Red the First by C. D. Verhoff Page A

correctly, thousands
of nuclear weapons will launch across the globe.”
    “ Armageddon,” said Father
Bob. “What are we talking—months, years?”
    “ Days, weeks. The mother
ship is set to land on September 18th. Setting down a craft that
massive is a huge drain on Celerun resources, and therefore
requires all the attention of the crew. They will be so preoccupied
with the landing, it will give you an edge. That’s why we scheduled
Armageddon to arrive that day at precisely 6:00 am.”
    “ That’s only two months from
now,” Elizabeth gasped. “And you’re planning on leaving? It’s too
much to remember—too much to do.”
    “ We all have our tasks. For
instance, I am heading to Maryland from here in hopes of finding
another Moses to lead the people into Isaiah’s Bunker. You, Red
Wakeland, are the Noah of Hewego. You will lead the people to the
ark, Galatians Bunker, I mean.”
    “ If you remember,” Father
Bob said, “the original Noah didn’t have much luck convincing the
people to take shelter from the upcoming flood. They jeered,
mocking him until the day the rain came.”
    “ I didn’t say it would be
easy,” the general said.
    Father Bob was right; the people were
going to mock her husband if he tried to convince them to go to the
bunker. “Please,” she pleaded. “Red has a wife, a child, and his
duties as mayor keep him extra busy. Can’t you pick someone
else?”
    “ He’s the one,” General
Moore said firmly. “I dreamt of two cops eating donuts the night
before we made radio contact. When the boy used that image as a
clue, I knew that I had found the right people for the job. Not
very scientific, I know, but these days intuition serves me just as
well.”
    The compliment about Michael made her
forget the topic at hand for a moment. “That was our son,” she
proudly beamed.
    “ He’s a clever one,” the
general said, producing a manila envelope from inside his flannel
jacket. He slid it across the table to Red and
Elizabeth.
    “ I have committed a capital
offense by putting this information onto paper, but we’re down to
the last play. Inside you will find a map, schematics, and detailed
instructions pertaining to the Galatians Bunker. Do not allow these
to get into the wrong hands.”
    He produced a metal briefcase from
underneath the table. There was an electronic keypad built into the
surface. After punching several numbers on the pad, the briefcase
beeped and clicked as locks released. He opened the lid, turning
the case for all to see. Pushed into the foam lining were three
ordinary-looking, silver-colored keys. Two spots for a fourth and
fifth key were vacant.
    He handed one of the remaining keys to
the mayor.
    Red held the key to the sun rays
streaming through the window, turning it one way and then the other
as the light flashed off its shiny surface.
    “ You mean this key can
destroy the world?”
    “ In unison with four others
and the numerical sequences—yes.”
    “ What if we fail to
cooperate?”
    “ If you fail, humanity will
die out, so never forget that your descendants are counting on
you.”
    “ This is very hard to
accept,” Red said, his tongue cleaving to his mouth.
    “ I cannot stay to talk you
into doing the right thing. Travel is not easy these days. I must
be in Maryland when the time comes.”
    “ I don’t know about this…”
Father Bob said
    “ The Celerun fleet will soon
be here.”
    “ How do we contact you if we
have more questions?” Elizabeth asked.
    “ Once I leave, there will be
no way to reach me. I won’t know if you’ve done your part until
after the keys are turned. It will not be long before the aliens’
efforts are concentrated between our shores. Once the Celeruns are
spotted, you’ll know my story is true, and it will be too late. I
pray you’ll be prepared to flee before that day comes. And before I
depart, I leave you this.” The general reached into his shirt
pocket and pulled out a device the size of a deck of