January 3, 2008
GW

As he arrived at the scene, Manuel was actually relieved. The house that had cost them so dearly yesterday, was nothing but smoking ruin now. He didn't know, or care how it happened, or who did it. The problem was solved, that was good enough for him.

"Hey Manuel, I think we have a problem." one of his men said.

"I don't want to hear about problems. Just what you've done. Like this." he said pointing at the burned down home. "That is a good piece of work. Did any of them come out, or did they just burn alive?"

"We don't know, and that is the problem. Nobody admits to starting the fire. And there is something else. There aren't any cars. Like they left, and the place just burned down on it's own."

That wasn't good, Manuel knew. They were supposed to kill all who fought back, not let them escape.

"Don't mention that to anyone else. As far as you know, everyone died in the fire."

"What about the cars?"

"Say they were stolen by someone else, just don't mention this to anyone, ever again! Do you understand me?"

"Yeah, yeah. Sure."

It wasn't long, before Manuel decided he knew what Jose's problem had been. He didn't ask for enough firepower from the start. Since he had gotten extra weapons, and bigger weapons, places of resistance began to fold like a house of cards. In many places, there were a number of resistors taken prisoner. For them, it was short and not so sweet. First they were taken to the stadium and held until the 'special' train arrived. Then they were loaded onto the train, and taken away. Where they went, and what happened to them, he didn't care.

Even better was the fact that now that there was no longer anyone to stand against them, his men were going through each and every house and apartment they could reach. Valuables of all kinds were being taken. Food, drugs, jewelry, money, and even a few cute girls had been taken. More importantly, a share from each take made its' way into his private pile.

Manuel was enjoying some of his spoils, when the word came. The Director was coming. He wasn't worried. There wasn't any more fighting going on. He was in complete control. He went back to his amusement. The screams the girl made, pleased him all the more.

Director Claire didn't wait for an escort. Everyone knew who he was, and tried to avoid him. When he opened the door to the office Manuel was using as his headquarters, he saw the girl lying on the floor, nude from the waist down, and quietly crying. He kicked her to the side and walked up to the desk where Manuel sat, having a beer and a cigarette.

"What is going on here?"

"What? You mean her? We were just having a little fun, that's all."

"I don't care about her. I gave you a job to do. I notice that there are a lot of names missing from the list of the dead. Where are they?"

"Hey Director, slow down. Take it easy. There were a lot of fires around here. We don't even know how many resistor died in them, let alone how many are on your list. Besides that, you wanted all resistance in this area to end. Have you heard any gun shots? There isn't anyone standing against us anymore. What are you complaining about?'

"I'm complaining about the names missing from this list." Claire stated.

"A lot has happened in the past day. Give me a chance to catch up with what you want."

"You have 24 hours to find out where the people named on this list are at." Claire shouted, as he threw the list across the room at Manuel. Claire turned on his heel, and started to leave the room. The girl he had kicked, un-noticed, as he entered had crawled to one side. and lay there trying to recover from the abuse Manuel had heaped upon her. Claire stopped and looked at her.

"So, how was she?"

"Not bad, Mister Director."

"We'll see." Claire said. Then he reached out and grabbed the girl by the hair, and dragged her from the room, behind him.

---

Within 18 hours, Manuel realized three things. First, none of those who followed him much liked the idea of searching burned out ruins for certain dead people. Second, many of those whom the Director wanted were indeed dead. Some died in the fires that engulfed their hiding places, others were killed when they chose to stand and fight against the gangs and their re enforcements. Third, He didn't like taking such unpleasant orders from anyone, much less The Director.

Meanwhile, Director Claire realized that there was far more on the line than he thought at the first. It was bad enought that the over-all director was wanting answers that he didn't have, but even the President wanted those same answers. But he still didn't have them. He knew he could put off any retrobution for awhile by pointing out that while it had taken longer than expected, his region was at last pacified. And after all, everyone knew that pacifing the southern region would be a tough nut to crack. That would be enough to buy him some time to get his hands on the rest of those who wouldn't accept the reality of the New Order.

He looked over at the nameless girl cowering in the corner of the room. He had his doubts about how well Manuel was going to work out in the grand sceam of things. She wasn't as good as he had been lead to believe. Still, there was something he couldn't resist about her helplessness. Unbuckleing his belt, he stood and moved towards her, for the third time today.

---

Bob puled the truck over into a wooded area. As the vehicles stopped, it took only seconds for everyone to get out and streach their legs.

"Bob, why did we stop?" Kathy asked.

"Would you go into hostile country without a guide?" he asked.

"No."

"That's why we stopped. Our guide is gone."

"You mean the angel?"

"Yep, I do. And when he says stop, and then disappears, I think it is a good idea to wait for him to return."

"How do you know he'll come back?"

Bob smiled, "God hasn't lead me this far, just to leave me now. He has a reason, all I have to do is wait on Him to tell me what to do next."

Bob, I understand that we might be under judgement, but why? America has done a lot for God and his kingdom. Why would He judge us?"

"The scriptures say that judgement begins at the house of God. If America is Gods chosen land, and His chosen people, why not start His judement with us? And as far as that goes, the scriptures say the He will NOT hold blameless those who shead innocent blood. We have been killing over 4,000 babies A DAY through abortion, for years."

From the bushes came a voice, "And what blood could be

more innocent than the unborn?"

Bob whirled at the sound, pistol in hand, ready to fire. As the young man came out of the woods, Bob did something he had never done before in his life. The weapon fell to the ground, completely forgoten.

"ALEX!"

"Hi Dad."

Bob ran with a speed, he thought he no longer had, to embrace his son. Kathy and Tim were lost on whether they should watch the reunion, or turn their backs considering the privacy of the moment.

After a long embrace, Bob pushed his son to arms lenght. "How did you get here? What happened to you? Are you alright?" The questions tumbled out of his mouth almost faster than he could form them.

"Hey Dad, take it easy. I'll answer you, but first, do you guys have something to eat? I've been here three days with nothing."

GW, Vietnam Vet