Sanctuary by Christopher Cole

Author:Christopher Cole [Cole, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Zombie, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi, Science Fiction, Horror
Publisher: Kingston Publishing Company
Published: 2020-11-08T13:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Grim

“Sometimes life gives you a second chance, or even two! Not always, but sometimes. It’s what you do with those second chances that counts.”

– Dave Wilson

All of the soldiers and officers of the Pacific Army stood at attention in front of the city hall building of the city as General Shepard walked on an elevated stage overlooking the crowd. All the parents and the children were standing, waiting for General Shepard to address them before their ‘qualifying’ children were to be sent off to compulsory training. The sun was past being orange and yellow, as its brightness turned to a normal hue – but today felt anything but normal. Squinting against the sunlight, the mostly scrawny ragtag collection of kids didn’t look much like army trainees.

“At ease,” General Shepard said in the microphone.

Everyone stood at ease, ironically, in almost perfectly military synchronization.

General Shepard continued, “As many of you know, our country . . . our world order is in a state of total collapse. The human race has become an endangered species. Humankind’s back is against a wall, and that wall is our extinction. We are, very likely, the last chance of not only a once proud and great nation . . . but of all humankind. We are also the last of the United States Army. That means that everything we do, we do now in the name of the Pacific Army of Fort Gold Rush, the United States Army, and in the name of our fallen country. We are the hand that holds the pen to write what may be humanity’s final chapter. Still, there is hope. When they one day speak of how humanity survived these dark days, they will speak of Fort Gold Rush and the heroes who fought to defend it. They will know that we did not give up, that we fought, we defended, and that we survived to rebuild our world. I would not hold out this hope if I did not have complete faith in your ability to succeed. You will be the warriors and navigators leading us out of the darkness . . . and back into the light. It’s standard procedure that all soldiers salute the rank, not the person, but there does come a time when one soldier salutes another as a sign of immense and personal respect. I salute you now . . . for your honor, fortitude, integrity, grace under pressure, courage under fire, and above all . . . your valor.”

General Shepard stood at attention and saluted us. Every soldier and officer stood at attention and saluted back. I know this child soldier thing is hard for even him to swallow, but I respect him. But not everyone’s gonna see that through their personal pain.

The kids chosen for the Black Shadow were boarding the buses to head for the training camps, all of which were separated by age and sex. Most of the parents got up to see their children off. I saw Nathan board his bus with his friends and he and I made eye contact.

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