“We got a crib out of the attic,” Maria added.
His mother smiled. “It was yours when you were a baby.”
Caden felt his face warm. “Okay, well, continuing on with my story. After I arrived at Rucker, I set up camp on the edge of a field near some trees. Armed robbers came during the night and threatened me and the baby. They were about to shoot Adam when Maria came out of the shadows and fired first. She killed one…”
Lisa gasped.
“…and I killed the other. That’s how we met.”
Maria stared at her feet.
Sarah walked over and hugged her. Looking at Caden she said, “Maria told us you met in Alabama, but she didn’t mention a robbery or saving your life.”
As he told of the crash landing at JBLM his mother interrupted. “You were flying into Seattle when the blast occurred?” she asked as she sat beside him.
He nodded.
“Your father was driving into the city, maybe just arriving, when it happened.”
“Sherriff Hoover said he was looking for Peter. Why?”
“Finish your story, son, and then I’ll tell you all I know.”
“There isn’t much else to say. Maria and Adam came through the crash with bruises. I was banged up a bit and spent a couple of days in the hospital, but overall I was fine. The Governor wants me to take command of the Hansen armory and act as a liaison to the community.”
His mother squeezed his hand. Tears welled in her eyes. “I’m glad you’re here and okay. I’m glad Maria was there for you and that you were both there for Adam. You have angels watching over you.”
“Why did Dad go to Seattle? Why didn’t Peter and Sue come here?”
His mother took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “On the day of the Seattle blast Peter called. I talked with him only a moment. He wanted to talk to Trevor. I’m not sure what was said, but your father grabbed his go bag and went.” Tears flowed. “A couple hours later, when he would have been there….” Tears became sobs.
Lisa took up the story. “Peter called me early on the morning of the Seattle bombing. I nearly shouted into the phone….
“Peter!” Excited, she fumbled with her phone, almost dropped it. “I’ve been worried about you. I’m surprised you got through. I’ve been trying to call, but….”
“I’m at the station on an official line,” he said in a low, but tense voice.
“Are you okay? How is Sue?”
“We’re as fine as can be. I’ve been doing twelve on, twelve off since the D.C. blast, but…I have just a minute and I wanted to make sure my little sister is okay.”
“I’m fine. The college has shut down until further notice and most of the students have left. I’m just waiting out things in the dorm. I wanted to talk to Mom and Dad about going home, but I haven’t been able to reach them. I stayed with friends a few days, but they left, so I figured it was safer here in the dorm than on the roads. Have you been able to phone our parents?”
“Not yet. The phone lines are restricted for official use, but I’ll keep trying. Do you have the TV on?”
“Of course. Nothing else is on. Helicopters show endless lines of cars heading away from the city in a massive horde. Everyone looking for gas and food. People being carjacked. Robberies. Murder. I’ve been scared to travel and afraid to stay.”
“The flow of refugees has slowed to a crawl. There isn’t much fuel left in the area. This might be your best time to travel. Do you have gas?”
“Yes, about ten gallons.”
“Do you have a gun?”
“No, you know I don’t,” she took a deep breath, “but I have thought about getting one. I’ve heard gunshots. Not on campus, but close enough. Do you think I should buy one?”
“You can’t get one now. They’ve all been bought or looted.”
“Look Sis, I’m going to have to go any second now, but I want you to read Matthew 24:15 -18. A close friend passed it along to me just this morning. The verse spoke to me in this time of tribulation, and I hope it does the same for you.”
“Okay I’ll look it up.”
“I love you, Sis. Read those verses and keep the news on. I’ve got to go.”
After hanging up, Lisa looked about the room. Where is my Bible? She walked over and turned up the volume on the television. The now normal terrorism aftermath news continued with reports of radiation patterns from stricken cities, causality counts, rationing and announcers on the scene of FEMA camps and food distribution centers, but nothing new about the northwest.
She wasn’t sure how much time had passed when her stomach grumbled. I haven’t had breakfast. She searched the cupboard of her tiny dorm room for something to eat. Anything will do. On the second self she found a candy bar and her Bible. Flipping through the pages as she ate, she came to Matthew 24.
15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:)
16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains:
17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take anything out of his house:
18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes.
That’s not comforting. Why did he want me to read that? Puzzled, she set her Bible aside, and leaned back in the chair to watch more news.
A TV reporter stood beside a map of the United States, “The state of California is under martial law along with the District of Columbia, Maryland, Northern Virginia and the Memphis metro area, due to terrorist attacks. In addition the cities of Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit….”
Wait… Peter didn’t say the passage was comforting. What did he say? Something about a close friend passing it to him. And he said it spoke to him in this ‘time of tribulation.’ She read it again. Words jumped out at her. …abomination of desolation… flee into the mountains… not come down to take anything… Oh God, it’s a message.
Chapter Sixteen
Lisa threw the luggage into the trunk of her small car with fear-aided ease and then slid in the driver’s seat. The smell of smoke from an unseen fire drifted across the nearly empty parking lot. Calm down. If it is another bomb Peter was warning about you don’t want to get in an accident. She turned the key and the old car sputtered to life. Taking a deep breath she shifted it into gear and headed across the campus.
Turning a corner she saw the wrought iron gates at the entrance of the campus were shut. She briefly considered ramming them like in the movies, but stopped just a few feet away. Stepping from the car she approached the gate. A thick chain and heavy lock secured it. She pulled on the chain hoping it would magically open. There was a gate at the far end of the campus, but she was certain it would also be locked. She gently bit her lip as she considered her options.
“What are you doing here?”
Lisa spun around and clamped down hard on her lip. A security guard was walking along the fence.
She rubbed her mouth. “I…I was going home, but the gate is locked.”
He shook his head. “I thought everyone was gone except us.”
“Us?” Lisa asked.
“Single guys on the security staff.” He pointed up the hill to the oldest building on the campus. “Several of us moved in up there. Also, there’s a few international students that are stuck here and a couple of professors staying in their offices, but I didn’t think any others were left here.” He walked up to the gate. “Are you sure you want to go off campus?”