Post-Pandemic: A New World

Chapter Eleven: The Transmisson

August 22nd 2025

The previous night had been a good one, everyone had slept well because now they had enough beds and they were all enjoying a hearty breakfast around the campfire in the centre of the three R.Vs, which had been parked in a circle. John and the Seed twins had gone fishing at a nearby lake and had successfully caught some Salmon Trout and they were eating them for breakfast. Bridge and Solomon had spent about an hour collecting fire wood and had made a small fire where they cooked the trout by roasting them above the fire. For the first time in over a year, they had all eaten well. As Bridge swallowed another bite of salmon, he noticed that Phinehas was tinkering with their old radio inside the main R.V, while Azrael was purring on the kitchen chair. Bridge got up from his chair and walked past Anna as she used a stethoscope to listen to the baby's heartbeat and said "Looks like the baby will be born very soon". Michelle rubbed her large baby bump and said "I sure hope so". As Bridge walked inside and sat next to Phinehas at the kitchen chair, he said "Trying to receive some transmissions huh?" Phinehas sighed and said "Yeah, but I haven't detected any yet". Phinehas lowered the dial and all of a sudden, the static was a bit more clear and Bridge said "Wait, listen listen". They both listened very carefully and head what sounded like singing. Phinehas raised the antenna up a bit and they could hear it! It was the voice of a woman singing "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound". Everyone outside were quick to hear and rushed in to where Bridge and Phinehas were sitting. As John entered the R.V, he asked Bridge "What's going on?" Bridge looked relieved as he said "Apparently, someone out there is using a radio". As the singing continued, Maxwell Seed asked "To sing some song we heard at the church near our place?" Michael Seed listened as well and said "I bet everyone with a functioning radio is hearing this".

That was when the singing stopped and a male voice said "To all those in the land of America wishing to start anew now that the Fall has come to an end: We are the Children of the Divine Lord and we have been enlightened by the truth of our High Priest. If you to wish to be enlightened and be safe from the sinful raiders who were criminals in the old world, then join us at New Eden and be enlightened as we were". The broadcast then turned to another song, this time it was "King of Kings". As the song played, Bridge looked around at the group and said "Looks like we have a no joke cult on our hands". Everyone looked confused and worried. Whoever these "Children of the Divine Lord" were, they seemed peaceful, but could they be trusted? As they all thought about it, they heard the sound of cars in the distance. They looked out the windows to see a convoy of armoured vehicles going across the road at high speeds. As they saw the vehicles go by, they could hear a voice saying through the distance in a megaphone saying "If you can hear us, then do not try to hide, we are the REAL patriots of America and we will no longer tolerate foreigners, refugees and terrorists, looting, raping and pillaging the Purified States of America. It is our job to keep this land pure and free from Africans, Asians, Latinos and all that is not of this land. Only full blooded Americans are welcome here, all invaders will be purged". Bridge got out his binoculars and looked through them at the vehicles to see the words "American Purification Department" painted on the side. Above it was a symbol, that appeared to be a white red star, with a white skull in the centre and blotches of red painted below it to symbolise blood dripping down from the skull. That was when they heard the words "The Purification of America, has begun!" echo through the field. As the convoy drove away, Michelle said "I'm scared to have my baby in this world". Bridge looked at her and said "I'm also scared, scared to bring them into this world".

As Maxwell Solomon heard the broadcast from the Children of the Divine Lord, he said "I say we find this "New Eden" and learn more about this cult". Sarah looked at Maxwell, astonished and said "Are you crazy!? They're a cult!" Solomon put his hand on Sarah's shoulder and said "But they could be nice". They all had their own ideas on how to handle this situation. Bridge knew that they had to come up with a solution and that the group known as the American Purification Department would likely come after them, due to Anna being Russian and six of them being black. Not to mention that soon there was going to be another member of their family and they too would be black, mainly because her mother was of Angolan decent. Everyone wanted to do something, some wanted to find this "New Eden", but others wanted to get out of the State of Ohio and get to San Francisco as soon as possible. That was when the song on the radio stopped and the same male voice appeared again. This time he said "If you wish to find the holy place that is New Eden, then head for the place that was once called Springfield and you shall find enlightenment". As the apparent "Preacher" as Anna had nicknamed him finished speaking and more holy music played, Bridge said "Alright then, there's only one solution: we put it to a vote". Bridge then headed over to one of the suitcases at the back of the R.V and got out a small whiteboard and felt tip pen. He came back over and placed them both on the back kitchen table. Everyone looked at him as he said "If you want us to find this "New Eden" then draw a circle, if not then draw an X". Over the next minute, everyone put down either a circle or an X and the results had been a majority circle. John and Sarah were the only ones who voted "X", because they were sceptical of the cult. Bridge then checked the map of Ohio they had picked up at an old gas station and said "It looks like if we head there now, then we can get there within a couple of hours". Springfield was in the western half of Ohio and the drive would take them past Columbus. As Bridge turned around to the group, he said "Alright then, lets get going".