Edge of Fear: An EMP Post-Apocalyptic Survival Prepper Series (American Fallout Book 3) by Alex Gunwick (rooftoppers .txt) 📕

“I don’t know, love. Some men want to own everything. I’d wager it had something to do with oil.”

She raised her head, fixing her husband with an angry stare. “Twelve million people are dead because of some damn oil?”

“Oil fields tend to run red from all the blood spilled over them,” Luke said. “But we’re speculating here. We don’t know why they dropped the bombs.”

“Not if you look at it from their perspective. If Russia was intent on crippling our oil interests in the Middle East, they might be willing to risk a full-scale military conflict. They’d try to take us out with one swift, decisive strike. But they would fail,” Edwin said.

“That’s a risky as hell plan. What was the likelihood that all their bombs would make it through our defenses to cripple us?” Luke asked.

“NORAD failed,” Sandy said. “Could they have been hacked or something? Why didn’t our countermeasures work?”

“Who knows,” Edwin said. “We’ve never had to use them before. Maybe we thought they would function the way we expected, but they didn’t.”

“The Russians had to know there would be retribution,” Luke said. “The whole situation doesn’t make any sense.”

“You know, there is another possibility,” Edwin said.

“I’m listening,” Luke said, turning his full attention to him.

“What if it wasn’t Russia? What if it was someone intent on making it look like Russia was behind the attack?” Luke shot him a doubtful look, but Edwin continued. “Hear me out. Think about how difficult it was for them to find anything against Hussein and Iraq. It usually takes the government forever to release anything. But this?” He gestured to the radio. “They’re already saying officially that Russia was behind it. But why are they releasing this information so soon this time? How can they be so sure?”

“Because they know people are scared, and they need answers,” Sandy responded to her husband’s rhetorical question with some frustration. “What are you saying, anyway?”

“He’s saying it could be a smokescreen,” Luke said.

“For what?” Sandy asked.

“Maybe it was us,” Edwin said softly.

“Are you implying that the American government nuked three of its largest cities, all economic powerhouses, including what is arguably the financial nucleus of not only the United States but in effect the entire world and the center of the global stock market? Why in hell would they do that?” Luke asked.

Edwin raised his hands innocently. “Hey, I’m just saying it seems like they pinned it on Russia too quickly.”

“How could you say such a horrible thing? I thought you were a patriot.” Sandy shot her husband a horrified look.

“I’m not saying that it definitely went down that way. I’m just saying, sometimes it’s worth looking at alternative explanations. It could have been a terrorist organization. It could have been China. Or North Korea. Or Iran. But the government decided they could use it as a good excuse to strike at Russia. And no offense to the veterans among us, it wouldn’t be the first time our government committed a horrifying atrocity for less-than-noble reasons.” Edwin gave Luke an apologetic look.

“No offense taken.” Luke turned to Sandy. “He’s not completely wrong. The government has done some terrible shit in the past, but that doesn’t mean Edwin’s right about this.” He turned back to Edwin. “To be perfectly frank, it sounds like typical conspiracy theory stuff. But it’s your right to think what you will.” Luke lowered his voice. “I’d just ask that you keep these particular theories to yourself when Kyle’s around. He’s having a hard enough time dealing with his sister’s death. I don’t want any more confusing thoughts clouding his judgment.”

“Of course,” Edwin said. “I was just theorizing. We might never know the truth, but I’ll keep my speculations to myself from here on out.”

Sandy let out a breath. Things were tense enough without fighting about who started the war. She wasn’t even sure if they were at war. The news provided bits and pieces of information, but when she tried to put it all together, nothing made sense.

“I think I’ll go and find Liz,” Luke said. “She’ll want to hear the latest update, as horrible as it is.”

After he left the room, Sandy reached for Edwin. He pulled her into a loving embrace.

“Don’t worry too much, honey. We don’t have control over anything going on out there. We can only take care of ourselves based on what we know right now.”

“Are you worried about the cult finding us here?” Sandy asked.

“Not really. Between Derek and Luke, we’ll be well protected. But I did wish we’d found another way out of this place. Maybe we should look around again later,” Edwin said.

“I wish I knew how this would end.”

“Me, too, sweetie. Me, too.”

21

For the past few days, Kyle had been too busy helping his mom inventory the bunker’s supplies and performing other maintenance tasks to spend much time on the locked door. It seemed like every time he headed for the hallway, somebody called out for him with another chore that needed doing.

When the bombs first dropped, Kyle foolishly thought it would mean fewer rules and responsibilities. He didn’t have to go to school anymore, and after leaving their house to go to the cabin, he’d expected fewer chores. He’d been dead wrong about that.

There was always something that needed to get done. Chopping wood was fun at first, but having to do it day after day got old fast. Washing dishes sucked. Sierra used to be the one in charge of doing that dreaded task, but now it fell on him. Just one more reason to get rid of the cult. They were causing him more work.

The activity inside the bunker seemed to be calm for the moment. He’d finished his chore list, so now would be the perfect time to try to get into the locked door again.

Derek was out patrolling. His dad and the Wrights were in the communication room listening to the radio. His mom sat at a table in the central room,