Strengthen What Remains (Book 2): A Time to Endure (10 page)

Texas,
eastern New Mexico and Oklahoma were green.
Texas
always did go its own way.
Northern Utah was in purple.
Mormons?
The southwest was maroon.
The growing Chinese zone of
control.
Splotches of orange surrounded the cities destroyed by
nuclear attack. Most of the orange dots had tails that arced away.
The contaminated zones
.
For Seattle that area reached into the Cascade Mountains.
   

He
stared at the display while his gut twisted into a knot.
The nation is falling apart, becoming Balkanized.
Suddenly Caden
realized the general was talking.

“…huge
wave of refugees heading east out of southern California, Arizona, Nevada and
New Mexico into Colorado and Texas, but some are heading north toward us. Most
are good people trying to get out of the desert and blast areas. Radiation,
water and electrical power are huge issues in the southwest. We expect the
population of that region to stabilize at less than half, maybe a third, of
what it was before the attacks.”

“We
can’t handle a large influx of refugees. How can those states?”

“They
can’t. We won’t be able to handle the evacuees that make it to the northwest.”

“I
thought we were getting help from other countries.”

“We
are. China is abiding by the letter of the treaty and providing aid within
their zone of control. Australia and New Zealand have sent food and medicine.
Canada is providing significant aid to our region, but the American economy and
monetary system is collapsing and dragging the international economy with it.
The rest of the world can’t prop us up.”

“What’s
going to happen to all those refugees?”

The
general drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Many will die.”

Caden
was startled by the matter-of-fact answer, but tried not to show it.

“But
getting back to your issue,” the general continued, “the criminals among them
won’t die easy. Frankly….” He looked around the EOC and then motioned for Caden
to join him in the corner.

“We
believe the Chinese are using the chaos of the refugees, gangs and jihadists to
expand their sphere of influence.”

“I
thought the jihadists had been captured or killed.”

He
looked at Caden with tired eyes. “There were more radicals in the Muslim
community than we originally believed. I’m meeting with the governor in an
hour. Do you want to come along?”

“Most
definitely.”

On
the wall of the governor’s office hung a large political map of the United
States showing hundreds of cities and towns. Red pins marked the cities
decimated by nuclear terror.
 

While
General Harwich and Governor Monroe spoke, Caden stared at the map. With each
passing moment his mood darkened. As a child he had spent hours gazing at such
charts as he planned trips to exciting and faraway places. Now this map and the
one in the EOC troubled him. As the other two men talked, he wondered why.
Suddenly it occurred to him. Each displayed what had been lost, but in
different ways.
This map shows the ideal
of what was, a united country, but it isn’t anymore. The map in the EOC shows
the reality of what is and has been lost.
He sighed.

“Are
we boring you, Major?” the general asked.

Caden’s
face warmed. “No, sorry sir, just thinking.”

The
governor gestured to the General. “Let me consider what you were saying.”
Turning to Caden, “Major, I need to speak with you.”

Monroe
outlined the plan the duty officer in the EOC had mentioned earlier.

“You
want me to take over security for most of southwest Washington?” Caden rubbed
his jaw.

“Yes,
I guess that is basically it.”

I came here for help
but instead….
Again
he sighed. “I need to discuss some recent
intel
I’ve
learned.

Caden
briefed the governor about the murder of Jason Pettit. “He reloaded ammo and
sold it in the town market. We think the gang was trying to secure a steady
supply of ammunition. We captured one of them alive, but we lost a man during
the operation.” Caden left his own close call out of it and jumped forward to
the interrogation of Cruz in the hospital. “The tattoos strongly suggest he is
a member of Mara Salvatrucha, MS-13.”

“Why
is the particular gang significant?” The general asked.

“They’re
an especially brutal international criminal gang. They deal in drugs,
prostitution, human trafficking, and murder. When we interrogated Cruz he said
other gang members were coming and they want to control the area. I believe him
and I’m going to need help combating it.”

Governor
Monroe stared at the map for several moments. Then he slowly turned and met
Caden’s gaze. “I’m sorry about the loss of your soldier. We’ve seen the rise of
gang activity, and general lawlessness, but mainly in the yellow zone. Your
area is relatively peaceful.”

“Really?”
Is it, or do I need to complain more?

The
governor rubbed his chin. “We need to restore order to the yellow zone and keep
the peace in the southwest region of the state. Our resources are already
stretched thin.

“I
can’t spare police or soldiers for a gang fight that may or may not happen. We
have too many emergencies that
are
happening.” He paused, but his eyes remained fixed on Caden. “We’re planning a
major operation to root out gangs and the remaining terrorists. The details are
still being worked out, but restoring order just north of your sector should be
helpful.

“You
should consider yourself lucky. Hansen is pretty well off. It’s a garrison
town. You have electricity, your infrastructure is intact and you’ll soon be
growing much of your own food.”

“But
until then we have a lot of scared and hungry people.”

Monroe
leaned back in his seat. As he did, he looked tired and older. “Scared and
hungry is the new normal.” He shook his head. “The FEMA camps are barely under
control. Cities like Phoenix, Albuquerque and Las Vegas are dealing with
starvation, riots and looting. As the weather gets hotter conditions will get
worse”

He
paused and shook his head. “There isn’t much left to loot in those areas.”
After another pause he said, “Units supporting the new congress control Wyoming
and the Colorado passes. Durant’s forces are in a line from Colorado Springs
through Denver to Fort Collins.”

Caden
wondered why Monroe was telling him this, but said nothing.

“Denver
doesn’t have electricity, water, or much food. Civilians are streaming out of
the city. We expect a major battle there in the next few days.”

“I
didn’t realize that the fighting had spread…that Americans were….”

“Fighting
Americans again?” Monroe nodded. “The second Civil War has started.”

The
governor said the words Caden had struggled to utter.

“Combat
isn’t widespread and both sides are playing it down. Our supporters…spies…in
the east tell us Durant thinks that, with the help of China and Europe, he will
win in the long run.”

Caden
shook his head. “The American economy is collapsing, China, Europe, and the
world, are all in trouble. Soon Europe won’t be able to help Durant, and China
won’t spend billions unless they are sure of the outcome. I’m certain
resistance is already stronger than China expected.”

The
governor smiled. “Your quick and accurate analysis is what first caught my
attention. The world economy is spiraling into depression and that has weakened
Durant’s support and limited the aid he receives.” The governor cast a wry
smile, “However, western Canada, Australia and New Zealand have been very
generous to the new congress states.

“Durant
has the media locked down in the east, but from what refugees and our spies
tell us conditions are worse there than here. The population density is higher
and there is less farming. Many neighborhoods of the rust belt and bigger east
coast cities are still largely empty, and lawless or under gang control. Good
people are moving, if they can.” He turned to the map, but his eyes seemed to
look far beyond it. “Food aid has slowed as the world economic situation
worsens and fighting has hampered distribution. People in the east and the west
are going to go hungry. If the situation doesn’t change quickly many will
starve.”

Stepping
back to his desk he added, “I don’t believe MS-13 would attack a garrison town.
It would be foolish, but if they do I’ll have backup to you in an hour. That is
the best I can do.”

 
*
              
*
              
*

Caden
let Zach ride back to Hansen with the other soldiers so he could think about
all the general and governor had told him. The men had picked up the supplies
that were available, coffee was not among them, and he had received a promise
of help, but with that promise came responsibility for most of southwest
Washington. MS-13, Chinese troops, Durant Loyalists, economic depression,
starvation and a new strain of influenza; it seemed almost impossible that the
little town of Hansen could survive all the threats.

When
the convoy slowed to turn off the freeway, Caden realized they were nearing
Hansen. A few miles down the state highway and they would be home. He was
tempted to have them drop him off at the farm, but his car was at the armory
and he felt he should check on how the day had gone.

Brooks
and First Sergeant Fletcher were waiting when Caden walked into the armory
office. “How has the day been?” he asked looking at both of them.

“I
hope you brought back food. There was a riot at the Salvation Army Church.”

Caden’s
shoulders slumped. “Yes, I’ve got some, but not enough. Was anyone killed?”

“No,”
Fletcher said, “but we were called to assist. Two deputies and one soldier were
injured by rocks and bottles.”

“Six
rioters were arrested,” Brooks added.

Fletcher
sat at the conference table. “The sheriff says assaults and thefts are up. He’d
like more help from us.”

“I
was gone one day. It sounds like things got a lot worse.”

Brooks
grinned. “On the bright side, the churches are encouraging people to organize
community and backyard gardens for when the weather warms and several groups
are working on something called a seed exchange.

Caden
nodded. “Thanks for ending on a good note.”

As
Brooks headed out the door Caden said, “First Sergeant, I have something else I
need to talk to you about.”

Caden
explained about Zach.

“So…ah,
sir, you want me to babysit a kid?”

Caden
sighed. “No, First Sergeant, I don’t want you to babysit him. He’s been working
around here for a few days now, but you have more contact with the men.”

“But,
you want me to teach him to shoot?”

“Yes,
if his mother doesn’t object, and from what he says, it sounds like she won’t.
He saved my life and in the process earned the wrath of MS-13. He needs to know
how to defend himself.”

“I’m
not good with kids.”

“He’s
sixteen. That’s just a few years younger than some of the men here.”

Fletcher
nodded. “But there’s a world of difference between a boy in school and a man
who volunteers and makes it through boot camp.”

“Yes
that’s true, but I know you have kids.”

“Two
daughters and they live with their mother in Florida.”

“I
guess that would make it hard to be a parent.”

“My
ex said it was as far away as she could get and still be in the country.”

Caden
grimaced. “Well, you have more experience than me. You don’t have to be his
dad, just teach him how to safely use a weapon. I’ll go by his house and talk
with the mother tonight.”

Fletcher
rubbed his chin. “Yes, sir.”

*
              
*
              
*

Caden
passed the spot in the road where he nearly died. Using directions Hoover had
provided, he continued up the road and within seconds saw the number he was
looking for on a mailbox. He turned left onto a narrow dirt driveway and wound
uphill till he saw a pastel blue singlewide trailer trimmed in rust. No cars
were parked nearby. Dim light came from a single window.

The
ancient wooden steps creaked as Caden walked up and knocked. There was no
answer, but the door popped ajar with the last knock. “Hello?” Slowly he pulled
the door open. “Hello?”

Inside
a woman slumped in a living room chair. Concerned she might be ill, or even
dead, he stepped in. A lamp cast a pale yellow glow over the room. “Ah, are you
all right?” As he moved forward he wondered if he should check her pulse. As he
stepped beside her the floor creaked.

Zach’s
mother snored loudly and belched. The stench of stale booze filled the air.

Caden
shook his head in disgust and covered his nose.

She
snored again and then opened her glazed eyes for a moment before shifting and
returning to unconsciousness.

As
Caden turned away he noticed a nearly empty bottle cradled in the woman’s arms
like a baby. A spilled glass was on the floor beside her. He shook his head.
Hoover said the mom was a drunk, but I hope
he’s wrong about the boy.
Determined to do what he felt best, Caden left.

*
              
*
              
*

The
next morning Zach sat in a corner as several men entered the room carrying
rifles that looked a lot like the one he stashed in the shed. A couple of the
soldiers nodded at him. One even said, “Hi.”

Caden
had told Zach to come there and that someone would show him how to shoot, but
as the men sat around the large table in the middle of the room and began
taking apart the rifles, he thought it just looked like work.

He
had hoped Caden would show him how to shoot, but it was perhaps too much to
expect the commanding officer to do that.
 

One
of the men turned to Zach and asked, “You want to help clean rifles?”

“Ah…someone
was supposed to show me how to shoot.”

The
soldier grinned. “Well, this is how you start. Come on over.”

Zach
sat beside the soldier who appeared to be only four or five years older.

The
man held out his hand, “My name is John Tyler, just like the president.”

“Zach
Brennon,” he said taking his hand.

“This
is an M-4 automatic rifle. Go ahead and take it.” Tyler picked up another one.
“Now do what I do. I’ll go
slow
. Pull the charging
handle back like this. Good. Now, press this lever to hold the bolt open.
Any rounds in the chamber?

“Bullets?
No.”

“Check
carefully. We don’t want to shoot Jason.” He pointed to the soldier at the end
of the table.

“Yeah,”
Jason said, “check really good.”

A
man old enough to be Zach’s father entered the room. He had seen him around the
armory, but the man had ignored him.

“Hey,
First Sergeant
are
you going to help us clean rifles?”
John asked.

The
man sat across from Zach. “Yeah, I think I will.” He picked up one and pulled
back on the charging handle.

John
turned to Zach. “Okay if the chamber is empty release the bolt. Make sure your
fingers are clear and press here.”