The Line of Departure: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series Book 4)

by G. Michael Hopf

  “Sebastian,” Gordon said, barely above a whisper. He felt odd disturbing them during this moment.

  Lost in his wife’s pain, he didn’t hear Gordon.

  “Sebastian,” he said louder.

  Sebastian turned, tears in his eyes. He grasped Annaliese’s hand tightly, as if his firm embrace would take away some of her pain. “Hey, it’s not a good time.”

  “I have help coming. I called in a favor, you could say. They’re sending a chopper here to pick her up.”

  Sebastian wiped his eyes. What Gordon had said gave him hope instantly. “When?”

  “In a few hours. They’re taking her to Cheyenne, Wyoming.”

  “How did you make this happen so fast? That’s incredible.”

  “Let’s just say that I was already speaking with them, but it’s coming at a cost.”

  “What do you mean, a cost?

  “I have to go to Coos Bay.”

  “What? No, no, Samantha won’t allow it, I can’t allow it.”

  “It’s done; the chopper taking me will arrive just after yours. Listen, I’ll be back here in time to see you guys off. I’ll have Samantha watch over Luke and . . .”

  “What do you have to do in Coos Bay? What does Colonel Barone want? I don’t understand.”

  “It’s not Barone; I’m going there at the request of the president. He wants me to get some intel on what’s going on there. It’s a simple in-and-out operation. I’ll be back before you will be, I’m sure of it,” Gordon said, trying to reassure Sebastian that his deal was a sound one.

  “There’s no such thing as a simple operation. You know better than anyone,” Sebastian countered.

  “Why are you arguing with me? Annaliese needs the care; I did what I had to do. How about a thank-you?”

  “I’m sorry. I’m grateful, thank you. I just don’t want it at a cost to you or Sam. You guys have suffered so much already.”

  “Little brother, the deal is done. Now I need to go have this conversation with Samantha. That’s not going to be fun,” Gordon said, a frown etched on his face.

  • • •

  “You’re nervous, aren’t you?” Gunny asked.

  “What?” Gordon answered his question with a question. His mind was elsewhere.

  “We’ve been sitting out in front of your house for five minutes and you haven’t budged,” Gunny jabbed.

  “I’m trying to figure out how to best phrase it.”

  “There isn’t a best way. Just tell her what’s going on. You can’t sugarcoat this. Get in there and get this done.”

  “Can you get Jones and McCamey to take off for a bit while I talk to her?” Gordon asked.

  “Sure thing.”

  Gordon stopped short of the front door. He knew time was running out but he couldn’t help but reflect that soon he’d be gone again. He worried about Samantha, but he was even more worried about how his absence would affect Haley. His little girl had been through so much and this wouldn’t help. Trying to reason with six-year-olds was impossible. He just hoped that one day she’d understand.

  Finally ready, he opened the front door and walked in. He looked around but didn’t see Samantha. The clang of a pot told him she was in the kitchen.

  Gunny came in right behind him and immediately found the other two Marines. Without wasting time, they gathered themselves and left.

  Gordon sauntered to the bar in the kitchen and watched as Samantha prepared some food. Whatever Samantha did, she did with a level of precision and intensity. She often would joke that it was how things should always be done, but he’d counter that she was just a perfectionist.

  “I’m so glad you’re home. How’s Annaliese?” Samantha said while moving about the kitchen.

  “Sam, we need to talk,” he said somberly.

  His tone said it all. She instantly stopped what she was doing. “What is it?”

  “Annaliese is not doing well. They can’t help her here. She’s being transported to Cheyenne, Wyoming.”

  “Cheyenne? Why? What’s wrong with her?”

  “We don’t know what’s wrong with her, but they can’t do anything here for her. I called in a favor with the vice president and they’ve agreed to pick her up and take her to Cheyenne for treatment.”

  “Thank God. When are they taking her?”

  Gordon looked at his watch. “By the end of the day.”

  “Oh my God, how’s Sebastian doing?”

  “He’s a mess, but everything will be better.”

  Samantha came out from the kitchen and put her arms around him in a tight embrace. “I guess your little excursion paid off in some way.”

  “Well, not exactly.”

  She stepped back from him and looked into his eyes. “I know that tone, I know that look. What else is going on?”

  “This arrangement came at a price, and that price is me going back to Coos Bay for a short trip,” Gordon said.

  Samantha’s face fell. “No, no way. You promised. You’re not leaving us again.”

  “I have to. If I don’t do this, they won’t help her. It has to be done. Please understand,” Gordon pleaded.

  “No, no, no, there has to be someone else who can do this. You can’t leave us again. I can’t, Haley can’t, go through this again. We barely made it last time you were gone,” Samantha berated.

  “This isn’t the desert, this isn’t San Diego. It’s safe here.”

  “It’s safe now, but there’s no guarantee it will always be. This world is crazy out there, you know that. One day we can be playing happy family, the next we’re fighting for our lives. I can’t have you gone ever again. You promised, Gordon!”

  “Sam, I have to go, it won’t be for long. I’ll return as fast as I can.”

  “No!” Samantha yelled.

  With equal intensity, he yelled back, “If I don’t go, she will die!”

  The statement hit her like a ton of bricks. The last thing she wanted was for Gordon to leave again, but the thought of Annaliese dying was not something she wanted to deal with either.

  “Sam, it’s an easy trip. Let me explain. They’re going to fly me in—no driving this time. All they need me to do is get some information on what is happening there.”

  “But you just told me the place is crazy. Those were your words, just yesterday!” She sat, dazed, on a bar stool.

  “You’re right, but I’ll be fine. The colonel knows me. I’ll go into town, say hi, take a look around, and leave. I’ll be home in three days, tops,” Gordon said, clearly exaggerating the ease of the mission. He knew that nothing was simple, specifically in this world and under the circumstances as they were in Coos Bay.

  “Damn it, why does something always have to come up? Can’t someone else go instead of you?”

  “I wish there was, but it has to be me. I’ll be fine and Annaliese will get the urgent medical care she needs.”

  “There’s not another doctor? What about in Cascade?”

  “Sam, the best doctors in a hundred miles are in McCall and they said she needs specialty care. They want to perform exploratory surgery to help diagnose the problem. That’s crazy. In Cheyenne, they have modern equipment and the only way to get her there is by me doing this favor for the president.”

  With each second that passed, the truth of what needed to be done sank in for Samantha.

  Gordon looked past her into the kitchen. He could see she was preparing food for her McCall Women’s Auxiliary meeting that she held once per week. Not long after arriving in McCall she had founded it in hopes of spreading knowledge and skill sets that some women had lost during the modern age, like gardening, holistic remedies, canning, preparing meat, animal husbandry, and other old-worldly skills that were now needed. He hated that he had to ruin her outing, but the news couldn’t wait.

  Samantha hadn’t
said a word for what seemed like an eternity to Gordon. He sat down in the stool next to her and gently took her hand.

  “Sweetheart, I’m sorry, but I have to go. This is the only way we can help Annaliese.”

  “I know, you’re right, you have to go. Annaliese and Sebastian need you and it’s who you are. To not let you go would not allow you to be you,” she softly said as she raised her head and looked into his eyes.

  “I’ll be fine.”

  “Don’t make those promises; I know how things are. This is the new world we live in and you have to go. There’s no other way.”

  Gordon leaned over and embraced her.

  Haley walked into the room and with excitement in her voice she yelled out, “Cuddles!” She ran over with open arms. Gordon and Samantha took her into their arms.

  In the softest and sweetest tone she said something that defined everything and made it all so simple. “I love my family.”

  • • •

  The remaining part of Gordon’s day was spent preparing for his journey. He knew he had to pack light so he took only the essentials: Gunny’s phone, food, water, and fire-starting materials were a critical part of his pack, as was extra ammunition.

  While Gordon was preparing, Samantha was doing her part for the family. She and Haley traveled to Sebastian’s house to get Sebastian and Annaliese some personal items and to get Luke, as he’d be staying with them while everyone was away.

  Samantha drove the truck into short driveway of the small house that Sebastian, Annaliese, and Luke called home. The little fifteen-hundred-square-foot home had the feel and look of what you’d expect if you went to the mountains. The siding was a natural wood and the deck that spanned the full front was made of log. Large trees encircled the home and to the left what had been a lawn was now a garden.

  Haley was excited to see Luke. Since the day they met, they had gotten along. Samantha was initially apprehensive about Luke after she heard his story, specifically how he’d snapped and killed Brandon. She discussed her feelings with Gordon, who dismissed her skepticism. She did see that Luke was growing more outgoing with each day spent with the family. He was acting like an older brother to Haley, and she couldn’t deny that connection.

  The day’s events had weighed on her and what energy she had earlier was now gone. She hadn’t put the truck in park for a second before Haley jumped out and tore toward the front door. She gave in to her fatigue for a moment as she slid down and rested her head on top of the old vinyl bench seat. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply. The rich smell of pine needles propelled her to their first time in McCall over eight years ago. She fell in love with Idaho the second she saw the grass-covered foothills outside of Boise give way to the tree-covered mountains. The alpine feel was something she had never experienced growing up. She had tried to explain its uniqueness to her friends but it often fell on disinterested ears. Upon their fourth visit a year later they finally committed and bought the place they were living in now.

  A loud happy squeal from Haley jogged Samantha from her daydream. She couldn’t waste any more time. She exited the truck and walked down the worn paver walkway to the front door.

  “Luke?”

  “Back here,” Luke said from his bedroom, his voice a bit raspy.

  Samantha looked around the main room and smiled. She loved that Annaliese was like her, a caring homemaker. Everything in their house was in its place and neat and clean. She wondered how after being sick for week Annaliese’s home stayed immaculate. All she could surmise was that she had properly trained the men of the house.

  Luke came out of his bedroom, followed by Haley, who was wearing a gorilla mask.

  “Hi, Aunt Samantha,” Luke said. His referring to her as aunt happened relatively quickly following their meeting. Wanting to give Luke a sense of stability and to not let him feel isolated, Sebastian and Annaliese asked if they could adopt him and he joyfully agreed to it. There weren’t any legal proceedings, but the simple act of wanting him and declaring that he was family meant more than any court could give Luke. He fit right into the role as a dutiful son, nephew, and cousin. “What’s going on?” he then asked, clearly unaware of the situation.

  “Are you feeling all right, Luke? I heard you coughing.”

  “Yeah, just a chest cold. I woke up with it.”

  Samantha looked him over. He appeared well enough, but it was something to monitor.

  “I’m sorry to be the one to let you know this, Luke, but Annaliese is being sent to a hospital far away and Sebastian is going with her.”

  A grim look came over his face.

  “While they’re gone, you’ll stay with me and Gordon.”

  “And me, yay!” Haley yelped as she jumped up in the air, still wearing the tattered gorilla mask.

  “Is she going to be okay?” Luke asked, concern evident in his voice.

  “Yes, she’ll be fine, she just needs care that she can’t get here,” Samantha answered as she rubbed his arm.

  “How long will they be gone?”

  “I don’t know, but I can’t imagine it will be for a long time. Why don’t you go and get some things together while I go and pack a bag for them?”

  Samantha wandered into Sebastian and Annaliese’s bedroom. There she found the opposite of tidiness. The bed was unmade, with towels and dirty dishes on the nightstand. Sebastian must be beyond devastated. Her heart felt a pang when she imagined the physical pain Annaliese was experiencing and the emotional pain Sebastian was suffering. Not wanting to stay long, she found a duffel bag in the closet and began to stuff it with clothes. As she packed, she came upon a loaded .45-caliber pistol. She instinctually set it aside. She imagined Sebastian could need it and placed it in the bag as well.

  When she was getting items from a chest of drawers, she found a Free Cascadia T-shirt. She pulled it out and looked at it. She didn’t find it odd that Sebastian had gravitated toward the group; he was more of a free spirit than Gordon. But she wondered why Gordon hadn’t yet made the transition. It wasn’t for Sebastian’s lack of trying. She knew Gordon like the back of her hand, though, and figured that the more his brother got involved, the more his interest would be piqued.

  “I gave that to Sebastian,” Luke mentioned, now standing at the doorway.

  “Oh my God, you startled me,” Samantha said as she jumped.

  “Sorry.”

  “They have a pretty flag. I love the tree,” she said, holding the shirt up as she examined it more closely.

  “They’re good people. You should come to a meeting sometime.”

  “Since when did you become involved with them?”

  “A few weeks ago. Sebastian thought I was old enough to participate. Why doesn’t Uncle Gordon join?” Luke asked.

  “I don’t know, Luke, sometimes Gordon can be stubborn. How does Sebastian feel about Gordon’s reluctance?”

  “Oh, he thinks he’ll come around. He’s not too worried.”

  “Yeah, I would agree with Sebastian. Your uncle Gordon takes a little longer to warm up to things sometimes, but I think he likes the concept of self-rule. Actually, I don’t think it, I know he does. I know he pretends to be against it sometimes but he has no real love for the establishment, never has.”

  “That’s good to hear,” Luke said.

  “I think it’s good too,” Samantha said,

  “Is Uncle Gordon leaving too?”

  “Unfortunately, yes, he is.”

  “Sorry.”

  Samantha looked over at Luke and smiled, moved by his sympathy. Each encounter she had with him helped push any negative thoughts about his previous behavior further from her mind.

  Haley tugged on Samantha’s sleeve. “Mom, why does Daddy have to leave again?”

  The question alone tore at her heartstrings. “He has to go help Aunt Annaliese.”

  She and Gord
on had talked with Haley earlier but the mentioning of his departure rekindled her tender emotions.

  “I don’t understand,” Haley stated.

  “I know it’s all confusing, honey, but Daddy will be home soon. When we get home I’ll set up a tent in the great room and we can camp out together, make it special.”

  Samantha’s overtures didn’t do anything to help relieve Haley of her sadness. Tears welled in her daughter’s eyes.

  “That sounds like fun!” Luke chimed in, in an attempt to help. “If it’s clear tonight why don’t we look for falling stars?”

  Luke’s persistence finally brought a smile to her face.

  “Sounds like we’re going to have fun tonight,” Samantha said. It was a temporary solution, but in this situation, it was all she could do.

  • • •

  The chopper taking Annaliese and Sebastian back to Cheyenne arrived close to the expected arrival time. Working like a pit crew, the medical staff exited the chopper and scooped up Annaliese.

  For the second time today, Sebastian’s face was awash in tears. Samantha embraced him tightly.

  “You be safe and watch over my sister,” Samantha said. Tears now filled her eyes too.

  “It makes me so happy that you two love one another. She thinks the world of you.”

  “Well, I think the world of her. She’s amazing,” Samantha said and gave him another big hug.

  The crew chief on the helicopter hollered, “We gotta go!”

  Gordon ran up and gave him a hug. “I love you, brother. Be safe.”

  “I can’t thank you enough.”

  “It’s what family does.” Gordon looked at his brother and remembered the time Sebastian had stopped by his house for dinner well over a year ago. He looked so different now. His sandy blond hair was shaggy and hung below his ears. A trimmed and groomed beard graced his face, giving him an older and more rugged look. Even his blue eyes looked older. If this new world had one thing that was universal it would be its ability to sap every ounce of youthful innocence and idealism right out of anyone. A combat tour didn’t even have the same lethal effect on one’s psyche as this world did. The wars he and his brother had been through may have scarred their humanity, but this world had the ability to utterly destroy it.