The Days of Noah, The Complete Box Set: A Novel of the End Times in America

by Mark Goodwin

  “Please share this message with everyone that you know and in every way you know how. This is Agent 355 signing off. God bless and Godspeed.”

  Cassie looked at Noah. “How was it?”

  Noah’s eyes were wide open. “Fantastic. I’m ready to fight the revolution!”

  Sarah smiled. “Very inspiring. I’m impressed.”

  “Thanks.” Cassie pulled the flash drive from the computer and handed it to Noah.

  “What’s the significance of Agent 355?” Sandy asked.

  Cassie laughed. “She was a female spy in the Culper Spy Ring. While quite a bit of speculating has been done over the years as to who she could have been, no one has ever determined her identity with any degree of certainty.”

  Noah stuck the flash drive in the chest pocket of his overalls. “We better get going. I’ll come back when I can.”

  Becky handed Sarah a bag. “I made you both a sandwich for the road. Tell David I love him and that Lynette misses him so much.”

  Noah put his hand on her shoulder. “I will.”

  Cassie gave Noah a big hug. “You better say bye to Lacy before you go.”

  “Okay. Sharon never came back to the cabin?”

  Cassie sighed. “I saw her walk back into the yard, but then she went off down the hill. I’m sure she’ll be okay after a while. She’s probably waiting until she sees you leave.”

  “I’ll be right back.” Noah walked upstairs to the girls’ room and stuck his head in the door. Lacy and Lynette were sitting on their beds. “Are you girls playing?”

  Lynette shook her head. “Just talking.”

  Noah offered her a warm smile. He knew she was worried about David. “Lacy, I’ll be back soon. And Lynette, I’ll try to bring your daddy with me next time. Alright?”

  Lynette nodded and forced a smile but said nothing.

  Lacy hopped down from the bed and hugged Noah. “Can’t you stay here tonight and go back in the morning?”

  Noah’s heart melted as he hugged his little girl. “I wish I could, sweetheart. But remember that I love you.”

  “I love you, too.” Lacy hugged him a while longer before releasing him to go on his way.

  Noah took a deep breath and said a silent prayer. God, please watch over Lacy and bring us back together soon.

  After a final goodbye to the others, Noah and Sarah left the cabin to complete their mission. Both were quiet as they walked back down the hill to the location where they’d left the truck. Noah retrieved one of the sandwiches from the bag Becky had given them. He held out the bag containing the remaining sandwich to Sarah. “Are you hungry?”

  Sarah took the bag, removed the sandwich, and took a bite. “Peanut butter. Simple, but so good.”

  Noah ate his sandwich as they walked, but stayed quiet. His heart was too heavy for small talk. He missed his family already, and he wished Isaiah was still alive.

  Once they arrived back at the truck, they got in and headed toward Sevierville. The first leg of the journey was uneventful and no one spoke.

  Just before they got back to town, Sarah broke the silence. “Slow down! Roadblock!”

  Noah hit the brakes. “Should we turn around?” His heart began pounding.

  “Too late. They’ve seen us by now. If they do anything more than a quick stop and a wave through, we’ll have to engage. If they start poking around, they’ll find that recording and we’re done for.”

  Noah’s mouth went dry. “What agency is that?”

  “I can’t tell. It sort of looks like the TSA insignia on the trucks.”

  Noah slowly proceeded toward the checkpoint. It was indeed TSA. Two trucks with white toppers and blue Transportation Security Administration insignias were parked in the road, creating a choke point. Two agents in khaki pants, tactical vests, and blue shirts were on each side of the choke point. All four agents were equipped with M-4 rifles, which were slung in front of their chests.

  Sarah’s voice showed her concern. “If we have to engage, we can’t leave any of them alive. Once they get on the radio, we’re finished.”

  “Okay.” Noah rolled his window down when they arrived at the TSA vehicles. “Hey, what’s going on?”

  The agent looked in Noah’s truck, looked Sarah over, and peered into the back seat. “We had a couple of fellows get out of police custody in Knoxville. We think they might have come this way. Can I see your ID?”

  Noah handed him his wallet.

  The agent opened it. “Deputy Parker. Are you off duty tonight?”

  Noah nodded.

  “Where you coming from?”

  “Visiting family.”

  “Can I see the lady’s ID?”

  Sarah smiled sweetly. “I left it in my purse. I wasn’t driving, so I didn’t think I’d need it.”

  “She’s my wife,” Noah said.

  “Mind pulling to the side and cutting the engine off so we can have a look in the truck?”

  “Sure.” Noah slowly pulled to the side of the road.

  Sarah pulled the Glock from behind her back and switched to the 33 round magazine. “They’re going to approach from your side. Wait for me to fire first. Empty your magazine first before you change to the high capacity magazine. You don’t have time to switch now.”

  Noah held the pistol in his left hand, low by the door, and cut the ignition with his right.

  The agent walked to the driver’s side. “Go ahead and step out of the vehicle.”

  Sarah pushed Noah back against the seat with her left hand and pointed the pistol at the agent with her right. The rapid fire of the Glock stunned Noah for a moment and he froze. The agent that had approached the door fell to the ground. The other three agents were just as stunned as Noah. Sarah rolled out of the passenger side and took a position by the rear bumper. Noah switched his gun to his right hand and began shooting at the agent closest to him. The automatic fire of the pistol emptied the 17-round magazine in a couple of seconds. Noah crawled across the seat, out of the passenger side, changed magazines, and met up with Sarah.

  She looked under the truck. “Two down, two to go. They’ve got too much distance on us now. We’ll never hit them with pistols. We need to get the rifles from under the back seat.”

  Noah nodded and opened the back door of the truck. He pulled the first rifle out and handed it to Sarah. Before he could get the second rifle, gunfire rang out from his right.

  Sarah returned fire. “Stay down; they’re flanking us.”

  Noah didn’t know what to do. Despite the ongoing gunfire, he continued to dig the other rifle out from under the back seat along with a magazine pouch attached to a length of paracord. He slung the cord over one shoulder and took aim toward his assailants. Noah began to fire alongside Sarah.

  “Lay down! Lay down! You’re going to get shot.” Sarah grabbed Noah by the arm and pulled him down on the ground next to her.

  Bullets whizzed over Noah’s head as he found his bearings and took aim from his prone position. He emptied the magazine in the general direction of the agents. He could see the flash from the muzzles of their guns, but he couldn’t get a good lock on his targets.

  Sarah continued to shoot. “Three down.”

  Noah changed magazines. “One to go!”

  Gunfire continued back and forth from both sides for several more seconds. Soon the other side fell silent.

  “Did we get him?” Noah paused for a moment.

  Sarah quit shooting as well. “Change your magazine just in case, but I think I hit him.”

  Noah switched his magazine and waited.

  Sarah came up to one knee and continued to scan the area. “Follow my lead.”

  Noah also came up to one knee and kept his check on the stock of the rifle. “Okay.”

  Sarah slowly stood and crouched low with her rifle aimed. Noah trailed close behind.

  Sarah approached the first body and shot him twice in the head.

  Noah turned away in horror. “Is that necessary?”

  �
��All it takes is one radio transmission and the mission fails.” Sarah continued to the next body and put two more rounds in his head as well. She continued to the first two agents and shot them in a like manner.

  “Let’s roll out. Reload your pistol. We have to put the rifles back under the seat in case we run into more trouble.” Sarah fired off the instructions.

  Noah forced his mind to keep processing the information and following the commands in spite of the fact that he just wanted to sit down and do nothing.

  He got back in the truck and started the engine. The experience had been unreal. The dislocation from reality was amplified by the lack of sleep and waning buzz of caffeine.

  Sarah grabbed the spent magazines from around the truck, stuck them under the seat, jumped, and closed her door. “Let’s go!”

  Noah hit the gas and sped off.

  Sarah pulled a paper towel out of the glove box. “You’ve got a little blood splattered on your cheek. Will it bother you if I try to wipe it off while you drive?”

  Noah couldn’t think clearly at all. “Blood? My blood?’’

  “No. It’s from the guard that I shot through the driver’s side window.”

  “Oh, yeah. Go ahead.”

  Sarah wiped his face as Noah tried to keep his eyes on the road. “Okay, you’re good.”

  About a mile down the road, Noah’s adrenaline kicked back in and his heart began to pound, yet again. “My wallet!”

  Sarah winced. “We have to go back. He stuck it in his vest pocket.”

  “What if they called it in while we were shooting?”

  “We still have to go back.”

  Noah slowed down just enough to pull a U-turn.

  Sarah held on to the handle above the door as the truck swung around. “I doubt they got a call out over the radio. In a firefight, you have to choose between shooting and getting on the radio. Most people who enjoy breathing will choose to shoot.”

  They were soon back at the gruesome scene of the skirmish. Sarah bailed out and retrieved Noah’s wallet from the vest pocket of the first fatality. She jumped back in the truck and closed the door. “Got it!”

  Noah sped off. He glanced over at Sarah, who was wiping a copious amount of blood off of the wallet. “Looks like you need more paper towels.”

  “Yeah. A whole roll. Would you mind if I took out your stuff and tossed the wallet? I don’t think you’ll ever get it cleaned up anyway.”

  “Sure, go ahead.”

  Sarah tossed Noah’s ID, badge, and other personal effects in the floorboard, then rolled the window down and threw out the wallet along with the paper towel. She rolled the window back up. “We’re almost home. Doesn’t look like we’re being followed. I think we made it.”

  “Yeah, thank God!”

  Noah maintained a steady speed for the rest of the trip. He was relieved when he turned onto David’s road. When they arrived, Kevin and Jim met them at the door.

  Kevin ran to Sarah’s side of the truck. “Are you alright?”

  “I’m fine. Why are you so excited?” she asked.

  Kevin hugged her then pushed her back to look her over. “There are bullet holes all up and down the side of the truck! What happened out there?”

  Noah examined the side of the truck. There were, indeed, several perforations along the driver’s side. “Wow, I guess we never took the time to look. We hit a checkpoint.”

  “DHS?” Jim asked.

  Noah nodded. “TSA, more specifically.”

  “Did you take them all out?” Kevin asked.

  Sarah retrieved her rifle out of the back seat. “Yeah, went back around and double tapped each of the aggressors to be certain.”

  Kevin took Sarah’s rifle so she could collect the rest of the magazines. “Good work. Did any of them get a call out before they expired?”

  “I don’t think so,” she answered.

  Noah looked around. “Where is everyone else?”

  “Sleeping.” Jim looked over his shoulder at the house. “We took first watch. You two get cleaned up and hit the racks. Elliot and Benny are going to take next watch.”

  “Thanks.” Noah finished stuffing the loose magazines in his overall pockets, slung the rifle over his shoulder, and closed the door of the truck.

  Kevin held the door open for Noah and Sarah. “How many were there?”

  Sarah walked into the house behind Noah. “Four.”

  Jim trailed in behind everyone else. “Sounds like they were a little light on resources if they only had four people manning a checkpoint that was supposed to be looking for so many people.”

  Noah sat his rifle in the corner. “They weren’t the best-trained individuals either.”

  “TSA? Not well trained? Imagine that!” Kevin faked a look of stupidity.

  Sarah didn’t laugh at the joke. “What they lacked in training, they made up for in hardware. And one lucky shot from a poorly-trained, well-armed hostile is all it takes to ruin your whole day.”

  Kevin pulled her close for another hug. “I’m glad you made it out of there.”

  Sarah embraced him with both arms and put her head on his shoulder. “Me, too.”

  David limped into the living room with eyes half opened. “Did you get it?”

  Noah pulled the flash drive out of his bib pocket. “Mission accomplished.”

  David took the flash drive and slowly lowered himself into the recliner. “Great. Jim, can you go wake Benny up? I’d like him to get this out as soon as possible. We have to treat every second like it’s our last. If we get hit, the recording won’t do us or the cause any good if it hasn’t been disseminated.”

  “Be right back.” Jim left the room to go wake Benny.

  Noah hated what was implied by David’s statement. “But if no one has been by so far, it’s likely that they don’t have a lead on us, right?”

  David shrugged. “We don’t know which of the other cells could have been apprehended. If any of the others were caught, who knows what they’ll say under torture. Sorry, I wish I could give you a better answer. Looks like you two had a rough trip.”

  Noah looked down at the dirt all over the front of his overalls from lying prone. “We made it.”

  “Good, you can tell me all about it after you get some rest.”

  Noah nodded and headed toward the bathroom for a quick shower. He was glad he didn’t have to recount the event for David right now. Noah was sure the others would give him the CliffsNotes on the event. After the shower, Noah lay down in the spare bedroom. Despite the worries of being hit again, Noah was dead to the world as soon as his head hit the pillow. His body desperately needed the rest.

  CHAPTER 4

  Reason obeys itself; and ignorance submits to whatever is dictated to it.

  Thomas Paine

  Everett lay on top of the mattress in the loft of the cabin after lunch on Sunday and listened to the rain falling on top of the metal roof. The late autumn shower had slowed to a drizzle, which played a hypnotic rhythm as it hit the metal. Courtney lay on the side of the bed with her eyes closed. Neither of them had said anything while the heavy rain beat outside.

  Everett whispered, “Are you asleep?”

  “No,” she said softly.

  “Are you okay?” He put his hand on her arm.

  “Yeah. I’m just relaxing. We’ve been going full-steam-ahead ever since the collapse. The rain makes me feel a little sad, but I need to lay around and recharge for a day. I’m glad that it’s raining.”

  Everett sat up on the bed. “We might get a lot of days like this in the winter. I bet they get some heavy snows up here in the mountains.”

  She rolled over to face him. “I’ll get stir crazy if I’m stuck in here for too long. I’ll go hunting in the snow, just to get outside. I don’t care how cold it gets.”

  “And we’ll have wood to chop. We won’t be stuck inside all the time.”

  Courtney sighed. “I hope this is all over by Christmas. I’ll really miss not being with my fa
mily for the holidays.”

  Christmas with the family didn’t give Everett the same warm fuzzies that most folks got. “Just another day.”

  “How can you say that? Didn’t you open presents and eat cookies and watch cartoons at Christmas as a kid?”

  Everett huffed. “My parents split when I was little. The first two Christmases were competitions to get me to pick who I’d spend Christmas Day with. After they remarried and started new families, I felt more like the lump of coal in the stocking that neither parent wanted.”

  Courtney sat up and put her arms around him. “Well, this year, you’ll have Christmas with me, and we’ll start our own tradition!”

  Everett put his hand on hers. “Okay.” Holidays had left a bad taste in his mouth, but he was willing to give it another shot with Courtney.

  Everett picked up the small radio that sat atop the five-gallon food storage bucket he used as a night stand. “Let’s see what the evil geniuses are doing to fix the global economy.”

  “Or what they’re not doing. If Jones was right, they’ll let it continue to melt down until they’ve reduced the population.” Courtney pulled the comforter over her shoulders and nestled up to Everett.

  He scanned the stations until he found an AM station playing a news program.

  “Those who were able to escape the city by any means necessary have given grotesque accounts of the situation in New York City and the surrounding boroughs. Only the most courageous of journalists would attempt to go in to Manhattan after the attacks three weeks ago. Those who would have dared to brave the riots and looters feared the radiation, which was blown down by the wind from the Indian Point reactor. Without power or communications, these first-hand accounts of survivors are our best source of information.

  “A Manhattan man that just left the city this week told his story to a newspaper in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Alex Doyle, who worked in the financial services sector on Wall Street, is a former Marine and avid cyclist. He made the nearly two hundred-mile journey from New York City to Harrisburg on his bicycle. He had to use paper maps to navigate the back roads since his phone had not been recharged since the attacks. Doyle stated that he’d stayed in his Lower East Side apartment, thinking that power would be restored or that FEMA would bring in generators and relief supplies. Like many others in the city, Doyle lost hope in the Federal Government’s ability to assist in the crisis and made the decision to venture out of the city to his aunt’s home in Harrisburg.