by Nathan Combs
Stone-faced, they nodded.
Stuart said, “I took the liberty of making two recordings of Wade’s speech. Take these.” He handed them each a tape recorder. “If you want, you can just play the speech for your people.”
When the reps left the ops center, Wade said, “Take care of business, Stu. Brief the patrols and guards who weren’t at the meeting. We’re going to Fort-T and break the news. We’ll be back day after tomorrow. Try to have the preponderance of the lists done by then. This is going to be a monumental task, and the sooner we start the better.”
Wade left, and Stu and the others began kicking theories and contingencies about, discussing the magnitude of the task before them. Hours later, Waslewski looked at the wall clock. “Damn guys, we lost track of time. I have to go.” O’Hara, too, took his leave and they headed for their villages. Stuart sat alone, pondering the future until dawn.
Fort Terminus basked in the cold sunshine of early summer as Wade stood on the plateau facing the population of Fort Hope the next morning. His eyes fell to the kids sitting on the ground before him, then moved over the crowd of expectant faces. He gave the same speech he’d given the night before at Fort Hope.
“So that’s where we’re at. None of us wants to abandon what we’ve built here, but there’s little choice. We’re not going empty-handed, though. We’ll take as much of Fort-T with us as we can. Tomorrow morning, Randal will have a list of those leaving in the first wave. Highlander, figure how much of the tech stuff we can dismantle and move, how best to do it, etcetera. Cole will have a specific list for everyone soon. For now, let’s get started on the gear that isn’t used regularly.”
Wade and Maggie went to their tent. She was teary-eyed and uncharacteristically clinging to Wade.
“Why does this frighten me, Wade?”
He knew she loved Fort-T and understood her emotion. “We built this, Maggie. It’s ours. Not gonna be easy to walk away. But let’s look at the bright side.”
“What is the bright side, Wade?”
“We’ll be warm, and Adam will have a better chance to see adulthood. In fact, let’s go prep him for the move. We’ll make it sound like an adventure.”
“I’m guessing it will be.”
Wade grinned. “Yeah. I have to head back to Fort Hope tomorrow. Let’s enjoy our time together, brief though it may be.”
Randal went over the move list with Wade, Bill, Chris, Maggie, and Cole the next morning.
“The first wave will include the entire populations of Zion and Gateway; and from here, four rangers, their wives and eight kids, Sean and Becky, and Linda and Bill. Bill will lead. They’ll take one third of our supplies and one third of the animals.” He focused his gaze on his father. “This is going to be very difficult, Dad.”
“He means it’s gonna be a bitch,” said Bill.
“Yeah. That’s an understatement.”
“Okay, then it’s gonna be a certified bitch.”
Cole asked, “What’s the difference between a bitch and a certified bitch?”
“Why do you have to ask stupid questions, Cole? A bitch is… a bitch. A certified bitch is a bitch with a piece of paper.”
Wade laughed along with the others. “Leave it to Bill to inject levity into any situation.”
“Damn right. You guys are way too fuckin’ serious.”
“All right, now that we know it’s gonna be a certified bitch, at least we have the time to put it together. Start working on the second and final wave lists, Randal. You and Cole will go in the second wave. I’ll button up both forts, and Stu and Chris and I will bring in the third.”
Bill said, “Randal, I want to take one Bradley, and maybe even one Hummer in case we run into Horst.”
“Of course. We’ll send the other Bradley in the second wave. Apparently, Stuart found three other Hummers. They’re bringing them up to snuff. Assuming they’re serviceable, we can send two Hummers in the second wave and keep the other three for the final push. Anything else?”
Bill shrugged his shoulders. “Just another day at the office, man.”
Wade said, “Okay. Mags, you’ve been quiet. Anything?”
“Maybe. Not sure, really, but I noticed something abnormal with the animals and I… It’s probably nothing, but… has anyone noticed the birds? The insects? The horses?”
Chris said, “What are you talking about?”
“Well, I’m not an expert on animals. You guys know more about them than I do, but you’ve been so wrapped up in defending us that perhaps you didn’t notice there are no birds around. I haven’t seen or heard one in weeks. And I haven’t seen one flying insect, either. And the coat of every domestic animal is much thicker.”
Bill pursed his lips. “Hmm. That is interesting, Maggie. Glad someone’s paying attention to the world around us. You’re right, we have been busy, but now that you mention it, I haven’t seen a bird for weeks either. Maybe longer.”
Randal said, “Hell of an observation, Maggie. I know it’s not scientific, but it’s a fact that animals sense things we don’t. As far as I’m concerned, that just put an exclamation point on the operation.”
At almost six months pregnant, Anna barely showed. She gained six pounds bringing her weight up to only one hundred twenty-one. According to Fort Hope’s doc, Robert McAlister, the baby was due in mid-September. After returning from her exam, she and Noah lounged on the couch, her head in Noah’s lap. He petted her hair and said, “What are we going to name our son?”
No response.
“Anna?”
Silence.
Gently sitting her up, he knelt on the floor and took her face in his hands. “It’s time you told me what’s bothering you.”
Her eyes filled with tears, then cascaded down her cheeks. Her face was tense, eyes never leaving his; she shook her head slowly from side to side.
“Anna, please. I’m really nervous here. Help me out. Whatever it is, we’ll face it together.”
Using his fingertips, he wiped the tears from her face. “I love you, Anna. You’re my wife, my life. We’re going to have a child. Tell me.”
Anna took a deep breath, blew it out, hesitated, and then blurted, “I think I know who I am.”
“Go on.”
Anna took another deep breath and held it. She exhaled heavily. “I think I’m Nina.”
Noah’s head snapped back. “What the hell are you talking about? Nina’s dead. You know that.”
“No, Noah. I don’t know that. And neither do they. Her body was never found. They think she—I’m dead.”
Noah was incredulous. He stood and, with hands on hips, said, “That’s total bullshit. What the hell makes you think you’re Nina?”
Wade and Stuart were going over the compiled Olympia lists when Tyler entered the room. “Sorry to interrupt, Wade, Stu. We have two new problems.”
Wade laughed. “I’d be dumfounded if we didn’t, Ty. What?”
Tyler shook his head and grimaced. “The Nirvana splinter group in Cleveland. They just attacked and shot one of the guys on southern patrol.”
“Who? Is he alive?”
“Yeah, he’ll be okay. Took a round to the left shoulder. Ronnie Smith, one of the original FPS guys.”
Wade’s eyes narrowed. “That’s one. What’s the other?”
“The Patriots want to be admitted into Olympia. Their leader, guy named John Olaffson, is cooling his jets in the cafeteria.”
Wade and Stuart exchanged looks and Wade said, “Tyler, Randal, and Bill are at the armory. Get them, please.” He turned to Stuart. “We aren’t going to mess around with these assholes, Stuart. You go see Olaffson. I’ll be along shortly.”
Randal and Bill walked in to find Wade staring out the window, hands clasped behind his back. “What’s up?” they
asked simultaneously.
Wade turned and filled them in on the attack on the southern patrol, then said, “Take a Bradley and two Hummers with you. Noah knows where they’re quartered. He can guide you. Handle it any way you see fit. I’m tired of dealing with killers and morons. Do what needs to be done. At a minimum, strip them of all weaponry except shotguns. I have to go see what’s going on with the Patriots. They want to join Olympia.”
Bill was incredulous. “How the hell can we incorporate another—what? Three thousand people into the move?”
“I don’t know, Bill. Let me see what they have to say. You take care of Nirvana. I’ll take care of the Patriots.”
An hour later, Randal, Bill, and twenty armed men headed for Cleveland.
John Olaffson was a big, blond-haired man of Norwegian lineage. He rose as Wade entered the cafeteria and offered his hand. “Hello, Captain. Thank you for seeing me.”
“I’m a little pressed for time, Mr. Olaffson. I understand you’re applying for admission into Olympia?”
“Yes, sir, I am. On behalf of the Patriots, I respectfully request we be allowed to become a part of your country.”
“It’s not a country. But I suppose for lack of a better word, it’ll do. Why should we consider your request?”
“Since your men visited us, we’ve completely turned it around. They were always good men. They just didn’t have a leader. As you can probably tell, I’m not from here. I’m from Norway. But I’ve lived here for twenty years. We have a functional council and people abide by the edicts we’ve set down. We’re ready to rejoin society, such as it is, and become an asset. We’ve eliminated every bad seed, hot-head, and untrustworthy individual.”
Wade raised his eyebrows.
“We didn’t kill them, Captain. We gave them supplies and expelled them. A total of eleven.”
“That’s all well and good, but how do I know your people can be trusted?”
“You don’t. But you could visit and see for yourself. They’re just people, Captain. They want to live and prosper. They want to be happy. Most of all, they want to survive. Personally, I think humanity can’t afford to be at odds. Safety in numbers and all.”
Wade didn’t respond immediately. When he did, he said, “You seem like an intelligent man, Mr. Olaffson, so I’m sure you know talk is cheap. Humanity is nearly extinct. I don’t intend to make a mistake that would hasten extinction. Stuart will go back with you. He’ll assess your society. After he returns, we’ll make a decision.”
A hundred yards from their objective, Noah led Bill to the roof of the Hobby Lobby, where they glassed the same area Noah had looked at not so long ago. They counted thirty-seven men and women.
Noah said, “That’s not all of them. Some of them might be out scavenging.”
Randal maneuvered the Bradley into position south of the encampment. Bill in one Hummer and Noah in the other took up positions to the northwest and northeast. Four snipers positioned themselves north of the field. Nirvana was surrounded.
From seventy-five yards distant, Randal keyed the mic on the Bradley’s PA system. “Nirvana. You are surrounded. I want to talk to you. I will meet your leader at the south end of the field in one minute.”
Activity was instantaneous. Nirvana soldiers ran for their horses. Randal shook his head, then told the chain gunner to put a burst over their heads.
Nine rounds from the Bradley’s 25mm cannon froze them in their tracks.
Randal keyed the mic again. “That was your only warning. I will meet your leader at the south end of the field. Now!”
The leader, a dumb ass named Joe, met with Randal and said his men weren’t responsible for the attack on the Fort Hope patrol. The ones responsible, six men and two women, split immediately after the attack. He had no idea where they went.
Randal said, “I don’t believe you, and I don’t care either. Here’s what’s gonna happen.”
When the meeting ended, the man walked back to his men, spoke briefly to them, and Randal watched stoically as they piled their weapons on the ground in front of the Bradley. The assault force moved in and searched the prisoners, then the camp. They rounded up Nirvana’s horses and placed the weapons in the Humvees.
Randal made a brief announcement. “Against my better judgment, I am going to allow you to live. We are taking all of your weapons except for shotguns. Your horses are confiscated too. If you assault others again, we will pursue you to the ends of the Earth and kill you. That is all.”
With the horses in tow, the patrol headed back to Fort Hope. What was left of Nirvana stared at the road long after the caravan disappeared from view.
Stuart briefed Wade upon returning from his two-day visit with the Patriots. “They’ve made significant progress, Wade. They’re a functional society and operate with the same set of rules and guidelines we do. Pretty impressive, actually.”
“So your recommendation is?”
“I recommend they become a part of Olympia.”
“Do they know we’re relocating to Florida?”
Stuart grinned. “No. I haven’t told them. Figured we’d dump that on them after you talk to them. Olaffson and Helen Favre are in the cafeteria; they came back with me.”
“We don’t have a lot of time, Stuart. If that’s your recommendation, then they’re in. But adding three thousand more people to the move is going to create a logistical nightmare. Let’s go see ’em.”
Helen Favre, Patriot council member, sat with John Olaffson at one of the many long tables in the cafeteria and watched expectantly as Wade entered and crossed the room. They stood, and Wade extended his hand. “Good to see you again, John.”
Turning to Helen Favre, he offered his hand and said, “I’m Wade Coltrane, acting president of Olympia. Please, call me Wade.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Captain. From what I understand, you’ve earned that title.”
“Sit down, please. I’ll make this brief. Stuart has endorsed the Patriots’ entrance into Olympia. Congratulations and welcome aboard.”
John and Helen smiled, exchanged relieved looks, and simultaneously said, “Thank you.”
“After you hear what I have to say, you may change your tune.”
Wade spent the next half hour detailing the move to Florida.
Helen said, “We’ve been concerned about the weather too. We don’t have a weather station, but you don’t have to be a climatologist to realize what’s happening. We came to the conclusion several weeks ago that we wouldn’t be able to harvest enough crops to feed ourselves this winter, and game, as you probably know, is getting harder and harder to find. What do you need us to do?”
“Stuart will go over the logistics with you. We’ll need a detailed list of your population and what you’re going to move, including animals, vehicles, etcetera, within two days.”
One week later, the lists from Olympia and the Patriots were combined. It was daunting. 2,916 men, 3,095 women, 720 kids, and 110 elderly. Total population to be moved: 6,841.
The move would make use of 109 pickups currently in the process of repair, as well as 61 motorcycles. From distant armories and bases, they scrounged up additional M928 cargo trucks, bringing their total to 47. There were 6 M-Gator ATVs and 3 R-11 refueling trucks. The refuelers, containing 12,000 gallons of diesel and 4,000 gallons of gasoline, were at the ORNL when the world collapsed, and the fuel was treated regularly. Gas and diesel would not be a concern. They also had 6 Humvees, 2 Bradleys, and a total of 891 horses. In addition to the people, they had to move 17 pigs, 9 cows, 71 goats, 236 chickens, 83 rabbits, and 8 dogs. They also had to take into account tents, weaponry, supplies, food, tools, hospital equipment, and other critical gear.
Stuart shook his head. “Jesus, Wade. Is this even possible?”
Wade grimaced. “It’s gonna b
e a challenge. The cargo trucks will have to make round trips. Initially, we decided to move Zion, Gateway, some of Fort Hope and Fort-T in the first wave. We’re going to have to adjust that now and include some Patriots. The second wave will include everyone at Fort Terminus, the remainder of the Patriots, and half of Fort Hope. After the second wave leaves, Fort-T will be buttoned up. Chris, Sara, Maggie, Adam, and I will move here. When the final wave departs, we’ll shut down the reactor and close Fort Hope.”
“Any changes in the itinerary?”
“No, the first wave’s leaving as soon as possible and the last wave not later than the middle of November.”
“Bill and Tyler are still going in the first wave?”
“Yeah. Randal and Cole in the second, and you, Chris, and I will close it out.”
Chapter Seventeen
Suspicions
“What makes me think I’m Nina? Trust me, Noah, the thought is excruciating.”
“Yeah. I can imagine. But I’ll ask the question again. What makes you think you’re Nina?”
The look of fear on her face caused his stomach to lurch. Her eyes were wide, then fluttered. She shuddered. “Oh God, Noah—when Captain Coltrane told us about Nina—about what happened, I… I—the name—Nina, it… caused visions to flash through my mind. Names. Places. Things.”
“Like what?”
“Like the name. Nina. I definitely remember that. And girls. Heather—and Olivia and… and some guy named Horst and one called Cougar. They’re vague. I can’t put faces to the names. No times. No locations. But… but… why else would I recall those names if I wasn’t her?”