Read Online The Beginning of the End (Book 2): Toward the Brink II by Craig A. McDonough - Free Book Online Page B

Tom,” the President called. “To success, gentlemen.”
    Everyone raised their glasses and downed them in a single swig. No one noticed, or, at least, made mention of the fact that Shaun Hadlee wasn’t present, or Richard Holmes for that matter.

Eighteen
    Taking the most indirect way they could, the team—as they thought of themselves—went around the outskirts of Missoula. The Tall Man was proud of the skill shown by the ragtag group, but if they ran into a firefight every time they went through a populated area, they wouldn’t always come out unscathed. They stopped to siphon gas from abandoned cars where they could, and going around Missoula took too long—way too long.
    When they were five or so miles from Flathead Lake, they decided against going any farther. They were running out of daylight and would have to travel through the towns of Kalispell and Whitefish, one after the other. Just hours earlier, they’d survived a major assault, and they didn’t want to chance another. Not before they had made an attempt to cross the border.
    The plan was to follow a dirt trail from the 93 and go back through a wooded area far enough that they wouldn’t be seen by marauding looters or rogue military units. They’d replenished the gas stocks with fuel from abandoned cars along the way, and the weather hadn’t turned so cold that they needed to make their destination before they got snowed in. Rest and recuperation were vital before they traveled any farther.
    “It might be in our best interests to rest up for a day or so,” Mulhaven said to no one in particular after they parked.
    “Well, I think we should kick on through, but I know what you mean, Riley,” the Tall Man said.
    “Yes, it won’t hurt to take a break for a day or so, and I know one young girl who would appreciate it,” Margaret Grigsby said, referring to Sam Cole. The group still didn’t know her full story, but whenever she was ready, she’d tell it. “Maybe you guys can go down to the lake and scare up a few fish?”
    “Now, some fresh fish would be different!” Mulhaven said enthusiastically and smiled.
    “But we don’t have any rods,” Roger chimed in.
    “What about those survival kits you packed? Don’t they have line and hooks?” The Tall Man asked as he surveyed the lake.
    “Yeah, I think they do. Maybe we can catch a fish or two, huh?”
    “You don’t suppose the fish could be… well you know,” Cindy’s reservation was obvious.
    “Well, if we catch any that are foaming green we’ll toss ’em right back in!” The Tall Man tried to ease her concern with some light humor but it didn’t work.
    “No I don’t think so Cindy,” Elliot added when the Tall Man’s wisecrack failed to hit the target. “If you’re unsure, you don’t have to eat any.”
    “Okay, but we’ll do it tomorrow, and we’ll all go down to the lake. No splitting up,” Mulhaven declared. “And if the fishing’s any good, we might just stay longer.”
    A cheer resounded around the disparate group of four teenagers, each different from the older members of the group: a Gulf War veteran turned cop, two middle-aged organic-food-growing hippies, and, of course, the Tall Man, perhaps the most mysterious of all. However, it was almost like normal times—a group of friends who got together to fish for the weekend.
    “I don’t think it’s necessary to post guards tonight. We should all get some rest.”
    “No arguments from me, Sarge,” Elliot said before he realized he hadn’t called Mulhaven that for days.
    Elliot was showing signs of fatigue. Mulhaven and the Tall Man recognized it, and although neither said so, they hoped it was the travel and lack of good sleep that were the cause and not shell shock.
    What would it be called, foamer fear? Mulhaven mused.

Nineteen
    Hadlee still retained some supporters, lower-level agents from homeland who weren’t aware the president had called for his resignation. He knew it was only a matter of time