The Fires of Fear

By Ben Boyd, Jr

The Qixi Virus, a fast incurable killer, brought to North America by enemies of the United States, will threaten major west coast cities if Lieutenant Minako Taniguchi, the lone Japanese commando survivor fails to take the specimens to Japan.
A psychotic U.S. President, plotting to become the ruler of North America, puts the wheels in motion to form the United Socialist States of the Americas with help from the President of Mexico and the Prime Minister of Canada. He fails to tell them his plans do not include sharing the power.
Captain David Ramsey, believed killed in a fire fight by commandos trying to steal the virus specimens, mysteriously is rescued by the Hidden People, but is taken hostage by Colonel Khang, the commander of the North Korean commando unit as he tries to escape Canadian military and police units.
Captain Larry Locke, Canadian Arctic Ranger commander, fighting with Captain Ramsey and wounded seriously, searches for Lieutenant Taniguchi and Dr. Stephanie Parker, who have vanished after surviving attacks by North Korean and Chinese commando squads trying to steal the virus specimens.
Happle Jack King and his wife, Shug live on a farm in East Tennessee, and like the rest of the ordinary citizens of the United States, hear the news about a killer virus out west and AZ2016 NEO a mini-asteroid flying close to Earth but do not feel threatened. When they learn AZ2016 NEO, has incredibly and mysteriously changed course, and could wipe out the East Coast of North America, they are alarmed and make plans to move to the High Country in North Carolina. They face hard decisions, but refuse to leave their five performance horses, three dogs and one cat to die of starvation or be killed in the worst apocalyptic destruction the world has seen in fifteen thousand years. The biggest challenge in their lives becomes the 167 mile trail ride through the Appalachian Mountains in mid-winter to reach Boone, N.C.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ben Boyd, Jr
• Release date: Nov 7, 2015
• ISBN: 9781311175908

Ben Boyd, Jr

Hello, my name is Ben Boyd, Jr. I am a freelance author and a screen writer. I write science fiction/fantasy novels, short stories, and flash fiction. I also am developing screenplays for each book in the series. Currently, I have written and published AZ2016 NEO and The Qixi Virus, books one and two in The Fall of the Americas series. The rest of the series is being edited and will be published at regular intervals throughout this year and next. A tentative schedule and title of each novel is listed for your convenience at the end of each published novel. My website is www.benboydjr.comI live, with my wife, on a horse farm in Tennessee near The Great Smoky Mountain National Park. Our farm is named Rooster-Cat Ridge Farm, after our first competition registered quarter horse. When I am not writing or editing, with my wife's help, I grow vegetables, make and bottle fruit wine from our orchard, and grow hay for the horses. I appreciate your comments on my novels if you have the time to spare.

Book preview

Book Three of The Fall of The Americas Series

Ben Boyd, Jr.

Copyright 2015 by Ben Boyd, Jr.

Smashwords Edition

All Rights Reserved

This e-book is licensed for your personal enjoyment only and may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Editors

Dr. Tiffany Ellen Boyd-Hodgson, PhD

D.M. Hammett, Chief Technical Officer

Cover design

BBJ Publishing

Canva

See www.benboydjr.com

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all who read AZ2016 NEO and The Qixi Virus, books one and two of this series. Your interest and support made it possible for book three to be published for your reading pleasure.

Thank you again goes to Donna, my wife, for her continuing patience and appreciation for the hours and days it takes to move this story to the next step.

A heartfelt thanks goes again to Dr. Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson, PhD, my publicist and professional editor.

Next, thanks again goes to my beta readers Michele Morgan, Don Grissom, and Charlotte Hunt Doyle and to all those that sent comments after reading these novels, especially Ritchie K. Beard and Carrie Zylka, a fellow author.

Thank you again to the Knoxville Writers Guild, Writer’s Workshop of Maryville, and the Stage 32 Knoxville Screenwriters and Film Makers Group for their advice and support.

Book Four, The Long Trail Ride Begins, will be available in January 2016.

Ben Boyd, Jr., Author

Dedication

This novel is dedicated to Irene Sumner Hammett, my 92 year young incredible Mother-in-law. I love you Grannyloo.

Preface

This novel, The Fires of Fear, is Book Three of The Fall of the Americas series. Lieutenant Minako Taniguchi, sick with an unknown illness, struggles to escape the Nahanni National Forest battle zone with the Qixi Virus specimens. Dr. Stephanie Parker has suddenly and unexpectedly returned to the Pentagon. Captain Marsha Miller, a new member of the elite security team guarding the doomed Canadian Prime Minister, finds a deadly surprise. President Aaron Rueben Thomas begins secret meetings to form The United Socialist States of the Americas. The truth about the AZ2016 NEO that it will strike the Earth, is finally learned. The King family realize they must leave their farm and help their children and their families find a place safe from the catastrophic disaster the asteroid will bring. Captain Ramsey and Colonel Khang, bitter enemies, are thrown together and struggle to stay alive.

The Fall of the Americas series is a story about a nation and a family’s efforts to overcome catastrophic natural disaster and world economic collapse of a size unlike any the modern world has ever experienced.

Prologue

BP Truck Stop

Mackenzie Highway

Near Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Carl, a Dene tribe native Canadian, who drove Lieutenant Minako Taniguchi, a Japanese Special Forces commando, and her Chinese soldier prisoner out of the Nahanni National Forest, eased his pickup truck into the BP truck stop lot dodging moving cars and tractor-trailer rigs. He carefully looked around trying to recognize any of the parked big rigs.

Great, I see Wally’s rig right over there. See the big white one? I’ll be right back. He said to the ailing Minako, as he exited his truck and hustled over to the main entrance. He skittered inside quickly and stopped barely inside the door to let the warm air take the chill out of his bones. One quick glance and he spotted his Dene friend, Wally, in a booth by himself. Carl wasted no time hurrying to greet him.

Meanwhile, standing unsteadily behind Carl’s truck and in front of another hidden well from snooping eyes, Lieutenant Tanguchi pointed her Beretta 9mm automatic at the feckless Lieutenant Yuan.

You will wait where you are. I will be right back. If you are gone when I return, I will find you and kill you. Do you understand me? Yuan nodded his head and pulled the tarp up to his chin. Minako quickly went into the truck stop to find the ladies powder room.

Carl slid into the other side of Wally’s booth smiling very slyly. He stuck out his hand to shake.

Hey, Wally, how are you? Where have you been lately? You still driving your big rig to the United States west coast? Carl asked as Wally shook his hand with gusto. Carl knew he did.

Carl! Hey, my favorite friend! To answer your questions, all of them at once, all I have to say is yeah! He leaned across the table and with his long reach slapped his friend on the shoulder.

Well how about that! Good news to my ears! Are you coming back or headed out again just now, Carl quickly followed up.

I just ate a little lunch, and now I am headed to Seattle after I finish this cup of coffee. Why all the questions, my little friend? Do you need a ride? Hey, I get it, you need me to pick something up for you from the States.

No, nothing for me. Thanks, though. One of my relatives must go to the West Coast but she can’t fly. She is afraid, and besides, it cost so damn much these days. I can’t take her because of my fishing job. I’m a guide these days. You know, hire a real Indian guide and catch more fish! He laughed as he made his story up.

But you stand to make a few hundred extra, tax free. You interested? The gleam in Carl’s eyes was unmistakable. He knew Wally well. The question was not if. The question was how much.

Did you say her, as in a girl? Carlie, you know the answer already about the extra dough, Wally gleamed.

Yeah, Wally, her, as in a girl. How about $400 Canadian? Wally nodded his head and grinned from ear to ear.

Great! Let me go get her. She is in the ladies room or maybe back in the camper. Be right back! He ran back outside to the truck.

As Minako wiped down her weapons in the cab of the truck and took more medicine, Carl rapped on the window. She lowered the window but did not get out.

Holy shit, Miss, would you please put that gun down. People will see you and might call a Mountie. His head swiveled like it wasn’t attached as he looked in all directions. Minako jammed the gun in her coat pocket.

Now, guess what? I have a ride in a big rig for you all lined up. The truck belongs to my cousin, Wally. If you can pay $500 Canadian, he will drop you off in Vancouver on his way to Seattle. How does that sound?

Wonderful. It is very good of you to make these arrangements. I have money. Will he take U.S. money if I don’t have enough Canadian?

Sure. I will help you count if you don’t know the value. He reached for the roll, but Minako pulled it back.

No need. I can count. She did not want Carl to touch it fearing he would be infected.

Okay, no problem. Very well. After you count it, give it to me, and I will make the final arrangements. Wally wants to meet you. What are you going to do with your prisoner friend? He pointed towards the back and wiggled his eyebrows.

Shoot him, probably. He knows too much. He is just a liar and a thief. He won’t be missed.

Holy shit again! No! No! No! Carl looked in all directions to see if anyone over heard or stood close watching them talk.

Look Miss. We can’t even talk about things like that. If someone hears, it will get all of us in very deep, very hot water with the Mounties. You better leave him at this truck stop. I will try to find a way to help him and keep him quiet, without killing him! Okay?

She looked in the back of the truck. This was a simple solution to a big problem.

Yes, okay, he is yours. Thank you, Carl. Carl’s eyes darted in every direction again. He looked relieved.

Here is the money. She counted out $200 in American and $300 in Canadian, put it in a small bag, and handed the bag over to Carl. He stuffed it into his coat.

Let’s go, please. She put her hand to her head. Her headache had returned. She ran her hand over her forehead. It was wet with sweat.

Good, this means no fever, she thought. As she moved to slip out of the cab, she stumbled in the door way. Carl grabbed her wet hand and then her arm to steady her. She jerked away, but it was too late. Carl rubbed his chin with the same moist hand he used to help her. His eyes widened.

You are getting sicker. Are you sure you need to make this trip? It is a very long way to go especially by truck. He could see she was suffering but she darted out ahead of him anyway.

Yes, I am sure. I must get to the Japanese Embassy with this silver case. It is very important to my government. Please hurry. I will sleep in the big truck. I have medicine. Her eyes were only half open. Even so, she looked determined.

Yellowknife General Hospital

February 18, 2015

1000 Hours

Captain Lawrence Locke, an advanced anti-terrorist unit commando mission leader in the Canadian Arctic Rangers, had been a patient at Yellowknife hospital for the past two days. Surgery to remove his ruined kidney and repair the other internal body parts damaged by the AK-47 bullet was successful.

Back in his room, after sneaking down the hall to visit Captain Marsha Miller, his mission comrade and a Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, he rested. She was also wounded while searching for the biological weapon of mass destruction specimens. He was better but restless and puzzled. What happened to Dr. Stephanie Parker and Lieutenant Minako Taniguchi?

No visits and no calls since I got here. Why the hell is that? The day nurse breezed into the room interrupting his thoughts. Her brief knock and sudden entry gave him a start.

Nurse? Excuse me but do you know why I have no telephone and have had no visitors? Do I have some kind of contagious disease or something worse?

You do not have a contagious disease that we know about, and we know a lot about you. She gave him a devious smile.

You have no visitors, Captain, because the sign on the door says No Visitors. You have no telephone because your commanding officer, General Foley, said no telephone.

Locke realized the nurse did not know Foley was not his commanding officer, even if he was the base commandant.

Interesting, he said. Did Foley say why I am not allowed contact with anyone, except you of course? He winked at her trying to get a little inside cooperation going. It usually worked with friendly looking girls.

Feeling a little flirty herself, the nurse said, I am sure he did, but not to me. I am just the day nurse. He would have talked to Hospital Administrator, Dr. Sandy Rabenson, most likely. Now, please excuse me. I must make my rounds and you, Sir, are in no shape to be winking at me. She started walking towards the door.

Captain Locke had to ask, Would it be all right if I talked to Captain Miller. She is a patient here also, I presume? He already knew she was but wanted to test the rules and the nurse.

Yes, she is a patient. She also has a No Visitors sign and no telephone. She is in the room at the end of the hall on the left. You are not permitted to get out of bed so don’t try sneaking down there. Rip those stiches and you will be in big trouble, Mister, and in for a much longer stay which I wouldn’t mind actually. She winked and shook her index finger at him in mock consternation.

Oh, I wouldn’t think of it. Even if she was next door, I couldn’t walk that far. He grabbed his side and faked discomfort. The nurse cocked her head sensing his jest but decided not to pursue it any longer. Teasing the handsome Captain could wait.

Captain Locke waited five minutes before putting one foot on the floor. The burning pain of the internal pressure still remained and was almost more than he could bear. It had worsened since he stole down the hall earlier. He inched his way to the bathroom. His head began to swim. He felt unbalanced and light headed but he had to get a grip on it.

I’ve got to get out of here and find Dr. Parker. Maybe she knows where Minako has gone. He popped two of the pain pills he had hoarded into his mouth, eased over to the door, and listened. He heard nothing in the hall and slipped silently out of the room.

February 14, 2015

Sanum’dong Missile Research Facility

Sohae Satellite Launching Site

North Korea

1000 Hours

Honored Comrades. We have come very far in our research since the first short range missile launched in May six years ago, said Jang Moeng-Jin, Director of the Sanum’dong Satellite Launch Site and mastermind of the successful launch of the Kwangmyongsong-3 satellite two years ago. He spoke to a very select group of high ranking military and political members of the Korean Workers’ Party.

Jang opened his statement by saying I believe you have forgotten our missile defense program is still in its infancy. Good! It was. BUT NO LONGER! He shouted as he slammed his fist down on the podium.

Today, esteemed colleagues, honorable members of the Korean Peoples’ Army, and supreme members of the Korean Workers’ Party, I am honored to announce we have moved beyond an historic milestone in our program. Today, we surpassed the guided missile technology and laser expertise of all of our enemies including the imperialist United States of America! He slammed his fist down hard again and stopped a moment to view his listeners’ faces.

See the proof for yourselves. He motioned dramatically with his hand.

The lights dimmed as a large screen dropped slowly from the ceiling. The North Korean national anthem began as a video of the President for Life started. The young President first heaped words of praise on Director Moeng-Jin for his work and the successes his department produced. He congratulated the Director specifically for his latest accomplishment ending with a short directive.

I order you to watch closely. This is no trick. Believe what you see. It is real.

The new video showed a strange looking structure, which looked remarkably like a Magellan 3 giant reflecting telescope. The housing was similar except for the extension tube protruding from the center of the disc shaped scope. It replaced the triangular shaped optics imager used to point towards the heavens.

A camera scanned the device from several angles. A long bright light, 35 meters long, shot out of the top of the Magellan 3 look alike. No sound was heard. The video ended but a new one began. It showed a streaking white light traveling horizontally across the starlit sky.

Moments passed, and suddenly, the video slowed to reveal the light had become an asteroid moving through space. The bottom of the screen showed another streak of yellow light moving in slow motion on a collision path with the asteroid. The yellow light, which looked like a brilliant arrow, struck the asteroid and a particle split off. The particle changed directions. The larger piece began rolling but stayed on its original path. The particle fell away and the video ended. Complete silence filled the room. Then, pandemonium erupted all around. After a few minutes, Director Moeng-Jin started speaking again.

"You have just witnessed history, Comrades. You saw our latest guided laser e-missile strike the mini asteroid Jumsee 9 and break off a piece which will fall in Siberian Russia. Dr. Yao Kim of the National Institute of Science, Advanced Astronomy and Space Technology Department is responsible for the technical logistics of this great accomplishment. Please direct any questions to him. Before you ask, I will share this news. We have one more project we are working on which will change the face of the world to our favor, but that is for next year’s history making event. Dr. Kim,