Overthrown - The Aftermath - Pt. 39
Director Ives knew that he had played his cards just right. By pretending he didn't really want the job of running what was left of the United States, the people who had survived had placed him in a new office, with the title of Supreme Director of Reconstruction, by overwhelming acclimation. He now had the power to do whatever he wanted. He only had to make it sound good, and he was an expert at doing that.
He could see that while the offer of the space brothers was going over well with the female portion of the population, the men were very unhappy. The fact that many of them were now without any chance of getting a wife, at least until after their first child was born from their mating with the fallen ones, was something that had to be dealt with right away. The answer came to him quickly. He could solve two problems at one time. A new directive was put out almost at once.
From: Supreme Director Ives
To: The People of The United States
Subject: Reconstruction
As we are all aware, the combination of war and natural disasters has taken a terrible toll on this nation. Both the east and west coasts have been devastated by tsunamis, while the center portion of the country was badly damaged by first the Great New Madrid earthquake, and then damaged even further by the retreating Russian forces.
Much of the available farm land has been burned so badly that it will take a massive effort by all of the people that can reach these areas just to prepare it for spring planting. We also have the additional problem of unexploded munitions that litter the entire area.
Both coasts have a similar problem of debris from the war, and I'm sorry to say, unburied bodies from the war and the tsunamis.To call the situation dire would be an appalling understatement. But our situation is not hopeless.
I have been informed by scouting parties that have already entered the coastal regions that they have been finding large food stores that were left behind by the enemy. It is believed that the Russian forces didn't have the chance to reach these stores during their attack into the center of the country.
In the case of the Chinese forces, we believe that there simply wasn't room on board their ships for these stores. While there are large amounts of food, transporting them to the areas where they are needed most will not be an easy one. There are still small numbers of enemy forces that were abandoned by their nations, on both east and west coasts. These forces will not give want to allow us to take these food stuffs. I will not deceive you. It will be dangerous. But I'm calling on able bodied men to report for duty for the following areas.
First, we will need men who have spent time on the front during the war. It will be their job to protect our men who will be doing the other necessary work.
Secondly, we will need men to search out and find all remaining food stores, and any equipment that can be used to rebuild this country.
Finally, we will need men that are skilled in the use of horse or mule drawn wagons, to bring these needed supplies back to where they will do the most good for the people of America.
We will send medical personnel with these teams, to handle any medical problems that arise. No matter if it is injuries, or infections. The necessary medical personnel will be on hand.
I am asking for volunteers to start with, but should the need arise, a limited draft will be imposed.
I know you have all sacrificed much this far. However I must ask you to step forward one more time, for the betterment of the country. I believe that you the brave men of this land will come forward at this time of need, unlike the cowardly Christians who wouldn't even fight in the war.
Please report to your local post office for screening decide which task you will be assigned to do.
The three girls continued to talk for the rest of the day. Linda asking and either Jessie or Amie answering. After a while, Linda called for a pause.
"Lets' hold up on the Bible study for a bit. I need to kind of think about it. If you don't mind, I would like to ask a question. But it's kind of personal."
"Go ahead." Jessie said. "If it's to personal, we won't answer."
"O.K. That sounds fair. It is obvious you two are Christians, so what about your family?"
Jesse sighed "It's kind of weird. I mean, Mom and Dad always took us to church, and Sunday school, and we learned a lot. At least until the aliens showed up. We gave ourselves to Jesus a few years ago, and we tried to talk with them about it, but it was like they knew even less than we did."
"Yeah." Aime joined in. "It was like they thought church was some kind of social club. They never studied The Bible, They just went to church to meet people and kind of hang out."
"You mean they didn't even ask questions about what is in The Bible. That doesn't sound like they really believed in anything."
"I hate to say it, but I think you're right. They just wanted to see and be seen, as they say."
"But How could that happen? I mean you must have been going to church for years to learn everything you two know. Didn't they ever accept what The Bible teaches?"
"I guess not." Aime answered. "They never lived like Christians at home. Dad sometimes drank too much, and Mom was always worrying about if her clothes and stuff were better than what someone else had. They both would curse like you wouldn't believe when the got upset or had an argument. I don't understand it either. But in public, they were the just as perfect as could be."
"Yeah, Aime is right. I don't understand it either. They just did their thing and that was it. And when the aliens came, they were among the first to say they never really believed, and they always thought there had to be something else going on."
"From what I've learned so far, I don't see how that would be possible." Linda shook her head. "I mean there is so much in this book, how could anyone not believe?"
Bob was near the ridge where it had all started. He was looking over the town, and watched as Maria walked up to him. He thought how radiant she looked, even though she wasn't showing her pregnancy yet.
"What are you looking at?" she asked as she drew close.
"I was just thinking. How much things have changed since we first got here."
"That's true. We never see the wild dogs any more. Almost every house in town has someone living in it. According to Kathy at least five women in town are expecting. There certainly a lot of things different."
Bob put his arm around his wife. "That's all true, but it isn't what I'm talking about. Have you ever noticed we seem to have a situation like the Tower of Babel, in reverse. Everyone here is a believer, but instead of one people before God changed everyone, we have just about every race one the planet here. It is amazing to me."
"I see what you mean. I just wish certain ones of those people were a little stronger in their faith."
"Let me guess. Mrs. Molton and her group again?"
"You got it. Now that Major Ferguson and Anna have become something of an item, she's spreading stories that Anna is trying get to us by having him influence you."
"One of these days, that woman is going to go too far. I really think you couldn't change her mind about anything with a baseball bat."
"Isn't there anything that can be done about her?"
"Not without her actually doing something bad enough for us to act. Running her mouth, and making false accusations doesn't do it."
Maria sighed and laid her head against Bobs' sholder.
"Well I guess we'll just have to make the best of it." She paused for a moment. "You know, I can't help the feeling that The Lord wouldn't lead us all to this place, and leave a burr under your saddle like her. I think something is going to happen to change all of that."
"A feeling, or something else?"
"Just a feeling. Nothing like a vision, visitation, or dream."
"I guess we'll have to wait and see. Now young lady. You may not be showing yet, but you are still expecting. Time to get you in out of the snow."
"Yes Daddy."
On the morning of second day in the shed, Linda, Jesse, and Aime all woke at the same time. That was strange enough, but they looked at each other and almost at the same time asked each other.
"Did you see him?"
There was confusion for a moment until Jesse took control of the situation.
"Hold on, hold on. Lets' take this one at a time. Aime, what happened with you?"
"I had a dream, I guess. But I've never had such a real dream in my life. I saw a man. A big man, all dressed in white robes. He said that we need to leave here, and he would show us where to go."
"Same thing here." Said Jesse. "What about you Linda."
"I remember he said his name was Michael. And he said that in the morning we would all know it was real." She paused momentarily and said, "Isn't there something about two or three witnesses in The Bible?"
"In the mouth of two or three witnesses, let every word be established." Said Aime. "I guess that's what Michael was talking about. We all saw the same thing. So what do we do now?"
"Pack up and get ready for traveling." Answered Linda.
BW, Vietnam Vet