In the Midst of Tribulation

Free In the Midst of Tribulation by Mary Griggs

Book: In the Midst of Tribulation by Mary Griggs Read Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Griggs
slid the sliced and cored tomatoes under the broiler for a quick roasting. When they were done, she put the loaves of bread in the oven. Pulling out a skillet, she drizzled in some olive oil, some minced garlic and the green beans. She sautéed the ingredients before tossing in the tomatoes and adding them and the chopped olives to the skillet.

The group of refugees were milling about so she had them pour water and ice tea for those that wanted and red wine for the adults. She strained the pasta and put it back in the pot and poured the contents of the skillet into the mix. Jay had Susan stir everything together and take it to the table while she pulled the bread out of the oven.

Taking the empty pasta pot, she filled it with water and put it back on the stove for the water to heat during the meal for them to have to wash dishes afterwards.

Once everyone was seated and served, Jay raised her glass. "I'd like to propose a toast." The lifted glasses of the diners sparkled and refracted the rich, red wine. "To new beginnings."

"Hear, hear."

Susan lifted her glass again. "To prior planning. You're a life saver."

Inclining her head, Jay accepted the accolade. "I'm glad you all finally made it up here."

"Better late than never."

"Too true. I hope your sojourn here is peaceful and you all find what you need to flourish."

"Just looking at the meal before us and I can tell you that we're already so much better off," responded Martha.

"Good. Why don't we all dig in?"

For a while, the house was quiet except for the sound of silverware on plates and appreciative moans. Once the first hunger pangs were assuaged, Jay asked the group, "So, what's new to report?"

"Do you have any idea where we're coming from?" Doris asked.

"I've heard stories. After the attacks, I went down to Sacramento to see if I could help." She shuddered. "Things were bad but there was still stuff available. I made a couple of trips to bring more supplies up and I haven't been more than fifty miles from here since."

Martha nodded her head. "Sacramento was hit pretty bad but nothing like San Francisco. The militia targeted it as the new Sodom and basically wiped it off the map."

"I haven't heard anyone making it past Daly City since the bombing and, with all the bridges out, there is no other way in."

"How about your area?"

"We were pretty lucky. Oakland only took a couple of hits. The problem was that the port received the brunt of the bombing."

"Even without the trade sanctions imposed by Japan, there was no way for supplies get ashore."

"Japan?" Jay asked. "I heard about Canada and Mexico closing their borders but I didn't know that anyone else was against us."

Doris' voice was strident. "Everyone is against us."

"Yeah, seems Japan didn't take particularly kindly to a tidal wave destroying Kyoto." Wiping her mouth, Martha added, "But it's not like they're alone. The international community is not well pleased about the UN building taking a direct hit."

"How could they tell? I thought New York City was carpet bombed."

"It was pretty much leveled but I understand that those who know can tell. It wasn't an accident what was targeted."

"The fact that we've been isolated is why there's been no significant recovery." Susan drained her wine glass. "The Confederacy managed to alienate the entire world. There was a lot of non-governmental aid in the first years but you know that much of humanitarian assistance had been financed by US dollars. Without cash, there's no help."

Piper added, "The world economy may never recover from the financial market crash."

"So, I can finally get rid of my paper stocks?"

"It's not a joke." Doris replied tartly. "The New York Stock Exchange, NASDAQ, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the American Stock Exchange are all gone."

"A lot of world-wide banks were based in US cities. I guess the lessons of 9/11 didn't sink in so well because when the bombs fell, the banks collapsed."

"Do you know how many regimes around the

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