"Anna! Is that really you? I've missed you so much."

Anna looked at his uniform. "Have you?" She turned to face Bob. "I thought there were only Christians here."

"Anna what are you talking about? Of course I've missed you. I've always wondered what became of you."

"You're in the Army. The Army is hunting down Christians and either capturing them, or killing them."

"Miss Rodgers." Bob spoke up, "Things aren't quite what they appear to be. You, above all people, should understand that."

"O.K. I'm listening."

"Anna do you remember this?" The Major reached for his wallet. He reached in and pulled out half of a penny. "I still have mine. Do you?"

Anna remembered. Just before Gerald had moved away, he had taken a penny, and cut it in half. He gave her the other half. Something to remember him by. Something to show that they hadn't forgotten what they had meant to each other, all those years ago. She reached into her shirt, and pulled a chain out that had two things hanging from it. One was a cross, the other was a half of a penny, circled in gold and hanging by a loop.

"I remember. But I don't understand."

"Miss Rodgers, if I may." Bob said, "The Major and his men were given a choice. Give up their God, or give up their rank. They choose to side with God. He is still an officer, just not with the U.S. Army. He serves The Lord, by helping us."

"How can I be sure? I mean so much has happened."

"Miss Rodgers. I realize that all of this is a bit much to take in all at once. I will tell you that I don't believe in coincidences. I believe The Lord has it all under control. Think about it. What are the odds that Major Ferguson, Gerald as you've called him, and you would even be here? And yet you are. Clearly there is much to think about. I suggest that you spend the next couple of nights with my wife and myself. We have a place just down the road from the Major. It will give you a chance to think, and for the two of you to get reacquainted."

"I don't know. So much has happened since then. Maybe we aren't meant for each other."

"Then why did you keep the other half of the penny?" asked Ferguson.

She smiled at him. "You know what they say, hope springs eternal. Alright. I'll do it."

"Good. Now that that is settled, Major, what was it that you wanted?"

"Oh. I almost forgot. We've picked up so radio traffic you need to know about."

---

After the meeting had broken up, Bob and Major Ferguson went to the Majors' home. When they entered, Bob was happy to see a half dozen people listening to various radios, or to Lieutenant Busby, as he explained what was needed.

"So, what do we have, Major."

"It's nothing concrete, but look here." He pointed to a map of the Canadian and U.S. boarder region, on the wall. "We know that certain Canadian stations are working with the Russians. Because of their lack of security precautions, we believe they are civilians that have been put into service by the Russians. Sometimes they say things that a professional wouldn't. From that, we can get an idea of what is happening up north.

Now we picked up a transmission a few days ago from a station we know is broadcasting from the Winnipeg area. They talked about a need for large amounts of supplies that needed to be ready for a near future operation. We thought, at first, it would be another push into the Dakotas', but nothing happened. So we kept listening for any other such announcements. Yesterday we got an urgent call for large amounts of water purification equipment over here, in Regina. That's nearly three hundred miles to the west." he smiled and said, "It seems some dirty rotten Americans did some pretty bad damage to their water works."

"Hm. That would indicate that you were right. They are moving a major force to the west. Any thoughts of where they might be headed?"

"Again, nothing concrete, but there has been another call today for large numbers of tents and heaters, over here." Again he pointed to the map. "This is a place called Medicine Hat. If it was me, at this point, I'd divide my force, and send half down this way into eastern Montana, and the other half over to a place called Lethbridge. From there, they can come down through the western central portion of Montana into the Rockies."

"Why would they divide their force? It would seem to me that a larger force would almost guarantee success on an operation."

"That would depend on the size of the force, and the nature of the operation. We haven't gotten anything about the size of the force that is on the move, only indications that it is pretty big. Given that, we have to move on to the second question. What are they planning? Since we know that it is a big force, they will try to get as much out of it as they can. Once a force of any size manages to break through the lines, they can raise all kinds of trouble in the enemy rear, and cause an entire section of the line to collapse. But this seems to be large enough for that along the Dakota lines, with plenty to spare. So, what else could they be up to? It would make sense to me that they would move down into the plains, and eastern portion of the Rockies.

Once they get into the plains, they can move fast, and cover a lot of ground in a short time. Kind of like the German blitz in WW II. If they do that, they cut off major food resources to the Americans, and disrupt their lines from behind. Not only along the Dakota front, but perhaps all the way down to Colorado Springs, and Fort Carson. Should they manage to pull it off, we are pretty much done for."

"What do you think we can do about it?"

"As a fighting force, nothing. There simply aren't enough of us to do anything except die. However, I think I still have some people that will listen to me in the Dakotas. I want permission to try to contact them, and warn them of what I see coming.?"

"How would you contact them?"

"It would almost have to be face to face, which is why I wanted to talk to you. I know, I know. It is a big risk, but if I were the person I'm thinking of, I wouldn't believe a voice over the radio, would you?"

"I suppose not. What if you are captured?"

"That won't happen."

"Major, there is no way you can be certain of that."

"True, but I've been on more than one long range patrol. I know what I'm doing." He paused, looked Bob in the eye, and spoke again in a very calm and clear voice. "Bob I've been doing this for a long time. I've forgotten more about this line of work than most people know. At least I've tried to forget it. If it comes to that, I assure you, anyone trying to capture me will pay a very high price for their effort. I will not go quietly."

Bob nodded, understanding his meaning. "I guess there is only one thing left. I suppose you are going to pray long and hard before you leave."

Ferguson smiled. "Standard procedure for every mission."

"Well, we'll be praying for you until your return."

---

The blizzard that had suddenly blown down from the north had slowed the Russian advance, but not halted it. Director Ives knew it was the work of the Nazarene. Most of the American scalar weaponry had been put out of action by this time. What they had left was used only sparingly, and then against the east and west coasts. That was O.K. He would show that Nazarene that he was someone to be taken seriously. The Russian commander had reported that they would take between three and four more days, before they were in position to the southeast, and southwest of Lethbridge to begin the attack. That would put they two days behind schedule, but since it was before the attack actually began, that was acceptable.

Just as long as they didn't slow down again after they started until they had made a minimum of four hundred miles. That would put them well below and behind the Dakota lines, and force the Americans to weaken their western lines by diverting men away from there, to meet the new threat. Then the Chinese could stop retreating, and take the offensive again. With the Americans caught in the cross fire of the wedge shaped area they would still control, they would have to fall back, or lose a large portion of the Army they had left. Not to mention the bonus of taking control of certain weapons and munitions plants that were operating in the mountains.

Soon, he thought. Very, very soon, and America would be a foot note in the history books. He felt so good about the plan, that he decided to take the night off, and enjoy himself. He called his secretary, and ordered a suitable girl be brought to the estate he had taken over for his personal use. It was nice there. Nobody around for a couple of miles to hear the girls' screams, except his servants. But they wouldn't say anything. They always enjoyed his leftovers so much.


BW, Vietnam Vet