The Line of Departure: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series Book 4) by G. Michael Hopf Read Free Book Online Page A

illuminated the entire front of the building and the surrounding fenced perimeter. He watched Marines as they raced toward a plume of smoke and fired near a checkpoint not a hundred yards away.
    “Goddamn bastards!” Barone barked as he tossed the half-empty glass of whiskey against the wall. He marched away from the windows just as several bullets penetrated the glass. He dropped to his knees to take cover. “Damn it!”
    Barone crawled away from the windows toward the side table where his holstered pistol sat. He grabbed it and made for the door. The two Marines who typically guarded him were gone, another one of his poor commands influenced by alcohol. He scanned both ways down the hall but saw no one. He was in a vulnerable position and knew it. If city hall was under assault and they managed to breach the perimeter defenses, he wouldn’t have a chance to stop them. He rushed down to the first floor, where he saw his Marines moving in earnest to address the assault. In the darkness beyond the fence he saw muzzle flashes, but still no sight of anyone from the resistance.
    Barone opened the doors and walked out. He could hear the gunfire from the resistance fighters rattle off the building and felt a rush of adrenaline. Unafraid, he unholstered and began to march toward the smoldering checkpoint.
    Another large explosion shook the ground; a fiery plume of black smoke and flames licked the sky. The intense light from the initial blast blinded him for a moment. When he turned back, he saw an armored Humvee on fire, the gunner now dead, lying atop the machine gun. The anger was building up in him; all he wanted to do was end the resistance and deal a final blow. Tonight would not be that night, but he’d kill as many as he could. When he resumed his march, someone grabbed him from behind. Barone swiftly turned and pointed his pistol at Simpson.
    “Colonel Barone, we have to get you out of here, now!” Simpson pleaded.
    “No!”
    “Sir, they’ve got superior numbers here. We have reinforcements coming but we need to take you to a secure location!”
    “I’m not leaving these men behind!” Barone barked, shrugging off Simpson’s grasp.
    “Sir, please, let’s go! Fight another day!”
    Barone jerked away from Simpson and continued toward the center of the fighting.
    As he watched him go, all Simpson could think was that Barone was now a man who didn’t care whether he lived or died. Knowing that his fortunes were forever tied to Barone, Simpson, armed with an M16 rifle, followed him toward the hellfire.

JUNE 25, 2015
    “People are like dirt. They can either nourish you and help you grow as a person or they can stunt your growth and make you wilt and die.”
    —Plato
    McCall, Idaho
    G ordon had split up Gunny’s group, half staying at his house and the rest at Sebastian’s. With Rainey’s approval for them to stay, the next step would be to find them permanent homes. All night Gordon tossed and turned, thinking about the unstable situation in Coos Bay. He worried about Brittany and Tyler; he couldn’t understand why she would risk everything and work with the resistance. None of it made sense to him, but then again the world didn’t make sense anymore.
    As soon as the sun made its appearance, he was up and ready to make the call via Gunny’s satellite phone. With Cruz’s promise to help him in the future, he hoped this was a way to check on Brittany without inserting himself into the situation too much.
    “You do know I could have used this on my trip with the vice president,” Gordon chided Gunny.
    Both men were outside enjoying the crisp Idaho summer morning, the sun’s warm rays providing a contrast to the dry, cool air.
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I gave specific instructions to put one in your vehicle before you left Coos Bay back then,” Gunny said defensively.
    “Well, my friend, there wasn’t one in the vehicle or trailer. Believe me, I’ve turned this thing inside out