I began thinking back on all of the guardians that came before me. If a guardian served in this position for fifty years before passing the medallion on to the next guardian, that would result in twenty guardians per thousand years. Sixty-three thousand years would mean an unbroken chain of 1,260 guardians. That’s one hell of a tradition. If the medallion does bring good health and long life, it still doesn’t make you bulletproof. I could still be killed. There had to be more to the medallion than what I’d been told.
CHAPTER 13
“You up for another trip?” John asked.
“Which mountain range did you have in mind?” I asked.
John laughed. “The Ozarks, actually,” he replied.
“That sounds rather tame after the Himalayas,” I said.
“It will be. One day, out and back,” John said. I was learning that nothing was actually as simple as it sounded with John. He had a talent for putting you in the middle of a situation that would challenge what you had come to believe, and motivate you to rise above it.
“So who all is going?” I asked.
“You and Ed, Tia, if she wants to go.”
“And what are we doing there?” I asked.
“I have an inside source to a government-run underground city,” John said. “He’ll meet you there.”
“An underground city?”
“Yep, complete with an onsite power system, air purification and supplies for the next fifty years.”
“Sounds interesting,” I replied. “Do you think they know what’s about to happen?”
“I wouldn’t be surprised, but I’m interested in your assessment of the situation. Limo leaves for the airport in thirty minutes.”
I checked with Tia. She was up for the adventure.
After we landed, Ed secured a rental car for us and drove out into the countryside. We traveled for over two hours and pulled into a small café on a sparsely traveled section of road.
“Here’s where we meet John’s inside guy,” Ed said. “Major Samuels is in the Army and has been a member of the Survivalist Network for about eight years.”
As we entered the small café a black guy in civilian clothes stood up from a booth near the back and motioned us over. He had the standard military haircut and posture but looked around nervously as we approached. After handshakes and introductions, he got right down to business.
“Something big is happening,” he said. “I am assigned to a detail that maintains security for an underground facility. Last week a three star General walked in and took command. This facility is supposed to be for VIPs in the event of a nuclear attack. The place has been vacant for as long as I have known about it. You know, the backup plan for a backup plan that never sees the light of day. Anyway, all of that changed last week. I could tell you more, but I think one good look is worth more than any amount of talk. You guys ready to go? “
“You bet,” Ed responded.
We traveled out into the hills for another half an hour, where Major Samuels pointed to a stand of large trees just off the side of the road.
“We can leave the car here,” he said. “It won’t be seen from the air.”
We hiked up into the hills for another hour. Major Samuels stopped and handed each of us a camouflaged heat reflecting space age blanket. “Wrap this around yourself camo side out. The inner surface reflects heat and will help you remain invisible to the infra-red security sensors across the valley.”
He checked each of us to make sure everything was properly covered. We climbed up the hill in front of us. As we got near the top, Major Samuels had us lie down and crawl slowly to the edge.
Below us a dirt road wove its way through the hills and disappeared into a tunnel surrounded by concrete walls. An MP with an M-16 rifle hanging from a sling stood on each side of the entrance, with a third MP directing traffic. The entrance would accommodate only one truck at a time. Five semi-trucks were waiting in line while three trucks pulled out of the tunnel. Once cleared, the MP waved for the waiting trucks to enter.
“This has been going on for the last week,” Major Samuels said quietly. “Twenty-four hours a day. There are construction crews inside the facility repairing everything and bringing the facility up to current standards.”
“The impression is that there are a lot of trucks going in and out of the tunnel,” I said. “There must be a lot of room inside there.”
“There is,” Major Samuels replied. “It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but there are more than twenty-three miles of tunnels inside the facility. That includes residence areas, mess hall and commissary, hospital, meeting halls, library, recreation hall, exercise gym and a theater. Right now the trucks are loaded with equipment and construction supplies. Soon they will be bringing in food, medical supplies and fuel.”
“Are there any cars inside?” Ed asked.
“All electric,” Major Samuels said. “Hundreds of golf carts. The place even has its own traffic control system.”
“What about security?” Ed asked.
“Top level military grade security system,” Major Samuels replied. “This is the closest anyone can get without being spotted. The use of lethal force without warning is already authorized.”
“In-ground sensors?” Ed asked.
“Yes. Vibration, motion, infrared, everything.”
“When do the VIPs arrive?” Tia asked.
“The week before the meteor storm,” Major Samuels replied.
“Do they know exactly when that will be?” Tia asked.
“Yes, but information is compartmentalized. Everything is done under code words. The VIPs won’t know what the emergency is. They’ll just be given a code word, and they will be escorted to the facility. No advance warning will be given.”
“So they fully intend on keeping the meteor storm secret from everyone,” I said. “They want to save lives, but only the lives that are important to them.”
“That’s the deal,” Major Samuels replied. “The only people who get saved are a few scientists and people with great wealth and political connections. Everyone seen enough?”
We had. On the car ride back to the café, Major Samuels continued his explanation, “The federal government had been buying up billions of rounds of ammunition. The Department of Health and Human Services has purchased ten million rounds alone. Now I gotta ask, what does Health and Human Services need with ten million rounds of ammunition?”
“That does seem odd to me,” I replied.
“The government is stockpiling ammunition. I believe they know there won’t be any ammunition manufacturers after the meteor storm, so they’re buying enough to wage a war against the people who survive. From what I’ve heard, the plan is to establish an empire and use captured people as slave labor to support the new rulers of the world.”