2042: The Great Cataclysm (35 page)

The operations room was crammed with people who barely noticed his entrance. He saw Bob Anderson’s greasy head bobbing back and forth over the crowd like some disconnected marionette.

‘Always count on that sleaze bag being on top of the heap.’ He muttered to his aide. The crowd parted as he made his way over to the observation screens where Anderson was barking orders to the lowered head of a communications officer.

‘Thank God you’re here Mr President.’ He sneered. ‘This shit head won’t listen to anything I say.’

The man jumped up and saluted Walker. ‘I’m only following orders Sir.’

‘It’s all right Major. Can I have a word outside Anderson?’

Anderson scowled and reluctantly followed him out into the hall. ‘What the hell are you trying to do Anderson? Start another riot. These men are under Cooper’s orders.’

‘Jesus. What’s the good of being Secretary of State anymore? May as well be a bloody office boy!’

Walker sensed a rising panic in Anderson and empathised with him immediately. ‘I know how you feel Anderson. It’s crazy, but it’s only temporary. We’ll be back in the saddle soon. Just hang in there.’

Anderson saw he’d gone a little far and lowered his voice. ‘Yeah. Maybe you’re right. Can’t be too soon for me.’ Worth had kept his distance since they had taken up residence in Rockwell, and it was worrying him. He wondered what his plans were. How long was he going to allow this incompetent weakling to remain Chief?

They returned to the operations room to watch the closed circuit television screens, as they unfolded the drama happening outside the entrances to Rockwell. Large teams of armed military guards patrolled the entry gates to the tunnels, repelling the frantic civilian survivors attempting to gain access from every point. Yesterday there had been violent riots when masses of hungry men and women stormed the gates. Children had been herded to the back of the mob to wait until the riot had ended.

The army threw tear gas among the crowds and some retreated, while others pushed forward toward the army personnel who were ordered to open fire. First they downed four men at the front of the crowd. The people stopped for a few seconds, then rushed at the soldiers hurling rocks and abuse. The soldiers fired again, this times loosing several rounds of ammunition. Bodies fell onto bodies with dozens killed or injured before the crowd understood their efforts were useless, and fell back sobbing.

Scenes like this were happening at every entrance to Mt Rockwell
.
The death toll was rising and there was a growing wave of resentment and hatred toward the military personnel. The camps set up by Star Flight for civilians were far from adequate, and unable to handle the masses seeking refuge. Food was rationed as they had no idea how long they would have to remain in the camps. There was another level of survivors who were dying in droves, those who were not fortunate enough to get into the camps, and were forced to find shelter wherever they could. Like stranded nomads they wandered around the perimeters of the camps begging for food and clothing, only to be turned away by the soldiers on guard who did not dare to allow one single person to break the line, fearing further uncontrollable rioting. In the first few days after the calamity it became apparent that if this situation continued, too long many more lives would be lost.

Admiral Deakin, despite his reservations, did have the sense to take some of the fleet to sea so they still had a Navy. Katla volcano was erupting in Iceland and another volcanic island had emerged to her west near Greenland. The displacement of the ocean generated monstrous waves in the Atlantic and many ships had been lost.

In other parts of the country large ships had began limping home almost immediately, but were unable to come close to the land. The new waters were unchartered and cluttered by wrecked structures just below the surface, so men put ashore in liberty boats and were instantly besieged by desperate frightened people, who attacked them ferociously and stole their boats. Some made for the ships at anchor and were repelled by volleys of laser blasts and others left for parts unknown looking for surviving towns.

***

Despite the comforts inside Rockwell, arguments among the personnel developed and every order was challenged. President Walker called emergency meetings but the stunned Senators began acting like children, disoriented, undisciplined, and short-tempered. The only plan they could put in place was the distribution of food throughout the complex where they were sequestered, and even this soon became a shambles. Large amounts of food began disappearing and an investigation was launched to find where it had gone. Police were engaged in policing their own people. No-one could be trusted.

The reports relayed from the community centres on the outside were spasmodic and reported only the dire circumstances of the people, the devastation and the level of the sea that had not retreated. The discontent soon turned to outright rebellion by a certain few who tampered with the air-conditioning plants. Weapons had been restricted, but factions of rebels soon found ways to acquire some. Guards were murdered, equipment was confiscated and soon there was an alternative society of malcontents. The army were constantly putting right sabotage attempts, and dampening down tempers. General Cooper spent many hours in conference with President Walker and his top staff devising schemes to control the unrest.

Cooper knew it would be only a matter of time and the lawlessness would escalate inside as well as outside. All their previous plans had to be reassessed. Nothing was as they had expected, even though Nick and Josh had warned them, they had not been fully prepared for the holocaust that came. As he had expected Walker was floundering like a man treading water. The General’s army were doing what they could, but until regular communications could be established, there was little they could do for those not in their immediate area.

Psychiatrists and behavioural psychologists had been included in those chosen to occupy Rockwell in anticipation of the problems they would face. Despite their preparations morale was low among everyone. They were isolated, out of touch and frightened.

Outside the temperatures were freezing and snow was beginning to fall, compounding their problems. Because it had been summer just before the tragic events, people were not prepared for the bitter cold they now faced.  The climate change was incomprehensible, when it wasn’t snowing, it was raining. Sick and injured people were dying, and medical personnel were unable to keep up with the demand for their services.

Despite General Worth’s plans, he had been thwarted by General Cooper on just about every level. Cooper had countermanded all his orders. Worth sought out Porter Douglas and managed to waylay the general in a quiet corner.

‘We have to end this bloody fiasco.’ Worth spoke in almost a whisper. ‘Cooper’s causing major setbacks to our plans. We have to do something about him and soon.’

‘Surely you’re not planning to get rid of him too.’ Douglas gasped.

‘Shhh...not here. Find Anderson and meet me at Marine Two in two hours. We can discuss it then. You’re in too deep to pull out now.’

Douglas came to attention and glared at Worth for a few seconds, then turned and walked briskly away in the direction of the operations room. Worth sniffed and went to his office to go over his plan. He smiled briefly then checked himself. No-one had any idea about how things were about to change again.

Chapter Forty-five

The Gold Coast Australia

The temporary city at Camp B on Mount Tamborine resembled a war zone; army personnel, Vetos, jeeps and grey tents covered every available space. After settling the others into their tents and securing everything from the wailing wind, Nick and Graham wiped the windstorm dirt and debris from their faces and hair. The temperature had climbed to 30 degrees Celsius inside the tent. Then the rain came.

‘What about the nuclear problem in the Bering Sea?’ Graham asked in an attempt to delay the news about Brian’s death he knew would devastate Nick. He picked up a bottle of scotch. ‘Drink?’

‘Yup, thanks. Wolf reported massive explosions we expected in the Bering Straight, but that’s nothing compared to what’s happened to the Pacific. There’s been earthquakes and eruptions right down the centre along the new fault we found. New land masses are popping out of the ocean everywhere, even in the North Atlantic.

So, what’s the bad news you have for me then?’ Nick held his breath, he knew what was coming but had been afraid to ask for news of Brian.’

Graham turned to face Nick. ‘Umm, you’d better sit down.’

Nick’s face turned pale and he felt his heart jolt
.
It was true the
n
...flashed into his mind
.
Brian was dea
d
.

‘It’s Brian. I’m, sorry.’  Graham said haltingly. ‘His Veto crashed. They tried to get too close.’

Graham’s voice faded away as Nick sank onto the bunk bed. He felt a pain in his heart, almost unbearable, he wanted to scream but he was struck dumb. He gently put his drink on the small table beside the bed folded his arms, leaned forward and rocked quietly. This feeling was no stranger to him, as he recalled a similar pain he felt when his father took his own life. This was more intense, deep inside his soul, so deep it was almost physical.

He was unable to stop the pictures running in his mind. Brian and he as children, running, fighting each other to see who would get to the rope hanging from the old gum tree on the river bank first, laughing as they fell with arms flaying into the cool water. Only this time, Brian was falling into a dark abyss and Nick reached out desperately, but no matter how hard he tried, he could not catch him. Tears squeezed through his closed eyelids, turned to small rivulets and dripped down both cheeks. He wanted to yell the scrambled words that tore inside his brain like a tornado, and smashed his visions into shambles. Heavy hoods sagged over his brown eyes as they opened narrowly to peer from his shocked face.

Graham winced as he watched his friend’s crumpling face.‘I um, didn’t say anything to Karen yet. I guessed you’d want to tell her.’

They remained silent for a long time. ‘If you want to talk wake me.’
Graham finally said.
‘I’ve got to get some rest. D’you want the lamp left on?’

‘No. Thanks mate.’ Nick croaked. ‘I’ll be okay  I’m going for a walk.’

Knowing he would not sleep Nick walked the night away, not caring about the crazy weather, the earthquakes or the passage of time. He welcomed the howling wind, it seemed appropriate to his mood. His heart hurt with the intense hollow feeling of deep and sudden loss. He had loved his brother deeply, and it was impossible to imagine life without him. His mind fought to acknowledge the loss. It was like the time Brian had broken his leg and Nick had felt the pain, only now he knew the pain would never go away. The fear of what he was to face tomorrow seemed too heavy to bear now that Brian was gone. He just wanted to run away. Oh, how many times that thought had crossed his mind since this crazy business started in Alaska, yet he knew he had to come to terms with it quickly, there was so much for him to do.

He had to find the courage to tell Karen without breaking down. Exhaustion ripped at his body as he crept back into the tent and fell silently onto his bunk, perspiration drenching his dirty tattered clothing.

***

Dawn broke accompanied by a bleak sunless sky, and the hot wind from the previous evening continued to lash the tent flaps as Nick groggily opened his eyes. He heard rain pounding the tent walls. The first thoughts that came to his mind were recollections of a bad dream. He blinked several times and asked himself
,
Was it just a drea
m
? Sickened, he slowly comprehended the reality more frightfully horrible than any dream. He looked at his watch with eyes burning from lack of sleep, noting that he had slept for just one hour.

Despite the early hour he could hear much activity outside the tent. He looked over to see Graham’s grey-flecked hair poking from under the sheet like a small forlorn possum, the sheet rising and falling gently as he snored lightly in a deep sleep. Was it his imagination or had Graham’s hair become greyer? Nick struggled up on one elbow painfully, rubbing his aching shoulder muscles strained by the ordeal placed on them the previous day. His tight stomach reminded him he hadn’t eaten since the lavish lunch at Bill’s yesterday, but it was not the hunger that bothered him.

Careful not to waken Graham he forced himself off the bed, stretched his tired muscles and quietly left the tent. The war zone he had imagined the previous evening now revealed itself in the grey morning light. Army jeeps and trucks were parked everywhere. People slowly emerged from a sea of ripped tents, dazed and disoriented. The large open camp area was located on a flat grassed plateau surrounded by a dense forest of tall gum trees. He wondered what the scene beyond those trees would reveal. He decided then to think beyond himself and his personal grief. Karen would need his support, as would many other people. He glanced at his watch again, June 10, a day that history would record as the one that changed the world.

He had no idea where Karen was billeted but he knew he must try to find her before she heard the news from the army Padre. He made his way over to the Scout Hall to find Alex, sure that he would be on duty again by now, and would know exactly where he could find Karen. He picked his way over women and children seated on the steps to the verandah. It was a case of tip toeing gingerly around people sprawled awkwardly all over the floor, careful to avoid someone’s hand or foot. A frazzled nurse popped her head through the door and with a pretence of cordiality asked him whom he was looking for.