STEADFAST Book One: America's Last Days (The Steadfast Series 1) Page 6

  "The world around us got wicked," Eric said softly. "Joyce Pickford left Adderthorn, then lived with her husband, Brad Adkins, hoping to trade peacefully with travelers on the highway. But he was killed just three weeks ago. She came up here to the mountain to live, and our lives are better for it. She met Jesus here."

  Talia sobbed louder as he continued.

  "She died in the process of trying to warn others of danger. Her son, Andy, can be proud of that. His mother died doing good for other people. I'll live the rest of my life believing her death kept me from my own death a little while later. And now we live with her in our memories. Good memories of a strong woman. She's in a place of peace with God now. We'll see her again."

  "We will?" Andy lifted his tear-streaked face to the setting sun.

  "We will." Eric smiled and held out his hand. Andy took it.

  "You need to teach that boy the Bible," Talia said. "Joyce would want that. Along with his schooling."

  "Yes, Grandma Talia." Eric laughed.

  Then they all laughed, though Eric wasn't sure why. Maybe it was another way of releasing their grief. Or maybe it was at the prospect of him trying to teach a young man his academics.

  *~*

  Chapter 6

  The morning after the funeral of Joyce Adkins, Eric took Andy to the summit of their mountain. In one hand, Eric held Andy's hand, and under his other arm he carried his telescope meant to gaze at distant stars. Together, they sat down on the rock, facing the northerly wind. Far below them, the town of Adderthorn was a distant mirage, a smoldering ruin between mountain and plain. And through its midst, to the left and right, tiny dots of vehicles moved up and down the highway.

  "Whatever we see," Eric said to Andy as he assembled the telescope, "our Lord God is still good and strong. We don't need to be afraid."

  Andy nodded, but Eric could see he was shivering, even under the deer jacket his mother had made for him. He knew it wasn't the cold that shook his little body. They had sat with Talia late into the night talking about what the explosions could mean. Evil men were near. That meant their lives were probably about to change again.

  Finally, Eric held the glass to his eye. Not many of the buildings of Adderthorn remained standing. The General Store was still there, which probably brought some sense of comfort to Gordon Irwin, if he was still alive, but the hotel had been demolished. Armored personnel carriers rolled through town. Uniformed men in the turrets ignored the townspeople lined alongside the road. Whatever resistance Sheriff Leo Pickford had organized had been utterly destroyed. As far as Eric could see to the north, rolling on the highway to Mastover, was an armored unit that seemed large enough to mobilize against a foreign country.

  On one end of Adderthorn's Main Street, two men carried a body and laid it in a row with a dozen others. The survivors would rebuild, but the town had been broken, and perhaps raided for all remaining supplies. Before Pan-Day, the town's population was five hundred. Afterward, it had dwindled to about one hundred. Now, Eric guessed it was much less.

  A gunshot, then another, made Andy and Eric jump, and Eric searched the town for additional violence. But they were too far away from Adderthorn to hear small arms fire—this had to be much closer!

  "Andy, can you tell where it's coming from?"

  "There!"

  He pointed at a clearing a mile below them, on the other side of the gorge. Movement! Eric focused the scope on the clearing to catch a flash of dark clothing, then it was gone. Suddenly, five figures wearing black and gray fatigues entered the clearing, shouldering rifles. A volley of gunshots cracked through the crisp air.

  Eric leapt to his feet and tugged the telescope apart.

  "They're coming, Andy!" He shoved the scope and case into Andy's arms. "Get to the cabin and help Grandma Talia get into the woods to hide!"

  Leaving the boy, Eric flew down the mountain to the cabin. In the yard, Talia was tending the garden.

  "Soldiers coming!" he shouted. "Get blankets for a night in the woods and hide with Andy! I'm going to the gorge to hold them off!"

  From the cabin, he grabbed his rifle and pack, in which he kept a pouch of .223 shells. His legs pumped up the ridge and over the crest. For years, he'd hiked the mountain, living amongst the trees and wildlife, careful not to disturb more than he had to, to survive. Though he'd lived in solitude those years, God had suddenly brought souls into his care. He couldn't allow their fragile existence to be broken by soldiers with a misplaced zeal to conquer and kill for fuel, food, and ammunition!

  When he reached the gorge, no one was in sight yet. How did anyone know where he was? He had no idea, but with the pine tree bridging their land to his own, he wouldn't be able to stop them.

  He ran across the length of the tree, stumbled through the branches, and leaped onto solid ground on the far side. Sliding his pack off, he fumbled for his flint and started striking his knife in a heap of dry pine needles. His heart thudded and he had trouble focusing through the panic.

  Not far away, he heard branches breaking as bodies charged through the underbrush. A flame leaped at his hands. Eric would never be able to burn the thick trunk in time, but where the dry branches rested on the north edge of the gorge, it was a fire hazard. With twigs and needles now aflame, he pushed the burning heap under the tree boughs. For good measure, he clutched a handful of rifle bullets and tossed them into the flames.

  Smoke made him cough as he hooked his arm around his pack and stepped through the flames to the log.

  "Mad Man!" someone yelled.

  Eric paused and looked back as fire licked at his pant legs. From the bushes came Milton Pickford, the sheriff's older and larger brother. He was hobbling on a bleeding leg. The soldiers weren't charging the mountain; they were chasing Milton!

  Jumping out of the flames, Eric ran to him. Whatever their past, here was a man in need. This was Joyce's brother. Positioning himself under Milton's arm, Eric half carried him to the roaring treetop. The bullets would begin to explode any moment, and the soldiers behind them were seconds from emerging from the trees.

  "You'll never make it across!" Eric tossed his backpack into the gorge. Since the rope still hung over the other ledge from his previous endeavor, he could recover his pack later. But he kept his rifle on his left shoulder. "Take a deep breath!"

  By Milton's arm, Eric pulled the heavy man over his right shoulder. If Eric hadn't been hiking the mountains for five years, he would've collapsed under the weight. He turned with determination into the fire once again. Through the flames, he felt for the tree. Milton screamed as heat licked at his head.

  Five steps later, they were beyond the flames. The deadly expanse yawned at Eric, his adrenalin rushing. He didn't dare look back as men shouted and a volley of gunfire burst from the trees. Bullets zipped past his head as he concentrated on planting one foot after the other with the weight of a gorilla on his back.

  A loud pop from the tree fire blew embers in every direction. The bullets in the flames had finally reached a critical temperature. Another two burst, and Eric imagined the soldiers behind him scrambling for cover as they tried to locate the source of gunfire.

  Eric and Milton tumbled onto the ground on the south side. A quick glance at Milton's head told Eric his screams hadn't been unwarranted; his eyebrows and half his hair were singed off, but his skin seemed only superficially burned. Gripping his arm, Eric dragged him behind brush and deadfall twenty feet from the edge of the gorge.

  Kneeling, he chambered a round into his rifle and aimed at the far side. The fire and popping bullets were keeping the soldiers away from the bridge, but they were still in sight. One man stood partly behind a tree, shielded from the exploding ammunition, but his rifle stock was framed perfectly in Eric's open sights one hundred feet away. Eric had never killed a man, and he wasn't about to start that day. The Lord had made him a fine enough shot to send a message without killing.

  He put a round into the soldier's rifle stock, which sent the man sprawling one way and
his rifle another. His buddies lay down cover fire as Eric ducked behind his tree. Their bullets rattled the branches overhead like hail.

  "That'll keep them busy." Eric grinned at Milt. "I may or may not be the mad man you think I am."

  "They killed Leo, and hunted down the rest of us." He held his seeping leg wound. "Somehow, I knew if I could make it this far, you'd help me. You helped that old lady. You . . . were my only hope."

  "The way the world is now, you may just get a chance to repay me. And that old lady's name is Talia. You'd better watch the way you speak about her." Eric winced as a ricochet careened off a boulder. "She'll be the one doctoring your leg back at the cabin."

  Eric dared a peek over the deadfall. The heat of the fire had reached the thick of the wood, destabilizing the bridge altogether. The soldiers backed into the forest away from the gorge. They'd never reach the south side now, and they knew it.

  "I've got nothing left." Milton moaned. "They got Leo! Those animals didn't even want to talk! Leo would've made peace. They just said they were going to make an example of Adderthorn, and started killing us!"

  A few minutes passed as the last of the bullets exploded. Eric took a couple deep breaths, trying to steady his nerves and think straight. For the enemy, it was a three-hour hike, minimum, around the downhill side of the gorge, and twice that if they decided to come up the mountain after them. But Eric and Milt had a few hours head start, as long as the invaders didn't chop down a tree of their own to make another bridge. However, a unit on the move probably didn't have time to deal with locals in a mountain refuge. Lord willing, they wouldn't bother at all with their little group at the cabin. Eric hoped they weren't worth the expenditure of lives and resources.

  "I lived in Adderthorn my whole life." Milton shook his head. "That's the first night I ever spent on the run from my own home."

  "We need to get you to the cabin, and take care of that leg."

  "You got a whole spread up here, huh?"

  "You didn't really think I lived off raw meat while hiding in a cave, did you?"

  "There were a lot of rumors. I'm just . . . thankful."

  "Let's hope that army listens to the rumors from someone still alive, and they stay far away from us."

  As Eric helped Milton stand, the tree-bridge cracked and splintered, then folded in flames into the gorge. There was an angry clatter below as the huge pine tree came to rest—hopefully not burying Eric's pack completely.

  It was a strange twist, bringing Milton into Eric's life that way. He saw God's hand in it immediately. Eric knew there were no accidents with God.

  #######

  Two days later, Eric had recovered his pack from the gorge and the army had moved beyond Adderthorn. Talia and Andy had hidden in the woods as ordered, but now they were all once again living in the cabin. Twice since the gorge incident, Eric had made wide circles around the mountain, checking possible entry points or back routes to the cabin. There was no sign that anyone was searching for Milton, and no sign of any more survivors in the woods.

  Once again on the mountain summit, Andy and Eric listened to the radio, now directing the antenna to the northwest. Runner sat mesmerized by the windmill that spun almost silently in Andy's two hands. They listened to men's voices, their imaginations wild at the kind of heartless men they belonged to.

  Though Andy was young, Eric allowed him to listen to commanders giving orders and scouts transmitting reports. This was Andy's world now. It was a harsh world where men killed as indiscriminately as a virus did. On the mountain, Eric had found God. Andy's mother had also become a believer, and Talia was near to surrendering to her Lord. So, it was only natural that along with Andy's schooling, he learn what his Savior had done for them all. Eric prayed that Andy's heart might repel the evils he was being exposed to at such a young age. Even Milton was getting his dose of Jesus as Eric read from the Bible each night by candlelight.

  "That's enough for today." Eric turned off the radio. They had discovered that Mastover had radioed the army before they'd arrived, and had agreed on concessions. Their cause and forces had now merged. Thirty miles up the highway, an outpost had been established, while the main force continued its rampage into Montana, killing potential aggressors along the way. "We'd better get back to the cabin to make sure Grandma Talia hasn't scolded Milton to tears."

  "It's better than her scolding me!" Andy said as they started downhill.

  Eric laughed as Andy's small hand found his own. Even through the suffering and uncertainty, there was still joy. A man with no family, had a son, and boy with no father, now had a father. They were the only family they had left.

  The Lord's return seemed past due in those days of carnage, but Eric taught Andy that God's delay was out of love for those yet to turn to Him. With this hope, they would live on their mountain, remember Andy's courageous mother, and remain prayerful and vigilant against sin in their own lives.

  Milton was already talking about returning to Adderthorn and organizing a band of resistance fighters. Apparently, Talia's forgiveness toward him, and Eric's Bible reading, hadn't cracked his hardened heart. He only wanted revenge.

  The mountain had seemed so safe when Eric had been alone. Now, he knew the reality of his existence. In the world, there would be trials and suffering and viruses and armies. But they didn't need to lose heart, for their Lord had overcome the world!

  ###

  *~*

  Dear Reader,

  Thanks for reading STEADFAST BOOK ONE! I pray the Lord has blessed you through my writing. If you liked it, please share the link with your friends, and leave a short comment/review on Amazon. That will help me a lot. Thank you!

  I've decided to give you a behind-the-scenes peek into the bad guys' mindset, so be sure to scroll to the end of the book for that bonus chapter!

  Find direct links to the next novellas in The Steadfast Series at ditelbat.com/steadfast-series on our website.

  Happy reading!

  David Telbat

  *~*

  Character Sketch

  Andy Adkins

  The young son of Joyce, Andy was born since Pan-Day, and has been trained by his father how to carry a rifle and how to be a man in an unfriendly land. Beside his trusty dog Runner, Andy is as asset even at his young age.

  Eric Radner

  This man in his mid-thirties was once a blogger, traveled America, and lived a luxurious life. Now, he has run to the mountains of Wyoming to hide as the Meridia Virus sweeps the nation. With no survival skills, he must learn to stay alive in the wilderness. Though his greatest cravings are for his own safety and solitude, he knows since he's a Christian now, he must set his own desires aside to help those in need.

  Gretchen Worcester

  In her mid-thirties, this fiery woman has earned the nickname "Grim" for her no-nonsense attitude. When armed with her hunting rifle and skinning knife, she may be the best ally for the mountain survivors.

  Hank Worcester

  As a native of the town of Mastover, Hank is a fierce defender of what America once was. His mood swings and rough disposition make him a prominent resistance leader against America's newest challenges.

  Joel Grayport

  Once a popular student in Mastover, this native of Wyoming has taken up his bow to provide meat for his small family. If he can lose his father's reputation, he might become a welcome party to the resistance.

  Joyce Adkins

  As a young mother and wife, she is independent and determined to carve a life out from the rural landscape with her small family.

  Judge Zachary Grayport

  The tyrant who rules the town of Mastover. His dark eyes seem to dare the boldest resistance fighters to attack his town—and suffer the consequence of hanging or being burned at the stake.

  Milton Pickford

  As the older brother of Sheriff Leo, big Milt is protective and ornery.

  Talia Wiseman

  Now in her eighties, this traveler from Seattle is in the fight fo
r her life against racial prejudice and an outbreak of the virus.

  *~*

  Glossary

  Pan-Day

  Panic destroyed and killed as many Americans as did the pandemic (the Meridia Virus) when it swept across the continent. When more cities were under quarantine than not, all banks had closed, and civil panic reached its peak—that day became known as Pan-Day. The pandemic and panic prevailed from that day on.

  Lib-Org

  This nickname for the Liberation Organization is the label by which the rogue military unit is known as it sweeps across Western America, in the name of freedom. They wear black and gray uniforms, and their leader is Commander Morris. Their forces number in the thousands, complete with vehicles fueled by confiscated fuel.

  The Resistance

  Fighting against thousands, these survivors in the woods number only three hundred fighting men, each wearing a red, white, and blue armband over their patched clothing. But in the midst of their combat against the Lib-Org, they are burdened with one hundred women, children, and wounded.

  *~*

  Other Books by D.I. Telbat

  Arabian Variable, a Covert Action Suspense; eBook

  COIL Extractions, a FREE Short Story Collection; eBook

  Dark Edge: Prequel to The COIL Series; FREE eBook & Audio; also in Paperback

  Dark Liaison: A Christian Suspense Novel, Book One in The COIL Series; Audio, eBook, Print

  Dark Hearted, Book Two in The COIL Series; Audio, eBook, Paperback

  Dark Rule, Book Three in The COIL Series; Audio, eBook, Paperback

  Dark Vessel, Book Four in The COIL Series; Audio, eBook, Paperback

  Dark Zeal, Book Five in The COIL Series; Audio, eBook, Paperback

  Distant Boundary, Prequel to The COIL Legacy; FREE eBook

  Distant Contact, Book One to The COIL Legacy; eBook

  Distant Front, Book Two in The COIL Legacy; eBook