“You’re a general,” I said. “You couldn’t get people to believe you? The government? The president?”
“Jules tried, he did,” she replied. “They dismissed him. He predicted the weather. The only thing he predicted incorrectly was the correction launch. He said if they ever tried to correct it, it would be worse. Well, come on, how much worse would it have gotten. That’s what I thought, I watched hurricanes move inland all the way to Chicago. Insane.”
“Was that Ares?” I asked.
Nel shook her head. “He always said Ares would be the finishing storm. I watched the radar, the image, but they never joined.”
“The correction worked,” I stated.
“It worked.”
I sat back. “Now what?”
“I am shocked more people from the group didn’t show up. But it is what it is. We have a good ground team here. The technology is here. We have a country that is defeated. Blasted by nature. If we don’t get out there and help and show the government is up and running, then we’ll face a lot of lawlessness. If it gets ahead of us, there’s nothing we can do.”
“So, you’re talking Martial Law?”
Nel gave a look of debate. “Not really, we need to reach out to leaders of communities that are still standing. Work with them. Try to find them what is needed.”
“Beckley has it together, you know. So does Lewisville.”
“West Virginia was spared, at least a lot of it was. That is why we need the ground teams, to go out there, let us know what’s there. That’s why I have the soldiers.”
“What do you need us for?” I asked.
“As you know, we have been working on this plan for a long time. What we would do, what we would need. Worst case and best case scenarios.”
“Where does this fall?”
“On a scale of one to ten with ten meaning the worst … a seven, maybe eight. That’s why it’s crucial you and the others in the group help. Be part of the team, be part of the support, let people know it’s not the end. We assign you an area, you work with the locals and the leaders there to rebuild, like an ambassador.”
“Whoa, okay … I’m not a leader, I’m not an ambassador. I am some woman who joined a social media conspiracy group.”
Nel chuckled a little. “Do you think we just … randomly let people into the group? Every person who was there we vetted. We had nineteen uninvited we allowed in. You, Jana worked as a Chief Information Officer. You may not think much of it, but that job entailed problem solving, working with the public. Responding rapidly with a solution. You took on your sister’s children and raised them as your own. They’re beautiful, healthy. We didn’t vet that info you gave it.”
“If I did this, I assume me and my family would go to my assigned area.”
Nel nodded.
“What about the others that are with us?”
“To be honest, some of them have some seriously useful skills. The man with the broken arm?”
“Skip.”
“He fixed a bunker door this morning. He’s mechanical. I’d like to ask him and a couple others to work with us.”
“Where would my area be?”
“We could pick one or if you know of one. We’ll set you up with all communication means that you need. What do you say?”
I stared at her, eventually after a few seconds, I told her I needed to think about it and discuss it with my family. The truth was I had never gotten to the point of what I would do after the storms, after I arrived at the safe zone.
None of that had crossed my mind.
My goal was to lead my family to survival. I did that. The ‘what was next’ was never really a deep thought.
I not only had to think about what I wanted to do, I had to think about whether I was truly capable of the expectations and the tasks Nel presented me.
✽✽✽
I didn’t get it. The resort was considered one of the finest. I got that it was historic, but I didn’t get how people paid so much money to stay there.
Martin, the children and I were given a suite. Alice stayed with us. At first when I thought ‘suite’ we were going to get something magnificent. It was big, but the décor just reminded me of my Aunt Mary’s house. Strange, patterned wallpaper, bright red carpet.
The bed was comfy, the linens were fresh. Probably had been made by housekeeping not long before. Any thought I had sunk into that bed, encompassed by the softness, I didn’t sleep long.
It was so early, the sun hadn’t risen. But Alice did.
She was sipping coffee at the table and offered me a cup.
She had taken a few cups from the soldiers’ canteen.
I accepted the coffee and told her I wanted to walk, explore and clear my head.
My mind spun on what to do.
For an hour I walked around the hotel, finding my way down to the infamous bunker area.
People moved about down there, it was powered with its own generator and the slight hum carried steadily.
After I passed through the interior bunker doors, the ones that came from the ballroom, I entered into what looked like a casino. I wasn’t sure what it was prior, but it had been redone.
Slot machines lined up on the walls and in small groupings across the floor.
Most of them were dark, except a few here and there. They were probably entertainment for those who worked down there.
I thought it very symbolic for the country or world right now. A place once vibrant, had been black, nearly extinguished except for the few specks of light.
It was depressing and didn’t help.
It was now light and eventually I found myself outside sitting on a bench facing the massive garden that was untouched by the fury of nature that smashed everything else.
“Coffee isn’t bad,” Martin said, joining me on the bench.
“No, it’s not.”
“Alice said you’ve been awake awhile.”
“I
