“I said, stop!” Victoria declared. “Put the rifle on the ground, or I swear to God I will kill you right there.”

The speed and violence of her tackle had startled the gathered crowd, but the effect didn’t last for more than a few seconds. They turned even angrier, and all of it was focused on Victoria. “Who the hell—”

The world shook with the heavy boom of a rifle, and everyone in the street cowered.

“All right,” McCrea yelled. He’d fired into the asphalt street to get their attention. “This shit stops right now!” As he spoke, he stepped into the center of the circle. Copley took a position behind Mr. Exxon. The Emerson boys moved in to be with their mom. All muzzles but Victoria’s were pointed at low ready.

“Listen up, everybody,” McCrea said. “If you’ve got weapons on you, keep them holstered or pointing at the ground. First Sergeant Copley, Caleb and Luke, watch the crowd. If anybody points a weapon at anybody else, shoot them.”

Caleb shivered at the words. Was he really serious?

Victoria kept her focus on Mr. Exxon. “Let’s de-escalate this,” she said. “Lay that deer rifle on the ground, and we can talk.”

“Who the hell are you?”

“That’s one of the things we can talk about. After you put your rifle on the ground.”

Mr. Exxon had crossed a concerning line. She could see it in his eyes and in the angle of his stance. Now he needed to save face. He’d gone too far, and he knew it. Victoria let him figure it out in silence. All around her, she could feel the vitriol of the crowd.

In the end, Mr. Exxon did the sane thing and gently placed the. 30-30 on the ground. When he stood tall again, she let her 10/22 fall against its sling.

“Let’s all relax a little,” she said.

“Them Fosters are thieves!” the same old lady declared. “Looters. Looters get executed.”

“Not today, they don’t,” Victoria said.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“. . . .and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.” Penn knew the oath of office by heart, but for the benefit of the camera, he thought it best to be prompted by House Majority Leader Randy Banks.

“Congratulations, Mr. President.” They shook hands. The cameraman from Solara gave a thumbs-up that the camera was off. Anticipating the possibility that the Speaker would be elevated to president while confined in the bunker, Solara had stocked a business suit for Penn, complete with a shirt, tie and cufflinks. No dress shoes, though, because the shoes would never be in any official photograph.

Penn nodded to Dennis Laraja, Senate majority leader. “Senator Laraja, please inform the members that a joint session of Congress will begin in fifteen minutes.”

“Leader Fortnight is going to—”