THE COLLAPSE: Seeking Refuge Read Online Free

sitting at the site’s large picnic table and others in folding camp chairs around a medium-sized fire blazing away in the rusty steel ring at the center of the site. 
    Stephen swallowed hot saliva as they approached the gathering.  His throat was dry, he was concerned about the future of his family.  He intended on making the strongest case possible beneficial to their cause.  He had spotted Jason Oxnard sitting amongst the group near the fire, and that gave him a smidgeon of relief.  Fish appeared nonetheless worried whatsoever, and walked ahead of the group anticipating another hero’s welcome from The Park leadership at site 137.  He did not receive one, however.
    “Thank you, Meghan,” an athletically slender man in his early fifties said.  He wasn’t sitting like everyone else, but was standing in the middle of the gathering.  Stephen immediately pegged him as one of the heads of The Park leadership.  He had a charismatic aura about him.
    “No prob, dad,” Meghan replied and disappeared back toward Forest Loop.  Two men around Stephen and Fish’s age stood up out of their chairs and offered them to the Kays, who very courteously sat down in them.  Tarra, Stephen and Fish remained standing to address the leaders.
    A woman got up from the picnic table and moved next to Meghan’s dad.  She was close to his age, and also very attractive for her years.  She announced, “Welcome to The Park, everyone.  My name is Claudine Probst.” She then put her hand on Meghan’s dad’s arm and said, “This is my husband, William.” 
    William nodded to them in acknowledgement.
    Stephen knew that name - Claudine Probst.  Where did he know that name from?  He couldn’t remember.  His mind was struggling with bigger fish to fry at the moment.
    Claudine continued, “You have already been informed by Ox that we are very cautious and skeptical about newcomers, especially military ones like yourselves.  With that being said, we would like for you to make a case on your own behalf at this time.” 
    Stephen, Tarra and Fish all looked at each other at the same time.  Who should speak first?  All three of them were speechless.  Tarra nudged Stephen with her elbow as if to say, “Go ahead, baby.  Speak for us!” 
    But…Stephen just gulped once again and looked at Claudine with deer-in-the-headlight eyes.
    Fish couldn’t speak either.  He was still dumbfounded at the fact that nobody at the leadership gathering had run up to him to shake his hand yet.  He was supposed to be their hero, damnit!
    Katrina spoke from her chair at the fire, breaking the silence, “My daddy is really smart!”
    Kyla added, “Yup, he’s the smartest man on the planet!  That’s what my mommy says.”
    Claudine smiled down at the Kays in an awe-isn’t-that-cute sort of way, and said, “Thank you for your input, young ladies, but we’ll be the judge of that.”
    Wow, Stephen was really put on the spot now.  He still couldn’t get his mind off that name.  Claudine Probst.  Who the hell was Claudine Probst?  It was bothering him.  He was positive he had heard that name before.  And recently.
    Tarra nervously scanned the faces of all the men and women at site 137.  They were waiting for someone, anyone, to speak up.  Were they staring at her?  Or Stephen?  None of them seemed to be the least bit concerned with anything that Fish might have to say.  She nudged Stephen again, who was still staring off into space.  What the hell could possibly be going through his mind at that moment?  He needed to start talking, fast.  But he continued his glassy stare, even after Tarra nudged him a third time.  “ Enough is enough, talk already!”  Tarra thought.  She almost began speaking for them instead, when Stephen abruptly snapped out of his trance and grinned.  He had figured something out.
    “You’re the mayor of Oak Harbor, Mrs. Probst,” Stephen respectfully declared in realization.  Fish glanced at Stephen