“Rabbits are the fastest, and best way, to create protein. You can feed them a lot of scraps and they breed like…well, rabbits,” Dranko explained.
Jake had a patented look of disgust planted on his face and folded his arms.
“Trust me, son, when you haven’t tasted meat in a few weeks, rabbit will taste like your favorite hamburger.”
“So, that’s what the rest of us will work on until we have to get ready for the meeting. Any questions?”
“Yeah, what is the news from the rest of the world?” Calvin asked the question that was on most everyone’s minds.
Julianne sat up straight, “Well, I have learned quite a bit from digging into the connections that people have had with Brushfire Plague. Beyond Admonitus.” Her voice dragged, weighed down.
“What’d you learn?” Cooper asked with knotted eyebrows.
“It’s a fair mess, to be sure. But, there are numerous heavy hitters who did the same thing Van Welton did…”
Calvin raised his hand, “Can you back up a bit? Who is Van Welton?”
Julianne proceeded to explain to the rest of the group the suspicious Chinese investments billionaire Karl Van Welton had made just prior to the outbreak of the Brushfire Plague. She told them how she had spent the last few days doing further research into Van Welton and a few other names of prominent men she had met during her work at Admonitus.
“Were the others invested like Van Welton?” Calvin asked when she had finished the overview.
“Not exactly like him. Van Welton went all in on China. Most of the others had investments in other countries.”
“Like where?”
“Africa, mostly. Some in New Zealand and Australia,” she answered.
“Well, those countries were also less affected than everyone else. Africa was barely hit at all, especially sub-Saharan,” Dranko added.
Julianne nodded, “Yeah, I know. I knew the plan was always to not release it in Africa, Australia, or New Zealand. We knew they’d get some secondary exposure, but not primary impact.”
“Why?” Buck leaned in and asked a question.
“Africa was easy. They produced hardly any greenhouse gas emissions…”
“So, they didn’t commit the sin, so they shouldn’t suffer,” he reasoned.
She nodded, eyes downcast.
Angela leaned heavily back in her chair and placed her hands behind her head, “Wow, you guys really were playing God!”
Buck ignored her, “And what about Australia and New Zealand?”
“Well, like every other industrial country, they certainly contributed to the problem of climate chaos. So, we didn’t spare them for that. We spared them because they have already been hit hard with droughts and it’s going to get worse in the coming years.”
“Because of their proximity to the pole?” Buck asked, intently interested.
“Yes. The effects of the planet heating up are most pronounced near the poles.” Julianne then stopped a moment, confused. “Buck, most people don’t know that…” Her voice trailed off in the unasked question.
Buck smiled, “I might just be a fry cook from a two-bit town in central Oregon, but it doesn’t mean I’m dumb. I paid attention to global warming long before it became trendy with the liberals.”
“Why?” Several people asked at once.
Buck became agitated, moving in his seat and rubbing his hands together. He stood up, pushing the chair back quickly, and eyes fixed on the table, “I don’t know. I’ve never talked about it much. I guess you’d say I’m a true conservative. I think conserving the planet makes a ton of sense and flipping Mother Nature off is pretty damn stupid.” His voice had risen to a loud crescendo before he finished. When he did, he looked up and saw the group all looking at him in wonder. He waved his hands, “Hey, don’t you get me wrong. I also think it’s damn stupid for the liberals to try to take our guns away and tear up the Constitution and I would punch every single pompous ass from Hollywood driving their Prius and trying to tell me how to live right in their damned face.” Once again, his voice was filled with passion. He thrust his hand into his shirt pocket, grabbed a pack of cigarettes, and then stormed outside.
The table sat in silence for a pregnant pause.
“He’s one of a kind,” Cooper intoned. “Especially nowadays.” The others nodded either in agreement or in lingering surprise.
“So, what do you make of it?” Dranko asked, turning the attention back to Julianne’s investigation.
“Well, it could just be that those who had insider knowledge of Brushfire Plague switched their investments to make a big profit off of it,” she said, unconvinced.
“And, what else could it be?” He continued.
“I don’t want to think about it,” she said, folding her head into her hands and resting it on the table.
“Have you made any connections to other investors or the government?” Dranko pressed on.
“Not yet. The trail gets murky, but I’m still digging.” Her voice barely rose above a murmur and the others had to lean in, straining to hear her.
Cooper clenched his fists, blood rising in his temples, “Yes, please do so.” His stomach tightened. I need to know why Elena died. The uncertainty gnawed at him like a lazy rat nibbling a worn rope.
“Did you see any news about the states that seceded from the US?” Cooper asked, anxious for updates.
Julianne’s face fell, “The President is talking fire and brimstone toward the Patriotic American States, but so far there has been no military moves to speak of. In fact, dozens of counties in eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, and northern Colorado have officially petitioned the PAS to join them!”
“It’s unbelievable,” Cooper exclaimed.
“Not really,” Buck intoned.
Cooper looked up at him, “Say more.”
“Well, those states and areas had very different politics than the rest of the country. With the Federal Government so weakened, it only makes sense that some might seize the opportunity. In fact, I think we’ll see more secession movements arise very soon.”
Cooper digested what he had said, “I think you’re right. And, with the United States facing nuclear attack now, that would sweeten the pot to get the hell out.”
“Exactly,” Dranko said.
“You men should really learn not to interrupt a woman,” Julianne admonished them.
“What are you talking about,” Dranko asked.
“You didn’t let me finish. You are both right and wrong. More states are going to secede. In fact, it’s already happened.”
“What,” the men exclaimed as one.
Julianne was grimacing, “Texas announced its secession last night. The Lone Star rises again. There are rumors of other states, cities, and areas that may secede.”
“How’d we miss that?” Dranko exclaimed.
“Maybe you’ve been busy,” Julianne offered. Her smug smile revealed she was happy to have been one step ahead of Dranko on this issue. He glared back at her, but worried lines appeared across his brow.
The group spent the rest of the night discussing what it all meant that the United States was falling apart all around them. Finally, they turned to discussing the work to be done tomorrow.
They woke up early and settled into an easy routine. Freddie and Angela made the familiar breakfast of boiled oats, once again leavened with dehydrated apples. They still had coffee and Dranko brewed it strong.
“While we have it, we might as well run it full strength,” he commented as he poured a round of cups for the adults.
“In that case, can I have a Grande?” Calvin’s joke brought a smattering of chuckles and lamented stares at their eight ounce cups. There would be no seconds.
“I’ll get right on that, after I make Cooper’s double low-fat latte with soy milk and no whip,” Dranko said, pouring. The laughter swelled.