Liberty or Tyranny Read Online Free PDF Page B

other long, but they had worked closely together from the day the Army arrived in town until the night Chesty was killed, and they had grown to respect each other. The fact Donovan wasn’t there made Nate nervous. There could be something serious going on that had kept Donovan away.
    The preacher spoke of a life of service to others and years of dedication selflessly given. Then he read from the Bible. Nate didn’t hear much of his words. He thought of all the good people he had met and lost to both the plague and violence. Weariness seeped into his bones and chilled him more than the wind. He wished to God there was someplace he could take those closest to him, some place where they would be safe. But he knew there was no such place on earth.
    Deni gave his arm a squeeze, as if she had read his mind.
    Chesty’s closest friends grabbed a shovel and went to work. The crowd thinned as people quietly walked away. Nate and Brian had to finish the job when Tyrone and Atticus turned their faces into the cold wind and stood in quiet grief, their shovels forgotten.
    Brian handed his shovel to the man who had brought them, then turned to his father. “We seem to always be burying someone.”
    Nate put a heavy hand on his son’s shoulder. “I know I’ve been saying this for over a year now, but someday it’ll get better.”
    “It’s not like it’s your fault.” Something behind Nate caught Brian’s attention. He nodded. “Soldiers. I think they’re looking for Tyrone or you.”
    Nate turned to look. “Yeah. There must be a reason why Donovan didn’t show. Something’s up.”
    Deni said, “My thoughts too. Never a dull moment around here.”
    Fifty yards away, a young private talked to Mel, who pointed toward Tyrone and Atticus. The soldier walked briskly up to Tyrone. “Sir, Col. Donovan requests that you come with me to his office to discuss an important matter.”
    Atticus had his shotgun slung across his back, out of the way. He soon had it in his hands. “Terrorists again?”
    Tyrone nodded toward Nate. “He’s the acting sheriff. You should be talking to him.”
    The soldier glanced Nate’s way. “Nate Williams is to come too. And Sergeant Heath.”
    “Did he say anything about a senile old man?” Atticus asked.
    The question seemed to throw the young soldier off his stride.
    “Uh,” Tyrone said, “we’ll follow you in our vehicles.”
    Nate, Deni, Brian, Kendell, and Mel hopped in one pickup. Tyrone and Atticus scrambled into a dirty white sheriff cruiser Tyrone had scrounged up. The soldier led the little convoy in a Humvee. The downtown streets had been cleared of nearly all abandoned vehicles and other debris, one of Donovan’s directives. This included only the downtown area, though, and just three miles out the streets were navigable only by threading a vehicle around many obstacles.
    ~~~
    Donovan watched from the window of his office as a Black Hawk helicopter lifted off, carrying a team of soldiers, armored up and loaded for battle. It was obvious they were heading to a trouble spot somewhere. Donovan turned to the others. “Sorry I couldn’t attend Chesty’s funeral. We’ve found the rest of that gang of punks you ran out of town a while back. My soldiers are… uh… pacifying them. Unfortunately, most of them are too stupid to just give up. It’s gotten bloody.”
    “They’re a bunch of idiots, alright,” Atticus said. “Real dead-end losers. I bet they’ve been giving people trouble wherever they’ve gone.”
    “Where did you find them, on the interstate near the Florida/Georgia line?” Nate asked.
    Donovan seemed surprised. “Yeah. How did you know?”
    “Just a guess. Are there many women and children with them?”
    Donovan tilted his head. He appeared to be wondering what Nate had on his mind. “Some. It complicates matters.”
    Nate nodded. “Yeah. At least it does for anyone with a conscience. It wouldn’t be near a big truck stop, would it?”
    The corners of