Attribution by Christine Horner

Author:Christine Horner [Horner, Christine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, drama, Mystery, Thriller, Christine Horner, action, Adventure, near-future, fake news, global crisis, water crisis, coup attempt, global state of emergency, conspiracy, book series, corrupt government, futuristic, techno thriller
ISBN: 9781941351291
Google: XXg4DwAAQBAJ
Goodreads: 35843670
Publisher: Yugen Press
Published: 2017-09-05T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 39

Americas Sector M9-47G :: New Las Vegas Desert

Truby, Hector, Cadence, and Zedd wandered incredulously through a motley crowd of off-gridders and travelers camped in the desert.

“We could have been here two days ago instead of hiding out like snakes,” said Zedd, pulling his hat down to shield his face from the sun.

“Do some of these people look familiar or is it just me?” asked Truby as she inspected passing faces. A man in a turban bumped into her, saluting, his brown eyes flashing.

“Can’t we get any closer?” asked Cadence. “I can’t even see Vegas.”

“That’s the point,” said Hector.

What they did see was still a shock. Besides the unexpected crowd that had arrived before them, the desert wasn’t desert at all. They stood in the middle of the biblical Garden of Eden trickling all the way out from New Las Vegas. Grasses short and tall, flowers and small trees dotted the landscape creating its own ecosphere and weather as clouds formed over the swath of abundance on the desert floor. Remarkable was how the vegetation naturally reduced the temperature compared to the surrounding natural landscaping. What kept the garden green was imported humus and a recycling covered water channel that used dikes to move the water through a human constructed underground aquifer.

The crowd was several hundred and growing. Scattered about was everything from hovering long-distance flying vehicles to sophisticated eco-shelters that used sensory-based nanotechnology to generate a temporary life-shelter to suit native conditions. A few salvaged canvas Army tents and cots even dotted the landscape.

Everywhere, people of all ages, genders, and heritages seemed to have personal reasons for being there. Some off-gridders sold wares; others marched around with U.S. flags demarcated with universal NO signs. Regardless of the reasons and the means, tolerance and comradery were emerging as common purpose forged by fire. Some shared resources, passing out water drops and self-filling water bottles. The odd thing was that Truby felt like she was late to her own party.

As they moved closer to the frontline, the mood and the crowd became something else—divisive. Four armed National Guard service men and women and two military vehicles blocked Highway 15 into New Las Vegas. Why had the departing convoy left only a handful of contingents?

A billboard-sized GSC global state of emergency hologram looped continuously. Protestors demanded information about missing friends and family and to be allowed to pass. Though no visible border existed between the people and the way into the city via the desert, something was preventing the masses from finishing their journey. A line was clearly drawn in the sand.

Inspecting the roadblock, Truby inadvertently walked hard into something or someone. “Sorry,” she mumbled.

“You!” Cadence was hugging an old man before Truby realized it was Park Ranger Pete out of uniform.

“How did you get here?”

“We hitched a ride,” Pete winked.

“Hello, Truby,” said Rose holding Pete’s hand, giving Truby a wink herself.

“You found me,” she hugged the precocious girl. Truby had a lot of questions, but she would save them for later.

___

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