northeast.

  The meeting discussed future connections among the three countries as well as current concerns. Amanda and Paul sat through the entire session, noting how the world continued to change. ‘The Pulse’ from the sun had set in motion a renewal of capitalism, but at a huge cost. Those people who had succumbed to the sun’s devastation would be memorialized in a new dynamic world economy based on many old ideas from the 19th century. But they had been tempered with newer experiences.

  After the formal meeting was over, Paul and Amanda settled into chairs at the poolside bar. The sound of the nearby waves crashing into the North Shore of Oahu reinvigorated them, though. With the warm night sea breeze blowing, they agreed that the night was still young.

  They quickly headed to their room. Donning swimsuits and grabbing their beach towels, they headed out to a secluded beach they had discovered the day before. Passing the security guards, they walked along the now empty darkened golf course. As they passed the hotel horse corral they spotted their beach access. They made their way through the heavy foliage that hid the beach from view.

  The fragrant flowers gave off a pungent aroma that reminded Paul of maple bars. The thought confirmed that he was hungry from the day’s work. But first, there was Amanda. She was already on the empty beach dropping her beach towel on the sand. He quickly followed, running into the warm water.

  Amanda swam up to Paul through the surf. With a leap, her body flew up past his face as she placed her hands on his shoulders and with all her strength, pushed him under.

  A wave caught them and crashed over, pushing them into the bottom. Both came up to the surface, sputtering. They embraced.

  “Hey, you’re all gritty,” Amanda said as she reached for him.

  Another wave pounded into them and again they were mashed into the sandy bottom. Again they reached the surface for air, spitting sand out of their mouths.

  As they played in the water, five figures walked onto the beach. In the limited light, Paul couldn’t tell who they were. Three dropped something on the beach and then raced towards where Paul and Amanda were swimming.

  When they swam closer, Paul realized it was the Pr
esident and his two Prime Minister guests.

  “Mr. President, what a surprise!” Paul exclaimed.

  “Paul, Amanda, enjoying the benefits of Hawaii, I see. After that Wyoming winter weather, this is heaven.”

  The two Prime Ministers swam up and greeted the couple. The Australian Prime Minister seemed to be in his element. Obviously a surfer before his election, Paul thought as the next wave carried the Australian off towards shore in perfect body-surf form. He quickly returned.

  “Bloody great. Feels like ages since I felt this good. Makes me want to just resign and get back to the beach,” he said.

  “Nice form, Mr. Prime Minister. Do a lot of surfing in your younger years?” Amanda asked, as she ducked under the next roller coming in.

  “Younger years? Bloody hell, I was surfing and chasing sheilas not that long ago. Then all of a sudden I’m elected to Parliament, married with three kids, and I land in the Prime Minister slot. It was like a bloody Holden Commodore going off a bloody cliff, it happened so fast.”

  “Hate to think we head back tomorrow,” Prime Minister Muldoon said, putting a damper on the fun.

  “But tonight is ours. At least we have one sheila here to liven things up. Care to do a little body-surfing?” the Aussie Prime Minister asked.

  “Love to. Come on Paul, Mr. President, join us?” Amanda asked.

  “Sounds great. Takes me back to my Navy days stationed at Pearl. We wrecked our backs body-surfing at Sandy Beach,” the President said.

  The next wave had four screaming surfers reaching out to catch a good ride. Only Amanda and the Aussie caught the curl. They were soon deposited on the beach as the wave ran them up on the sand.

  “Almost caught you, didn’t we?” the Aussie asked.

  “What? Caught us? I don’t understand?” Amanda sputtered. The other three men were still far out in the surf.

  The Australian Prime Minister continued. “A little together time at night in the ocean. Bloody wonderful if you ask me.”

  Amanda froze with dread. The Christian contingent of the new UAS was a very strong part of Congress. It would not do for two advisors of the President to be caught by the Australian Prime Minister.

  “No worries. Did it many times with the sheilas myself. How do you think I got three kids before I knew what had happened? I’d grab my wife and head to Bondi Beach in Sydney if I could get away with it now even. Nothing better for the soul than swimming on a warm night,” the Aussie offered.

  “Hey you two, you’re missing some good breakers,” the President said as he rode a large wave up to where they were sitting.

  “Let’s go, tonight never ends. You two can sleep on the plane tomorrow,” the Aussie offered.

  They body-surfed until the wee hours of the morning. The New Zealand Prime Minister gave up first, followed by the President. The way Amanda and the Aussie were going, Paul didn’t dare leave them alone. He rode wave after wave until his shriveled body parts screamed for mercy.

  Still the other two carried on. Finally Paul collapsed on the beach and waited for the final two surfers to succumb.

  Paul lay on the sand half asleep when a figure loomed over him. “Hey mate. I didn’t mean to take your sheila away from you. Sorry, but I haven’t done that in a bloody long time. I owe you one, mate. Always better with a good-looking sheila around. A few Fosters would have been nice. And mate, you have a nice-looking sheila.”

  “Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. She looked to be having fun herself out there,” Paul said.

  “Are both you guys giving up?” Amanda asked as she ran up the beach.

  “I’m crook myself. I get to return to Australia like ‘Spam in a can’. Submarines may be safer, but no much to look at in my mind. You two carry on. I think we interrupted something earlier,” the Prime Minister said with a wink as he headed up the beach for the hotel. Two of the security guards fell in behind him.

  “What did he mean by that?” Paul asked.

  Amanda watched the head of the Australian government disappear up the path through the brush. “Now, where were we?”

  Chapter 40

  Takapuna, North Island, New Zealand

  The three months following the New Zealand Prime Minister’s return from the meeting with the Americans had seen things change quickly. The Americans had conducted an amphibious landing in Western Australia a month earlier. With most of the old U.S. Navy now operational, the new UAS Navy mounted one of the longest sea invasions in history.

  Staging out of Newport News, Virginia, the fleet had sailed in six divisions south into the Indian Ocean. With three nuclear aircraft carriers and their supporting warships, a clear path to Perth was established.

  The 1st and 2nd Marine Division along with the two armored brigades from the UAS Army were inserted into Western Australia south of Perth. The force made quick work heading up the coast toward Darwin. Using the available sea access along the way, the Americans rolled up the Chinese forces.

  So complete was the retreat that one division was transferred to Sydney, where they assisted the existing Aussie and American forces in breaking out and attacking into Queensland. Just as in Hawaii, the Chinese troops took matters into their own hands. Killing their Communist Commissars and officers, they quickly surrendered and asked for asylum.

  In New Zealand the news of the Australian successes were met with hope that their plight would end also. Summer in the Southern Hemisphere wound down and the crops near Hamilton were ripening. Adequate food would finally be available and rationing of supplies started to be curtailed.

  Noel and Syd had enjoyed the summer manning the front lines in the Bombay Hills with their mates. But soon after the Prime Minister’s return, word reached the troops that an agreement had been reached between New Zealand and Indonesia.

  With the help of the Indian Navy, the ‘Indos’ were soon being repatriated back to their island nation. In fact, the last couple of weeks had been those of slowly advancing up the island as the ‘Indos’ retreated back towards Whangarei.

  As ships arrived, the lone New Zealand Navy ship would place an inspection party aboard to assure no war supplies were on board. Then the Indian ship would dock and load up with settlers and troops.

  Noel continued acting as liaison with Major Smith of the 24th American Infantry Division. Syd and his mates were assigned to support an American battalion as they slowly liberated the abandoned ground in front of them.

  “Noel, we will be heading out today and taking up positions north of Auckland,” the major said.

  The last week had been a tough one for Noel and his Kiwi mates. Leaving the Bombay Hills behind, the unit had advanced into Auckland proper. Or what was left of Auckland. Much had been destroyed in the chaos before the ‘Indos’ arrived. The fighting for the Bombay Hills had added more destruction.

  “Yes, Sir. What’s our objective today?” Noel asked.

  “A place called Takapuna. From the map it’s on the north shore of Hauraki Gulf. We’ll be transported across on boats as the other units use the Harbor Bridge. We land at Davenport. We’ll be marching from there. Our transport will catch up with us later.”

  “Yes, Sir,” Noel answered. He wasn’t familiar with Takapuna, but he knew the North Shore held some expensive homes. He wondered if they had been destroyed like the area south of the city.

  He soon found out as the first boats landed at Davenport. Everything looked normal except for a lack of any people. The locals were long gone and the invaders had retreated. Noel joined Syd as they started marching north. Major Smith caught up to them and informed them where the new boundary had been established between the Kiwis and the ‘Indos’.

  As they reached St. George Street in the center of Takapuna, Major Smith motioned that they should set up a defensive line. Syd looked for a good two-story building and a window in which to set the ‘beast’. While the ‘Indos’ seemed intent on going home, the Kiwis had been warned to be on the lookout for trouble.

  Many of the diehard Indonesian
s viewed dying in New Zealand preferable to returning home in disgrace. There had been a few incidents in other areas where ‘Indos’ had lashed out at the approaching Kiwis. Each side worked hard to maintain the truce so hostilities could end.

  Noel needed to know where the official demarcation line was as he approached Major Smith. The major was holding a meeting with his company commanders. Noel waited a short distance away for the meeting to break up. He noticed Syd and one of his mates in an open window above a panelbeater shop.

  A loud explosion tore through the assembled officers. Noel was blown backwards toward Syd’s position. As he flew through the air he saw Major Smith dropping into a heap. His company commanders were flying through the air in all directions.

  Noel landed with a thud on the pavement of a parking lot. The mailbox that had been sitting by the gathering lay next to him in a jagged heap. Smokey remains and bits of mail floating in the air indicated where a bomb had been placed.

  As the smoke cleared, Noel raised himself up on one arm and looked for injuries. Only some small wounds on his left side were bleeding. He felt and found no broken bones. He started to stand up to go check the others but the ringing in his ears distracted him until the buzz saw sound of a German MG42 machine gun opened up.

  Dropping instinctively to one knee, Noel looked and saw Syd open up with the ‘beast’. He quickly turned toward where Syd fired and saw three ‘Indos’ being hit. They tried to lift their AK-47s to finish the job on the Americans, but collapsed. They died as they hit the ground.

  “Major Smith,” Noel yelled when he reached his American charge. The major was badly injured and was losing blood fast. Noel pulled his first aid kit from his hip and grabbed the compresses. He stuffed them into the biggest wounds and stemmed the largest bleeders.

  A medic arrived quickly and triaged the group. Only Major Smith had survived the explosion. Noel, who had been standing away from the group, had been spared serious injury.