Preview the sequel to 'A Choice to Survive'....

Nuclear Winter

Chapter 1

Great Falls, Montana

Sunday September 5, 2006 – 3:00 P.M.

The mid-September day was pleasantly cool complimenting the brilliant blue sky. Jack loved the beginning of fall in Montana, feeling grateful that his transfer request had been approved two months ago. The foliage danced in the soft breeze along the path to the driveway as he loaded his luggage into the bed of his old Chevy pickup. Jack found Montana to be a delightful change from the desolate surroundings of Phoenix, Arizona where he was last stationed with Luke Air Force Base. The city was simply too crowded for he and his wife Sarah’s taste. They also had their son to consider. Gregory would be starting school this next week and the thought of sending him to an overcrowded school in Phoenix troubled them both. Together they sat down with a United States map and looked for the perfect place to raise their son. Montana jumped out to both of them and must have been in the angle’s plans because everything fell into place. Jack’s transfer was approved and the real estate agent found them a beautiful home on forty acres, listed just that day.

Jack turn from his truck, staring at his home in the mid day sun astonished that he lived here. The property was exactly what they had always talked about having some day. Together, he and Sarah dreamt of an old two-story farmhouse. Here he stood staring at a beautifully restored twenty eight hundred square foot picture of perfection. The home was rectangle in shape with a deep wrap around wood porch. To the left of the front door was his house warming present to Sarah, an authentic porch swing complete with the quaint squeak each time it swung. Behind the home was a large red barn. The hayloft hosted a swing hung high in the rafters. Gregory loved to climb up there and swing for hours jumping off often only to land in a large mound of straw. Sarah had begun working to fix the dilapidated corrals eager to get a small horse for Gregory and maybe a goat or two. She was a country girl at heart having been raised on a farm in Indiana. Sarah had shared with Jack that here she felt completely at home. There were chickens running around the grounds already as well as ducks that made the large pond into a home for the summer and had yet to migrate south. Yes, Jack thought, this is home… a place he could retire and live out his days here on earth.

Today he was to report for duty at Malmstrom Air Force Base. Sergeant Jack Simpson was a self proclaimed ‘electronics nut’ and found himself excited to work the special project he’d been assigned. Today he would begin to revamp the communications network connecting over two hundred Minuteman III missile silos surrounding Great Falls, Montana. Jack walked back up the short path and climbed the three steps leading to his front door. Sarah was busy in the kitchen preparing what Jack was sure would be a wonderful meal. She was talented he thought to himself, proficient in so many areas and equally intelligent.

Sarah looked up from the vegetables she was chopping finely, “Hey handsome, it’s going to be a lonely week without you.” She smiled.

“I feel the same way, but once this week is over I’ll be able to commute every day and be home every night. Where’s Gregory? It’s about time for me to leave if I am to report for duty by five.”

“He and his invisible horse are out back jumping the ‘Grand Canyon’ as he put it.” Sarah smiled looking out the kitchen window. Jack walked behind her and together they stood watching their son riding his make believe horse. Gregory was in full western attire complete with six shooters and a bright red hat. Pinned to each shoulder was the corner of a bath towel. Gregory had told his mom that superman had loaned him the cape so he and his horse Silver could clear the Grand Canyon... no problem. Sarah shared this conversation with Jack who immediately began to laugh.

Sarah wiped her hands off on a kitchen towel and followed Jack to the back yard.

“Come over here Tex and give your old man a hug and kiss goodbye.” Jack said with a twang to his voice.

“Awe dad, real cowboys don’t kiss other guys! It’s the Law of the West!” Gregory said riding his horse over to his dad and jumping up into Jack’s arms.

“Well then, I reckon’ I’m a just goin’ to hav’ta break that rule then partner.” Jack said kissing all over the little boys face.

Gregory giggled with the mirage of kisses and squealed when Jack hugged him tightly.

“When will you be home daddy?”

“In six days, just in time for cartoons!”

“Ok, see you later dad. You’re gonna hafta put me down so me an’ Silver can practice some more before we jump the real Grand Canyon.”

Jack set Gregory down then watched his son ride off on his trusty invisible steed. Sarah reached for Jack’s hand and together they walked around the house to the pickup truck.

“I’m going to miss you this week Tex.” Sarah laughed and hugged Jack tightly.

“Well shucks maam’ I’m gonna miss you too.”

“Don’t forget your Miss Kitty will be waiting here at the ranch for her cowboy...” Sarah teased.

“Oh, no maam, I sure won’t forgit!” Jack laughed and kissed Sarah good-bye before climbing behind the wheel of his old Chevy. He waved out the window to his wife as he crept down the driveway.

            Jack merged onto 227 Northbound towards the base. With a Led Zeppelin CD blasting through the speakers Jack set the cruise control for a comfortable seventy miles per hour. He found himself a bit hypnotized by the scenery when something peculiar caught his eye. Jack slammed his foot onto the break pedal and brought the truck to a screeching sideways halt in the road. Using one hand to put the truck into park Jack quickly opened the driver’s door and stepped out. Beneath his feet he felt a faint rumble that grew in strength as the seconds past. There was a streak in the sky that didn’t resemble any jet he had ever seen. It was descending towards the base. Suddenly, Jack saw the cause of the rumble and stared in disbelief as he circled where he stood. All around him, from every direction, were Minuteman III missiles emerging from their silos. The streak in the sky popped and Jack saw the incoming missile project eight smaller objects.

Instantly, Jack knew that each of the eight objects was a nuclear warhead. Why hadn’t he been warned, he wondered? Jack ran over to the truck and pushed the eject button on his stereo. The radio station was screaming out warnings.

“Again, I repeat, nuclear war has erupted on United States soil. Phoenix has been hit with several bombs, Montana has an incoming bomb targeting the Great Falls area, Detroit, L.A. North Eastern Colorado, North Western Utah and New Mexico have all sustained major hits just prior to and shortly after launch of our missiles. Oh God, please help us all… Take cover! Stack anything you can on the floor above your basement and seal off the doorways. Cover your nose and mouth with a damp bandana and stay inside!” the voice from the radio was screaming out instructions.

Jack jumped back into his truck and threw the old Chevy into gear. He stomped on the gas pedal and swung the truck back towards the south. He prayed he would get home in time. Sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety miles per hour and still Jack kept the gas pedal to the floor. The ground rumbled and shook as a missile emerged from the ground next to the highway causing Jack to loose control. The old truck ran off the shoulder of the road and kicked up huge amounts of dust. Jack saw his exit and fought to get the truck back on the road. A sharp turn to the left allowed a rear tire to connect with the concrete giving Jack the momentum he needed to catch the exit. Still traveling over sixty miles per hour, Jack jumped the truck over the off ramp embankment and cut through a field on a direct line for home.

            Driving through a field fence, over a road and through another field fence Jack could see his home. He could see Sarah sanding up from her swing as she recognized his truck.

            “GET GREGORY! Sarah, GET GREGORY! RUN!” Jack screamed out his window. He could tell that she didn’t hear him. Gregory came skipping out from the front door onto the porch, still wearing his cowboy clothes and his cape. He saw Gregory pointing at something to the north as he pulled on Sarah’s dress, Sarah took her eyes from Jack’s truck and followed Gregory’s line of sight. Jack could see her scream and pull her hand up to cover her mouth. He looked out of his driver’s door window and saw what Gregory was pointing at. Reaching the front of the house Jack slammed his foot onto the break pedal and leaped from the truck as it still rolled in drive, finally stopping at the base of an oak tree. Jack ran up the steps and watched with his wife and son as missile after missile launched from the silos that surrounded the Great Falls area.

            The eight small streaks dove downward and Jack knew he didn’t have a safe place to go. Looking into his wife’s eyes Jack felt a tear roll down his cheek.

“I love you Sarah.” He said softly.

“I love you too Jack.” She answered with tears welling up.

“Come here big man.” Jack said reaching for Gregory.

“Dad...”

Holding each other tightly they watched the impact of the eight warheads. They saw the wave of energy from the impact level everything as it headed outward from the center. Their eyes saw the neighbor’s farm blow into thousands of pieces, but the image never reached their brains. Jack, Sarah and Gregory were blown from their front porch and rested forever beneath the rubble that was once their dream.