The Razor's Edge: A Postapocalytic Novel (The New World Book 6) (9 page)

He stepped back more until he felt the bed behind him and sat down. “Am I a prisoner?”

“Not at all, you’re more than welcome to leave.”

“Okay, good to know.”

“Where were you going?”

“If I’m able to leave, why the pistol?”

“Because I don’t trust you.”

“But you bandaged me up only to shoot me?”

“No, but I will if you do something that threatens me.”

“I’m not here to hurt you, trust me.”

“Trust is something I’m not good at.”

The man laughed and said, “I can see that.” He stood up and took a few steps towards her, his hand outstretched. “How about we start off on a new foot?”

She didn’t flinch when he stepped towards her. She was confident in her capabilities, plus she had a 9 mm pointed at him.

He kept his hand out.

She looked at him, holstered her pistol and reached out with her hand.

He took it, shook and said, “Nice to meet you.”

“Same.”

“And thank you for helping me and…” he said but choked with a pause.

“Stephanie,” she said completing his thought.

He looked into her champagne eyes and with sincerity said, “Thank you, I owe you my life.”

“It’s what I do.”

“I see that.”

She pulled her hand away and glanced away.

“What’s your name?” he asked.

She looked back up and asked, “What’s yours?”

“Oh, we’re playing that?” he asked and chuckled then continued, “My name is Nick, but my good friends and family call me Nicholas.”

“Well, Nicholas, do you have a last name? I like to know people’s full names; it helps identify them better.”

“You first,” he challenged.

She turned away and walked down the hall. “I’ve got food if you’re hungry,” she said, ignoring his request.

He raised his brow, stepped out of the room and said, “Knight, my full name is Nicholas Knight.”

She kept walking.

“Wait, you didn’t give me your name.”

She stopped at the end of the hallway. Without turning, she just blurted out, “My name is Lexi, and that bundle of love at your feet is my good friend Beau.”

Nicholas looked down at Beau, who returned the look. “Good doggie.”

“Beau, come; let’s let Nicholas get some rest,” Lexi said.

Beau did as commanded and ran to Lexi.

They both turned the corner and disappeared into the living room.

Nicholas shook his head and said, “Oh boy, she’s a piece of work that one.”

Banff, Alberta, Western Canada

Gordon attempted to make casual conversation, but Megyn only gave simple one- or two-word replies. Her chattiness from earlier, if that was what it could be called, was reduced to almost nothing now.

When they stopped outside two massive doors, she said, “Right through there, sir.”

He looked at her and asked, “What or who’s in there?”

“The answers you seek, Mr. President,” she said.

“Am I in danger?” Gordon asked already knowing the answer was yes.

“Just do as I said yesterday,” she said.

He looked at the doors and then back to her. “What does he want?”

“Sir, just please do as he says. The prime minister is a serious man. Don’t underestimate him; I strongly encourage you don’t do that,” she advised and walked away, leaving him alone to stand and ponder.

Gordon quizzically looked at her as she sauntered through the large hall and exited through an equally large set of doors at the other end. He turned and examined the ornately etched doors from their base to the very top, which towered eighteen feet.

“Let’s find out what’s going on,” he said turning the bronze handle and opening the door.

Inside, he found the room vacant. The walls were lined with bookcases loaded from floor to ceiling with hardback books. Thick leather couches and chairs sat in the center of the room, and at the far end a substantial wood desk sat centered on the wall behind it. The room was washed in a natural light that came in through two tall windows on the right side of the room.

He walked further into the room and out of the corner of his eye spotted a table in the far corner. A
bove it
a map was tacked to the wall This piqued his curiosity; he cleared the fifty feet in seconds to see the map.

Immediately he saw that Cascadia, which had been written onto the map over Washington, Oregon and Idaho, was crossed out. A red marker had been used to outline his new country and include it into Western Canada. Seeing this, he clenched his teeth and felt a surge of anger. Now he knew what Jacques was up to. He then saw that the red outline included Montana, the Dakotas and Wyoming, including Cheyenne, and that the United States was also crossed out.

He stepped back from the map as if being pushed. He suddenly came to realize he probably wouldn’t leave Banff. What sort of dialogue could be had with a man who had designs on taking everything he had worked so hard for and was so close to seeing become a reality? But why not take him out already? It was obvious that Jacques needed him, but once he helped, what value would he have anymore?

A smaller side door on the left side of the room opened. Jacques walked through and headed directly for Gordon. “So sorry I’m late. I see you’re already getting yourself acquainted.”

Gordon faced him, clenched his fist and punched Jacques in the jaw when he came within reach.

Jacques went reeling backwards and into the back of a chair. His legs wobbled but he recovered and stood up straight. He rubbed his jaw and said, “I can see you’re upset.”

Gordon came at him but stopped when the large doors opened and Cruz stepped in.

“I should kill you right here and now with my bare hands,” Gordon threatened.

“If you kill me, you’ll never know exactly why you and Mr. Cruz are here.”

“I’ve seen all I need to know by looking at your map,” Gordon snapped as he pointed towards the wall.

Cruz, already nervous, froze in fear.

“If you think you’re going to take my country without a fight, a bitter fight that will cost you dearly, you better rethink,” Gordon barked.

“What’s going on?” Cruz asked.

“Go look at that map. His ambitions know no limit,” Gordon replied to Cruz.

“Gentlemen, please take a seat. I’ll have some drinks brought in and we’ll discuss why you’re here,” Jacques pleaded.

Gordon’s nostrils flared and his fists were still clenched. He felt a strong temptation to pummel Jacques relentlessly but doing so would only result in his own death. No, he had to contain his anger and listen to what Jacques had to say while concocting a plan to escape.

“Gordon is correct. This will never occur,” Cruz said, looking at the map.

“Gentlemen, please sit…sit! We have much to discuss, and I promise when I’m done, your answers to my proposal will be yes,” Jacques said with a grin.

Gordon began pacing.

Cruz walked over to one of the large leather chairs and sat.

“Gordon, please sit,” Jacques said.

“No, I need to walk off my anger.”

“Very well, let me get some drinks.”

“Stop the bullshit and tell us why we’re here,” Gordon snapped.

“Fine, I just thought just because we’re adversaries we shouldn’t be heathens,” Jacques said rubbing his jaw. “You have a strong punch.”

Gordon leered.

“You’ve taken us hostage, and now we see you have aims to take over a large swath of the United States—” Cruz said before Gordon interrupted.

“And Cascadia,” Gordon interjected.

Cruz gave Gordon a slight look and continued, “Just get to the point, please.”

Jacques sat in the chair opposite Cruz, crossed his leg and placed his hands on his lap. “Western Canada has had long-standing claims to the lands that you’ve seen marked on the map. Our claims go far back, much further than the existence of the United States in the west and clearly before the existence of Cascadia. With those confines gone, we in Western Canada intend on asserting our claim. We wish to do so through a peaceful treaty but are willing to wage war.”

“This isn’t a game of Risk,” Cruz said, his response also targeted at Gordon.

“I can assure you this isn’t a game, and our intentions, now made, will be exercised. I just want to do this peacefully,” Jacques said.

“I’ll never,” Gordon spat.

“Gordon is clearly angry, as I am, but he and I have different approaches, but I agree with him a thousand percent. I’ll never surrender the territory of the United States.”

“That’s not entirely true, Mr. Cruz. You were considering that with Mr. Van Zandt before I showed up,” Jacques said.

“I, ah,” Cruz mumbled.

“Everything is up for negotiation,” Jacques said.

“Never going to happen, ever,” Gordon again asserted.

Jacques leaned in and said, “Gentlemen, I never had the pleasure of having a family, sometimes I wish I had taken the time, but life got in the way. I envy you both. Sometimes I look back and wish I had done it differently, but then I see my life as it is today and wonder if I could have gotten here with them. I don’t know and I personally don’t like looking back with doubt much less guilt. What I do know is that families offer a deep connection, an intimacy that is priceless.” Jacques paused and gave both men a hard stare.

Gordon grunted loudly to show his disgust for Jacques.

Cruz sat drumming his fingers in anticipation of where Jacques was going with his long diatribe.

“But families also compromise a man. For all the strength they give, they give an equal weakness. You see, a family offers a man something to fight for but can also be used to stop a man from fighting.”

Gordon now knew where he was going with this. “You’re now threatening my family?”

“No, Gordon, I’m threatening you. I know you’re willing to sacrifice a lot to have Cascadia but are you willing to sacrifice your family? The same goes for you, Mr. Cruz. Does land mean more to you than your family?”

Cruz stood up and asked, “Is this how you plan on negotiating?”

“As a matter of fact, yes,” Jacques answered.

“Whatever you thought you had planned won’t happen,” Gordon said.

“Don’t be so sure,” Jacques said then stood. He walked to the large desk and pushed a button on the phone sitting there.

“Yes, Prime Minister,”
a man said.

“Bring them in,” Jacques said.

Gordon’s eyes widened, as did Cruz’s.

A tense minute passed by with nothing.

Jacques sat on the edge of his desk, with a devilish grin stretched across his face.

The large doors at the end opened up.

Gordon and Cruz turned to look.

Two men walked in followed by Samantha and an older woman.

“Sam?” Gordon said racing to her. They embraced tightly. Gordon pulled away and looked at her closely. “You okay? Are you hurt? How are the kids, Haley, Luke? Are they here?”

“They’re safe, I had Nelson take them the instant John reported you had been taken,” Sam replied.

“Mama!” Cruz exclaimed, shocked to see his mother. He ran to her side.

Watching his captives’ bittersweet reunions, Jacques stood and said, “Now that
you see I mean what I say. Can we
discuss my plans.”

Gordon turned and roared at Jacques, “Let us go!”

Jacques walked back to his desk, picked up the phone receiver but didn’t dial. He looked at Gordon and said, “I’ll let you all get reacquainted. Let’s resume this meeting say tomorrow, same time.” He pressed a single button on the phone and said, “Take our guests back to their rooms.”

Immediately the large doors opened and in came four armed men. They surrounded Gordon, Samantha, Cruz and his mother.

“Have an enjoyable day, but please be prepared to discuss my plans tomorrow,” Jacques said firmly.

Sandy, Utah

Annaliese took Pablo by the arm as they left the hospital. “You’ve been such a help.”

Pablo enjoyed it when Annaliese touched him. He knew she didn’t love him in an intimate way and any attempt by him in that manner would be rebuffed, but it didn’t stop him from savoring these brief moments.

“Me, help?” he replied.

She looked towards the horizon. The sun had set and was casting a deep orange glow across the sky. She gripped his arm tighter and said, “Of course, you’re an inspiration to all of them in there.”

“No,” he said.

“Why say no? You are, look at you, you’re walking, which is something no one would have thought. You came to us a broken man. We gave you some care; you did the rest.”

Her words struck him deeply. “No, you…you saved me.”

She stopped and looked into his dark brown eyes. “Don’t you for one moment think you didn’t save yourself. You have the willpower of a giant, you could have given up, but you didn’t. I know your past is something that some here don’t like, but I believe God forgives and God also judges but not now. You have a life ahead of you; it’s your choice how you live that life.”