The small ship began to rock back and forth as angry black clouds rolled in from the east. Ella thrashed about in her cramped quarters. Her black hair was plastered across her face while her fever raged like the sea. Once again the faceless man applied a cool compress to her forehead. In a husky voice the man whispered, "Shhhhhh..."

Ella had so many questions. Am I delirious? Who are you? Why are you helping me? She also wondered who was driving the ship. If you're helping me, who is manning the ship? However, due to weakness, she couldn't speak and she could no longer see. She was thankful to be able to hear. She tried opening her eyes but they were crusted shut. She desperately wanted to explain she needed a warm rag to open her eyes. She tried gesturing with her hand but her limbs hung like dead weights across her chest.

Ella was never good at being the patient. When she first went to New York University (when universities still existed) she was studying to become a surgeon. As the economy collapsed she managed to get her BA in nursing in less than three years. Before she had children she'd hoped to return to school to become a neuro-surgeon but then came the EMP blasts, the blackouts and The Wasting.

In hopes of stabilizing the economy and its military, the United States of America joined forces with Canada and Mexico to form one government. The New Regime quickly became a dictatorship. North America devolved into chaos. Instead of coming together to strengthen one another, the three sovereign states were weakened beyond repair. In order to keep the peace all citizens were forced to give over their weapons and their rights. An insidious president-dictator rose to power. He said all the right things (but like most politicians meant none of them.) He made Hitler and Mussonlini seem like reasonably nice guys in comparison.

Ella moaned. She felt nauseous. Any food remaining in her stomach had long been regurgitated. Bile rose in her throat. She coughed and spit in the white chum bucket the faceless man had provided. She couldn't see the tiny black slug she hacked up. It slithered around in the bottom of the white bucket and grew larger.

---

The SAD bus converged onto Main Street in Woodsburgh New York. To the Sarge it looked like a ghost town—or worse the aftermath of an actual Search and Destroy mission. No one on the bus had been there before. The Sarge stepped out of the vehicle to survey what was left of the town. He'd seen this sort of devastation in the cities but never in Suburbia. He ordered everyone to remain on the bus while he and Tommy Thomspon scouted out the neighborhood.

Both he and Tommy had clearly heard, "Get them to Woodsburgh," by the Author Himself. Their urging had been confirmed by Devin and a few other Unity Campers.

As Tommy looked through the wreckage he asked, "Why would the Author send us to this place? It looks like a bomb went off? Do you think we're too late?"

Sarge shook his head. "Nope, we can't be too late. Why would our Commander in Chief send us somewhere too late?" Sarge meant the King. He didn't mind taking orders from an all knowing all loving God. He trusted the Author implicitly. The Author loved Sarge and being called his Commander in Chief.

Tommy remembered all the miraculous coincidences previously guiding him so he readily agreed. The two men slowly began walking down the street. The buildings were leveled. All they could see for a half a mile was splintered wood, rubble and black ash.

As the two walked up and down Main Street Tommy noticed something peculiar. While the town appeared post apocalyptic, burnt black ash covered the flattened splintered buildings as far as his eye could see. However, on the far right he saw a patch of pure white ash. The white ash began wriggling. "Sarge come on!" Tommy took off running.

The Sarge had a hard time keeping up with Tommy. "Hold on Private! This old man can't run as fast as he used to!"

As Tommy got closer he realized he wasn't seeing ashes at all! It looked more like snow!

The piles of snow began quivering then standing up. As Lonely bear stood up Tommy screamed.

Bell shook off the heavenly food and said, "I'd recognize that scream anywhere. Tommy is that you?"

Tommy could hardly believe his eyes. Were his ears playing tricks on him. Did the love of his life just say his name?

"Bell?" Tommy couldn't move. "Is that you?"

She shook off the manna from heaven. "Why of course it's me silly. Who else would I be?"

Tommy's heart melted. The 7 foot bear no longer an issue he ran to Bell and hugged her to himself. "I'm never letting you go."

Bell giggled. "Tommy it's good to see you too."

"You can see me?" Tommy stared into Bell's beautiful face. He noticed her still vacant eyes.

"No, it's just a figure of speech Tommy. However I can hear you and that is worth a thousand sunsets." She felt for Tommy's face and kissed him gently on the lips.

As Tommy and Bell were reuniting Sarge happened upon the romantic scene. "I leave you alone for two minutes and you're kissing a girl."

Tommy blushed. "Not just any girl Sarge. This is my girl. Sarge meet Bell Quest, Bell meet my buddy the Sarge."

Bell extended her hand in the wrong direction. Tommy guided her slender hand to Sarge's.

"I sure am pleased to meet you young lady." As the Sarge shook hands the rest of the crew shook off the remaining snow. Sarge got a good look at X, Lonely, Speed, Grace and Marina.

Marina noticed the men's uniforms. "Should we be afraid?"

Bell answered, "Why should we be afraid? Nana this here is Tommy—my best friend in the world--next to Izzy that is.

Lonely spoke up. "I'm Lonely."

The Sarge's eyes grew wide. He'd never heard a talking bear. "Am I hallucintating?"

Grace the German Shepherd answered him, "No Sargeant, us dogs can talk too."

Speed chimed in. "I'm pretty sure we met you at Basic Training under much different circumstances." He held out his paw.

Sarge shook his paw but couldn't utter a word.

Grace continued, "I can tell you're in shock. You probably remember us by the names: Motley and Crazy."

"And that's the crazy part?" Sarge found a stump and plopped down.

X crossed over to him and gave him a hug. "X like you. X can tell you a nice man—now."

Sarge was overwhelmed. He'd almost forgotten about the 3 dozen Unity Campers still on the bus.

Tommy took Bell's face in his hands. "Do you know where Izzy and the Tunnel Children are?"

Bell shook her head. "No... but I'm praying until..."

Tommy finished her sentence, "... Until we meet again."

-End of Chapter 42-

Author's note: I'm working on way too many projects right now. But I'm almost done with this book! Stay tuned! Keep reading commenting and voting—it inspires us! 🔥