by Trent Reedy
“How much room we got behind us, Cal?” I asked.
“ ’Bout eight feet. Why?”
“I’m gonna back us up, so when you pop back up out of that hatch, their snipers won’t have a fix on you.”
“Then you light them the hell up, Cal,” Kemp said. “JoBell, have belts of ammo standing by for everyone to reload. You gotta keep them shooting.”
“Let’s just hurry and do this!” Becca shouted.
Kemp radioed. “All units, you are to hook a left and go under the archway at the hotel, into the hotel parking lot. Do not stop. Keep moving. You have the maps. Look for a way to hook up with Railroad Avenue on the other side.” He let off the mike. “Now, Wright.”
“Please help us, God,” I said.
“Amen, my brother!” Cal said.
I threw Pale Horse in reverse and hit the gas. Then Cal was up. The loud cah-cah-cah-cah-cah of the .50-cal cut loose. “Suck it, you Brotherhood bastards!” Cal screamed. Rounds cut the men in front of us in half and shredded through the roadblock cars. Our side guns fired, and the front of the hotel on our left erupted with big blast holes. Shooters fell from the roof. I switched gears and drove forward hard, crashing into the two little cars and shoving them out of our way.
The first bus and Mr. Hooper’s RV went under the arch. Then the fuel truck. Becca’s dad’s truck and trailer went under next. Finally the last bus went through.
“Don’t back up, Danny! It’ll take forever. Just go forward and we’ll catch up!” Cal shouted.
“Do it,” Kemp said.
I kept pushing through the little roadblock. “They should have used something besides a Honda Civic and a Dodge Stratus,” I said under my breath.
Bullets cracked against the outside of Pale Horse, sounding like hard hammer smacks on metal. “Cal!?”
“I’m good!” Cal said. A second later his .50-cal spoke for him, firing three five-second bursts. I hit the gas and we shot by a couple more shops before swinging a hard left onto Railroad Avenue.
“I’m gonna light these bastards up for trying to follow,” Sweeney called.
“Don’t shoot unless you got a target!” I said.
“Pale Horse, where are you? We found a way through the back of the place. We’re back on the right road.” It was Mr. Morgan on bus one.
Kemp answered, “We’re right behind you. We see you. Keep going. We’ll catch up.”
“Come on, Wright!” Mrs. Pierce yelled.
The convoy was around the corner from Railroad Avenue. We’d be there in three seconds.
“They cut us off! Somebody help! This is bus two! They cut us off! Steph, turn! No! Just turn! Here!” It was Mr. Grenke.
Kemp keyed his mike. “Bus two! Bus two, what road are you on? Where are you?”
“Floor it! Oh shit! They’re shooting. We’re taking fire! Just shoot ’em back! Who cares about the ammo!? Shoot ’em!”
“He won’t stop keying the mike,” Kemp said. “He’ll never hear us.”
Pale Horse rounded the corner. I couldn’t see any of the convoy, but I spotted the roadblock. “He must have turned here.”
“We gotta get up there!” Mrs. Pierce shouted. “The whole convoy has almost no cover!”
“I don’t know where we are! Why won’t anyone answer? Oh. Okay, if anyone is getting this, we’re clear over by the lake. Um … Lake Street! It’s just called Lake Street. We turned right onto Lake Street.”
Kemp tried the tactical radio. “We got a hot mike! Tell Grenke to let go of the transmit button!” Finally, Grenke got off the Motorola network.
“This is bus one, in the lead. We’re way up Davis Avenue now. Do you want us to stop and wait?” Mr. Morgan radioed.
“Negative!” Kemp called back. “Keep moving! Stay on the planned route and get the hell out of town. We’re going back for the other bus.”
Crocker had been dinking with the map. He held his hand out to Kemp. “Give me your radio.” He keyed up. “Bus two, stay on Lake Street. You’re going to reach a spot where the road curves to the right onto Hemlock Street. Stay on that. We’ll meet you on Hemlock.”
“Okay. Ten four. We’re turning onto Hem — It’s blocked! They got us blocked! Oh shit!” The sound of gunshots came over the radio and from the near distance. “They’re everywhere! Stephanie! Our driver’s hit! Someone else is hit back there!”
I didn’t need to be told. I turned left onto Hemlock and headed down to them with the pedal to the floor. “Come on, baby,” I whispered, patting the steering wheel.
“Brotherhood sons-a-bitches everywhere!” Cal said. He opened fire.
We were coming up on the barrier fast — another couple cars they’d rolled onto the road. The bus was on the other side of them, facing us. I tapped the brakes to slow down a little and bumped us up the curb into someone’s front yard, circling the barrier and skidding out as I cranked the wheel to bring us back around on our bus’s side of the roadblock. Two, three, then four guys screamed as I ran them over. Pale Horse actually bumped around as their bodies went under our wheels. Now we were out on the street, front bumper to front bumper with bus two, with our ass end toward the roadblock. Instead of wasting time trying to turn around and ram through like last time, I threw the truck in reverse and backed up toward the cars. We hit hard, but not hard enough. I didn’t have a good running start like last time. I gave her more gas, and our tires squealed on the pavement. “Come on, you bastards!”
We were taking rounds again. Getting pelted. Three or four shots hit our windshield, and I jumped so hard that I pissed myself a little. But I broke through the roadblock, backing up to open enough space for the bus to follow.
“Oh yeah! I’m the lead gunner now!” Sweeney shouted. “This is for starving my friends!” His M240 opened up with ten solid seconds of machine gun fire. Ten seconds was a lot of rounds coming from that badass gun. “This is for Jackie’s parents! Come eat lead, assholes!”
I cranked the steering wheel to the side to put our back end up on the curb in someone’s yard. Then I threw Pale Horse in drive and sped ahead of bus two.
“Bus two, this is Pale Horse!” Kemp radioed. “Stay tight on our six. We should be kissing bumpers all the way out! How copy? Over.”
“Pale Horse. This is bus two.” Mr. Grenke’s voice held less panic and more horror now. There was more shaking behind his words. “We copy. Hey, ah, we gotta get Doc Randall. We got some hurt people.”
We could hear screams in the background over the radio.
“I’m ready,” Dr. Nicole radioed. “The convoy is stopped on Lick Creek Road. I have my kit ready. I’ll need Becca Wells to assist me, please. Can I get details of the wounds? Over.”
As I listened to Mr. Grenke tell Dr. Nicole about all their wounds and injuries, we drove past street after street, until finally we turned right onto Lick Creek Road, which would take us clear the hell out in the mountains to Hindman. From there we’d finally go deeper into the wilderness to the Alice Marshall School.
—• This is the official radio network of the Brotherhood of the White Eagle. Rise up to victory. My Brothers, we are pleased to bring you live to Freedom Lake, Idaho, for a special address by Brotherhood General Nathan Forrest Crow.”
“Citizens of Freedom Lake and of the Republic of Idaho, members of the Brotherhood of the White Eagle, honored members of this year’s senior class. Greetings. Graduation is normally a time of celebration, of looking back on a job well done, and of recognizing and embracing change.
“But today our celebration is diminished by pain, loss, and bitter betrayal. The photographs amid these many flowers at the foot of the stage represent each of the students who would have been proud to receive their diplomas today. Each of them has fallen in our struggle to be free.
“No doubt many of you are greatly shaken by the attack on Freedom Lake by United States Special Forces infantry. I’m sorry to report that our enemy was given valuable assistance by traitors among us. Principal Garrett Morgan betrayed his entire community by assi
sting the United States. Mr. Michio Shiratori, a beloved teacher and coach for many years, was willing to sacrifice all our lives to the US for his own comfort. Others in this community have betrayed us as well.
“I share your feelings of hurt, fear, confusion, and disbelief. I find myself questioning my own recent judgment. Before this terrible attack, some evidence did suggest Mr. Shiratori was collaborating with the enemy. If I had arrested him then and questioned his friends, maybe the traitors would not still be at large. Maybe some of the young people pictured here would be alive today. But I am a man of the law! I believe in the sacred truth that all men are innocent until proven guilty. I did not have that absolute proof until we searched the home of the US collaborators Carlos and Rosa Martinez, where we discovered communications among them, Shiratori, and the US. Where we found hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash, blood money paid by our enemy, which helped bring about the deaths of so many of our people. Where we found boxes and boxes of extra food, more than their families could possibly eat, while the rest of us starved. So today I make this solemn vow before God Almighty! Those who would sacrifice our lives and our children’s lives to our enemy — traitors like Mr. Morgan and Mr. Shiratori — will be hunted down and delivered upon the righteous altar of justice!
“We lost many in the cowardly attack, but I am proud to say that our defenses held! The Brotherhood of the White Eagle met the enemy and forced him from our home!
“I do not deny that our struggle against the United States has been long, or without cost. I have suffered as you have suffered, asking no more of any man than that which I myself am willing to give.
“Another man who fought along with us, who understood the tremendous sacrifice asked of all of us for victory, was Private First Class Daniel Wright. When the United States government came after Wright, we were shown by his example that we no longer had to be slaves in our own land! He showed us that we could break free to live our lives, not the way Fed parasites told us we must live, but as we ourselves would choose to live them!
“And so … I’m sorry. I can hardly find the strength to say the words, can hardly believe that it is true. It is my sad duty to report to you that Private First Class Daniel Christopher Wright, along with his fiancée, JoBell Linder, and several of his closest friends, were killed in action early Friday morning as they fought to defend their home. Private Wright, who was excited for the opportunity to join the Brotherhood of the White Eagle on this, his graduation day, has at last made the ultimate sacrifice. Daniel Wright is dead.
“As we suffer the shock and grief that follows such a tragic death, let us find comfort in the knowledge that Daniel Wright’s dream lives on! The Brotherhood of the White Eagle is strong, and united with the community we serve, we form an unstoppable force for peace and freedom. Do you share Daniel Wright’s passion!? Do you!? Knowing it was Wright’s fervent desire to become a member of the Brotherhood, will you join together and, with the Brotherhood, declare with one voice that we will not surrender!? We will not give up the fight until every US soldier is driven from our land, until every US collaborator among us is brought to justice! Do you hear the voice of destiny calling you to our great future!? Do you!? Honor the memory of Daniel Wright and follow as the Brotherhood of the White Eagle leads you to glory! •—
—• USTV now brings you live to a press conference with the presidential press secretary, Vivian Huck, in the new media room of the United States Capitol, deep inside Mount United States, formerly Cheyenne Mountain.”
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the press. Welcome. On behalf of President Griffith and myself, I hope you have enjoyed your stay in the capitol. Before we get started with the questions, I want to remind you all to please avoid asking questions about US troop movements or other defensive plans. I will not release classified information or provide answers that might endanger American troops or assist rebels and prolong the war. With that in mind, you have all been invited here today in hopes of improving government communication and getting reliable information to all the American people. First question. Yes?”
“Robert Bell, WGN News. What is the administration’s reaction to news of the death of Daniel Wright?”
“President Griffith feels that every death in this war is a tragedy, and that is why she’s working so hard to end the war and bring the United States back together.”
“But given the controversial nature of Wright’s involvement in —”
“Wright’s death, like all the deaths in this war, is tragic. Now, I’m sure we have more important things to talk about. Next question.”
“Thank you. Hart Wibley, Atlantica News Network. Ms. Huck, since the appointment of her new vice president, General Chuck Jacobsen, President Griffith has made very few public appearances or addresses. Isn’t it true that the United States is, in fact, under the military dictatorship of General Jacobsen, that it is no longer anything like a democracy?”
“I know that General Vogel has suggested as much, and I won’t get into the irony of such an accusation coming from the self-proclaimed leader of Atlantica, but let me assure you and everyone else that President Griffith is our commander in chief and that she is absolutely in control.”
“Then why haven’t we seen —”
“Hart, President Griffith hasn’t made many public appearances because she’s really very busy directing this war. She’s also organizing the reappointment of the Senate and reelection of the House of Representatives in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Constitution. Next question. Go ahead.”
“Rebecca Cho, NBC News. Ms. Huck, what can you tell us about the investigation into the nuclear attacks? Has any progress been made tracking down the remaining eleven suspects believed to be responsible for the theft of the warheads? And since most experts agree the eleven would have needed accomplices even to remove the warheads from the silo compounds, what can you tell us about the search for those accomplices?”
“While finding those responsible for the nuclear attacks and bringing them to justice is important, the war has made the investigation into this matter very difficult. President Griffith and senior United States military leadership have shifted their priorities to preventing any further nuclear catastrophes. The number three reactor at the Indian Point nuclear power plant has been sealed, and no further radioactive contamination is flowing from that breach. The rest of the United States’ nuclear arsenal is secure, and other nuclear power plants are being safeguarded or shut down.”
“Erin Heddleson, Empire News. So the United States has abandoned its effort to apprehend those responsible for the nuclear attacks?”
“Please don’t twist my words, Erin. The investigation continues, though it is presently severely hampered by the war and insurgent activities. However, the most important thing is preventing future nuclear attacks or disasters.”
“Tyson Clement, Minnesota Public Radio. How can you be sure that ICBMs or nuclear weapons aboard bombers or submarines will not fall into the wrong hands or be used by the newer, perhaps less stable governments in a nuclear attack?”
“This is actually one of the bright points in this terrible war. The leadership of Montana and Wyoming have honored their agreements from the sad day they made the mistake of declaring independence. They have allowed the United States to station platoon-sized elements at each of our ICBM silos, and they have allowed us to rotate and supply those troops. Furthermore, as soon as the first two nuclear warheads went missing, the United States government immediately secured all nuclear weapons in bombers and submarines. In short, the United States maintains full control of its entire nuclear arsenal.”
“Keira Montley, Dakota News Channel. When you talk about control of the nuclear arsenal, do you mean that the United States is determined to use its nuclear weapons?”
“I cannot comment on that. •—
—• apologize for interruptions to NBC programming, as our studios and transmitters here in Los Angeles have suffered some interm
ittent power losses. The footage we are showing you now was shot about ten minutes ago above Los Angeles. There you see a number of United States attack helicopters firing rounds and rockets at Cascadia military targets in the city. We’re going to slow this footage down for you to make it easier to see the remarkable events unfolding in the skies. There you see at least fifty F-22 fighters from the 163rd fighter wing of the Arizona Air National Guard. In seconds, they destroyed all United States attack helicopters as well as inbound US aircraft bringing in Special Operations soldiers, presumably to conduct guerrilla operations in Cascadian cities. The jets moved quickly to unleash a deadly attack on United States forces around southern Cascadia before refueling in flight to return to Arizona, where Governor Jean Bates and her allies around the state and in Las Vegas have declared Arizona an independent nation. Arizona has annexed the Las Vegas area and has declared war on the United States. •—
—• Republic of Idaho Radio. AM 1040 RIR. Onward to victory. Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the upper peninsula of the former state of Michigan have declared independence from the United States and entered the war as Minnecongan. Minnesota and Wisconsin National Guard and militia forces, in addition to defecting United States military personnel, moved quickly to launch devastating surprise attacks on the United States military in their territory and on the Great Lakes. Finally, the former states of Tennessee, Kentucky, West Virginia, the western part of Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina have established a new country called Appalachia. With this development, the United States not only loses several former military installations, but also coastal access to the Atlantic. Thirteen states are all that remain of the US: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, and Utah, and significant portions of the states of Nevada, Oregon and Washington. The US is in a fierce battle to maintain its hold on eastern Oregon and the state of Washington, to ensure its access to the sea. As of this broadcast, sixteen independent nations now comprise the area of what was once the United States of America. President Montaine issued a brief statement welcoming new allies to the war against the United States. He urged all newly independent countries to stop fighting among themselves and focus on securing a lasting, stable independence.
