Perseverance
Book Two of the Fundamentalists
by
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THE ENEMY FOUND
Concealed by a line of pines protecting the Cache la Poudre River, the Watchmen looked upon their enemy. The Christians still wore black tunics with white crosses, but they also had a motley collection of furs thrown over their shoulders to keep warm. Weatherworn tents were set around the camp, and steam rose from a pot over the fire. A series of birdcages were sitting within the group of tents.
“We should all ride back now,” said George. “The Elders need to know so they can prepare the village for combat or evacuation. We may need to retreat into the mountains.”
“We’re not going anywhere this time,” said Charlie, who assumed the role of the Watch leader since Hector had become an Elder. “There is no way the village can handle another move like that. The first heavy snows will come any day now, and we’re already scrambling to feed ourselves through the winter. We need to stay and recover now.”
“If Jason were here, he’d insist on informing the Elders immediately.”
Charlie straightened his lanky frame and glared at the Watchman. “Aye, and he’s not one of us anymore, boy. And Hector isn’t Watch commander anymore, is he?”
Realizing that he had spoken out of turn, George nodded and left it at that.
“Okay, fellas, let’s work together here,” said Patrick, a grizzled, middle-aged fisherman turned Watchman. “No one expected the Christians to follow us out here, at least not this quickly.”
“They must have had scouts following us. How else could they have found us so fast?” Charlie scowled as he pulled out his knife and began sharpening it.
Patrick nodded. “Four tents and four men, so no one is watching us now.”
“Why would they trail us like this?” said George. “Why are we so important?”
“Ha! That’s easy. Mordecai,” said Charlie. “What else would drive an empire to trail and spy on a ragtag group like us? Who else could inspire this desire for conflict? If it was just us, they would have given up somewhere around the Mississippi. But when the former head of your church, the former number-two man in the Empire, joins up with a rebel village? You can’t let that go.”
“Oh, man.” George sighed. “How many times did he tell us about Pravus’s lust for power? He punishes anyone who stands in his way.”
“Maybe Mordecai alerted them to our location.” Charlie’s eyes burned as he challenged them to defend the priest. The accusation hung in the air.
After a period of time, George replied. “Why would he go to the trouble of saving us only to have us die by the blade? That makes no sense.”
“I can’t disagree with him, Charlie. That seems farfetched,” said Patrick. No one responded, so he continued. “Well, what should we do, gentlemen? Shall we capture them?”
“No, the risk is too high. There aren’t enough of us,” said Charlie.
“Let’s wait until dark, then we’ll get the horses and leave. We don’t want them spotting us. We’ll head back to the village, get some more men, and ambush them in the morning before they set out. I don’t want any of them escaping to warn the Empire.”
“Sounds like a plan,” said George. The three men settled in and watched the Empire scouts eat their dinner.
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About the Book
An Inevitable War
Jason and his fellow villagers are happy to have escaped from the grasp of Christian Emperor Pravus to the seeming security of Fort Collins. Unfortunately, the Empire’s reach is long. When the villagers make the unsettling realization that Pravus has tracked them down and is bent on destruction, their preparations for the approaching winter are suddenly thrown into disarray.
As the villagers wrestle with the impact an inescapable war will have on their already uprooted lives, they must decide if they will embrace the forbidden weapons of the past to survive. To make matters worse, the local inhabitants are reluctant to share their home with them. Mordecai must empower the villagers to defend themselves against the religious state he helped create. Jason’s pregnant wife, Helen, who is unwilling to face a future under Pravus’s rule, insists on taking up arms. Edward converts to Christianity in spite of the Empire. Elder Marcus foresees their leader’s death, but still chooses to guide the villagers in their battle to persevere.
Perseverance continues the fascinating tale of Jason and the villagers as they attempt to survive an enemy determined to unleash evil across the land.
About the Author
Geoff Livingston is a former journalist and founder of a marketing consultancy firm. He currently resides with his wife and daughter in Alexandria, Virginia, where he continues to write and pursue his love of photography. This is his fifth book and second installment in a trilogy.