200 Miles to Liberty

by P. A. Glaspy

  When all four men had climbed inside, Cody started the engine. The old Chevy van grumbled a bit before roaring to life. Cody grinned at his companions as he slowly stepped on the gas to keep the tires from spinning on the slick road.

  “I tried to get my old man to sell this thing for years. Didn’t think it was worth anything. It’s gold now. Let’s go find some more guys who are willing to do what needs to be done for a decent place to live. We found it. We just need to take it.”

  Chapter 24

  “I think there might be a misunderstanding here, Mister Roman.”

  “That’s Mister President. And I think we understand perfectly.” Roman had U.N. Secretary-General Rodriguez on the speaker in the radio room. General Everley was with him. Everley stuck his tongue out and bit it. Roman chuckled quietly. When Rodriguez could be heard talking again, they both turned their attention to the radio.

  “Oh. Well … yes. Yes, of course. I apologize, Mister President.”

  Everley pantomimed hitting a baseball then raised his hand above his eyes as if shielding them from the sun, simulating hitting a home run. Roman covered his mouth to stifle a laugh. He pasted a serious expression on his face before speaking.

  “We have no desire for peacekeepers to be here. We don’t need them. We have our own troops who will handle what needs to be done. If you want them to escort the supplies here, that’s fine; but we’ll take over once the shipments arrive.” Roman’s tone left no room for argument — or so he thought.

  “Well, I’m afraid without more information about what has gone on there, the council is not comfortable sending supplies to be controlled by a military force that, quite frankly, has apparently executed a coup against your country’s duly elected leader. We’d like to know exactly what happened.”

  Roman looked at Everley, who shrugged his shoulders and mouthed, Go for it. With a nod, Roman began.

  “Let me give you the short version, Mr. Secretary. Our duly elected president was planning to usurp the authority of his position. He planned to suspend the rights of the citizens — rights guaranteed by our Constitution — and to set himself up as an oligarch. He tried to dismiss the Joint Chiefs. His idea was to bring all of our troops home and have them steal from the American people for the greater good. He wanted to repeal the Second Amendment, among other unconstitutional edicts, and was planning to stay in office indefinitely, even though we have a new president waiting to take his spot in less than thirty days. The very fact that he was not going to step down for the incoming president is a treasonous offense. We felt it was in the country’s best interest to stop him and try to keep things under control as much as we can until president-elect Tanner is sworn in. Does that make the council more comfortable with our actions?”

  The room was silent as they waited for a reply from Rodriguez. After a few moments, he responded.

  “Are you sure those were his intentions? Perhaps you misunderstood —”

  Roman cut him off. “I can read you the list of ridiculous executive orders he wanted to implement. It’s all there.”

  Another moment of silence. Finally, Rodriguez replied hesitantly, “Well … if he put it in writing … I guess that’s a different matter.”

  Everley leaned over and whispered in Roman’s ear, “Ya think?”

  Roman smirked as he spoke. “So, when can we expect to start seeing some relief supplies show up, Mr. Secretary? Things are getting bad fast. Reports tell us looters have already cleaned out the grocery stores, and we’re going to have a lot of cold and hungry people here. We were hoping we’d start seeing shipments by the weekend.”

  The pregnant pause from Rodriguez was felt over the radio lines and filled the small room. Roman looked at Everley, whose face was contorting in anger. He had held his tongue to that point, but, apparently, his patience had waned. He stepped toward the microphone and bellowed, “General Charles Everley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs speaking! You are sending supplies, right? You do intend to come to the aid of a fellow original member country, correct? We’ve provided aid to almost every country in the world when it was needed for over a hundred years! Some of them damn well better be stepping up to reciprocate now that we are the ones in need!”

  “We are looking into what can be done, General,” Rodriguez said in a soft voice. “The scope of the damage to your technological infrastructure is massive, and it’s almost unimaginable that it can be corrected any time in the near future. If we send supplies now, how much will be needed for the over three hundred million people who live there? The numbers are staggering. How long would that amount of support be needed to sustain the population? We are looking at years, many years, until you are able to bring new transformers online and regain some semblance of your former lifestyles. I don’t think the member countries have the resources to assist for years — not without creating a hardship in their own countries, anyway. This event has caused worldwide chaos. We need to —”

  “Event? Did you just call this catastrophe an event? This was an attack! A blatant attack on our country by a little weasel of a dictator who deserves to have a nuke dropped on his head! And I intend to do everything in my power to see to it that that’s exactly what happens to that wormy little bastard!” Everley stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

  Roman waited a moment to see if Rodriguez would respond. When he didn’t, he picked up the mantle. “You dare make the excuse that helping us, when we find ourselves in the direst of circumstances we have ever seen, would put a hardship on the contributing countries? Let me give you a little history lesson, Mister Rodriguez. World War I. It wasn’t our fight, but we answered the call of our fellow human beings without hesitation, because that’s what decent people do. The cost of that war was more than any previous war in our history. And ten years after it was over, our economy had still not recovered, which caused the Great Depression. That lasted ten more years.

  “Just as we were finally getting back on track, we were dragged into World War II, when our base on Pearl Harbor was attacked. We declared war on Japan, and then Germany, Japan’s ally at the time, declared war on us. We had done nothing to antagonize either country; yet, both were hell-bent on taking us down. We waged a war on both fronts and emerged victorious. And then we helped rebuild the war-torn countries. Because that’s what decent people do.

  “We’ve fought other people’s wars for the past sixty years, including one against the country that blatantly attacked us a few days ago without provocation. When someone asks for help, we go. Now we need the help. So, you and the council better figure out how to provide it — now and for however long we damn well need it!”

  Roman made a slashing motion across his neck, signaling the radio operator to disconnect the call. He turned on his heel and headed for the door, muttering, “I’ve got a feeling we’re on our own.”

  ~~~~~

  “The nerve of that man! History lesson indeed!” Margaret Owens shouted in outrage to the assembled council members. They had listened to the conversation between Rodriguez and Roman in a conference room outside the Secretary-General’s office. The microphone on their end had been muted.

  “He spoke the truth. When Saddam Hussein invaded my country, the United States was the first to call for action to remove the Iraqi forces from Kuwait. The Americans came to the aid of your country, Ms. Owens, when Germany was trying to take over Europe. Who made the decision not to extend aid to the Americans?” Nawaf Damji, the Kuwaiti representative, asked in an agitated tone. Multiple conversations were ensuing around the room.

  Rodriguez walked in and joined them. “No decisions have been made,” he said, voice raised above the din. The room grew quiet. “We are weighing our options. Their recovery will take years. Are you all committed to long-term aid, no matter how long —”

  “Yes!” Damji cried out. “Whatever they need for as long as they need it. And if any of you would refuse to do the same, I would remind you that Americans do not walk away in the face of adversity
. When they are back to full strength — and don’t think for a second they won’t get there, with or without our help — they will remember who helped them and who turned their back on them. I have already spoken to my country’s leaders, and we will do whatever we can for the United States. We are loading oil onto ships as we speak. The rest of you must decide whether you want to be America’s ally or something else.”

  “Of course, we’re allies! What else would we be?” Margaret said sarcastically.

  Damji shrugged. “The opposite of ally is foe. If you abandon them in their hour of need, how else are they to view your actions?”

  Margaret’s eyes grew wide. Damji didn’t wait for her response. “Better yet, try to imagine if your country were the one that had been attacked. What would your expectation of support from the U.N. be?”

  “Well, we would expect assistance, of course, but the United Kingdom has a much smaller population than the United States. It wouldn’t take nearly as much to sustain our people as it will to sustain the Americans.”

  “If the attack had been on your country, it would affect others close by. A bomb detonated above the English Channel would reach into France and Belgium, as well. Would those countries be any less worthy of aid?”

  “That’s ridiculous!” Margaret fumed. “Of course not! Every affected country would be offered assistance.”

  “As should the United States,” Damji said with a nod. “They will need everything we send. They would be the first to offer help to any of our countrymen if the situation were reversed. They should expect the same. I vote we start shipments immediately to Washington D.C., as that is where their leaders are. I also think we should offer troops if they want them, but on their terms, not ours. Treat them as you would want your country to be treated in the same circumstances. Will it be a hardship? Probably. But we should all act like … how did President Roman put it … decent people and do the right thing.”

  The room was silent as each member seemed to be pondering the words of the ambassador from the small country of Kuwait.

  Rodriguez sighed. “You are correct, Ambassador Damji. Of course, we must help the Americans. The task is so daunting … yet, it must be done. We also need to deal with their attackers. North Korea must be punished.”

  “How?” Li Qiang, the ambassador from China, said and snorted a laugh. “They are already sanctioned in every way! It means nothing. They have declared war on the United States and, by crippling their economy, on China as well. China will reciprocate!”

  “In what manner?” Margaret asked in a voice tinged with fear.

  Qiang slammed his fist on the table. “My government’s leaders are meeting right now. War will be declared on North Korea by China!”

  Haruto Tanaka, the Japanese ambassador, stood up. “Japan will join China in the war on North Korea.”

  Rodriguez hung his head and clasped his hands in front of him. “I think we should take a moment and pray, if you are so inclined, for all of us. I believe we are about to enter World War III.”

  Chapter 25

  Damon’s entourage continued across the bridge and into Hawkins Point. Damon considered stopping in at the Coast Guard station and checking on Captain Jeanna Rogers, but he had no way of knowing if she was still there and, honestly, hoped she wasn’t. There were no orders coming down, and he didn’t know if there would be any time soon. Besides, he was within a couple of hours of completing his mission, and he really wanted to be out of the Humvee for a while. A long while.

  The little island didn’t really offer anything in the way of supplies for hungry, cold, desperate people, so there was no activity around them as they passed through. However, after crossing Curtis Creek, they ran into a surprise.

  Troops.

  Rounding a corner in the Baltimore Beltway, they came upon a team of about a dozen soldiers walking up the highway. They were geared up as if they were on a hike. At the sound of the vehicle, they came to a stop and turned to face it. They were already carrying their rifles in a low ready position; and, while they were attentive, they did not seem overly alarmed, probably because they recognized the Humvee as military like them. Damon pegged them as Army from their ACUs.

  “Huh. Wonder what’s up with this?” Hutch commented as he peered out the windshield.

  “I’m going to guess reservists,” Damon replied. “There’s a reserve center just off the interstate up ahead. But I am curious as to what they’re doing out here. Let’s ask.”

  “Okay, but stay sharp. Things aren’t always what they appear to be. You want me to go with you?” Hutch asked.

  “Sure. You got this, Stephens?” Damon looked into the rear-view mirror at the agent in the back.

  Stephens, who was squatting between the Tanners just under the hatch, nodded. “Got it. I’m curious to know what the deal is myself.”

  Damon climbed out the driver side door while Hutch exited the passenger side. They started toward the soldiers, who were now headed in Damon and Hutch’s direction. The man in the front spied the gold leaf insignia on Damon’s collar and snapped to attention with a salute. His team followed suit. Damon smiled as he reached them, returned the salute and said, “At ease, gentlemen.”

  The men relaxed and the one in front, wearing captain’s bars, stepped forward. “Captain Roy Dorn, Major. I must say it was a surprise to hear that Humvee. I haven’t heard a running vehicle since the lights went out. I’m guessing it was in hardened storage.”

  Damon stuck his hand out to Roy. “Major Damon Sorley. Yes, and a good thing it was. Where are you and your men headed?”

  Roy shook Damon’s hand and replied, “D.C., Sir. We can’t get orders at the base so we’re going to see what we can do to help.”

  Damon looked the men over. “You were planning to walk there?”

  “Yes, Sir. We didn’t have anything else going on, so we figured why not?”

  Hutch stepped up and extended his hand. “Captain Chris Hutchinson, New Jersey National Guard. Friends call me Hutch.”

  “Nice to meet you, Hutch,” Roy said shaking his hand. “Like Starsky and Hutch?”

  Hutch chuckled. “Yeah, I guess so. So, you were going to walk forty miles to check in for work?”

  “Yeah, we’ll probably miss a roll call or two,” Roy said with a slight smirk. “Can I ask what you guys are doing out here? I’m guessing you’re heading the same place we are.”

  “You guessed right. And I think we can give you guys a lift if the camper can carry the load. What do you think, Hutch?” He turned to his companion, an unasked question in his eye.

  Hutch grinned. “I think it will be just fine for them to join us. He’d never let us leave them to walk anyway.”

  Roy looked back and forth between the two men, sensing there was a silent conversation going on between them. “Um, he? He who?”

  With a smile on his face, Damon jerked his head toward the Humvee. “Come see.”

  All the men followed Damon and Hutch to the passenger side door. Hutch opened it and Damon leaned in.

  “Sir? Could you step out here for a minute?”

  David Tanner climbed out and watched as the new arrivals’ eyes grew wide in recognition.

  Damon turned to the men and said, “Gentlemen, may I present Mr. David Tanner, your soon-to-be Commander-in-Chief. We are on a mission to get him to Washington as quickly as possible. Sir, these men are reservists from 1SG Brandt, I assume?” Damon looked to Roy for confirmation. Roy nodded slowly as he stared at Tanner.

  “Good morning, men. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” He proceeded to walk to each man, shook his hand and asked his name. When he had greeted them all, he went back to stand beside Damon. “Where might you all be going this chilly morning?”

  “The same place you are, Sir. Looks like there’s some kind of command structure still at work if you’re on an assignment, Major.”

  “Yes, most of the Joint Chiefs are there and we have comms with our bases outside the affected areas. Right now, we need t
o get back on the road.” He turned to face Tanner. “Sir, I figured you’d want —”

  “You figured right, Major,” Tanner cut in. “We will absolutely be taking these men with us. I have no doubt we’re going to need every enlisted man and woman we can find. I wouldn’t dream of leaving them out here when we’re all going to the same place.”

  “Roger that. Captain …” Damon paused when both Hutch and Dorn turned to him. “Er, Captain Dorn, I’d like you to ride in the Humvee for now so we can fill you in on what’s happened to this point. I’m sure you’ve got some ideas, but we’ll give you the details that we have so far.”

  “Sounds good, Major. Men, follow Captain Hutchinson. Looks like we just scored a ride to D.C.”

  The men shouted in unison, “Hooah!”

  Roy Dorn’s eyes grew wide as Damon relayed the facts of what had transpired at the White House. When Damon paused for a moment, Roy spoke up.

  “Wow. That’s just crazy! He was really planning to do all of that? The president, that is.”

  Damon nodded slowly as he drove. “Yep. I’m glad there were people in the capitol that put a halt to that real quick.”

  “No kidding! So, Speaker Roman is the president now?” Roy asked.

  “Interim president,” Tanner interjected from the back seat. “He’ll hold the position until my swearing in day. But we’ll be working together between now and then to start getting things back in order while we figure out how to fix this mess.”

  Roy turned slightly in the passenger seat to face Tanner. “Can it be fixed, Sir? I mean, this thing is huge. The whole country without power, cars and trucks don’t work, machines don’t run — it won’t be easy.”

  “No, it won’t, Captain. It is a daunting task when you think about everything and everyone that has been affected. But then something happens, like us running into you and your men. You didn’t let the fact that you had no car to drive keep you from trying to do something to help. You adapted to the situation and overcame the obstacle. That’s what Americans do. That’s how this country came to be. It won’t happen overnight. But rest assured — we will get our country back.”