Stranger Than It Seems » Places

         John didn't have a response to Shrade's question. He simply responded by throwing a 20 dollar bill on the table. "Order a pizza, I'll be back in an hour or so." And he left. Not as alone as he'd hoped, however. He quickly made his way out to an old abandoned building on the west side of town. There, he met his book keeper.

"Europe has demanded that you go digital. The old ways are obsolete, the enemy is moving too fast."

"So, what, computers?"

"Sort of, the technology's been borrowed from the People's Liberation of Iran. It's hell out there."

"What kind of progress have we made on the eastern front?"

"Everything east of Iran is a wasteland. They have begun to push on the southern border of Russia. Africa's been liberated as far as Ethiopia. Your presence has been requested in Irkusk, your plane leaves in 48 hours."

"Our plane. My crew is coming with me." They wouldn't take this too well, but he couldn't go alone. He'd have to let the cat out of the bag tomorrow morning.

John turned and left, heading home as fast as he could, and hoping that everyone would be asleep.

His luck wasn't that good. Shrade and Kyra sat at the table, glaring daggers through him, Az seemed none too impressed either.

"We're going to Russia in two days."

Shrade spoke soft and low. "We found your journal. And Phoenix."