Read Online Children of a New Earth by R. J. Eliason - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: R. J. Eliason
Tags: apocalypse
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her to watch it, she hated to leave him now even more.
She fell into his arms, crying. In the end, she wiped away her tears and said an ambiguous goodbye, leaving the worst unsaid. She knew she would never see him alive again.
Luke gave her a sympathetic pat on the back, which she shrugged off. He had come up early to help load her tools into the Jeep, as well as the supplies the men had brought up yesterday. Luke and she had attached a small flatbed this morning for the men to ride on. It would be slow going. Hell, down here in the valley, they could walk as fast as she could safely drive. Farther up in the mountains, it would be a different story. They had chosen this valley carefully. The approach was at a high altitude and treacherous. Even without heavy packs, it would be torturous on foot.
They made their way slowly toward the center of the community. A cheer went up as they rounded the corner and followed the now almost invisible line of the gravel road.
The community hall had been decorated for the occasion with two faded American flags. Two barrels and a couple of rough-hewn planks had been commandeered for a makeshift bandstand. It was small, but then again the dignitaries of the ranch amounted to Amos and Minister Posch, both of whom fit on it fine. The rest of the expedition was already gathered for inspection. Luke leapt from the passenger’s seat and ran to join them while Amy parked the Jeep.
Amos called them to attention. The men all snapped into position with obvious pride. Amy stood at the end of the line, unsure what she should do. No one seemed to being paying her much attention anyway.
Amos reiterated the problem the ranch faced and Jacob’s mission. Jacob called out, “Orders received, sir! We will do our best, sir!” He saluted. The men all followed suit.
Then Minister Posch stood and intoned a short prayer, asking for God’s blessing on the mission and on the men who were about to “serve the cause.”
Amos pulled out an old boom box, wired directly into an old solar panel. It was her own handiwork, she noted, as he tilted the panel toward the sun. A scratchy rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” played while the men loaded onto the Jeep’s trailer.
Elisabeth broke from the crowd and ran forward to hug Amy. Amy felt a momentary pang of guilt. As bad as it was to be going, how much worse was it for Elisabeth? To be left at home with a dying father?
Scott Callahan Junior was waiting for them at Barricade Pass. A look of poorly disguised scorn passed between him and his brother Patrick. The ranch did not have two more different brothers. Everyone knew why Scott wasn’t going, despite being young, strong, and unmarried. He had refused. Nobody ordered him about, he maintained.
He lived in a tiny shack on the edge of the village that he took over two years ago to get away from his father. The only person that had anything to do with him was Daniel’s older sister, Ruth. The two talked about building a house in one of the neighboring valleys and having nothing to do with the ranch.
Daniel’s father, Robert, had finally made peace between Scott and the ranch. Scott was taking over sentry duty at Barricade Pass for the summer. In return, Robert gave him two axes, a maul, and a crosscut saw. Robert would join him at the pass several times a week, and they would harvest logs from the adjoining valley. By fall, they should have enough for a house.
Scott had lain four rough-cut logs against the barricade on either side, to serve as ramps for the Jeep. Amy drew a deep breath, aligned the wheels, and drove slowly over.
She stared down the trail. The road had been well-packed gravel years ago. Now, it was almost all overgrown with grass and weeds. It served one essential function though: it still cut a path through what otherwise would be impenetrable forest. The rich, old forest had been all but destroyed in the ecological disaster. Now, thirty years later, a thick scrub forest of
She fell into his arms, crying. In the end, she wiped away her tears and said an ambiguous goodbye, leaving the worst unsaid. She knew she would never see him alive again.
Luke gave her a sympathetic pat on the back, which she shrugged off. He had come up early to help load her tools into the Jeep, as well as the supplies the men had brought up yesterday. Luke and she had attached a small flatbed this morning for the men to ride on. It would be slow going. Hell, down here in the valley, they could walk as fast as she could safely drive. Farther up in the mountains, it would be a different story. They had chosen this valley carefully. The approach was at a high altitude and treacherous. Even without heavy packs, it would be torturous on foot.
They made their way slowly toward the center of the community. A cheer went up as they rounded the corner and followed the now almost invisible line of the gravel road.
The community hall had been decorated for the occasion with two faded American flags. Two barrels and a couple of rough-hewn planks had been commandeered for a makeshift bandstand. It was small, but then again the dignitaries of the ranch amounted to Amos and Minister Posch, both of whom fit on it fine. The rest of the expedition was already gathered for inspection. Luke leapt from the passenger’s seat and ran to join them while Amy parked the Jeep.
Amos called them to attention. The men all snapped into position with obvious pride. Amy stood at the end of the line, unsure what she should do. No one seemed to being paying her much attention anyway.
Amos reiterated the problem the ranch faced and Jacob’s mission. Jacob called out, “Orders received, sir! We will do our best, sir!” He saluted. The men all followed suit.
Then Minister Posch stood and intoned a short prayer, asking for God’s blessing on the mission and on the men who were about to “serve the cause.”
Amos pulled out an old boom box, wired directly into an old solar panel. It was her own handiwork, she noted, as he tilted the panel toward the sun. A scratchy rendition of the “Star-Spangled Banner” played while the men loaded onto the Jeep’s trailer.
Elisabeth broke from the crowd and ran forward to hug Amy. Amy felt a momentary pang of guilt. As bad as it was to be going, how much worse was it for Elisabeth? To be left at home with a dying father?
Scott Callahan Junior was waiting for them at Barricade Pass. A look of poorly disguised scorn passed between him and his brother Patrick. The ranch did not have two more different brothers. Everyone knew why Scott wasn’t going, despite being young, strong, and unmarried. He had refused. Nobody ordered him about, he maintained.
He lived in a tiny shack on the edge of the village that he took over two years ago to get away from his father. The only person that had anything to do with him was Daniel’s older sister, Ruth. The two talked about building a house in one of the neighboring valleys and having nothing to do with the ranch.
Daniel’s father, Robert, had finally made peace between Scott and the ranch. Scott was taking over sentry duty at Barricade Pass for the summer. In return, Robert gave him two axes, a maul, and a crosscut saw. Robert would join him at the pass several times a week, and they would harvest logs from the adjoining valley. By fall, they should have enough for a house.
Scott had lain four rough-cut logs against the barricade on either side, to serve as ramps for the Jeep. Amy drew a deep breath, aligned the wheels, and drove slowly over.
She stared down the trail. The road had been well-packed gravel years ago. Now, it was almost all overgrown with grass and weeds. It served one essential function though: it still cut a path through what otherwise would be impenetrable forest. The rich, old forest had been all but destroyed in the ecological disaster. Now, thirty years later, a thick scrub forest of
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