Read Online Last Stand: Patriots (Book 2) by William H. Weber - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: William H. Weber
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Oneida?” John asked.
“Rodriguez , are you giving away all of your secrets?” It was Marshall, and in spite of his light-hearted tone, John could tell he wasn’t happy. Behind him was Moss and Sullivan.
“We’re on the same side,” John told him. “I was just wondering if you’d gotten any information coming from the town itself.”
“I know exactly what you were asking and I don’t doubt you’re being honest with us. We’ll be happy to share when the time is right.”
“Fair enough. Well, given you’ve been communicating with the outside world, maybe you can answer a few general questions.”
The mus cles on Marshall’s face didn’t move. “What is it you’d like to know?”
“Well, for one,” John said. “Why haven’t we seen the military since the EMP hit? ”
Marshall turned to Moss who explained. “Word is troops have been seen in convoys moving west.”
“For what purpose?” John asked.
“We’re not sure yet,” Marshall replied. “Our lines of communication don’t go beyond Jefferson City, Missouri anymore. But we’re working on it. It could be there’s a major uprising in some of the western states. Don’t forget California alone has a population of nearly forty million, four of which live in L.A. It’s not inconceivable the military’s been deployed to the areas that need them the most.”
“ Knoxville was one of those places in need and we didn’t see a single uniform.”
“There may be other explanati ons, many of them far more grim, but why bother speculating before we have more information?”
John nodded. “So how do I get my family back?” He could see the question was a delicate one.
“You’re not the only person who’s lost someone to the Chairman,” Sullivan said, a lock of his blond hair tumbling into his face before he pulled it back with the flat of his hand. “We all have a score to settle. If it were that easy, don’t you think we would have hit the town already?”
Drawing in a deep breath, John tried to quell the frustration building up within him and listen to what these men had to say.
“ The Chairman’s been consolidating his power since the beginning,” Marshall said. “He’s spent the last few weeks bleeding the mountains dry and scooping up every useful weapon he can muster. The people in town seem to be going along with him now since he’s got the backing of the president. Frankly, I’m sure half of ’em don’t believe a word of it, but if it’s between a liar who keeps the streets safe and an elected official who can’t, who would you choose?”
“The one who upholds the Constitution,” John replied. “Or was that a trick question?”
Marshall grinned. “Not at all. Although most of the folks in town are loyal Americans, they might not be Patriots.”
“You really believe that?” John asked , not even trying to mask his surprise.
Marshall tapped a finger on the table. “Don’t get me wrong. The folks in Oneida are patriotic, I’m not arguing that, but the men and women in this camp are ready to lay down their lives to free their families and defend the Constitution. That’s the difference. The problem is most of our boys are armed with shotguns and deer rifles. The few like yourself who’ve arrived with ARs and anything equivalent are eager to fight back, there’s just not enough firepower to go around.”
“And once you find that firepower?”
“We move in and take Oneida back.”
“And what if the president really has issued a decree?” John asked. His question wasn’t exactly a trap, but he wanted to see what Marshall would say.
“Any president who dissolves Congress and suspends the Constitution no longer rules with the will of the people. That makes his laws illegal and unbinding.”
John smiled. “I was hoping you were gonna say that. So where are we supposed to get the weapons we need?”
Marshall returned the gesture. “Let me show you what you missed during your assault on
“Rodriguez , are you giving away all of your secrets?” It was Marshall, and in spite of his light-hearted tone, John could tell he wasn’t happy. Behind him was Moss and Sullivan.
“We’re on the same side,” John told him. “I was just wondering if you’d gotten any information coming from the town itself.”
“I know exactly what you were asking and I don’t doubt you’re being honest with us. We’ll be happy to share when the time is right.”
“Fair enough. Well, given you’ve been communicating with the outside world, maybe you can answer a few general questions.”
The mus cles on Marshall’s face didn’t move. “What is it you’d like to know?”
“Well, for one,” John said. “Why haven’t we seen the military since the EMP hit? ”
Marshall turned to Moss who explained. “Word is troops have been seen in convoys moving west.”
“For what purpose?” John asked.
“We’re not sure yet,” Marshall replied. “Our lines of communication don’t go beyond Jefferson City, Missouri anymore. But we’re working on it. It could be there’s a major uprising in some of the western states. Don’t forget California alone has a population of nearly forty million, four of which live in L.A. It’s not inconceivable the military’s been deployed to the areas that need them the most.”
“ Knoxville was one of those places in need and we didn’t see a single uniform.”
“There may be other explanati ons, many of them far more grim, but why bother speculating before we have more information?”
John nodded. “So how do I get my family back?” He could see the question was a delicate one.
“You’re not the only person who’s lost someone to the Chairman,” Sullivan said, a lock of his blond hair tumbling into his face before he pulled it back with the flat of his hand. “We all have a score to settle. If it were that easy, don’t you think we would have hit the town already?”
Drawing in a deep breath, John tried to quell the frustration building up within him and listen to what these men had to say.
“ The Chairman’s been consolidating his power since the beginning,” Marshall said. “He’s spent the last few weeks bleeding the mountains dry and scooping up every useful weapon he can muster. The people in town seem to be going along with him now since he’s got the backing of the president. Frankly, I’m sure half of ’em don’t believe a word of it, but if it’s between a liar who keeps the streets safe and an elected official who can’t, who would you choose?”
“The one who upholds the Constitution,” John replied. “Or was that a trick question?”
Marshall grinned. “Not at all. Although most of the folks in town are loyal Americans, they might not be Patriots.”
“You really believe that?” John asked , not even trying to mask his surprise.
Marshall tapped a finger on the table. “Don’t get me wrong. The folks in Oneida are patriotic, I’m not arguing that, but the men and women in this camp are ready to lay down their lives to free their families and defend the Constitution. That’s the difference. The problem is most of our boys are armed with shotguns and deer rifles. The few like yourself who’ve arrived with ARs and anything equivalent are eager to fight back, there’s just not enough firepower to go around.”
“And once you find that firepower?”
“We move in and take Oneida back.”
“And what if the president really has issued a decree?” John asked. His question wasn’t exactly a trap, but he wanted to see what Marshall would say.
“Any president who dissolves Congress and suspends the Constitution no longer rules with the will of the people. That makes his laws illegal and unbinding.”
John smiled. “I was hoping you were gonna say that. So where are we supposed to get the weapons we need?”
Marshall returned the gesture. “Let me show you what you missed during your assault on
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