“That’s true from a certain point of view, but these are not ordinary times,” Perry said. “You couldn’t have predicted all of this.”
“After last night’s meeting another council member approached me and said they would be interested in the chairmanship if I stepped back.”
“Who was it?”
“Drew.”
“Oh, hell no!”
“Well now, how do you really feel?” Joshua chuckled. Perry NEVER uses profanity! “I have a feeling others will have the same reaction.”
“I would vote for ANY of the other council members over him,” Perry said. “Even Bob… sometimes he scares me, but I’d take him over Drew.”
“I have a feeling Bob will say the same thing,” Joshua said. “And given that he was able to talk Ruth into running against Drew, I think she might go along with him.”
“Joshua, it has to be you. I’m not cut out for the job, and neither is anyone else on this council. You brought us here. You are a natural leader. The people here trust you. They are here because of you.”
Joshua’s brow furrowed. “I see where you’re coming from, but I’m not so sure about that trust thing.”
“Seriously?” Perry blurted out. “What in the world are you talking about? Of course they trust you!”
“Well, Bob accused me of tipping off Drew and Thomas about his plan, which I didn’t, and then Drew was upset that I knew about Bob’s plan and didn’t tip him off.”
“Well, the fact that both Bob and Drew were upset probably proves that you did the right thing. That’s why it must be you.”
“We’ll see. I’m not going to make an immediate decision.”
“It’s amazing that we’re even here talking about this,” Perry reflected. “A year ago we were at your farmhouse getting ready to watch the State of the Union, with so much hope for a new direction under President Wagner. So much has changed so quickly.”
The conversation was interrupted by a strong tug on Perry’s fishing pole. He hauled in a big trout. “This will make a nice meal!”
A couple of hours later they made their way back to shore as the sun overcame the darkness and pierced the dense fog that hovered over the lake. Reagan lay flat in the bottom of the canoe, shielding himself from the cold wind.
Joshua felt his shoulders clench up when Rebecca opened the door. Her eyes were red and tears were running down her cheeks. “What’s wrong?” he asked.
“Something terrible has happened,” she answered morbidly.
Caroline emerged from behind the door, tears streaming down her cheeks.
“What’s wrong?” Perry pressed.
“I don’t even know where to begin,” Rebecca stammered.
“Rebecca, what’s WRONG?” Joshua stepped toward her.
“Nothing, we’re just cutting some very potent onions,” she said with a laugh. “But we had you going for a minute.”
Joshua looked at her and then Perry, rolling his eyes. “That you did,” he said with a forced chuckle. “You scared me to death. I owe you one.”
Joshua spread the morning’s catch out on a tray beside the sink. Three trout, one very large catfish and several bass.
***
Joshua approached Bob, who was cleaning some squirrels in the woods near the lake.
“Bob, I wanted to talk with you about the council,” Joshua said. “As I’ve told you before, my main goal in life for the past couple of years has been to spend more time with my wife. Even though something like being the chairman of our council is nowhere near as time consuming as serving in the legislature, it’s still a burden. That’s why I said last night that I would be willing to step back from the chair position.”
“What are your plans?” Bob puffed on his cigar.
“I’m not sure yet. I did have someone express interest in serving as chair if I step back, and I know exactly how you’ll react when I tell you who it is.”
“Then it must be that Thompson boy,” Bob interjected.
“Yep.”
“Over my dead body,” Bob said. “I will seek the chairmanship myself before I will allow that weasel to have it.”
“I had a feeling you’d say something along those lines.”
They stood in silence as Bob continued cleaning the squirrels. After a few minutes Bob broke the silence. “I hope you will serve again, Joshua.”
“Does that mean you’d support me if I decide to do so?”
“Affirmative.”
***
Later that morning Joshua went out to make his rounds. It had been his practice to visit every residence in the camp nearly every day since they had moved here, if only for a moment or two. As the leader he felt it was important to stay connected with everyone, yet it felt burdensome on occasion. Today he felt it was particularly important given the newfound tensions within the camp.
His first stop was John and Ruth’s new cabin, the only one that had been built since they arrived. Their cabin was smaller than Joshua’s. It had one bedroom, a second room that John used as a study, a kitchen, one bathroom and a small living area. The exterior was dark brown wood, similar to Joshua’s cabin.
Joshua shared his thoughts with them as he had done with Perry and Bob. Ruth’s reaction was similar: she would not vote for Drew, but encouraged Joshua to serve another year. Eventually he made his way up the mountain to Thomas’ cabin. Thomas was outside repairing the fencing on his chicken coop.
“Hey man, what’s up?” Thomas twisted the toothpick between his lips as he greeted Joshua.
“Just making the rounds,” Joshua said. “Pretty good morning fishing. Three trout, one big catfish, and several bass.”
“That’s cool, man. Let me know when you’re having the fish fry,” Thomas said. “Sure was an interesting meeting last night.”
“That it was. I don’t like the tension and infighting we saw.”
“Man, that’s why I love having my cabin up here, away from everybody. Don’t need the drama. That Bob fella sure does have it in for Drew.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Joshua said. “This kind of stuff is why I wouldn’t mind stepping away as chairman. That drama does get to be a headache.”
“Do it, man,” Thomas said. “Just live your life. Heck, I’m not even sure we need all this structure anyway.”
“I do think we need some structure. None of us were prepared to have to live like this. But I agree with you that we don’t need too much.”
“Man, I think they would find a way to make it work if you stepped back. People will find a way to get by. Take some time and try to enjoy your life.”
“Drew said he’d be interested in taking over as chair if I step down.”
“I think he’d do great, man,” Thomas said. “I’d vote for him if I was still on council.”
“I’ve talked with the other council members and he just doesn’t have the votes,” Joshua explained. “They all say they will vote for someone other than him, and Bob said he would run before he would let Drew have it.”
“Man, that’s a shame. Drew’s a good guy. I like him a lot. And that Bob guy scares me. I don’t want him in charge of any more of my property than he already is.”
“I had a feeling you’d say that. And most of it is still your property.”
“Why don’t people like Drew?”
“Well, I personally like him, but I have to admit there are moments I don’t trust him,” Joshua said. “He is so secretive, and the fact that he disappears, won’t tell anyone where he’s going and refuses to follow any of our security protocols worries me. Bob just doesn’t like him, and I think that with some of the others it’s a trust issue. He just hasn’t connected with people.”
“Man, that’s a shame,” Thomas said, shaking his head. “They should try to get to know him. He’s a good fellow.”
***
Jim was Joshua’s fishing partner the next morning. He had been a mentor to Joshua even before they made the trip to the mountain camp, and Joshua neede
d his insight now more than ever. Reagan wagged his tail and pawed at Jim’s knee, paying more attention to him than Joshua.
“It is beautiful out here,” Jim observed. “Great place to get away.”
“I love this time of day,” Joshua agreed. “It’s quiet and peaceful, and you are right, it’s a beautiful corner of God’s creation.”
“So what’s on your mind? You said you wanted to talk.”
“I’d like your take on how things are going in the camp and what I should do.”
Joshua described his concern about the recent infighting in the camp and the reactions he had received from others. “In a nutshell, Bob said he’d run for chair before he’d let Drew have it. I think he’d have the votes to win. But Thomas was pretty emphatic that he doesn’t want Bob to have any more control over his land than he already has. I just don’t like where this is headed.”
“What are your reasons for not wanting to serve as chair again?” Jim prodded.
Joshua outlined the same reasoning he had shared with Perry.
“I can understand that, and I had a feeling that’s what you’d say,” Jim said. “But this is a different time. We live in a different world than the one in which you made plans to step back from leadership roles. Don’t forget that you are the person who organized this group and led us all here. I believe God put you here, and we’re better off for it.”
Joshua shook his head and looked down. “I’m just tired.”
“Then you need to make more time for yourself,” Jim admonished. “Don’t push yourself so hard. Don’t stress yourself out over everything, especially things you can’t control.” Jim paused and leaned forward, scratching Reagan’s ears. “But you need to take more time for yourself within the context of being our leader.”
“Easier said than done. A big part of me feels like the only way I’ll be able to do that is to step away from the chairmanship. I wanted to bring everyone here to give us a chance to survive, but I didn’t sign up for all of this drama or to babysit people. It’s just frustrating.”
“I understand that sentiment,” Jim said. “But you have to remember that almost everyone in the camp came here with the assumption that you would be the leader. That’s one of the reasons they came. Heck, it’s one of the reasons I came. And, to be honest, if you step back as chair now you’ll probably have to step back in later to clean up the mess.”
Joshua sighed and nodded. “That’s probably true.”
“Only you can decide what you have to do,” Jim said. “Talk it over with Rebecca, pray about it and you’ll know what the right move is. Speaking of Rebecca, what does she think?”
Joshua chuckled sarcastically. “Well, she was a bit perturbed that I announced that I was thinking about stepping back before I mentioned it to her.”
Jim smirked and shook his head. “Didn’t you learn anything in our pre-marital counseling sessions?”
“Apparently not.”
“Well, if you do stay on, spend some time developing other leaders to help carry the load. And set some personal boundaries to make sure you take care of yourself.”
“I’m worried that we’ll keep having internal bickering no matter what I decide,” Joshua lamented. “Bob and Drew are both council members, and they just flat despise each other.”
“You can’t control them,” Jim said. “But what you just said should factor into your thinking about whether you should be the chair instead of either one of them.”
"Good points, as always,” Joshua said. “I appreciate your advice and insight. I’ll talk with Rebecca and we’ll pray about it.”
***
Benjamin Leibowitz sat alone in one of the soft leather chairs at the oak conference table. A Presidential seal adorned the wall behind the high-back chair at the head of the table and an American flag stood at its right. Several pictures of President Armando dominated the wall space.
Benjamin pondered the past year’s turn of events. Things had played out quite differently than he envisioned when joining President Wagner’s administration a year earlier. One of his first assignments had been to accompany the designated survivor, then Secretary of Homeland Security Nelson Armando, on the night of President Wagner’s first State of the Union address. That’s the only reason I’m alive today, he thought. If I had been given a different assignment, I would’ve been killed in the attack on Washington. With Armando’s ascension to the presidency, Benjamin’s entry-level job had transformed into a de facto cabinet position in the new president’s administration.
“Good morning, Benjamin.” Anthony Russo, who spoke with a thick New York accent, was the second to arrive. Anthony, a top Homeland Security staffer, was a holdover from the previous administration. He was followed by Richard Webb, an aide to President Wagner who had been named the White House Liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. Others filed in until all but three of the twenty seats were full.
Everyone rose as President Armando entered the room, flanked by four Secret Service agents and his two top lieutenants, Abdar Al-Haziz and Adilah Hassan. Benjamin felt a spark of anger flow through him at the mere sight of Abdar and Adilah. He gripped his pen tightly, hoping to conceal his disdain for them. Armando seated himself at the head of the table. Abdar and Adilah took seats on either side of him and the Secret Service Agents stood behind him.
“Take your seats,” Armando said in his heavy New York accent. “We have a lot to cover. What’s first on the list?”
Abdar spoke with a strong middle-eastern accent. “We are monitoring communications and identifying people supportive of the governors who have challenged our security efforts.”
“What about the rogue general in North Carolina?” Armando asked.
“Major General Cloos.” Abdar nodded. “Our top commanders have told him to stand down.” Benjamin clenched his teeth as Abdar spoke.
“Mr. President,” Richard interjected. “Forgive me, but what has Major General Cloos done that deserves a reprimand?”
“He disobeyed a direct order to stand down,” Abdar retorted.
“You mean he was ordered to leave American citizens defenseless and let the terrorists in Morehead City have their way?” Richard asked.
“The bottom line is that he disobeyed a direct order,” Abdar said. “We cannot and will not tolerate this type of insubordination.” Benjamin tightly clenched his fist below the conference table.
“Mr. President, I am greatly concerned,” Richard said. “Some in this administration seem to place a greater priority on controlling American citizens than protecting them from terrorists.”
“I resent the implication!” Abdar slammed his fist on the table. Benjamin briefly made eye contact with Anthony, who was watching the back-and-forth with his eyebrow cocked.
“Then prove me wrong!” Richard raised his voice. “AIS controls large chunks of land in the northeast and this government has made no visible move to confront them. On top of that we are actually discussing reprimanding an officer who took action against the terrorist invaders. Unbelievable!”
Abdar shot up out of his seat and waved his fist. “Major General Cloos disobeyed a direct order!”
“An order that should never have been--”
“That’s enough for today,” Armando interrupted. “This meeting is adjourned. We will reconvene tomorrow.”
Armando left the room. Abdar stormed out behind him, glaring at Richard as he exited, followed by Adilah. Richard slammed his binder into his briefcase and stomped out. I guess I’m not the only one who sees Abdar for what he is, Benjamin thought as he walked out with Anthony.
“That was interesting,” Anthony whispered. “Richard raises some good points.”
Benjamin was non-committal. “His comments were certainly thought-provoking.”
“I hope he can get the President’s ear,” Anthony added.
“We shall see.” Benjamin nodded, looked at his watch and quickly walked away.
***
AIS has launched an atta
ck in western North Carolina.
Joshua and Rebecca immediately stopped what they were doing, fixated on the television.
AIS militants have surfaced in the North Carolina mountain town of Asheville. The terrorists have claimed control of much of the city’s downtown area where they seized a church, beheaded the pastor and hung his head on a fencepost in front of the church. The AIS flag now flies over the church and the city hall. White-hot rage coursed through Joshua’s veins like bubbling magma. The anchor continued: These terrorists are relentless and seem determined to show that they can attack anywhere. Numerous vehicles filled with AIS militants were seen leaving Asheville today.
“That’s too close to home.” Joshua shook his head.
“Asheville is still close to 100 miles away,” Rebecca reassured him.
“Still way too close to home,” Joshua frowned.
The anchor continued: Meanwhile, President Armando seems more focused on exerting control over states that are bucking federal authority than defending America against the AIS militants. The president has made no effort to reconstitute Congress, which was decimated by last year’s attack on the State of the Union. President Armando’s tactics, combined with his ongoing use of Homeland Security police and military personnel in American streets, continue to draw strong rebukes from a number of governors.
The screen broke away to a shot of several governors standing together at an undisclosed location. The Governor of Texas was speaking, flanked by governors from South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Montana, Ohio, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
As we have said individually on multiple occasions, we do not recognize the right of so-called Homeland Security police to patrol and control streets in our states, the Texas Governor said. Now, we stand TOGETHER, united, to make that same statement in an unmistakable way. We do not recognize Nelson Armando’s rogue regime. Armando is blatantly ignoring our Constitution and appears bent on manipulating this crisis to turn America into his own dictatorship. Nelson Armando – I will not call him ‘President’ -- has made no effort to reconstitute Congress, and he seems more focused on fighting fellow Americans than fighting the terrorists who did this to us. Make no mistake. We will not stand idly by and allow these agents to oppress our citizens. Our National Guard and local law enforcement stand ready to defend the people of our states. Every governor here has committed to pardon any citizen in our states who is accused of a crime for defending his or her freedom – or that of his neighbors – against this federal intrusion, which is nothing more than a step toward tyranny.
After the Republic Page 19