The Ancients A Tale of Survival

A Meeting of Survivors

        An emergency meeting had been called in what was left of Washington D.C.  The surviving members of the President's Cabinet were there as well as a few congress members.  The White House was gone so the meeting was being held in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.  It was one of the few buildings that were still standing, at least for the time being.

        Those who attended the meeting were Vice President Richard P Philips, Secretary of State Virginia Tubbs, Secretary of War Archibald Harris, Congressman Henry Collier, Congresswoman Caroline Hendricks, Congresswoman Roberta Karnes, and Congressman Tom Hickens.  The men had righted a table and were seated about it while the woman scavenged for anything that might prove useful.  The museum echoed with eerie silence as if it knew what had happened.  No children or parents walked their halls today.  No one had walked down the halls since the world started falling apart 3 months ago.

        "It's time to begin the meeting," Vice President Richard P Philips began.  "Ladies we need you over here."

        The woman filed over and took their seats on the piles of rubble that served as chairs.  Everyone looked disheveled as they glanced at each other over the broken table.  Exhaustion was prevalent in everyone's faces as they waited for someone to break the silence.

        Congresswoman Roberta Karnes leaned forward to address the Vice President.  "Should we be starting without the President?  I don't mean to contradict you Vice President, but shouldn't we wait."

        The Vice President leaned forward to address those who were gathered.  "We can do away with titles Roberta.  We have no need of them know.  We are all the same."

        "Roberta is right Richard," Tom Hickens said from where he had his elbow propped on the table.  "Shouldn't we wait for the President?"

        Richard sighed as he sat back.  He steepled his fingers and looked at the others over gravely.  "We will not wait for the President.  Nathaniel was killed a week ago by radiation poisoning."

        Silence and grief greeted Richard's words.  Secretary of War Archibald Harris bowed his head and began muttering a prayer.  Several others bowed their heads as well while one or two wiped tears away from their eyes. 

        "What are we to do?"

        "That, my dear Caroline, is why I've called this meeting.  We need to figure out where to go from here.  The nuclear fallout is everywhere and not just in the States.  Japan has been completely destroyed and half of Russia is gone.  Refugees are everywhere."

        "What do you suggest we do?"

        Richard spread his hands in a helpless gesture at Virginia Tubb's question.  "That is why I called this meeting.  I have no idea what to do.  There is too much destruction and not enough people to contain it."

        Henry Collier turned and addressed Archibald.  "What of the military?"

        Archibald shook his severely shaved head.  "We started this crisis with 1.5 million soldiers.  We lost half that number in the 1st month alone.  I'm guessing that we have just under 200,000 soldiers left.  Those who are left alive are busy trying to contain those who have come into contact with radiation."

        Roberta leaned forward and placed her hands on the table.  Her voice dropped to a whisper as she spoke.  "What news have you heard of the survivors?"

        Caroline spoke fearfully from where she sat.  "I've heard nothing good.  Radiation is wide spread.  You're lucky if you die right away from the radiation.  Odd things are happening for those who survive.  Mutations are already starting to happen."