Survivalist - 17 - The Ordeal by Jerry Ahern Read Free Book Online

attained the age of nineteen before she had realized the nature of the deity she served. In the forbidden books known only to the Perfect One, hers to read when she became the Perfect One.
    Her god was, indeed, the Sun. In all his fiery majesty.
    Fallen on their faces, prostrate before him, the Maidens began their mantra, and with a sincerity she had felt not at all throughout the third decade of her life which, like all life, was now coming to a close, she turned, dropped to her knees, prostrated herself before her god and began the recitation, the Sacred Names which the high priestess, second among mortals only to her, would draw out in the Holy Symbols with the altar keys.
    Click … click … click …
    The fingers of the high priestess tapped out the Holy Symbols which so intricately, so precisely formed the Sacred Names.
    And then the god spoke, his voice vibrating through her very soul. His words were like none other in their majesty. And he revealed to them a Sacred Name of power. “Thermonuclear Warhead System Fourteen, Type Three, Battery Twenty-Nine is armed. Countdown commences.”
    The rapture of union with her god would soon be upon them.

Chapter Eight
    Michael Rourke heard the voice of his friend Han Lu Chen and opened his eyes. The headache instantly returned. But he squinted his eyes tight against it so he could still see. His sister, Annie, was standing over him, and he found himself starting to laugh at her. It was so odd seeing his always femininely attired sister in trousers. Han was saying, ‘The battle is spreading outward and nearing us. The forces of the Second Gty are hurtling themselves at the Soviet ground forces. It will do no good, of course.”
    Annie started to speak, but then Michael heard another voice. It was that of Vassily Prokopiev, the KGB major, new commander of the KGB Elite Corps. “I would say that the wisest and best thing for all of you would be to place yourselves voluntarily in the hands of my forces. I could guarantee safe conduct in return for the way all of you have cared for me, risked your lives for me, your brother most of all, Mrs. Rubenstein. But as what we have come to call ‘The Rourke Family,’ you are all marked for death, or worse. I cannot guarantee safe conduct, no matter how much, personally, I would like to do so.”
    “I know that, Major,” Annie responded. “When we move on, we can aim you in the right direction, perhaps—”
    “You would be fools to do so. I might make a valuable hostage—and certainly a willing one. That is the least I can offer. And should we encounter the Chinese of this Second
    City, I can fight—well.”
    Michael Rourke turned his head with some difficulty—the pain. “You’re an honest man, Vassily.”
    “Michael!” Annie’s voice. She dropped to her knees beside him, her hands cradling his face.
    “I’m fine—I think. But God, have I got a headache.”
    In the next moment, Maria Leuden knelt beside him, leaning over him, her hair touching his cheek, her lips touching his forehead. “Ohh, Michael—”
    He held her hand, his other arm enfolding Annie against him.
    “You are a resilient man, Michael Rourke,” the Russian said, almost laughing.
    “Part of being a Rourke.” Michael smiled. “What’s happening—”
    “Welcome back to the living. I must resume my post,” Han Lu Chen—he was dressed like a Mongol—offered, making a soft salute and disappearing out of Michael’s peripheral vision.
    “Where’s—”
    “Paul and Otto are out looking for Daddy and Natalia,” Annie said abruptly, sitting up, putting her hands to her hair, just holding them there at her neck. “They’ve been out of radio contact ever since we all split up—”
    “What—”
    “You were hit with a sword,” Annie volunteered.
    Michael released Maria’s hand and touched at the bandage on the side of his head. “Wonderful. My guns—did—”
    “Han got all your weapons for you when he agreed to be your executioner,