The Alliance (26 page)

 

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Chapter
68

A revolution sprouted up. In only a few short years the lesser-­paid men realized they were never going to be married and staged an attack. Rather than fight our own a compromise was reached. Every man will start out the same and serve his country before he is eligible for a bride, meaning when the first generation of young females comes of age their husbands will be well into their forties and fifties. My conscience is clouded, but I see few other options.

—­The journal of Isaac Ryland

The gray-­haired man lay in bed, sound asleep. Grant ordered Dr. Schaffer to keep Roderick Rowe sedated at all times. The man was a nuisance and Grant couldn't wait to get rid of him. Whether that meant handing the man off to his son in exchange for Mia or using him to test weapons on made little difference at this point.

“So when is the deadline?” Hansen asked.

“Four days,” Grant said.

“How are you going to proceed?”

“I haven't decided,” Grant said. “I would love to post guards outside his room in case he tries to escape, but then I risk bringing more ­people in on the fact that he's here.”

“Who knows?”

“Me, you, and the doctor,” Grant said. “My harboring a dead man to exchange for my dead wife might not go over to well with the grand commander.”

“I see,” Hansen said.

“If they come it will be with the intent of sneaking him out,” Grant said. “So he must be monitored.”

“Why not kill him now?” Hansen said. “You're not really going to let him leave.”

“I toyed with the idea at first,” Grant said. “I am a man of my word.”

“And now?”

“Now I'm getting angry,” Grant said. “I'm sure Carter will want proof of his father's life, so at the moment he must live. Which leads me to another problem. I am going to have to wake Mr. Rowe and he will likely be screaming and yelling, making all sorts of noise, so any guard will be within earshot.”

“And with all the ­people showing up at the house to get the place ready for the wedding . . .”

“I won't be able to move him to another wing,” Grant said.

“What about your work space?” Hansen asked. “It's secure, it's soundproof, and you have easy access.”

“It's filled with weapons,” Grant said. “I need to keep my inventions more secure than my prisoner.”

“So he stays here?” Hansen asked.

“If we were able to find out where Frank Piozzi went none of this would be an issue,” Grant said.

“The man is a ghost,” Hansen said.

“He shouldn't be,” Grant said. “I hate it when the technology ban works against us. If he had more of an online presence it would be impossible to stay hidden.”

Grant was giving serious thought to lifting the whole ban once he was grand commander. He had his whole house monitored with the best technology. He didn't think it would be too much of a stretch to use similar devices on a national scale. That way he could monitor his entire country.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” Dr. Schaffer said as he walked into the room.

“What's the diagnosis?” Grant asked.

“The leg casts will come off today,” Dr. Schaffer said. “He won't be able to walk very well, but I expect a full recovery with physical therapy.”

“When you wake him will he be able to stand?”

“Most likely,” Dr. Schaffer said. “But he will need support to move. His legs have been inactive for some time.”

“Make sure he is restrained,” Grant said. “Wake him up in three days. If I need him roused earlier make sure I have the necessary equipment.”

“Of course, sir,” Dr. Schaffer said.

Grant stood up to leave. Hansen rose as well.

“You're staying here,” Grant said.

“Why?” Hansen asked.

Grant pointed to the rifle he'd brought with him for the trip down.

“They may come early for him,” Grant said. “I want you to shoot anyone who walks through that door unless they knock three times before entering. Without hearing the three knocks, fire at will; don't wait and see who it is.”

“What if it's you?” Hansen asked.

“Then I deserve to die for failing to follow my own directions,” Grant said.

“What if it's me?” Dr. Schaffer asked.

Grant grabbed the door and gave it three taps.

“I recommend you get used to knocking,” Grant said.

He left the two men and started down the abandoned halls of the east wing. He made a detour down one of the secret passageways since the public entrance went out into the ballroom, and that place was crawling with workers preparing for the wedding. Grant had built this place with the intent of staffing it to its greatest capacity, but he had grown accustomed to having few ­people around and found the invasion of his home quite annoying.

Grant knew she would come for the man. He hoped it wouldn't be her who pushed open the door first, since Grant would prefer to kill Amelia Morrissey himself, but time was running out and he would take what he could get at this point.

 

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Chapter
69

I spend as much of my time on government planning as possible. I can no longer stand the look of helplessness and lost hope that covers my wife's face. If there is any positive to take away from our situation it is that my daughters will be too ignorant to feel the same unhappiness as their mother.

—­The journal of Isaac Ryland

The sun was rising and Andrew leaned against the door frame to take it all in. He was back in his suit, which had been cleaned but still looked pretty beat-­up. It was the best cover he had though, since today they were leaving the camp and returning to the real world.

“Up already?”

Andrew turned to the left to see Mikey walking over. He hadn't noticed her.

“I can't sleep,” Andrew said.

“I never sleep,” Mikey said. “We won't start the walk back for another two hours, and the trip is about four hours. Which you have to take blindfolded. You should have gotten some rest.”

“That's the closest road to this place?” Andrew asked.

Mikey nodded. “You can stay here,” she said. “I think I already know your answer, but I still had to make the offer.”

“Well, you have your answer then,” Andrew said.

“I'm serious,” Mikey said. “You've been good at helping out. Your whole team—­even Trent has fit in all right.”

“Thank you,” Andrew said. “For not killing us or anything.”

“You're welcome,” Mikey said. “I don't suppose it mattered though; you're walking into certain death.”

“What if we win?” Andrew asked. “Will you come down from the mountains?”

“If you win we won't know for a few months, until we need to send someone into town again,” Mikey said. “And even then America will be in disarray. Who's to say the next leader won't try something worse?”

Andrew hadn't given much thought to what would happen after the Registry and ser­vice list were destroyed.

“That's impossible,” Andrew said. “It can't be any worse than it is now.”

Mikey shrugged. “I'm sure that's what the ­people fighting the Great War thought,” she said.

“Once we make it to the car how long until our phones work again?” Andrew asked.

“It would be faster if you wanted to go the way you came from,” Mikey said. “Since you're heading west I would guess another eight hours.”

“We'll make civilization by nightfall,” Andrew said.

“I wouldn't call it civilization,” Mikey said. “We're more civilized than they are.”

“If we're successful I'll come back and let you know,” Andrew said.

“I hope that's not possible,” Mikey said. “If you find your way back here that means we shouldn't have let you leave.”

Andrew heard rustling behind him. He looked over his shoulder to see Carter sitting up in his sleeping bag.

“This is good-­bye,” Mikey said. “Dustin and his brothers are going to walk you down.”

“Until next time,” Andrew said.

Mikey rolled her eyes and nodded her head before turning around. He knew he should be scared of heading back into mainstream America, but there was too much at stake to let fear crowd his mind.

 

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Chapter
70

I am pregnant again. I don't feel happiness or sorrow. There are too many conflicting feelings inside me. I try my hardest to focus on the positives. I am helping to repopulate my once-­great country that I risked my life for.

—­The diary of Megan Jean

Two days until Rod would meet his demise. Mia felt knots growing in her stomach. Everyone went about their day as usual, but Mia knew this was not an ordinary day. As soon as the sun set she and Riley were leaving for Grant's mansion.

“What are you doing alone in here?” Alex asked.

He came into the kitchen and went to the fridge. He wiped sweat off his brow and took out some purified water.

“Riley is making more bullets,” Mia said.

“Maybe soon we can all train with the guns,” Alex said. “I know you said she has a system, but I can't think of a time when having a sword is going to beat a firearm.”

“You and Frank already know how to shoot,” Mia said.

“I was talking about Corinna and Laura,” Alex said. “Why don't you come outside with us?”

“I need to strategize.”

“Did you and the queen bee figure out our method of attack?” Alex asked.

“We're working on it,” Mia said. “We have time now.”

“Grant gets married in three days,” Alex said. “I take it that deadline is out the window?”

Mia nodded her head. She wasn't lying about that part.

“As soon as you figure out our part, let us know,” Alex said. “Until then I must return to my swordplay.”

Alex did a fancy bow and Mia waved good-­bye.

“That's it?” Alex asked. “No laugh? No funny comment? What is going on with you?”

“Nothing,” Mia said. “I'm sorry, your bow was funny.”

“Don't say that,” Alex said. “Saying something is funny without laughing is worse than not laughing at all.”

“I have a lot on my mind,” Mia said.

“We all do,” Alex said. “Any word from Andrew?”

“None,” Mia said. “If I call him it still goes straight to voice mail.”

“You sound more annoyed than concerned,” Alex said.

“What is that supposed to mean?” Mia asked.

“It means something is weighing on you,” Alex said. “I can tell by your responses it's not taking down the Registry, Grant's wedding, or Andrew. So what is it?”

“Everything you just mentioned,” Mia said.

“When you feel like talking about it there are four ­people outside who would love to let you lean on them,” Alex said.

“I'm fine,” Mia said.

“Sure,” Alex said.

He turned and started walking out. Mia wanted to stop him and let him know about saving Rod, but that would risk involving Corinna and her mother. Mia wouldn't let them get hurt, so instead she kept her mouth shut and let him walk out. The knot in her stomach felt like it was tightening.

 

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Chapter
71

I said good-­bye to another child this evening. This makes number six in ten years. I feel like an awful person admitting it, but it does get easier.

—­The journal of Isaac Ryland

Andrew had no idea what direction they were walking in. The blindfold was making it impossible to keep his wits.

“Be careful,” JR said. “It gets steep here.”

Andrew reached out and grabbed the man's shoulders as they made the chain again and walked down the trail.

“How did you get all of us up here?” Trent asked.

“You were unconscious,” Dustin said. “And we had two donkeys with us. Two of you were loaded on them and two were dragged for the most part.”

“We all took turns dragging you,” JR said. “It took a while.”

“Longer than this?” Zack asked.

They had to have been walking for close to four hours.

“No donkeys today,” Dustin said. “They're ahead of us unloading whatever goods Tim brought back.”

“Who's Tim?” Carter asked.

“The driver,” JR said. “He'll be mad when he sees you three.”

“Why?”

“Because he just got home,” Dustin said. “And now he has to drive back out.”

“Can't one of you take us?”

“Tim is the only one who knows how to drive,” JR said.

“Stop,” Dustin said.

The group froze.

“You can take off your blindfold,” JR said.

Andrew let go of the man's shoulder and pulled down the black cloth. They were standing on a cliff. Andrew rubbed his eyes for a moment, then walked to the edge; about thirty feet down was the road. The rest of the group started walking to the right. Next to the road was a rock formation, and behind it stood a large black pickup truck. It would be impossible to see the vehicle from the road.

As they neared the truck Andrew got a better look at the area. Behind the black vehicle was their SUV.

“I thought our car was destroyed,” Carter said.

“We stayed here for ten days when the car was here the whole time?” Zack asked.

Andrew expected to see red, but his breathing was even. He was more interested in hearing the explanation than in pouring his anger out, but he could feel it growing inside him.

“The day we took your car we took all the gasoline and put it into this guy,” the man who must have been Tim said. “The group who came down to unload said to fill it back up and change the oil. You're good to go.”

“So you stole our car and took the gasoline from it to fill your car?” Andrew asked.

“We can't go to the same city every time we need supplies,” Dustin said. “It will draw attention. With the fuel we stole from you Tim was able to drive farther than normal.”

“I would consider this a gift,” JR said. “Mikey was planning on keeping your SUV and dropping you off. She just changed her mind this morning.”

“You guys are a piece of work,” Zack said. “Gifting us our own car back.”

“Changed the plates for you too,” Tim said. “We keep a spare set of phony ones to switch out every time I head out of here.”

“Thank you,” Andrew said.

Dustin walked up to Andrew and put the keys in his hand.

“I'm not much for good-­byes,” Dustin said. “I've never had to say one before.”

Andrew nodded his head at Dustin and JR. He wasn't big on this stuff either.

“Can you do me a favor?” Trent asked. “Tell Karen I look forward to the day I get to clean her house.”

Dustin and JR gave Trent a raised eyebrow. Carter walked over with a pair of handcuffs. Trent turned around and put his arms behind his back.

“Don't,” Andrew said.

Carter paused.

“I don't think those are necessary anymore,” Andrew said.

Carter nodded.

“How do we get out of here?” Andrew asked.

“They want to make it to the capital,” JR said.

“That's a far drive from here,” Tim said.

“We'd like to avoid areas like this one,” Andrew said.

“Drive the car down the hill,” Tim said. “Make a left. Travel for about a mile, then make another left. It's all gravel roads so you need to pay attention. Once you're on that one stick on it for about eight hundred miles.”

“Mikey said we were eight hours away,” Andrew said. “Not eight hundred miles.”

“In about eight hours you'll hit some small towns,” Tim said. “But the next major city is closer to fourteen.”

“But our phones will work in eight hours?” Andrew said.

“I don't have a clue,” Tim said. “I've never used a phone.”

“You'll be tempted to drive fast,” Tim said. “I wouldn't push it over fifty. These roads are dangerous. One sharp turn and you can spin out.”

“Do we need to worry about more mountain ­people?” Trent asked.

“What?” Tim asked.

“You know,” Trent said. “The ­people who live in the mountains and want to rob and kill us?”

“It was a fluke we found you,” Dustin said. “If there are other groups of ­people living out here they want to be left alone. Don't stop and sleep for the night and you'll be fine.”

“Was there anything else Mikey wanted to give us?” Andrew asked.

“A jug of water is in the car,” JR said.

Andrew was hoping for a gun but knew it was unlikely.

“Good-­bye,” Andrew said.

The three men nodded at them and Andrew turned to walk toward the car. Zack was seated in the passenger seat already.

“I was about to honk,” Zack said. “Let's get out of here.”

His phone was sitting on his leg.

“What's that for?”

“As soon as we get a signal I'm calling Affinity,” Zack said. “I want to tell them we're safe and find out our next instructions.”

Trent and Carter climbed in the backseat.

“Why isn't he handcuffed?” Zack asked.

“He's fine,” Andrew said.

“These ­people have made you soft,” Zack said. “He's still not helping us.”

“I know,” Andrew said.

He turned over the engine and the SUV roared to life. Andrew had liked it here, more than he enjoyed his time with Affinity or the French. He wondered if once this was all over his life could be more like this.