Midnight by Anna Dove (books for new readers .TXT) 📕

as he saw the tall structure, taking it all in. Logan watched him as the man scanned the house, the barn and the garden.

“Well, will you look at that—” Jack began, and then broke off his sentence.

“Come on, let’s get some food,” said Logan, and the two moved forward.

As they entered, the people began to notice, and stopped their work or play to watch as Jack and Logan neared.

“No one worry,” called Logan, loud enough for all to hear. “Can we find some food for this man?”

Logan took Jack inside to where Judith was chopping romaine in the kitchen. A few others joined; the leaders of the community seated themselves nearby, bringing Jack a chunk of venison, a boiled onion, a boiled egg, a sweet potato and a mug of water. Jack ate and drank fiercely. He had eaten berries that morning but had not found any game that day. The taste of fresh vegetables was sensational; it had been weeks since he had eaten anything but fruit and meat. He felt his strength returning and his body absorbing much-needed nutrients.

“Thank you,” he said when he had finished, wiping his mouth. He then proceeded to tell the small company where he had come from and what his name was.

“You said Washington?” A female voice sounded from behind him, and he turned to see two young women standing with fishing equipment in their hands. One was tall and blonde; the other average height and with darker hair and grey blue eyes.

+

Haley listened as Jack told them about his journey through Maryland. Elizabeth sat on her right, and Carlos on the other side of Jack. The sun had set and they were gathered around the fire that they had built outside under the dark canopy of the sky. During the afternoon, the community leadership had questioned Jack, ensuring that he was a safe addition to the community, and now, having been accepted into the group and assigned the task of hunting with Logan tomorrow, Jack felt much more relaxed. He was grateful for these people, grateful for his life, grateful for the breath in his lungs and the stars that were appearing in the sky above.

Haley watched his face as he spoke—his roving brown eyes, furrowed brow. She felt as if she had seen him before. Perhaps—Washington being Washington, of course, the smallest of all small worlds—perhaps she had, at some happy hour or event.

“What did you do in Washington?” she asked, as his recounting seemed to have come to an end.

“Where did I work?”

“Yes.”

“I didn’t.”

“Oh. Wait—what do you mean?”

“Veteran, stipend life. Plus a few generous friends.”

“Oh.” She felt as if she had to say something else, as his response hung in the air. “Well I had just thought perhaps I had seen you before.”

“Doubt it. Didn’t go out much. But perhaps in passing. They say that our brains remember every moment of our lives, for better or for worse, but that our consciousness just can’t access it all the time.”

“So I’ve heard.”

“Would be a pity if it were true--I’ve seen a lot in my lifetime. Served in the Marines for a while. Met every president who served in the last two decades. Knew many people in DOD too. Terrible people, some of them. To be perfectly honest, all of this attack--I mean, I wouldn’t be surprised…” his voice faded.

“Surprised if what?” asked Haley quietly.

“I don’t know.” He sighed. “I don’t know. I don’t trust them.” His gaze fixed on the popping logs.

A brief silence fell on the group, and the crickets croaked, the spring peepers trilled, and the fire hissed and snapped softly.

“Jack, I want to share something with you—and Carlos, with you as well,” said Haley abruptly. “Elizabeth and I have information that we haven’t told anyone yet, but that I think you both may be able to help us with as we decide what to do.”

Elizabeth looked up from the fire.

“Haley, are you sure?”

“Yes, I am.”

At their feet, a knot in a burning log popped, sending sparks into the air. Haley watched as the sparks flew upwards and hung for a beautiful moment as if suspended, and then faded slowly into the dark as they cooled.

“The night before the attack, Elizabeth and I were at the Eisenhower building at a gala, honoring the Council of Economic Advisors, of which Carlos was a member. The President and First Lady were there, as well as a number of other high level officials from many departments,” she began, her hands clasped in front of her. “Elizabeth accidentally entered a side office during the reception after the awards. She heard someone coming and hid behind the curtains, and Reed, the chief of staff, entered, talking on the phone to someone. He said that ‘everything would go as planned’ and he mentioned Chimaugua Bunker. After he left, Elizabeth and I went home, and then we told Senator McCraiben, who I worked for, and James Landon, because they were the only people we knew we could trust. Landon is the Under Secretary of the Navy and he confirmed that this was not a drill. We all decided to wait and see what would happen—we really had no other choice. During the attack, we all were separated, because we were expecting a nuclear bomb in New York or LA, not an EMP. Carlos and Elizabeth happened to be together at that moment, and they fled back to our apartment, where I met them, and then we all started northwards. But see, the point is,” she continued earnestly, “The point is, we all believe that this was not a foreign attack. We believe that the Chief of Staff, along with others, government officials and military officials, were behind this—that it was an act of domestic terrorism. Now, it could have been anyone on the phone with him. Any