Free The Line of Departure: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series Book 4) by G. Michael Hopf

anything about these groups. Does anyone have anything to add?” Conner asked.
    “I was wondering if Secretary Wilbur has any thoughts, since she drafted the report,” Baxter said.
    “I do. I think we need to aggressively engage these groups in diplomatic ways. We need to see what they’re seeking. Sometimes in life, I’ve found that all people want is to be heard . . .”
    “Or to kidnap!” Baxter quipped, referencing the botched kidnapping attempt against her weeks before by the separatist group known as the Montana Independence Party. The MIP had solicited Conner and the United States for peaceful separation. Under Wilbur’s leadership, she journeyed there under the protection of Major Schmidt. Things immediately went wrong, as it was an ambush. They kidnapped her with the hope of trading her for a treaty with Conner. However, Major Schmidt didn’t negotiate—he attacked them, and viciously.
    “In all seriousness, we should talk to these people to see if there is a peaceful way to handle it,” Wilbur countered. “Despite my experiences, I say that,” she added.
    Conner nodded and concluded the briefing. “Wilbur, thank you. Let me think about this. We are already pulled in many directions. In some regards, I want to just put my foot against their throat and end this bullshit once and for all.”
    “I wouldn’t recommend that, sir. We can’t just use deadly force with every group we encounter. What happened in Montana shouldn’t have happened,” Wilbur stressed.
    “I don’t know what you think should have happened, but those people were not about diplomacy. What happened, happened, and I sleep fine at night knowing that their threat is disabled and you are back here safely,” Conner shot back. “Let’s take a short break, reconvene in ten,” Conner said.
    All in the room got up. Some left while others began to chat with one another. As they did, Conner hovered over Wilbur’s map. He didn’t like what he saw. If something wasn’t done, he wouldn’t have a country to preside over.
    McCall, Idaho
    The laughter of children tore Gordon away from his troubled thoughts. He turned to see Haley chasing Austin. Seeing her smiling face, he knew he couldn’t risk leaving; he couldn’t break his promise to Samantha. He cared for Brittany, but not so much as to hurt Samantha and Haley again.
    Gordon always found himself fighting the urge to say yes when supplies and equipment were on the line. He had developed what Samantha described as apocalyptic obsessive-compulsive disorder. He couldn’t help but try to have everything needed to keep his family alive. He knew his side trip to Oregon wasn’t the best idea, but he was grateful for all the equipment, food, medicines, and the Humvee he got out of his adventure. But this trip, even with the president’s promise of supplies, just seemed too risky.
    “You hungry?” Gordon asked Michael.
    “Yeah, I could go for a bite.”
    They made their way to the house. “Sam? Michael’s here!” Gordon hollered as they walked inside.
    As he passed through the great room, he saw Gunny and his men out on the back deck, but no Samantha. He pressed forward and suspected she was in the master bedroom. His assumption was correct. He walked in and there she was sitting in the rustic rocking chair in the corner.
    “Hey, sweetie, Michael’s here. He brought the wood over and I’m going to make him something to eat. You hungry?”
    Samantha’s attention was on a book she was reading. She lowered it in frustration. “These medical books are like WebMD used to be. If I had to guess based on Annaliese’s symptoms, I’d have to say she’s going to die.”
    “What?”
    “I’m trying to be funny, but it didn’t come out right. Her symptoms match so many things, many of them very bad,” she said, then paused to think. “I’m worried about her. She’s now been sick for almost a week. Something’s not right. I thought I could look in this book but her symptoms