The Forgiven The Fallen The Forsaken (36 page)

"There
will be a lot of people who choose to believe it.  So what do we do with
this?"

"We tell
the truth about it and let the chips fall where they may.  People have already
made up their minds and will believe whatever they want to, but we'll be on
record as having always told the truth."

Julie crossed
her arms and frowned.  "I'd prefer to stick to economic and engineering
miracles if you don't mind."

"It's a
deal.  We have just a couple of more stops and we'll be headed home.  We can
freak out there," said Helen. 

LAS VEGAS

SEPTEMBER 30
^th

Jim's plan to
absorb the European refugees and other immigrants was working well.  They were
funneled quickly into jobs throughout the county and new territories, given
land if they wanted it, and many immediately decided to stay.  Immigrants from
Australia, India, and the Philippines were settling the West coast and Mexico
very quickly. Europeans were flocking to the East coast all the way down
through Panama.   

Al had the
military blocking South Americans from slipping into Central America and Jim
was pouring English speakers into the new American territories.  He knew that
he was taking a card from the Han Chinese way of doing things, but he didn't
believe for a second that he could change the cultures enough to make the
annexation work.  But he could change the mix of peoples.

There were
frictions, but the citizens of the new territories were now being given freedom
of movement throughout the entirety of North America and ownership of property
in their own areas.  For the most part, they were happy for the new level of
opportunity. 

Jim knew that
it would take a generation or two for things to sort themselves out, but he
understood that the entire continent would prosper soon enough.

Rob had flown
down to see him.  "We lost Kemp, Jim.  He's either holed up, waiting us
out, or he's given us the slip and is long gone.  Either way, we're not going
to get him unless we luck out."

"Stay on
him as best you can.  We need most of those resources elsewhere now, anyway. 
If he's holed up, he'll wait to move until the net is a bit looser.  Figure out
what he needs and that will tell you where he'll go."

"I've got
a kid on it that's like a human bloodhound.  We may get him yet.

"Another
thing I wanted to ask.  Is there a consensus yet as to where to put the
capitol?"

"I've been
arguing for Phoenix to bring that city back, but, truth be told, I really don't
feel like I have a horse in the game.  I'll be out of office by the time it
moves."

"Don't be
so sure, Jim, your poll numbers are the highest anyone has ever seen.  You may
get lynched by both parties if you don't agree to another term.  What about
building it on the Arizona side of Hoover Dam?"

"Same as
Phoenix.  What's the benefit beyond water?"

"You're
right.  What about Flagstaff?"

Jim thought for
moment.  "So you have a city that needs to be rebuilt, surrounded by
deserts that we can use for solar power.  The size will be limited by the
surrounding national forests, which we're not about to touch.  It's a clean
slate for a new city.  It's crazy, but I like it."

"Glad I
could help." 

"How in
the hell did we have that many hyperkinetic ICBM's in the hands of civilians?"

"The
previous administration and congress were corrupt to the core.  The question
is, how do we keep it from happening again?"

"It's a
good question.  I've been thinking a lot about it, and most of it comes down to
the question of how to keep the American people from getting so damn complacent?"

"And if we
can get the people to accept some responsibility, maybe we'll have a generation
before we have to worry about it again."

Jim chewed on
that thought for a time.  "It's an interesting concept.  There are a lot
of changes that need to be made.  Maybe we can rework the tax system at the
same time and put some real limits on the power of corporations."

"Maybe we
should think bigger."

"Bigger
than that?"

"Maybe
it's time to end the kind of wars that we've seen over the past century and a
half."

"How?" 

"We initiate
treaties and trade agreements between all the largest nations.  Human rights,
free trade, no Muslims, and absolutely no tolerance for war or totalitarian
states.  A large military made up of all of the nations in the alliance and
with the power to put a stop to all but the largest wars."

"I need to
think on this," said Jim.

"Don't
think for too long.  Things are moving fast."

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON

OCTOBER 2
^nd

Kemp spent days
hiking south.  He finally managed to slip onto a semi travelling in a useful
direction.  When he was able, he obtained a car and drove like a maniac west to
the state of Washington.  When he drove up the dirt road to his destination, he
almost cried with relief, knowing that he would have an insane amount of
resources in a short period of time. 

He was stunned
to find the warehouse empty.  He went to the vault next and saw a sign that
said, "Kilroy was here."  He was devastated.

He dug down
deep enough to determine that the door had been blown off and the vault was
empty.  He said to himself, "How could this happen?!"  He didn't
think it possible, but he felt something deep within his psyche break.  He
collapsed and lay there in the dirt looking up at the sky for hours.

Suddenly, he
was calm.  He knew what he had to do to survive.  Everything else could be done
later. 

He returned to
the car and drove west toward Seattle.  Aside from avoiding a couple of
checkpoints, the drive was uneventful for him.  After a few hours in the car, he
found himself looking at the Pacific Ocean.

There were marinas
full of sailboats everywhere along the bay.  Stealing one would be the easy
part.  The difficulty would come in stocking it for the trip to Brazil. 

By twilight, he
found what he was looking for, a 28 foot sailboat that appeared to be in good
condition.  He left the car with his gear in the dry bag, and unloaded a kayak
he had found earlier in the day.  Just after dark, he paddled to the marina and
boarded the sailboat. 

He stowed his
gear and looked over the boat.  Everything appeared to be in good shape.  There
was even a 12 volt desalination machine.  He tested it quickly and it started. 
It would have to be good enough.

He spent the
rest of the night searching the rest of the boats for food.  By morning he had
found enough to get him through a week as well as bottled water, liquor, and fishing
gear.  With a little luck he would be able to supplement his diet with fish.

He would have
preferred to stock more, but it was time to go.  He cast off, started the
motor, and left the marina to a magnificent sunrise.

ARIZONA

OCTOBER 4
^th

Julie ran in to
the kitchen to tell Helen and Susan, "Uncle Jim is on his way."  

About a half
hour later, they heard a large helicopter outside.  A few minutes later, Jim
and Susan were there and there were hugs and laughs.  After the initial
greetings, Jim sat down with the girls. "So, how are my little faith
healers?"

Julie groaned
and Susan said, "Sensitive subject, Uncle Jim."

"Sorry
kiddo.  It would bother me, too.  Still, Latin America is crazy about you two."
 

He sipped his
coffee, and said, "It's time for you two to get back to work.  I've
suggested Flagstaff as the location of the new capitol.  I don't know if
congress will go for it or not, but It's possible.  Either way, we have to
rebuild the I-40.  Can you two start a construction and paving company?  I've
heard about your solar panel factory purchase.  I'm impressed."

Helen said,
"We've been busy since we got back.  We're finding the right people and
have bought all the hotels and houses we could in Kingman.  They should start
arriving there any day now.  I don't see any reason we couldn't manage the same
thing for a construction company out of Williams, maybe.  Is Mike still
around?"

Jim paused and
said, "Last I heard, he was working on infrastructure repairs in New
York.  I'll get his number for you."

Julie nodded
and said, "We want him as soon as possible."

"We're
also planning a move into Silicon Valley," said Helen.  "It's time to
pour as much into technology as we can."

Jim smiled.  "I
like the way you two think.  We need the full power grid and the cell phone
system back up and running as soon as possible.  You two seem positioned to
deliver, so get me some results.  Honeymoon's over girls." 

"Yes, sir,
President Uncle Jim," said Julie. 

Jim and Susan
flew back to Vegas that morning.

Later that
afternoon, Julie and Helen flew into Phoenix to file final paper work for
several new companies.  Kunoichi Ventures was the one they kept private, but
the rest were non-profits such as Kunoichi Shipping, Kunoichi Solar, and
Kunoichi Construction. 

They started
accounts for each company with the New American Bank and started private and
joint accounts for themselves as well.  In total, they deposited five million
dollars.  While it raised some eyebrows, it was a fraction of what they had
stashed at the house.

With that done,
they filed loan applications with business plans attached for each of the nonprofit
companies.  They knew the loans would go through in a few days but wanted to
get a head start on the companies. 

They bought a
warehouse complex in their own names in an industrial area of the city and
hired several employees.  They had already been in contact with Zach about
running the shipping company and had put his name on the Kunoichi Shipping
account as an authorized user. 

They assigned
him to hire diesel mechanics and to start purchasing all the trucks he could
find to get them up and running.  He was delighted to get started. 

For the last
part of their day, Helen bought a small cargo plane.   She flew it home with Julie
following in the Navajo Chieftain.   By the time they arrived at home, they
both felt satisfied at what they had accomplished.

KINGMAN, AZ

OCTOBER 5
^th

Helen and Julie
were examining their new Kingman properties with Deepak, who had agreed to
oversee the solar panel factory. The facility was still intact and was huge. 
It was designed to make panels out of silicon and mined from the nearby area.  Best
of all, there were a number of vehicles still on the property and all of the
equipment was still in place. 

"The
computers and robots are shot but we can put people back into the assembly line,"
Deepak said. "Most of the process is simple, but it will take some time to
work around the fried electronics.  Our next problem will be getting the
chemicals we'll need for the manufacturing process.  I'll work that part out."

They left him
with working capital and flew on to San Diego to interview potential
employees. 

In San Diego,
they met with Matt, Luke, and Jamie, and asked them to help with the some of
the companies.  They were all eager to help.  Ron and Skeeter were especially thrilled
to be the first employees of the San Diego branch of Kunoichi Shipping. 

Julie and Helen
bought a large shipping warehouse near the port and airport.  They found a fleet
of trucks to purchase and put Matt in charge of finding diesel mechanics,
drivers, and security personnel.  They sent Luke and Jamie looking for working
busses they could purchase.  

The first
shipments would be of food and electronics equipment to the Kingman facility
using the trucks they had.  Finally, Julie and Helen went to the immigrant
temporary housing and went looking for some of the people who had contacted
them over the net. 

By the end of
the day they were again exhausted, but had lined up a very eager work crew. 
The next day they had the first two busloads of workers and their families on
their way to Kingman. 

They spent the
night with Matt, Luke and Jamie, and planned to fly up to San Jose the next morning
to purchase tech properties. 

PACIFIC OCEAN

Kemp sailed far
out to sea before turning south.  So far he had been able to keep all of the
available bottles on the boat filled with drinking water from the desalination
machine, but he wasn't happy with the charge that the marine batteries were
holding.  The solar panels were working, but it wasn't enough for any level of
comfort. 

So far fishing
was of limited usefulness, but he had caught one halibut that made for a couple
of good meals and bait.  

The winds were
up today and he was being bounced all over the small boat, but he was making
good headway. 

He had no idea
how he'd make it to South America in the small craft, but he would, one way or another
because there was no other choice.  For the moment, at least, he felt very much
alive.

SAN FRANCISCO

Julie was
already in love with The City.  The rumor of their landing permeated San
Francisco and they were soon met by the mayor, Julian Bailey, and several of
his staff.  They went with the flow while insisting that it wasn't an official
visit.  

The city was
vibrant and alive.  Julie and Helen couldn't believe the number of people
living there.  Restaurants and theaters were running.  It was amazing.