Free This Dying World: The End Begins by James Dean Page B

the spread of this virulent, yet unknown disease.  China, who CDC officials now believe saw the very first outbreaks, have moved troops to their borders with the order to shoot anyone attempting to cross in or out of its territory.
    Okay folks, we have some news coming across the wire now.  The President has issued an order declaring nationwide martial law is now in effect.  I am not exactly sure how that is any different than what has been going on out there already, but I guess it’s now official.  So there you go.”
     
    I chuckled at the broadcaster’s sarcasm.  I leaned back into my seat prepared to catch more of the apocalypse nightly news.  It made more sense for one of us to keep watch anyway.  Abby was sleeping soundly, and Katie was snoring like a lumberjack.  I figured even if my shoulder didn’t feel like someone was jabbing a hot poker under my skin, the cold would keep me awake.
     
    I think I lasted ten minutes before drifting off to sleep.

 
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Nine
     
     
    It was Wednesday night when Chris’ phone rang.  Normally he would have ignored a call that came as late as it had.  Life on the farm started early, and his mornings were busy.  Livestock didn’t usually feed themselves, unless they broke into the  storage shed again.
    The ink on his Army discharge papers barely had time to dry before he moved his family to the secluded Wisconsin farm.  He was happy to move on to the life of a quiet farmer and family man, where the only grenades he had to worry about came from the back end of his livestock.
    His first thought was to ignore the phone and go upstairs to bed.  But a quick glance at the display changed his mind when he recognized his old friend’s number.
    “Malcolm!” Chris smiled, cell phone pressed against his ear.  “What the hell are you doing back in country?  I thought you had a few more months before you guys rotated back?”
    “Hello to you too!” Malcolm’s deep voice came back.  “How’s life up in cheese land farmer boy?”
    “Hey!  There’s beer and brats up here too!” Chris laughed.
    “Uh-huh.  But you’ve got the Green Bay Packers!”  Malcolm’s loud laughter made Chris pull the phone away from his head.
    “Yeah, yeah.  No state is perfect.  So really, how’d you score the early release?”
    The pause was slight, but it was enough for Chris to pick up on it.
    “Well, you know,” Malcolm’s cheeriness had lost a tiny bit of its edge.  “Close to Christmas and all, they thought it would be nice to get us home early.”
    “Right.  You’re a terrible liar Malcolm.  You know you can be straight with me.  So out with it, what’s up?”
    This time, there was no denying the pause.  When Malcolm spoke again, his normally jovial demeanor had vanished, replaced with hushed caution.
    “Look man, something’s up,” he lowered his voice.  “It started two weeks before we got our recall orders.  Special ops were pulled from every post, everywhere.  It was fast too.  They bugged out like their asses were on fire or something.  Next thing we knew, we’re coming home.”
    The phone suddenly sounded like it was getting a rub down from rough grit sandpaper.  Chris could hear his friend’s muffled voice in the distance.
    “Sorry, had to put you in my pocket.  Security’s getting tight here.  This may be the last time I can call for awhile,” he whispered.
    “What the hell is going on?” Chris sat forward in his chair.
    “I don’t know man.  I wasn’t even done hugging my kids before we were told leave was cancelled indefinitely.  East coast to west, everyone’s locking down.  You know the drill, no one in or out.  They’re telling the civvies something about training for major bio events.  Whatever’s going on, those in the know are keeping it to themselves.  Just watch your ass okay?”
    “You too.  Keep your head down, okay man?”
    “You know it.  Talk soon, brother.”
    Chris sat back in his