“So, how many are you guessing will be on board, Brad?” David wondered.

“If we get twenty, I'll be happy,” Brad answered.

David started to respond, but he was cut off by Brad's shout. “There they are!”

Brad pointed to the north, and it took only a few seconds for David to focus on the spot in the sky that was growing rapidly.

Eight minutes later a military transport plane rolled up, and the doors opened a few minutes later. As soon as the stairs were in place RJ emerged, looking tired as she descended the stairs.

Both David and Brad watched with growing concern as seconds passed and no one else appeared at the doors. Finally, a young girl cautiously stepped out, followed by an older man. Brad counted thirty people before his cell phone rang and he lost count. He quickly answered, his gaze firmly focused on watching more and more people get off the plane.

“Brad, it's me,” said a familiar voice.

“RJ, how did everything go?” Brad looked around, saw her standing below his window, watching him as the line of people walked past her.

“We only had room for a hundred of them; we'll go and pick up the other half in a few days. Some of them have chosen to stay there to work to build their own community, but they want our help.”

“Sounds fantastic, we'll be right down,” Brad exclaimed.

He turned to David and told him the news and saw the single tear which formed in the old man's eye, just before he turned and ran off, anxious to meet the new arrivals.

The End

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The Anvil

by Christopher Coates

Deadly radiation from a passing comet is about to destroy life on Earth.

In desperation, the U.S. Government constructs a series of underground shelters to protect as many people as possible. They are expected to be underground for 20 years before returning back to the surface.

But can they survive their time within the confines of the underground shelter... and what will they find when they finally emerge?

The Anvil

About the Author

Christopher Coates writes action / adventure / sci-fi novels. Having spent 30 years in Fire / EMS and an overlapping 20 years in Information Systems, his books tend to have the occasional integration of medicine and technology.

Christopher grew up in Cape Cod Massachusetts and moved to Michigan to attend Davenport University. He currently lives in Kent City, Michigan with his wife, 2 grown kids, and their 2 dogs.

To learn more about Christopher Coates, visit his author page on Next Chapter’s website.