Sanctuary: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series) by G. Michael Hopf

Author:G. Michael Hopf
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Penguin Group US
Published: 2014-05-27T00:00:00+00:00

FEBRUARY 27, 2015

• • •

“Never look back unless you are planning to go that way.”

—Henry David Thoreau

Cheyenne, Wyoming

Conner exited the Humvee in front of Pat’s Coffee Shop. When he had heard that the coffee shop down the street from the capitol had stayed open and its owner had been instrumental in maintaining order, he made a point to pay a visit.

Pat’s Coffee Shop had been a local Wyoming spot for almost two decades. During the rise of Starbucks, Pat Coldwell, a former air force airman, opened it up. He had been stationed at F. E. Warren back in the 1990s as a security police officer, guarding the missile silos. At the end of his enlistment, Pat stayed in Cheyenne. He loved the people, the country, and most importantly the city. Cheyenne had become his new home. He was originally from Seattle but going home wasn’t an option for him. He took the idea of fine coffee and brought it to Cheyenne, where he saw success. When the lights went out, he decided to keep the place open. Even while initial panic set in, he refused to give in. When vandals began to descend on downtown, he and a few other business owners rallied and, with support of the government, squashed it. His perseverance paid off. Things had turned around for Cheyenne, and he was now being heralded as a local icon.

Conner walked into the shop and was greeted with a loud hello from behind the bar. The shop was being lit by generators that were powered by a wind turbine constructed on the roof of the building.

“Good morning! I hear this is the place to grab a hot cup of java,” Conner shouted out.

Pat was behind the counter pouring water into a small, stainless espresso maker. He looked up and saw Conner followed by a long line of armed men. He’d never seen this man before but the entourage told him this person was someone of importance.

“You heard right, sir. What can I get you?” Pat wiped his hands and walked to the counter.

“Just a coffee, large,” Conner said.

“You have a cup with you?” Pat asked.

“Ah, no, I don’t.”

“I don’t have many paper cups left, so that will be extra,” Pat said, holding up a white paper cup with plastic lid.

“Sure,” Conner answered.

Pat poured hot water from a kettle he had sitting on a Coleman stove into a French press and set it aside. “It will take a moment.”

“That’s fine. Pat, do you have a minute?” Conner asked.

Pat looked around and said, “Sure, I can spare a minute.”

Conner reached over the counter with his hand and said, “Pat, my name is Brad Conner. I’m the President of the United States.”

Pat looked shocked as he grabbed Conner’s hand and shook it vigorously. “Well, this is a surprise. Nice to meet you, sir.”

“I came in here because I heard about everything you did and I wanted to personally thank you. You are an example to other Americans,” Conner said. He looked around quickly, then turned back to him and finished by saying, “Keeping this shop open means a lot.

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