Perseverance: Book Two of the Fundamentalists

By Geoff Livingston

An Inevitable War

Jason and his fellow villagers are happy to have escaped from the grasp of Christian Emperor Pravus to the seeming security of Fort Collins. Unfortunately, the Empires reach is long. When the villagers make the unsettling realization that Pravus has tracked them down and is bent on destruction, their preparations for the approaching winter are suddenly thrown into disarray.

As the villagers wrestle with the impact an inescapable war will have on their already uprooted lives, they must decide if they will embrace the forbidden weapons of the past to survive. To make matters worse, the local inhabitants are reluctant to share their home with them. Mordecai must empower the villagers to defend themselves against the religious state he helped create. Jasons pregnant wife, Helen, who is unwilling to face a future under Pravuss rule, insists on taking up arms. Edward converts to Christianity in spite of the Empire. Elder Marcus foresees their leaders death, but still chooses to guide the villagers in their battle to persevere.

Perseverance continues the fascinating tale of Jason and the villagers as they attempt to survive an enemy determined to unleash evil across the land.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 24, 2015
• ISBN: 9781491766897

Book preview

Chapter 1

SETTLING IN

The thin layer of snow crunched under Jason’s feet as his long frame reached down to get a trowel full of mortar. He slathered it liberally into the gap between the pine logs, not caring if some dropped to the ground. No longer an awkward young man, Jason reached and loaded another trowel with intent, again slathering the muddy mixture against the still-moist wood. His wavy dark locks were speckled with mortar, a consequence of speed and function in the face of time. He was close to finishing this side of the wall.

Fucking splinter! Marcus cursed loudly, causing Jason to walk over to him. He hunched over, holding his hand. The hard travel across the country had turned his wiry frame into an angular one, with shoulder blades jutting out, and his dark hair fell over his almost black eyes and onto thin shoulders.

You all right? Jason frowned and looked at his friend’s hand. Marcus waved him off, angry at the distraction.

He couldn’t see anything from a couple of yards away. Patches of thin white snow, colorful leaves, and green grass surrounded them. The trees still held some of their color, but cold air forewarned us of harsher times. Breath steamed from their mouths. It would be a couple of hours before the sun melted the snow and warmed the air.

Behind him, Elizabeth and Catherine continued to dig at some plants in the ground. Yesterday, Catherine had come home holding a wild-looking plant with a bulbous, dirty root. After cleaning it, she had sliced and pan-fried it.

What is it? Helen had asked, her blue-green eyes flaring with hunger. She moved locks of light-walnut-brown hair behind her ear, revealing her pronounced cheekbones, wrought by the hardship of travel.

A potato! There’s a whole patch of them just across the yard. Isn’t it delicious?

Now they were digging the rest of them before winter came.

Jason turned back to sealing the wall. They were almost done patching the brick building. The odd mix of old brick and freshly hewn lumber made for a motley look, but it would serve as a shelter. This wall faced west, where the storms came from, and was particularly bad. The other three walls had withstood the years a little better, but they still needed work. He looked at what was left of the roof. Another project there.

Looks good, buddy. Marcus sucked on his finger.

How’s the hand?

Ah, just a splinter. No big deal. Marcus scowled. Did you hear the news? Hector and the hunters made some great progress. The Elders are sending the wagons to bring back the carcasses.

Really? How did they manage to pull that off?

Ah, an old native trick Mordecai knew about. They harried and chased the steer until they stampeded and then ran them right off a cliff. More than one hundred head of cattle were killed.

Huh. Well, there you go. Have you had any future visions since we’ve arrived? Jason grabbed his trowel and returned to mortaring the wall.

Ha, no new visions. Perhaps stability is chasing them away. Hey, I forgot to mention something. There’s a meeting tonight of the Elders. Janis asked me to invite you.

Jason turned his eyes to Marcus, who looked back, waiting for a response. Acid roiled in his stomach, and he avoided Marcus by looking over at Helen. She was working on the opposite end of the wall, methodically pushing mortar into the gaps. Like all of them, the journey across the country had taken its toll on her body, hardening her and leaving little fat on her body for the cold winter ahead. But her face was at peace, with a ghost of a smile, as she worked.

He looked back at Marcus and smiled. I just can’t do it. I’m sorry. Please give my regards to everyone.

Look, Jason, the journey was hard on everybody.

Smiling again, Jason said, Yeah, it was. Look, Marcus, I just want to get our house built and get my forge started. This town lost a damn good blacksmith, and I have some big shoes to fill. It’s what my family does.

Marcus looked down and nodded. I get it. So how much longer do you think on the house? We’re getting sick of sleeping in the same room with you and Helen’s family.

Ha! Just a few more days. Once we get that roof up, you can move into your room. And Catherine and Edward can move into their rooms too. It’s going to be drafty, I’m afraid. We’ll be patching those brick walls for months.

Well, at least the fireplace works. It’s our saving grace this winter.

Yes. You’ll excuse me?

Of course.

Feeling pressure in his bladder, Jason walked past the tree line and found some cover behind a pine. After relieving himself, he walked back to Helen. How’s it going?

Good. Marcus got a nice little jab from our log cabin.

Yes, he did. Though he didn’t want to talk about it.

What did you guys talk about?

He asked me to attend a meeting of the Elders tonight.

Her eyes searched his, and her smile tightened. And?

I said no, of course. That’s the last thing I want to do.

She nodded, leaned toward him, and kissed him. Okay.

He smiled and walked back to his trowel.

Chapter 2

THE NATIVES

We’re being watched, Marcus said.

What? Helen looked up as she scooped a helping of the pan-fried potatoes from the skillet at the center of the large, round table. Famished from their work, they decided to have an early supper.

We’re being watched, he repeated. There have been more sightings of people hiding behind buildings and running away when approached. Plus the Watch keeps spotting campfires. Every time they hunt for the camps, they find smoldering fires and ashes. One time, they even found bedrolls and some dried meat.

I saw a fire on one of the mountains just the other night. Edward knocked over the salt shaker as he spoke. They had found a salt stash sealed in plastic bags in the basement and promptly filled the shakers. Helen’s brother was even more lanky and still awkward, and the cross-country hardship did nothing to refine the teenager’s acumen. He was fair like his sister, and he smiled less often now, but he was still naïve in the ways of the world. I assumed it was one of our less-social village members. Or a member of the Watch.

Yeah, that was probably one of those strangers watching us.

Creepy, Helen said. Who do you think it is?

Well, we believe that Fort Collins was occupied by a small village—maybe a few hundred people, based on the evidence we’re seeing. So basically, we moved into someone’s home without asking. They’re the ones who really live here.

Do you think we should be talking about Elder business? Elizabeth said, her brown eyes blazed with caution, matching the fire of her red locks. Like the others, her body had grown harder, leaving little fat on her muscle, but that had not diminished her energy. Marcus was crossing a line.

Jason smiled. He remembered how important it was to keep village leadership among the leaders. Now that they had been in Fort Collins for three weeks and the exodus was over, villagers were not listening to Elder edicts with the same sense of urgency. In fact, many people ignored them outright.

The other day Jason had been felling trees, a return favor to Joseph, who was building his own shelter in time for winter. Brian, a member of the Watch, had come by. He ordered them to leave the trees in that area alone and move their work across the village to an area the Elders were trying to clear. Joseph had basically told the Watchman to either make him or leave. After a few testy words, Brian had left and did not return.

Jason tuned back into the conversation to hear Catherine’s words. The journey had been unkind to her, turning her youthful middle-aged face more weathered and her hair silver and iron gray, and the lost weight had exposed deep wrinkles throughout her face. Her blue eyes sparked, though. Sleeping in the same bed for a few weeks had done well for her demeanor. Hopefully, we’ll offer these people a better solution to sharing land than the Empire gave us.

We’ll see. They may not want anything to do with us. Marcus looked out the kitchen toward the door. At least they haven’t yet.

Someone knocked urgently. Helen opened it, and Hector walked in. The strong man had led the village across the country, and he looked like he was ready for another journey. His muscles rippled under his clothes, and his brown eyes looked with intent, though his newly grown salt-and-pepper beard cracked open with a warm smile.

Hello, everyone. Marcus and Elizabeth, we need you. Our hosts have arrived. More than two hundred natives have marched into the center of the village and asked for an audience. We’re gathering in fifteen minutes at the public square. Lots of people are already milling about.

We’ll be right there, Elizabeth said. Is anyone else joining us?

Jason looked at Helen, Edward, and Catherine. They all seemed eager to go. Yeah, we’ll come along too.

They all grabbed their jackets. When they got to the town square, a crowd was gathering. It was a wide-open space, much bigger than the town center of Harpers Ferry. The family walked to the center and sat within earshot of the meeting, thanks to Marcus and Elizabeth.

Brachus looked at Jason, his former protégé. Jason smiled and waved. Brachus acknowledged him with slight nod and then turned to pay attention to their visitors.

The people of Fort Collins were darker and shorter overall than the Harpers Ferry citizens, but it was hard to put a finger on what race they were. There were still the occasional blonds, redheads, and fair-skinned people among them. They were mostly clothed in skins and fur.

A heavyset woman with iron-gray hair and a dark complexion stood apart from the rest of the Fort Collins natives and looked at Janis, who assumed a similar position in front of the Elders. Janis exuded power, as she had become the dominant leader among the Elders during their journey. Her white hair pulled back in a bun, dark-gray Elder’s cowl, and cold blue eyes demanded respect.

My name is Margaret, and I represent my people. Her accent had a hard twang and an odd nasal quality. Jason wasn’t sure she was speaking English. Apparently, the Elders had a hard time too, because there was an awkward pause.

We are glad to finally meet you. Janis spoke in a flat tone, a look of caution on her face. Please excuse the lack of chairs and food. We just ended a very long journey across the continent. Our supplies were exhausted, so we have nothing.

Don’t be concerned about it. We know. Margaret smiled slightly.

Jason had to think about a couple of the words before he recognized them.

But since you mentioned it, what has brought you to our home? Do you intend to stay?

There was another pause, but a few Elders smiled. Margaret didn’t pull any punches.

How familiar are you with what caused the final war in the old world? Brachus asked.

We know what happened. We know what the people of the east—the Arabs—did and how the Christians responded. But what does this have to do with your settling in our homes?

Janis nodded gravely. Yes, we know how that feels.

The other Elders looked down, confronted with the effects of their displacing the locals.

Unfortunately, everything, Brachus said. In the eastern part of the old United States, a new power has arisen. They’re led by a man named Pravus, who rules under the guise of a false type of Christianity. He has total control, and he spreads his rhetoric and power by the sword.

We shunned religion in our hometown back in West Virginia, but we could not escape Pravus and his army. We were unprepared for a fight, so we just left everything behind—our lives, our homes. Janis’s voice rose with the passion of her words. "We chose this place because it was as far away from our homeland as conveniently possible, yet the mountains would remind us of our home.