The Survivalist - 02 Read Online Free Page A

affected them all equally.
    “The situation is already grave. As it stands, we’ve already lost control of most of the continental United States. For all practical purposes, the vast majority of the country has become a lawless wasteland. In the absence of a strong military presence, history dictates that it will eventually devolve into tribal regions, governed by violent warlords.”
    “Can’t we bring the full military in on this? Certainly, we’re not in any imminent danger from abroad. Everyone’s struggling to pick up the pieces.”
    “That’s true,” he said. “Russia and China are in even worse shape than we are. However, even if we turn all eyes inward, we barely have enough military remaining to gain control of a few key bastions across the country. By and large, the states would no longer be united. It would, however, at least provide a way to save our democratic republic.”
    Several people around the table began to mumble to one another.
    “Okay, okay,” she said to everyone. “Let’s not allow despair to get in the way of doing everything we can to save our nation.” She turned back to the general. “If we had to consolidate people to these . . . bastions of civilization, where would you recommend that we start?”
    “Several plans are already being drawn up, but they all revolve around recolonizing major cities a few at a time. The military would move in to clean them out and set up basic services. The end game would be to entice populations to return. It would be a very slow and arduous process, I assure you.”
    “Nation building from the ground up.”
    “Yes, ma’am.”
    “And how long would it take to reestablish say, ten major metropolitan areas?”
    “I’m not sure.”
    “Years?”
    “Yes, ma’am. It could be a decade or more.”
    “And, in the meantime, what can be done about the violence?”
    “Unfortunately, not much. We simply don’t have the manpower to contain all the factions out to do harm. When we grow in strength, assuming that we do, we can take control one mile at a time. Until then, the great people of this nation will have to sort out their own rule of law.”

CHAPTER
    3
    Having served more than four years in Talladega’s Federal Correctional Institution, Tanner Raines had learned to be a patient man. As a prisoner of the state, he had to wait to eat, to exercise, to receive mail, to do damn near everything. With that said, even a prisoner’s patience can be tested.
    The president’s eleven-year-old daughter, Samantha Glass, sat behind the steering wheel of a four-door Jeep Wrangler. Tanner was on the seat beside her, making no attempt to hide his frustration.
    “Are you planning on driving this thing or just warming the seat?”
    She cut her eyes at him.
    “I’m eleven.”
    “You keep reminding me. So?”
    “So, eleven-year-olds shouldn’t be driving. It’s illegal . . . and dangerous.”
    He sighed. “We’ve been through this. You need to know how to drive. What if I get shot? Who’s going to take me to the hospital?”
    “There aren’t any hospitals.”
    “But if there were.”
    “If there were, then I’d call an ambulance.”
    He shook his head.
    “You’re impossible.”
    She took a deep breath.
    “Fine. I’ll try. But when you fly through the windshield, don’t crawl back with an attitude.”
    “I won’t,” he promised. “Now turn the key already, before I die of old age.” Without drawing attention to his action, Tanner pulled the seat belt across his lap. Samantha’s was already latched.
    Samantha turned the key, and the engine came to life. She stomped the gas pedal, and the entire Jeep began to shake as if preparing for liftoff.
    Tanner touched her shoulder and shouted over the roar of the engine.
    “Easy on the gas, Mario!”
    She eased her foot back on the pedal, and the engine quieted.
    “That’s better,” he said. “Now press the brake, and put it in drive.”
    She did as instructed.
    “Ease off the brake.”
    The