EMP Post-Apocalyptic Survival by Hunt, James (acx book reading .TXT) 📗

“Why was your son shooting at us?” Kurt Johnson asked.

“He was shooting at his father,” Jane answered, clarifying the reason. “And it was a misunderstanding.”

“Hell of a misunderstanding,” Tony Kipper replied.

Jane figured the firefighters would cause the most trouble if they chose to stay behind, but it was clear Jane was now in charge, and she needed to set the tone of her leadership immediately.

“It’s been a night of misunderstandings, wouldn’t you say?” Jane asked, taunting both Kurt and Tony over the fact that they had been willing to let their close friends hang out to dry in order to save their own families. “After all, everybody thought Liz Riker was here to protect us and not help murderous traitors. And yet we find ourselves with Liz and her family gone and all of us still here.”

Jane stepped between Tony and Kurt and entered the cluster of people who had gathered around. She wanted to insert herself into the group so people could see she wasn’t afraid.

“The fate of our families now rests in our hands,” Jane said. “I know that not everyone here voted for me. But I hope that we can all agree now that I’m still the best choice for us moving forward. I am a survivor, and I am a fighter, and I will not put the needs of myself before the needs of our community. I will do everything in my power to keep us safe and make sure something like what happened today never happens again.”

Jane took a moment to look everyone in the eye and remained silent to let her words resonate amongst the crowd. She hoped her speech would reach everyone, but she was prepared to use her weapon if it came to violence because after everything she’d done, she wasn’t about to lose this place.

Eventually, a woman stepped from the crowd and joined Jane in the circle. Jane recognized her as the nurse from the women’s clinic. She was a short, heavyset Latina woman, but she was about the same height as Jane.

The pair of women locked eyes, and then the woman turned to the rest of the crowd. “She stayed when Liz Riker ran away. If that doesn’t speak to her level of commitment to this place and to us, then I don’t know what does.” She faced Jane again and shook her hand. “Actions always speak louder than words.”

Jane smiled as mild-mannered applause broke out around her. “Yes, they do,” Jane said.

Mark walked through the small strip mall where the army had set their command tent. They had retreated out of the city and were heading northwest, according to some of Mark’s scouts. The terrain was making it difficult, though, for their men to retain the upper hand, and Mark had called off the pursuit.

The military could afford to lose men, but Mark knew they still needed every fighter they could get for the future of their cause.

Mark placed the duffel bag with the piece of the nuclear device on the table. He opened it and examined the machinery. He wasn’t sure if it was damaged or not, but he hoped the few scientists and engineers they still had working for them would be able to confirm if it were still operational.

And while Mark knew that he should be more concerned about the condition of the device, the only thing he could think about was the image of his brother lying in the street.

Mark hadn’t checked for a pulse, but there was so much blood and no one around to help him, there was no chance of survival.

Ben was dead.

Ever since Mark was reunited with Ben on their last encounter, he knew that it was unavoidable that they would meet again. Ben had always been strong-willed, even as a child. It was one of the reasons it was so difficult for Mark to try to raise him by himself.

But even though Mark saw all this coming, it didn’t prepare him for the eventuality. He felt completely numb after pulling the trigger. He had killed the final piece of himself linked to a forgotten past.

The supreme leader had always spoken of purging yourself of anything and everything that would prevent you from accomplishing the mission. In order to create real change, a person needed to be absolute.

Mark had always thought there was something pure in the absolute. But now that he stood on that same platform, he was beginning to think differently. If his decision was right, then why did he feel so miserable? If their cause was so just, then why did he feel as though he had completely forsaken himself? He was supposed to be happy now. Or at the very least at peace.

“Sir?” One of Mark’s men stood in the entrance to the old command tent. “The supreme leader is here to see you.”

Mark spun around, surprised. “He’s here?”

The young fighter looked as nervous as Mark felt. “Yes, sir. He wanted to come to see our progress. Should I send him to see you?”

“No,” Mark answered quickly, and then he picked up the duffle bag. “I will go to him.”

Mark walked quickly through the camp. His men had already set up a perimeter and secured the city. It would act as a good foothold for repelling the eastern wave of troops that were heading their way. Of course, now that they had recovered the stolen piece of the bomb, Mark wasn’t even sure if the supreme leader wanted them to stay.

The supreme leader walked through the camp to raucous cheers. It was as though the men believed the supreme leader was with them the entire fight. That was the kind of hold that he held over everybody in the organization. It was the same type of energy and charisma that had pulled Mark into all of this ten years ago.

“Marcus,” the supreme leader said, opening his arms and walking toward Mark with a smile on his face. “You and our men have done