Free Through Many Fires (Strengthen What Remains) by Kyle Pratt Page A

and Caden grabbed the seat webbing. “Like I said to David
yesterday, I’m certain North Korea, China, Iran and maybe someone else are all
working together. We know that North Korea supplied the plutonium.” He paused.
“I can’t prove it, but my guess is that North Korea is a pawn of China. This
isn’t the end game, this is mid-game maneuvering.” Caden paused then asked,
“Are we repositioning troops in prelude to an attack on North Korea?”
    “ I
don’t know. Iran sponsored a Security Council declaration that allows United
Nations inspectors, along with the Chinese army and technicians, into the North
to dismantle all nuclear installations.”
    “ I
read that it had been introduced.” Caden thought for a moment. “Did it pass?”
    The
governor shrugged. “Last I heard it was before the Security Council.”
    “ I
believe it will pass—the Chinese won’t veto it.”
    The
Governor’s eyebrow shot up. “Why would China use North Korea and then help us?”
    “ They’re
not helping us. They’re covering their tracks.”
    Reflecting
on his words Caden was certain he sounded like a conspiracy nut, but he
couldn’t put all the parts together. He rubbed his chin. “I need more
information about what China and Iran are doing right now. Do you have current
intel?”
    “ Yes,
back in Olympia.”
    “ Then
can we resume this when we get there?”
    Putting
the folder away the Governor nodded. “Certainly.”
    Back
in his seat beside Maria, Caden did what he always did on flights; he slept.
Only when the pilot announced they were on approach to JBLM did he awaken.
    “ How
do you sleep in these web seats?” Maria asked.
    “ Years
of practice,” he said stretching sore muscles. “I'm glad you are here.”
    “ I
knew you were a good man even before we met.”
    “ Huh?”
    “ I was
watching the day the two guys tried to rob you.”
    “ What
has that got to do with staying with me or…”
    “ You
were trying to figure out how to change diapers.”
    Caden
smiled. “Yeah, so?”
    “ Bad
men don’t change diapers.”
    He
laughed.
    “ Then,
later that night, when you told me Adam wasn’t your son, that his mother had
died in an accident and you were caring for him—only a good man would do that.”
    Caden
smiled and gently squeezed her hand.
    “ I’m
glad you wanted me to come.”
    Maria
held on to his hand, looked at him and smiled.
    His
feelings for Maria grew stronger by the day, but it angered him. Becky was
alive a week ago.
    White
light shot from the cockpit momentarily filling the plane.
    “ What
was that?” Maria asked.
    The
plane lurched to the right, then abruptly to the left.
    Luggage,
blankets and boxes flew about.
    Someone
screamed.
    Alarms
blared.
    Adam
wailed.
    Maria
grabbed the straps that held Adam.
    Caden
tightened Maria’s belt.
    The
plane rolled to the side.
    Caden
hurtled across the fuselage.

 

Chapter Eight
    T here was a vague
awareness of self. Images of fire, mushroom clouds, scarlet blood and black
death stormed through the mind and then melted into pools of oblivion. An
indeterminate time later a sweet voice flowed into the void. The words gave
comfort, but like voices heard in the distance the mind could not grasp the
meaning. The mind cried out to reach the gentle sound without knowing how or
why.
    Gradually
images of a family mixed with dreams of Maria and a toddler named Adam. Once
again he heard her and strove to comprehend. When the melody of her voice
stopped, he fought against the darkness to reach her.
    His
head ached, like someone pressing hard against the side of his skull. As if for
the first time he became aware that his eyes were closed. A constant beeping
annoyed him. Someone turn it off.
    Slowly
he opened his eyes. Plain white sheets were pulled neatly up to his chest.
Wires ran from various places on his body to a monitor that continued to beep
and irritate him. Metal railings lined either side of the bed. A simple
nightstand was beside him and a gray