Soon Read Free Page B

of seven regions:
    Atlantica in the Northeast encompassed ten former states, with New York City as its capital. Columbia encompassed nine southeastern states, with Washington, D.C., as its capital. The president of the United States was deposed and the vice president installed as regional governor, reporting to the international government in Switzerland. Gulfland took in Texas and five nearby states, with Houston as its capital. Sunterra was comprised of Southern California, Arizona, and New Mexico, with Los Angeles becoming its capital. Rockland was made up of seven states, and Las Vegas became its capital. Pacifica, with its capital in San Francisco, encompassed Northern California and four northwestern states, as well as Alaska. And Chicago became the capital of Heartland, which took in ten Midwestern states.
    Paul’s own father had died earlier in the war, when the Coalition of Muslim Nations attacked Washington, D.C. Ranold’s loss isn’t the only one that matters. His whole generation still focuses on the horrors they saw. We’re never allowed to forget how they suffered so we could enjoy a lifetime of peace.
    Paul felt an immediate pang of guilt. Early in the twenty-first century the world had been uglier than he could conceive, and the devastating war had left scars—personal and global, physical and psychological—that would never be healed. He shouldn’t have let his father-in-law provoke him. He hated the old man’s self-righteousness, but maybe he could cut Ranold some slack.
    When he reached the den, however, neither host nor hostess was still there. Paul glanced at his watch. Eleven straight up. He turned on the big-screen TV and settled in a chair.
    “Local police report tonight the grisly discovery of the charred remains of a decorated military man, apparently the result of a tragic accident. The body of retired Delta Force Command Sergeant Major Andrew Edward Pass was found among the ruins of an abandoned warehouse just north of the Columbia Zoological Park.”
    Paul stood, mouth agape, holding his breath. Andy? Andy Pass?
    “Police spokespersons say they have not determined any reason Major Pass would have been in the building, but they have ruled out arson. The fire has been traced to an electrical short, and police speculate that Pass may have seen the fire and attempted to put it out. Pass reportedly has been involved in community service since his retirement from the military five years ago. Full honor guard funeral services are set for Arlington Regional Cemetery at 10 A.M. , Saturday, December 27.”
    Paul crossed the room to his father-in-law’s bar. He poured two fingers of Scotch, raised the glass, then added two more. Ranold entered in robe and slippers. “No ice, Paul?”
    “No thanks.”
    “That’s a pretty good slug of booze.”
    “I just found out my Delta Force commanding officer is dead. He was like a father to me, and—”
    “Pass?”
    “You know?”
    “Pour me one too. Make it bourbon.”
    “The news said he was caught in a burning warehouse.”
    “Paul, don’t believe everything you hear.”
    “What are you saying?”
    “Just that it’s debatable which came first: his being caught or the warehouse burning.”
    “Caught by whom?”
    “When was the last time you heard from Pass?”
    “I don’t know—seven, eight years ago.”
    “So you don’t have a clue what he’s been up to since you were his protégé at Fort Monroe.”
    “No, but Andy was the finest—”
    “Sit down.” Ranold took his glass from Paul, gesturing toward a chair.
    Paul sank into the padded leather.
    Ranold leaned in close. “ Pass headed up an underground religious cell right here in D.C., in Brightwood Park.”
    “Religious? What faction?”
    “Christian.”
    “Andy Pass? That’s hard to believe. He was a veteran, a patriot . . .”
    “Those are the ones who turn, you know. The true believers. Only a man who’s capable of faith can be converted.”
    “So they say.”
    “It’s