“We would have to get the word out to our camps quickly in order to get everybody in position,” Tom said. “Are those the orders, sir?”
Everybody waited for the supreme leader to speak, and it was so quiet that Mark could hear his heartbeat.
“Yes,” the supreme leader answered. “Where are we with our weapons program?”
Vincent Delgado leaned forward, pressing his forearms against the edge of the table as he clasped his hands together. He was a shrewd military man, someone who studied the greats of the past but had never had any practical experience. But that was proving unimportant.
“Our work camps are starting to pick up steam,” Vincent said. “The engineers and scientists we drafted into our service were resistant at first, but they’ve… come around.”
“Excellent,” the supreme leader said. “Let’s try to have something ready for these soldiers who think they’ve managed to one-up us.”
Finally, the supreme leader swiveled toward Mark. “Status update on our next phase?” the supreme leader asked.
Mark cleared his throat. “We are still on schedule, sir. The scientists at the camps have been working diligently. And with the pieces we dug up from the silo in the mountains, we’ve been told that the engineers have everything they need to make the weapon.”
“Except for the final two pieces,” the supreme leader said.
Mark quickly nodded. “Yes, sir. Except for those final two pieces. But the first should be completed today.”
“Excellent,” the supreme leader said, and then he eyed the map and circled Washington, DC. “Too long this seat of power has gone unchecked. But the fallout from our next move will be the final spear into the heart of the old world.” He looked up to the rest of the room. “You all have followed me because you understand the new world we are looking to build. Stay the course, men. The night is long, but the dawn is bright.”
Again the mantra was parroted in the room, and the men were dismissed. But after everyone had left, Mark lingered behind, and when they were alone, Mark closed the door.
“Is there something on your mind, Marcus?” the supreme leader asked.
Mark was caught staring at the blood of the traitor on the floor. He cleared his throat. “Sir, there is something I need to tell you.”
“Speak,” the supreme leader said.
A cold sense of dread started in the pit of Mark’s stomach and spread out through his extremities. “I lied to you about the results of my mission from Charlotte.” He forced himself to hold the supreme leader’s gaze. “There were survivors. I did not kill the man I had been sent to find.”
The supreme leader remained quiet.
“The man I found, the one who had caused trouble at one of our prisoner camps, he was my brother, sir.” Mark’s voice caught in his throat, and he hated himself for the weakness he was showing. “I could have killed him, but I didn’t.” He straightened up and lifted his chin. “I am willing to accept the consequences of my actions, sir.”
The supreme leader nodded and then stood. “Our work is not easy. The sacrifices that we make in order to build the world we wish to see have been great.” He walked to Mark and placed his hand on his shoulder. “I know the history you have with your brother. I understand your hesitation.” He leaned closer. “But you must go back to finish the work you started.”
“Sir?” Mark asked.
The supreme leader gestured back to the map on the table. “Asheville, your home, will become a pivotal turning point in our fight. If we can cripple the enemy forces there, catch them off guard, then it will buy us time for our ultimate goal.” He turned back to Mark. “I want you to lead these forces.”
Mark shook his head, confused. “Sir, I lied to you. I betrayed your trust—”
“You have been with me from the beginning,” the supreme leader said. “Your conviction is still strong, but you must erase the doubts that plague you. Return to your home, and finish what you set out to do.” He gripped the back of Mark’s head. “When all of this is done, the scholars will write our history. Decades from now, we will be the ones they build statues for. We will be the people who are remembered.” He looked up and stared at Mark. “But only if we stay the course.”
“Yes, sir,” Mark said, his voice stronger and steadier than the rest of his body.
“Good,” the supreme leader said and then walked back over to the map and smiled as he pressed his thumb against the dot that represented Washington, DC. “We will level the entire city with a single blast, built from the very weapons of destruction they believed would keep them safe.” He glanced down at the blood stain on the floor. “Send somebody in here to clean this up.”
The supreme leader left the room, and once he was gone, Mark collapsed back into his chair. He broke out in a thick sheen of sweat, and he could smell his own fear and desperation over that of the dead man. He had been given a second chance. But that second chance would come at the cost of his brother’s life.
But killing Ben Riker would be more difficult than Mark could imagine.
2
Ben Riker made sure to keep the horses at a modest pace, not wanting to tire the last two remaining animals at their disposal.
Ben adjusted himself in the saddle, one hand on the reins, the other kept idle on his right thigh in case he needed to quickly reach for his pistol. The past two months had caused his jet-black hair to become disheveled, his beard was growing thicker, and he
