The Nation Chronicles: Book Two (The Nation Chronicles Trilogy 2)

of entering the codes, and launching the two missiles that were buried deep within the underground caves somewhere, very soon. Where were they buried? He didn't know. It was a question he had asked himself before, but had not found an answer to. He just knew that they were there, and that he would send them when the time was right.

He had wondered briefly if he would be able to send them, at least when he had first sat down before the terminal anyway. But the terminal had accepted his codes. It had allowed him access, so that must mean he would be able to put in the last section of code and send them, right, he asked himself.

"Of course, of course," he muttered aloud, "just one more small line of code, and Kaboom!" he yelled aloud in the small room.

He had no real doubt that they would launch, and no doubt that they would end his problems for him. Nothing like a good old nuclear bomb to set things right, he told himself, as he grinned at the computer screen with its flashing message.

~ 4 ~

Two miles away at the grating that covered the fresh air venting, that Willie had ordered cut away in order to reach the outside; several small vine tentacles slowly crept inward toward the interior of the ducting. The water level which had still been several feet below the opening just the day before, was now lapping at the iron grating.

~ 5 ~

Several miles to the west, just outside of North Platte Nebraska, Becky and Joe had given up trying to decide what to do about the conviction they both held, that thing's had already started, and that they may be too late to help, or finish their part. They were not even sure what their part was. Joe was only sure that Becky figured into it somehow, and because he was so sure of that, Becky had also become convinced of it.

As darkness closed in, they had both turned quiet. Becky had begun a small dinner over the coals in the fireplace, they had hastily thrown together earlier that morning when they had arrived, and Joe had walked over to the truck and occupied himself with checking the mechanics, making sure that nothing had been damaged the night before as he had driven.

Several times he had driven over debris in the road, but in his haste to put miles between them, and whoever might or might not have been back in Kimball, he had ignored it. He had also become convinced during the night as he drove, that they were being followed. He had kept glancing into the mirrors, sure that he would see glowing headlights closing in on them from behind. It had not happened though; the road behind them had remained empty all night as he had driven.

He had another thought as he stood looking over the truck. What if they had done something to this truck? He wondered. He knew it was irrational, there had to have been over a hundred trucks on that lot, and...How would they have known to choose this one? And if they had, wouldn't something already have happened?

In spite of how ridiculous it seemed, he checked the truck over anyway. There was one small gouge in the front passenger fenders paint, probably due to some of the debris flying up and hitting it. But other than that the truck seemed fine, and none the worse for the hurried trip of the night before. He pushed it from his mind as he walked away from the truck, and back to the fire.

Becky was stirring a stew like mixture, to keep it from burning on the hot coals.

"I think it's ready," she said as he approached the fire, and squatted down beside her. "Hungry?" she gave him a small spoonful to taste.

"Oh yeah," he responded, and rubbed his stomach with one hand to show her it was true. He sat down close to the fire, and turned his thoughts away from the truck. Instead he thought of Becky. Funny, he realized, just a few seconds ago I was down, and all she had to do was talk to me and I feel better.

"You know I love you, right?" Joe asked, staring into her eyes.

"Yep," She said, and kissed him lightly, yet fully on the lips.

"Hey," Joe said, looking serious, "better cut that out unless you want that stuff to burn."

She scooped some of the stew into two tin bowls before she answered him.

"Better eat first, babe, you'll probably need all the strength you can muster!"

Joe smiled as he took the bowl, and arched his eyebrows suggestively. Becky sat down next to him, and they began to eat as the last traces of light seeped from the sky.

SEVEN

~ 1 ~

Becky awoke a few hours before dawn and sat just outside the small tent, lost in thought. The feeling that they had missed the start of something of great importance was still unshakable. It was echoed over and over again in her head, followed closely by another thought that had begun to assert itself just after she had awakened. They know. The message seemed to be a warning of some sort, and kept repeating along with the other message as she sat and tried to think.

They know. Be careful. The battle has begun. Over and over the whispers flowed through her tired mind. She didn't question whether or not the messages were real or only imposed upon her by her own fears. She knew they were real, just as she knew that she should heed the warnings.

They know, be careful, the battle has begun, over and over the messages repeated.

She finally managed to push the messages to the back of her mind, and thought instead about the trip that still lay ahead. Although pushed