Phoenix Rising:
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1. Be it hereby ratified that the above decree authorizing the subdivision of the State of Texas be enacted, with the provision authorizing involuntary servitude by election of the people of the state be excluded as an abhorrent anachronism.
2. That said division will be into a total of five States to be known as Texas One, Texas Two, Texas Three, Texas Four, and Texas Five.
3. That each State thus created be authorized two senators each, and that the total representatives of the states combined not exceed the thirty-two now authorized, the division of the representatives to be reached by mutual agreement among the new States herein created.
4. That the senators representing the four additional states of Texas be seated immediately and that the states of Texas One, Texas Two, Texas Three, Texas Four, and Texas Five, be immediately a participating part of the nation of United Free America.
Bob signed the bill with a flourish.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as the very first bill enacted by the new nation of United Free America, we have just added four new states,” he said.
The announcement was applauded by all who had gathered to witness his signature on the bill.
On the following day, by unanimous vote, South Carolina was brought in as well, and its senators and congressmen took their seats.
Their next act was to validate Robert Varney as President, his term to last for one year. Larry Wallace, current governor of South Carolina, resigned his gubernatorial office to accept the position of Vice President. A national election was set for the first Tuesday in November of the following year, twelve and a half months away.
Now, all that was left was the formal declaration of the new nation, and Bob Varney, at a joint session of Congress, called for the motion to be introduced.
“Mr. President, I move that this joint session of Congress enact the declaration of the new and fully independent nation of United Free America,” Senator Davis of Texas One said.
“I second the motion,” Congressman Billy Knowles of South Carolina said.
“It has been moved and seconded that this joint session of Congress declare into existence the independent nation of United Free America. All in favor, signify by saying aye.”
“AYE!” The response was deafening.
“Opposed?”
There were no votes in opposition.
“Honorable ladies and gentlemen of this gathering, by the authority you have placed in me, I declare that United Free America exists!”
The assembly hall burst into loud and prolonged cheers.
That night the President of the new nation of United Free America gave a dinner for Jake and the original settlers of Fort Morgan, as well as for Tom and Sheri Jack, Deon and Julie Pratt, Chris Carmack and Kathy York, and George Gregoire.
Jake stood and raised his root beer.
“Has it dawned upon anyone that we are starting a nation with thirteen states?” he asked.
“Yeah,” Bob said with a big smile. “I’d say that was a pretty good sign, wouldn’t you?”
“To America,” Jake said, holding out his glass.
“To America,” the others said as one.
It was not necessary to specify whether “America” mean United Free America, or the United States of America.
Everyone knew that it meant both.
PINNACLE BOOKS are published by
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Copyright © 2013 J. A. Johnstone
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without the prior written consent of the publisher, excepting brief quotes used in reviews.
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Following the death of William W. Johnstone, the Johnstone family is working with a carefully selected writer to organize and complete Mr. Johnstone’s outlines and many unfinished manuscripts to create additional novels in all of his series like The Last Gunfighter, Mountain Man, and Eagles, among others. This novel was inspired by Mr. Johnstone’s superb storytelling.
If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as “unsold and destroyed” to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment for this “stripped book.”
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
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ISBN: 978-0-7860-3061-3
First electronic edition: June 2013
ISBN-13: 978-0-7860-3060-6
ISBN-10: 0-7860-3060-7
Notes
1 Firebase Freedom
2 Phoenix Rising
3 Phoenix Rising