Doomsday Warrior 08 - American Glory by Ryder Stacy Read Free Book Online Page B

tears coming to their eyes. They had all thought they were as cynical as they came—but the sight of the first president of the U.S. had had for a century cut through the veneer of sophistication. A man voted into office by a free election held among delegates from virtually every Free City in the country. He was old, half beaten—but he was their president.
    “Thank you, thank you,” Langford said, obviously moved by the ovation. Rockson, standing with the rest in the front row, noticed that the man’s eyes seemed to light up with a sparkle they hadn’t had for weeks. Maybe, just maybe . . . Langford waved his hands up and down for the crowd to sit, but the people wouldn’t. The applause went on and on. And when the song on the record player ended, it was put on again. There were few moments like this—having a sense of pride and a feeling of truly being a part of an all-encompassing America instead of just a collection of quarreling, isolated hamlets, never really getting it all together. Langford was the living symbol that it was all possible—every one of their impossible dreams of freedom.
    After the second singing, the crowd at last quieted and sat down, but on the edge of their chairs.
    “Thank you, thank you, I am deeply honored,” Langford said in a low but firm voice. “Not just for myself, but for the office of the presidency, which I think is what you are really applauding, what you are really feeling.” He exhaled, trying to regain his total concentration, as if coming out of a fog that had hovered over him.
    “Now, I have no great words of encouragement to offer you. We’re all grownups here. Have all been through the realities of present-day life. Things are hard—and getting harder. But I also sense a change. Something in the wind that says our day is coming. If we just work together, grow into something bigger than our separate parts—be like the America of old—indivisible, all fighting for and with all. We can win. In my heart I truly believe this. Our Soviet occupiers are at one another’s throats. We can win!”
    The delegates stood and cheered again as Langford seemed to tire suddenly and gripped the lectern with trembling hands. The crowd knew the words were clichés, generalities. But men lived by such and always had. For humans, above everything else, need hope or all is lost.
    “Thank you, sir,” Randolph said, stepping forward and taking the president by the elbow and leading him back to his chair. He returned to the front of the stage. “And I think I can say for all of us, not just here in the Council Chamber, Mr. President,” he said, turning his head slightly toward the seated Langford, “but for every citizen of Century City, that we consider it a great personal honor to have you visit us here and want to let you know that you are welcome for as long as our facilities and personnel are of use to you.”
    The delegates let out a stomping roar of approval for those words. The idea that they were, if only momentarily, the capital of Free America, that from within their granite walls plans and orders would be sent out to stir action in every part of the nation, was truly thrilling.
    “But now, down to the business at hand. President Langford’s words came at a very appropriate time, I must say,” Randolph intoned grimly. “And to fill you in on just what the situation is around the country—I’ll let Intelligence Chief Rath provide the update.”
    Rath came stage-center, greeted by a few half-hearted cheers as well as low grumbling boos. Rath, though a workaholic and highly efficient in his trade, was not a well-liked man. His personality was just a little too grating, and his need for 100% efficiency at all times from those who worked around him made him a hard and rigorous boss. But he got the job done. And in his business, that was all that mattered.
    “We’ve received reports from our contacts all over the U.S.,” Rath said, glancing down at a sheaf of notes in