Through Many Fires (Strengthen What Remains) (5 page)

Looking
at the coin Maria asked, “What’s that?”

“
My
dad would say it’s real money.”

As
they walked toward the market she said, “I met someone from Washington state.”

“
Oh?”

“
He
said his boss was Governor Monroe.”

His
mouth dropped open. “Monroe?”

Maria
nodded nonchalantly. “Do you know him?”

“
We’ve
met.” he smiled as his mind raced. “He’s governor of Washington state—and the
leading candidate for president.”

“
Really?”
Her eyebrows rose. “The guy, David Weston, said that the governor wanted to get
to Olympia as soon as possible. Isn’t Seattle the capital of Washington?”

Lost
in his own thoughts, Caden hardly heard what she said. He had worked as an aide
to a senator and had military experience. Monroe might be in need of a man with
his talents. He looked across the vast refugee camp. He would have to find
David Weston—today.
He’s my ticket to a new job and a trip home.

The
barrack’s door protested with a loud squeak as Caden yanked it open and hurried
out of the cold rain. Movement caught his eye when he was halfway across the
lobby. Turning his head he saw a man, seated alone in the corner, staring down
at a sheet of paper. The man wiped away tears. Beside him on the floor were the
tatters of a quickly opened envelope.

Bad
news. So much pain and suffering these days.

As the
man raised his head from the letter, Caden recognized him.
Turner!
Remembering their discussion days ago about family, Caden’s gut twisted into a
knot. Turner had been hoping for a letter and now he had it, but this must be
news his friend did not want to hear. Immediately his mind jumped to the worst
possible scenario—his friend’s family had not survived the Washington blast.

He
paused, unsure of what to say. “I was coming to see you, ah…” Caden looked at
the door, “Should I go?”

“
No.”
He wiped the tears from his cheeks, stood with eyes fixed on the letter.

Caden
glanced at the door once again. He wanted to go, but felt he should stay. “Is
there anything I can do?”

“
It’s
okay, really.”

Caden
was certain Turner’s wife and children were dead. “I’m sorry.”

“
You
don’t understand.” A smile spread across his face. “My family, they’re alive.”

Caden
shouted with joy and grabbed his friend in a bear hug. They stumbled backward
as tears ran down the cheeks of both.

After
several minutes of smiles, laughter and talk, the two men made their way up the
stairs toward Turner’s barracks room.

“
You
actually got a letter?” Caden rubbed his chin. “The more I think about the post
office still functioning the stranger it sounds.”

Turner
grinned as he unlocked the door of his room. “Neither rain, nor snow, nor
nuclear bombs.” He chuckled at his own joke. “Susie, my wife, sent it the day
after the attack on Washington. It must have followed my unit as we moved.”

“
Have
you talked to your family?” He stepped into the small room, and looked for a
phone, but did not see one. He pulled his cell phone from a pocket. “Use this.”

Turner
gestured toward a chair. “It won’t work.”

Caden
shot him a quizzical look as he sat down.

“
Have
you been able to call your family?”

“
No,
but you might be….”

Turner
shook his head. “President Durant issued an executive order placing phone and Internet
system under military control. Long distance communication is limited to
government business.”

“
Why?”

“
To
keep them available for the good guys and keep any remaining terrorists from
communicating.”

“
Won’t
they just send letters?”

Turner
shrugged. “Maybe, but that’s slower and I suspect letters are being monitored
also. Actually, a computer nerd in my squad said you could still use the
Internet if you know the IP address for a site.”

Caden
recalled how his father had the IP address for a prepper blog site taped to his
laptop.
But I don’t know any IP addresses so I guess the Internet and the
phones are unavailable for now.
He shook his head.
The government
controlling and probably monitoring the calls and letters of citizens—what is
the country becoming?
He pushed the thought out of his mind. “I came to
offer you an assignment.” He glanced about the room. Folded clothes were
scattered about.

“
Oh?”
Turner sat beside his duffle bag.

“
I’m
trying to get a flight back to Washington state for Governor Monroe….”

“
The
presidential candidate?”

Caden
nodded. “I met with David Weston, his Chief of Staff, late yesterday. He
offered me a job as military liaison, if I could arrange the flight.”

Turner
smiled approvingly.

“
And
considering all the chaos, I wanted some additional security until we meet up
with the Washington Guard.” He held up some documents. “The base commander has
already approved my plans.”

Turner
shook his head as he folded a shirt. “I don’t know if I can help you.”

Caden
gestured at the neatly stacked uniforms beside a duffle bag. “Are you deploying
again?”

“
Rucker
is being turned over to the Alabama National Guard. All regular army personnel
here are being deployed west.”

“
West?”
Caden thought for a moment. “Washington is west.”

Turner
shrugged. “Okay. The transfer was supposed to be confidential, but word has
already leaked.”

He
grinned. “Well, If you’re going west anyway do you have a problem with it being
JBLM or Fairchild?”

Turner
shook his head.

“
Good.”
He started to say goodbye, but asked, “Do you know why you’re being sent west?”

“
You
know that North Korea supplied material for the bombs?”

Caden
nodded.

“
We
may be headed to Korea but,” Turner shrugged, “ours is not to question why….”
He continued packing.

Caden
made small talk for a few moments then said, “I hope you are able to talk to
your family soon.”

“
Thanks.
I would really like to before we ship out to Korea or wherever.”

Caden
agreed and departed.

The
rain stopped as he walked from the barracks. The clouds were thinning and the
day felt brighter and warmer. The world might be falling apart, but at least he
was rebuilding his life. His pace was quick as he walked down the street. As he
entered the flight operations building a C-130 roared down the runway.

“
Washington
state?” The officer stared at the computer screen. “Yes, we have two planes
tonight headed for Fairchild. One is full of cargo, the other full of
soldiers.” He shook his head. “Sorry, no space.”

“
Come
on, I need a seat for a governor. This man may be the next president.”

“
When
Monroe is president he can bump military cargo and get on the plane.”

“
Is
space that tight?”

The
officer nodded. “I might be able to get him onboard a flight, but not his
entourage.”

Frustration
grew in Caden’s gut. Governor Monroe would arrive tonight and if he was to get
this job, and get home, he would need to prove his usefulness, but as of yet he
had no flight and therefore no security detail either. Caden shuddered at the
thought of reporting failure and then asking for a job. He tried to think of
all the larger bases in the region.

“
Northwest,”
the man mumbled as he stared at the screen. “Only Fairchild today, but…. What
about Joint Base Lewis-McChord?” He said looking up. “That’s in western
Washington.”

Caden
nodded. He knew JBLM well. “How many flights are going there?”

“
Oh,
we have three flights tomorrow to that base.”

Caden’s
brow shot up. “Three?”

“
How
many spots would you need on the plane?”

Caden
thought quickly, the governor, his wife, David Weston and himself. Weston had
also mentioned two Secret Service agents were with the governor. “Six and a
security detail of maybe four more.”

“
Ten
people?” He bit his lip as he scanned the computer screen. “Maybe…yes, I think
I can do that, but I’ll need an okay from the commanding officer.”

Caden
smiled as he slid the general’s order across the counter.

*
              
*
              
*

Late
in the afternoon Caden walked from the military police office. He unfolded his
to-do list. Before the MPs had cleared him to leave, they had taken every piece
of identification he had and entered it into a database. Finally, they approved
him for travel and issued a red, white and blue ID badge.

“
Don’t
lose this,” one said sternly. “This is your Homeland Security ID. You will need
it to cross state lines, get through checkpoints and onto any federal
installation.”

Caden
slipped it in his pocket.

Running
down his list he checked off, “Get approval from the MPs to leave.” Now only
‘Brief David Weston on progress,’ remained on his list. Caden ambled along the
road that followed the flight line. Several planes were being fueled. Dozens of
military personnel with assorted trucks and tankers busied themselves about the
hangers and aircraft.
All regular army personnel sent west?
A large
formation of troops marching toward the flight line caught his attention.
Multiple
flights to JBLM and Fairchild tomorrow. What’s going on?
The image of the
boiling mushroom cloud over Washington and the firestorm filled his mind.
Wars
and rumors of wars.
He shuddered at the thought.
The war has already
begun—and we’re losing.

Briskly
he proceeded toward the refugee center. After talking with Weston he would
share his good news with Maria. He approached a large asphalt lot that had been
used for military formations, but the refugees had converted it into a bazaar.
As he reached the edge of the market, the sun hung low in the sky casting long
shadows amidst the rows of improvised stalls covered with tarps and canvas. His
eyes darted from stall to stall as he walked through the market. There seemed
to be some of everything there, car parts, camping supplies, computers, dishes,
books and magazines. It was possible to buy food from local farms, but the
price was high. Ahead was a stand with apples. He would buy one and share it
with Maria over dinner that night.

As he
walked away from the booth, apple in hand, he saw Maria approach with Adam on
her hip. The two seemed to be attached these last few days. He waved and Maria
smiled.

As she
neared, her eyes seemed to twinkle in anticipation. “Did you get the job?”

“
I
think so.” He told her that Weston had eagerly asked for his help and how he
had arranged a flight to Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

“
Where’s
that?”

“
Just
south of Seattle,” he said with a broad grin. “So, I am out of here.”

She
frowned. “When do you leave?”

Caden
looked toward the airfield with a smile. “Tomorrow.”

“
So
you’re leaving Adam and me behind?”

His
head snapped around and he looked into her eyes. “I…ah, Adam? And you? You want
to go? I hadn’t thought….”

“
I
agree.” She turned on her heels and walked briskly away.

Caden
stood for a moment reviewing what had just happened. He was hurt by her anger.
Admittedly he had forgotten about Adam in the excitement of the day. Perhaps
subconsciously he had expected Maria to care for him. Everyone in the camp
assumed she was his mother.
And me the father?
He pushed that out of his
mind.
Did she say anything about wanting to go with me to Washington? No!
But then has she had the chance to ask? No.

He
grunted and walked slowly along as people passed him on all sides.
They
would only complicate the trip. I’m not even sure I have this job.

Someone
bumped into him. “Excuse me.”

Caden
didn’t look up or reply.
I can’t ask the governor to help strangers.
He
walked in the direction she had gone, trying to decide whether to talk to her.
I
don’t owe her anything.
He winced.
Yes, I do.
She had saved his life
and that was a debt he was honor-bound to repay. Shuffling along, his eyes
fixed on the ground, he realized he had been thinking only of himself. Her
company was pleasant and he wanted to share with her all he had accomplished
during the day, but now he felt alone and his triumph was diminished.
It
might be nice to have someone to talk to, if she wanted to come along.
Even
Adam was growing on him.

From
behind Caden heard a familiar voice call him.

“
Were
you able to make the arrangements?” David asked.

Caden
briefed him on his successful day.

“
That’s
great.”

Caden
smiled, but his heart was not in it.

“
Come
back to my camp. I’ve got some news stories I want you to see. I figure with
your military and intel experience you might have some insights into what is
going on.”

Caden
wanted to find Maria, talk with her, change flight arrangements so she could
come with him, but he felt obliged to go with David.

As the
last orange glow in the western sky faded, a C5 cargo plane lumbered along the
tarmac. David led him away from the refugee camp toward the base administration
buildings at the far end of the installation.

Dozens
of men with shovels and two backhoes dug a trench several hundred yards long
across their path.

“
They’re
dividing this place into a secure military section and a refugee camp.” David
pulled a badge from his pocket and clipped it to his shirt as they crossed a
makeshift bridge over the trench. “In a few days civilians will need a Homeland
Security ID to get on this part of the base.”