From Canada With Love: A Tale of the Second Ice Age Page 3

  Trinity’s younger sister Ariden, nodded her head, “Mom what about my friends and school? I made the girls football team this year and look at all of this snow! I’m so over all of this snow. I don’t want to go to America. They don’t even play football.”

  “Yes, they do. They call it soccer.”

  Jon broke into their conversation, “I’m sorry but I need quiet so I can concentrate on the road, the snow has covered the lines. The wind is blowing the snow and it looks like we’re driving through space. Our headlights keep dimming from the snow build up. We’ll be stopping in about two hours. Hopefully we’ll find someplace to eat so we don’t have to touch our supplies. I want to fill the SUV with fuel, so we don’t have to touch our gas cans on the roof.”

  Erin used a pair of old binoculars to look in the distance and she looked at Jon, “Snow’s too heavy. I can’t see anything with these. I do see some lights on the horizon, I hope that means they have power and we can get out and stretch our legs.”

  “We’ll find a place. The border is only another six or ten hours ahead of us. I wonder what we’re going to find in Maine.”

  “Most likely it isn’t any different then here. I bet most of their people have already moved south.”

  Trinity asked, “Where are they going? Which of their states can hold so many people?”

  Jon shook his head and whispered, “Many died like ours did. I think they had a lot of open space in the southwest. I don’t know, but I’m praying they have a place for us. We can’t stay here. I bet there won’t be any people alive in Canada in another couple of months and then it will be impossible to save any who then decided they wanted to leave. We should have left earlier.”

  Erin reached out and touched Jon’s right leg, “I know. We all prayed the warm water would save us from the worst of the weather. Then the Gulf Stream changed course and we began to freeze. The snow came and didn’t end. It’s late July and it hasn’t been above zero all year. You’re doing the right thing in taking us out of Canada. We’ll always remember out roots, eh?”

  Jon laughed, “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  Jon found a closed gas station. Its windows were broken and everything that had been on the shelves was on the floor. Most of the items were under snow or had been chewed on by animals. “Girls, go inside and look for anything undamaged and anything we can eat, hurry, I’m going to siphon fuel, which I hope is still in the tanks and hasn’t frozen.”

  Erin held their shotgun in her arms while the girls ran back and forth through the blowing snow carrying armfuls of frozen candy, cookies, and chips to the car and Jon slowly filled the Denali’s tank with the fuel still in the underground tank. He told the girls, “Run and use the bathroom. It’s cold and dark and the lights don’t work. One of you stand guard while the other goes, and hurry. I want to get out of here as quickly as possible.”

  Erin returned to the SUV smiling, “I found an unopened case of TP in the back. While we can’t fit the case in, I took an armful of rolls. Never know when TP will come in handy.”

  “That’s my wife, always thinking ahead.”

  Chapter 3

  Five months before the event.

  Weinstein met his old friend Dean Whitman at a steak house where they had a private table that could be closed off by a privacy curtain. Rick asked with a mouthful of steak, “What’s so important you needed to see me in person?”

  “I want to show you something…”

  Rick picked up the folded pages and began reading. He dropped his fork and quickly forgot about his meal. “Is this some kind of a joke?”

  “I wish it was, I really do. I can attest to the grad student and professor who ran the numbers. I ran them through our supercomputer in the science department. Here’s the printout from “Big Bertha.” These will really turn your stomach.”

  Rick looked up while holding the folded computer printouts, “How long?”

  “Five months.”

  “Are you one hundred percent sure? I can’t send this up the line unless you’re one hundred percent sure. If you’re wrong, you’ll be finished here, and you’ll never work in any university again. Now, are you sure you want me to send this up the line?”

  “Yes, I’m placing my name on this. I want you, I need you to send this up the line. Washington needs to do something about this or we’re all going to pay the devil.”

  “I have one last question. Do you know where it will hit?”

  “Someplace in the northern hemisphere. If it hits the ocean, the tidal wave will be over five hundred feet high and it will destroy every city, Rick, every damn coastal city will be destroyed and that includes D.C. I can’t narrow it down any better than that. My little supercomputer isn’t up to that task. NASA will need to run the numbers…”

  “How many know about this?”

  “Counting you? I’d say no more than five. I don’t think the two who brought it to me told anyone…”

  “I want their names and files…”

  “Come on, you know I can’t give you their files. That’s confidential information…”

  “I see. Okay then I’ll settle for their names and contact information.”

  After the Dean left, Weinstein shook his head thinking, this is a disaster. If they’re right, it will create a panic unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. Way more than the stupid pandemics. The President will use this to go to town and start well, who knows what that cowboy will do. All we needed after three pandemics was another outsider who thinks history and rules don’t apply to him. We had to ruin one to get rid of him and then we got one who was brain dead after almost ruining us and then we got another outsider and this one is so outside he hasn’t found the door to come in yet. I better get the agency on checking these two locals out before I do anything else. I can best do that from Area 51.

  @@@@@

  Area 51 is usually associated with the rumors of aliens and hidden alien flying saucers. In reality, it’s part of the US Air Force test range called Groom Lake where secret planes and equipment are tested. One of Rick’s unofficial tasks was to monitor the test flight program of the B-21, the new stealth bomber. The previous administration had reduced the military budget so much to fund social programs that the B-21 was three years behind schedule. It should have already entered service and yet only a handful of the secret planes were flying test missions. Rick’s mission this week was to oversee the results of the bombers’ new self-protection systems which was a combination of electronic jamming, chaff, and decoys.

  Once Weinstein was in a secured SCIF he placed a call to NSA’s secure computer, “This is ID number WHOXray 5671. I have an approved surveillance mission, two subjects, I am sending the files over now. Priority TS, presidential level 001.”

  “Please repeat priority level.” Replied the computer.

  “TS, presidential level 001.”

  “Code accepted, mission accepted.”

  Weinstein added, “Twice daily updates.”

  “Accepted.” Replied the computer.

  Rick’s next call went to the secure computer at the Department of Anti-threats, North America at the Department of Homeland Security. “ID number WHOXray 5671. I have an ELLIE mission, repeat, this is an ELLIE mission. NSA file, Delta Foxtrot, 07222230.”

  “Confirmed. Action required?”

  Weinstein thought, I love automated systems. I don’t have to deal with people who will ask stupid questions and waste my time, time we don’t have. The system will handle the requests and automatically issue the orders. All I have to do is enter the correct access code and priority level and like magic, it’s done. I can even make someone disappear by entering the correct code, although that one I don’t have yet. Anyway, what I need now is them to be watched and to make sure they don’t spread the secret until we’re ready to release it, if we ever do.

  @@@@@

  Professor Wright checked Imus’s work on his own computer, and he logged onto the university’s computer network which used spare computing power on every networked computer to calculate the rock’s impact point. He let the computers crunch the numbers until the display on his laptop blinked informing him the task he’s programmed had been completed. He looked at the message and froze. Oh, by all that’s holy. It can’t be.

  A computer at the NSA pinged at the same moment, an encrypted message was sent to Weinstein on his government issued encrypted phone. He shook his head at the message. “contact has received computed message.”

  What the F does that mean? Damn computers I wish someone had programmed them to speak in ENGLISH. How difficult could that have been? Native language computer, what utter BS.

  @@@@@

  Jon wished his old windshield wipers worked better. The damn wind and snow are falling and blowing faster than the wipers, even in their fastest setting, can clear the windshield. I can only see through a small area, I need the defroster on high to keep even a small section of the windshield clear, but without heat, Erin and the girls are shivering.

  We’re coming up on Fredericton. I don’t want us to enter the city because we have no idea what we’d find. People may want our SUV, but without it we’ll have no way to reach the States and I pray, safety. There were over 50,000 people who lived in the city and another 100,000 who lived in the area. We’ll have to go around the city and then get back on the highway. I don’t know if the surface streets are cleared. Even with our chains it could be rough going.

  “Erin, honey, are you awake?”

  “Yes, I’m just cold…”

  “I know, I’m sorry, but I need the defrosters to keep the windshield clear. Is one of the 10/22s close to you?”

  “Of course. It’s loaded. Do you see trouble?”

  “I want us to be prepared j
ust in case of trouble. We’re getting very close to Fredericton.”

  “I remember when it used to take us only twenty minutes to make the trip. We’ve been on the road for over eight hours. How much longer until we reach the border?”

  “Once we get around Fredericton, we should reach the States in another four to six hours. We’re limited to no more than 40Kph and sometimes less than 10. The roads are horrible and the weather even worse.”

  “Do you think there’s still people in Fredericton?”

  “I’m sure there are. I’ve seen dark smoke in the sky. Something is burning, and, in this weather, it had to be set by people trying to stay warm.”

  “How are we doing on gas?”

  “We’ll be okay after we put the city in our review mirror. I want us to be prepared for anything. Keep the rifle loaded and ready. I have dad’s old 1911 loaded and ready in case someone tries something.”

  Trinity said, “Daddy, I’m awake. I have my rifle loaded and ready. I’ll do whatever I need to. What do you want me to do?”

  “Honey, I really don’t want you to get involved in this. You’re too young to have the endless nightmares that will come from shooting someone.”

  “Daddy, I know what I might have to do. I’ve thought about it and decided I will use my rifle to help protect us until we reach our new home…”

  Erin twisted to face her oldest daughter, “Honey, dad and I don’t want you to have to face killing someone. He and I can take care of whatever happens. You need to take care of your sister. Okay?”

  “Okay Mom. But I’m here if you need me. Remember, I am a better shot then either of you,” Trinity laughed.

  Jon smiled to himself, “At the ranges something might happen, even I can hit what I aim at. Now, we all need to pay attention to everything that moves. People will want any moving vehicle.”

  Before Jon could say more, three armed men rushed their SUV. Jon cracked his window five inches and prepared to fire his 1911. “Cover your ears and open your mouths, this is going to be VERY loud!”

  Jon held his breath and aimed at the first moving person he saw; he said a silent prayer and pulled the trigger. The sound of the large .45 caliber bullet firing sounded like a cannon exploding inside the car. Erin and the girls screamed. The person who Jon aimed at screamed and fell into the snow. The others ran back the way they’d come. Jon considered firing at the retreating people when he felt Erin’s hand on his arm, “Don’t. We may need the bullets for later.”

  “Thank you for reminding me. Let’s see how quickly we can get out of here.”

  “The sound? The police?”

  “I don’t think there are any police and the wind will make it impossible for anyone to determine where the gunshot came from. We’ll be fine as long as we keep going towards the States.”

  Trinity asked, “Daddy, did you kill that man?”

  “I don’t know. But he’s not going to hurt us. Keep looking for anyone walking towards us. They might not have been alone.”

  “I will. My ears hurt. All I hear is a ringing.”

  “It will go away soon. I’m sorry. I should have packed earplugs. I’m sorry.”

  Erin whispered just loud enough for Jon to hear, “Drive, drive as best you can. Let’s put as much distance between us and the border as possible.”

  Chapter 4

  Weinstein signed into his office so he could check the data from the NSA. He pulled up the file and sat in shock staring at the orbital curves. Damn it! The old fool was right. That rock is going to hit us. I need to get my family out of town and find a way to protect them. Where’s it going to hit? Northern Hemisphere? I think it’s time we move to Australia or New Zealand. I don’t care about the house or cars. We’ll pack, empty our bank, and to hell with the college fund or paying back anything. We’ll be out of town within twelve hours. If I tell anyone what this file says there will be mass panic. No one can keep a secret in this cursed city.

  @@@@@

  Dean Whitmore wondered why she hadn’t heard from her friend in a month, a month the Earth couldn’t afford to waste. She decided to call him at his office in Washington. She was shocked when his administrator answered, “Hello this is, or was Mr. Weinstein’s office, how may I be of assistance to you?”

  “Hello this is Dean Whitmore from Caltech, is Richard in, we’re old friends. We met about a month ago.”

  “Did you say around a month ago?”

  “Yes, why?”

  “Could you please hold a moment? I would like to connect someone who has some questions about Mr. Weinstein with you.”

  A moment later the Dean heard, “Hello Dean, my name is Eric Getts, I’m a Secret Service agent. Mr. Richard Weinstein disappeared around a month ago. He returned from a trip to the west coast, he checked in at his office, and wasn’t heard from again. His government issued phone was left on his desk as was his laptop. It appears he took his ID card and vanished. We’ve checked his home. His wife is also missing and she disappeared the same time Mr. Weinstein did. I assume either harm has come to both of them and for some reason we don’t understand, he simply disappeared. Would you have any information you could add to assist us solving his disappearance?”

  The Dean considered her options, “I may be able to assist you, but I can’t over a phone. I am willing to discuss the subject he and I met about in my office or one of yours. It’s an extremely sensitive subject.”

  “Sensitive?”

  “As in national security of the highest level.”

  “I see, madam, do you have a security clearance?”

  “I don’t. However, I do understand when certain information has national security implications.”

  “Okay, since I don’t seem to have any options, I will send you to our nearest office address and I’ll personally fly out tonight to meet you in the morning.”

  “I’ll find it.”

  @@@@@

  Getts was tired and frustrated. He hated having to fly across country for what he assumed would be a waste of time. When Dean Whitmore finally arrived, he smiled and asked, “This conference room is very secure. Here is my TS ID card, can you now tell me what’s so secret and has national security implications?”

  “Agent Getts, what do you know about the dinosaurs?”

  “Is this your idea of a joke?”

  “I should have said, what do you know about how they died?”

  “If I remember correctly, a large rock landed in the Mexico where it meets the Gulf. The rock was so large it threw up enough debris it blocked the sun and all of the plants died or something like that. Why?”

  “Excellent. The reason why I asked was the topic Rick and I discussed was one of my grad students discovered a rogue asteroid which is headed our way…”

  “So, don’t asteroids hit us all the time? What’s so special about this one?”