Post-Pandemic: A New World

Chapter Twenty: A Change Of Direction

It had been about an hour since the Phoenixes witnessed the herd of cows, eating up the grass of the fields they had passed and potentially turning it into a barren mud land. They had come across several large blotches of grassless fields, it was easy to speculate that the cows had eaten all of the grass and turned the fields into mud lands. Bridge found it quite sad, knowing that those lands would be barren for years to come. They had already passed several farms that had just mud lands around them and it was evident that the cows had escaped from them. "Fields, fields, all around and not a single shade of grass in them" Bridge thought to himself, creating his own little quotation of the Rime of the Ancient Mariner. In that poem, it was "Water, water, all around and not a drop to drink". Bridge had compared the grassless fields to that of the poem. There were fields everywhere and there wasn't a shade of grass in them. It was like how when a sailor in the ocean looked out upon the horizon, they saw infinite gallons of water and there wasn't a drop for them to drink.

They were now headed towards Oklahoma and upon going through it, they would be much more closer to San Francisco, where the Antivirus was stored and where Human civilisation would be reborn. Of course it was already being reborn in Ohio, Texas and Colorado. In Ohio, a Christian Cult who worshipped the children of the Virgin Mothers as the children of God, controlled Springfield, or New Eden as it was now known and the lands around it. Bridge speculated that they would soon control all of Ohio and convert the remaining population to the Children of the Divine Lord. In Texas, the military had been able to keep order long enough after the Antidote was released and they had reformed the State of Texas. The new Governor sought to reform the United States, under the "Democratic Republic of America" and ensure the continuity of a more fair and thoughtful Government. Meanwhile, in Colorado, a military remnant lead by a man named General Thorn, sought to assert their control over all of North and South America, under a "Patriotic American Republic" as they called it. They clearly showed huge levels of patriotism to America and seemed determined to reunify the States under their rule. Bridge feared that the two sides might clash, resulting in another Civil War, perhaps more deadly than the first one. Which is why He wanted the Phoenixes to steer clear of both factions, to avoid any "drama" between them and by drama, He meant hostilities.

As the Phoenix Convoy headed further through the roads, Bridge realised that He could see something in the distance ahead. As they got closer, He realised what it was: a green family wagon with a small family of five inside. The convoy was quick to stop once they saw them and the family wagon stopped as well. Bridge, Anna and Phinehas all exited Phoenix Home and as did the mother of the family: a black woman in her early forties, along with her husband and eldest son. The woman stepped forward and said "Hello, who are you people?" Bridge gladly answered "We're the Phoenixes and you?" The woman answered "I'm Loraine, are you people headed to Oklahoma?" Bridge seemed shocked at the question and asked "Yes, why do you ask?" Loraine's husband was quick to say "Listen, ya can't go that way. You'll be dead within a few days!" The Phoenixes all seemed very worried. What did this man mean by "dead within a dew days"? Bridge had a look of deep worry on his face as he asked "What are you talking about?" Loraine looked stunned as she said "Wait, so you don't know?" Anna looked confused as she said "Don't know what?" Loraine took a deep breath in and asked "Oklahoma isn't safe anymore. At least not the area around the Capital". Bridge had a look of worry on his face as he said "What do you mean it isn't safe?" Loraine then explained "Well, after the Fall, the nuclear reactor they built outside of Oklahoma City went haywire and now the whole city is flooded with radiation!"

The Phoenixes now all knew what Loraine meant: Oklahoma City was now covered in radiation and anyone who entered it would die a slow and painful death at the hands of radiation! That was when Bridge understood what was going on and said "So you're headed for safer regions, aren't you?" Loraine nodded and said "Yes, we're headed for Chicago, hopefully it's safe". That was when Phinehas said "Well, you could always head to Texas". Loraine looked confused as she asked "Why Texas?" That was when Bridge laid it all out. He explained about how Texas was doing and about how a new Government was in power there. Loraine seemed interested as she said "Well, I guess we'll give it a shot". Bridge then said "Okay then, we'll keep headed for San Francisco then". With that, Loraine and her family left for Texas, eager to start a new life in a much more safer State. One where a fairer and more mindful Government had taken power and one where all citizens were welcome. But the Phoenixes still had to solve their own problems.

In Phoenix Home, Bridge, Anna, Phinehas and Joe all debated on what they should do next. They were gathered in the centre of the bus, standing in the gap between the chairs. Bridge said with certainty and determination "We have to keep headed to San Francisco, but how do we get there now that Oklahoma is the Chernobyl of America!?" Just as concerned as Bridge, Anna said "It's the Chernobyl Disaster all over again, I say we head past Okloholma". Phinehas agreed and said "Yeah, but where do we head?" Bridge then said "Well, we could head through Texas. But that would be a longer trip. So our only option is..." That was when Bridge realised that there was only one State they could go through: Colorado. Anna realised the same thing and said "We could head through Colorado?" Bridge wasn't sure and said "Maybe, but need I remind you all that the centre of the State is run by fanatic ultranationalists who are heavily armed thanks to being a military remnant and are determined to conquer all of North and South America!" Joe felt as if they should head through Colorado and said "It could be worse. After all, I've listened to their broadcasts. They are the complete antithesis of this "American Purification Department" you people told us about and they would hate them with a passion". Bridge thought for a few moments, considering their options. He then sighed and said "Okay then, let everyone know. We head through Colorado". Five minutes later, the Phoenix Convoy headed through another road, one that led not to Oklahoma, but to Kansa and then.....to Colorado. Territory of the Patriotic American Army.