injury, like hitting your leg with an axe, could mean death.”
Nick stood there and let the advice sink in. He knew Mike was right, it just wasn’t something he had ever considered. The world seemed to becoming increasingly dangerous with each passing minute. Mike walked over to Nick and took the axe from him. Nick stepped back as Mike brought the axe blade down onto the wood and split it in two. He split another log before handing the axe back to Nick.
“You can’t take anything for granted, ever again. The world is changing, Nick, and I don’t want to see you die from a stupid accident. The next few months will determine, ultimately, who will survive the aftermath of this attack.”
Nick put a log on the stump and swung the axe down. The blade cleaved the wood and he tossed the two pieces into the pile Mike had started.
“Why don’t you cut a few more and then come inside,” Mike said. “I’m going to fire up the stove and cook some breakfast.”
Nick split three more logs before burying the axe in the stump. He picked up the split pieces of wood and headed back into the cabin. Nick dropped the wood on the floor next to the stove. Mike grabbed a piece and pushed it into the stove before closing the door.
“When do you think the United States will receive foreign aid?”
“It won’t,” Mike said.
“What about China? They’re our biggest trading partner and we’re still a major world power. Won’t someone help us?”
Mike remained silent until he finished cooking. He scooped beans from the pot on the stove onto two plates and added a piece of bread to each. He handed one to Nick and sat down on the edge of the bed. Nick sat down on the loveseat and ate a spoonful of beans followed by a mouthful of bread. The last time Nick had eaten was breakfast the day before and it showed as he shoveled the food into his mouth. He finished the beans and bread and looked back to Mike, who had just finished and was setting his plate down on the bed.
“China isn’t going to help us. I actually think they might be behind the attack.”
Nick wasn’t sure what to think. China’s relationship with the United States had never been rock solid. Their economies, however, were very dependent on each other. Nick didn’t think that China would throw that away.
“Why would they attack us?” Nick said. “I just read an article, yesterday for the second time, that talked about potential threats to the United States and the author seemed to think that China wasn’t much of a threat right now.”
“Did a guy by the name of Howlins write it?”
Nick nodded in response and Mike let out a chuckle.
“He’s so full of shit. He has no idea what he’s talking about.”
“Who do you think attacked us then?”
Mike stood up and took his plate. Nick followed him as they walked out of the cabin and into the woods, away from the road. The sound of running water reached Nick’s ears just before they came out of the trees and he saw a small stream. Mike bent down on the bank and rinsed off his plate in the clear water and Nick did the same. Mike sat down on a rock next to the river.
“My best guess,” Mike said, “would be either Korea or China.”
“Not a Middle Eastern country or terrorist group?”
Mike shook his head, “They don’t have the capability to execute this kind of attack. Their nuclear programs are still in their infancy and their activity is closely monitored by the United States.”
“Does Korea have nuclear weapons capable of reaching the United States?”
“They didn’t have a long range delivery system, but once North Korea took over South Korea they gained the manufacturing capability and wealth to develop one. Since the Korean embargo, by China, no one outside of the country is really sure of what strike capability they posses.”
Nick looked at the water. If it were under different circumstances he would find it to be a great break from the daily grind.
“I guess I should have paid