Conflicted Home (The Survivalist Book 9), A American [top android ebook reader TXT] 📗

one he wore. “They can’t hurt. If we think there’s fallout, we can at least put them on.”

“And then what? You won’t be able to eat anything. Drink anything. You don’t have a fallout shelter.”

“What’s happened to you?” Sheffield asked. “This doesn’t sound like the Morgan I know. The guy that works his way through everything. No problem too big.”

“I’m just saying, it’s a waste of effort. Besides, I don’t think we’ll be seeing any here. I hope, anyway. Do you guys even have measuring equipment?” Livingston looked at Sheffield and he shook his head. “Then how do you propose to know when to wrap that thing around your head? The frickin government did away with Civil Defense and screwed us all. If that were still around, then we’d have the equipment to sample the air. But we don’t and there isn’t shit we can do about it now.”

Livingston glanced down at the bag strapped to his leg. “I guess it is a little silly.”

“All I’m getting at,” I replied, “is we have plenty to worry about that we can do something about.” The two men looked at one another then at me. “I heard there are pickets out on 441. Have they seen anything yet?”

“Fortunately, no,” Sheffield replied.

“Good. That’s good.”

“We’ve made contact with command again. It’s been moved to Eglin,” Sheffield said. “They said it was only one missile and was in response to the sinking of the majority of a Chinese fleet off the coast of California.”

“If that’s the case, why Tampa?”

“MacDill,” Livingston replied. I gave him a no-shit look.

“CENTCOM and SOCOM were there,” Sheffield replied.

“Were, is right.”

He shook his head. “Were, as in they were dispersed. Yes, losing the base was bad. But not nearly to the level it could have been. There wasn’t much left there by the time they nuked it.”

“So, it was the civilians that paid the price then.” I shook my head. “That’s the way these things usually work out. You survive all the shit going on and a damn rocket falls out of the sky and incinerates you in a fraction of second.”

“If you’re lucky,” Livingston replied. “From what we hear, there are still a lot of wounded. The Red Cross is actually just outside the exclusion zone trying to help.”

That surprised me. “No shit? The government is actually doing something now?”

“Not the government,” Livingston said as he looked at Sheffield, who nodded and said, “Go ahead and tell him.”

“Tell me what?” I asked.

Livingston took a deep breath and started. “This sounds worse than it is. There’s been a military coup. The President has been useless from the beginning. They’ve done nothing to help people.”

“Not to mention inviting foreign invaders into the country,” Sheffield added.

Livingston nodded, “That too. So, the military decided it was time for them to intervene. We are now officially under the control of the military. They’ve quickly organized some NGOs, you know, non-governmental organizations to help.”

“I know what NGOs are. Personally, I don’t see it as a bad thing. Someone needs to take control of this shit sandwich. And who better than those used to working in chaos such as this. How long ago did it happen?”

“A couple weeks ago,” Sheffield answered. “It’s not like it was a big deal. There wasn’t any shooting or anything. We’ve got troops stationed outside the bunker that useless piece of shit is hiding in.”

Livingston smiled. “Not for much longer though.” Sheffield gave him a look and he said, “What? How’s telling him going to change anything?”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“The President doesn’t know it, but we’re in talks with his protection detail to bring him out,” Sheffield said.

“Doesn’t really matter,” I shrugged. “I don’t care what happens to him. Won’t change anything for us. But, why haven’t you guys said something?”

“It’s been classified,” Livingston replied.

I laughed out loud and turned in a circle holding my arms out, “Who the hell are we going to tell around here?”

“We’re still the Army. It’s just the way it works,” Sheffield said.

I laughed again. “Whatever works for you guys.” Curious, I asked, “Does the old man know?” Sheffield shook his head. That made me laugh again. “Oh, he’s going to be pissed!”

“It was need to know.”

“And you don’t think we needed to know? You don’t think he’s got contacts as well? You’ve seen that stack of radio equipment he’s got.”

“It doesn’t matter now who knows. It’s a done deal.”

I nodded and dropped into a chair. “Ok, so what’s the plan?”

“We’re still working on it. There’s a bunch of Chinese troops running around on the gulf coast and we’ve got a rather significant contingent of Russians and Cubans moving up from the south,” Sheffield said.

“Have you seen others since the incident over near Apopka?”

“We’ve heard some radio traffic from south of Orlando about seeing some armor running around. But we don’t know what they saw.”

“For now,” Livingston added, “we’re just keeping a careful eye out for them.”

“Do you guys have the weapons to deal with armor?”

“Not much,” Sheffield answered.

“That’s concerning. What are the odds of getting some?”

“We’re trying,” said Livingston.

I had a feeling what their odds were. I wanted to talk to the old man. “Alright guys. I’m going to leave you boys to it.”

“Alright,” Livingston replied. “Glad to see you back on your feet.”

I paused at the door and nodded, replying, “Thanks,” before heading out.

I rounded everyone up and got them back to the war wagon. “I’m driving,” I told Jess as I climbed into the driver’s seat. An exaggerated pout formed on her face as she got in the passenger seat.

“Any news?” Aric asked.

As I wheeled out of the armory, I replied, “There’s been a coup. The military is in charge now.”

Chapter 2

The old man was stewing. He was sitting in a rocking chair on Danny’s front porch, rocking slowly and staring at an indeterminate point in the yard. I was watching him closely, waiting for his response. It was kind of funny that I actually