Alea Jacta Est: A Novel of the Fall of America (Future History of America Book 1) by Marcus Richardson Page A

and daughter and headed home to put the little one to bed,
claiming to have endured enough excitement for one day.
    Erik and
Ted joined Brin and Susan in the hot tub, connected but elevated above the pool
by a few feet, for a quick dip to cool off.  The hot tub, just recently
finished and actually ready to use only that week, was now just as lukewarm as
the unheated pool.  Without power to heat the hot tub or run the water jets, it
was nothing but a wading pool for the adults.  Still, it was water, it was
cool, refreshing, and it had seats.
    The
foursome watched Ted and Susan’s brood play Marco-Polo in the shallow end of
the pool for a while before anyone spoke.  Susan and Brin and the other ladies
had gotten acquainted while the men talked.
    “So, looks
like we’re the only ones from our building that stayed behind, huh?” asked Ted.
    “I was
telling Brin that I saw the folks next to us—“ began Susan.
    “You
know…the people opposite the hall from us and next door to Ted and Susan…” said
Brin, for Erik’s sake.
    “Right…the
Wrents, I think…I just met them a few times.  They seemed nice…but kind of
trashy, you know?” said Susan with a ‘but-you-didn’t-hear-that from-me’ look. 
    “Anyway, I
saw them head out in two different cars.  Said they were going to dinner.” 
Susan shrugged.
    Erik spoke
up,  “So, how are you all set for food?”
    “We got
about a week or so worth of the normal stuff,” said Susan, watching her
children.
    “I got
about a month’s worth of old MRE’s left over from when I was in the Corps,”
added Ted quietly with a smile.  “Course, it’ll be cut down pretty quick with
all those mouths to feed.  What about you two?”
    “Well, Erik
is sort of one of those survivalists…” said Brin off hand.  “But I’m more
thankful by the minute that he is.” 
    Erik
winced.  That term was synonymous with trouble-maker any more, thanks to the
liberal media.  He also didn’t want that knowledge getting out, for security
reasons.  If people were hungry and knew he and Brin had food…
    “Survivalist,
eh?” said Ted, a grin forming on his face.  “I have a feeling that won’t be
such a bad thing to be anymore…”
    “I like to
think of myself as being prepared.  At any rate, we got enough food for a few
weeks or so I guess,” admitted Erik.  “Beyond that…” he shrugged.  He didn’t
want to tell everything all at once.  He and Brin were closer to being set for
well over a month or more by now.  Even Brin didn’t know how much
non-perishable food he had squirreled away in every nook and cranny in their
apartment.
    Susan
caught one of the kids yawning.  “Uh oh…that’s it.  Looks like the troopers are
getting tired.”  She flashed a warm smile to Brin and Erik.  “It was nice
chatting with you two.  I think we’re gonna get going and put the little ones
to bed.”
    The four
adults said goodnight and as Ted and Susan rounded up their herd, Erik and Brin
slipped away to their apartment.  After shutting and locking the door, Erik
turned and tried to find his wife in the stifling darkness.  After a long kiss,
Brin giggled, “It’s only 11 o’clock…no work tomorrow…no nothing tomorrow.  No
TV tonight…what are we gonna do?”
    Erik
grinned lewdly in the dark.  “Oh, I think we can come up with something …” 
    The rest of
the world can go to hell tonight …he thought.  I’ve got other things to do.

WASHINGTON
The Day After
     
     
    ARE YOU SURE?  I mean, really sure?  This is life or death we’re talking about, Neil…” Hank Suthby, the
Secretary of Homeland Security, growled into the phone.  “I know you’re
serious, but you have to realize how serious this is to me .  He’s going
to have kittens!  Alright—keep me informed.  I owe you.  Yeah, I know.”  The
middle aged man hung up the phone and leaned back in his chair with a tired
sigh.
    “My back is
killing me,” he grunted to the desk.