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“We all know it is, Ted” Cos beyond the sand “Denial won’t do any good Facing the situation head-on and rolling hatever punches coh”

“It’d be nice if we had some way to defend ourselves” Jackie shook her head “Us walking around with sacks of food and water are going to draw attention if there’s anyone left around here”

Commander Palmer looks up at Ted “Did you find it yet?”

“Yep, just dug out that compartment”

“Good Bring it down, then close the hatch up tight We’ve got enough food and water out now to make it to Norfolk and back, if necessary”

A black case lands in the sand next to Jackie and she picks it up, handing it to Commander Palmer “What’s this, then?”

“Soht be unfriendly Courtesy of the Russian portion of the ISS Ted grabbed them before we left” Commander Palmer opens the black case to reveal two Makarov 9azines

Ted drops down into the sand outside the lances in the case, then looks at Jackie “Russians always carry firearms of some sort in their survival kits I didn’t think they would leave any on the ISS but Coht”

The coazine, racks the slide, inserts the azine and racks it onceat Jackie “You want the other one, or you want me to take it?”

“You go right ahead I never did very well in thesessions”

Commander Palazines “Neither did I, but that’s okay With any luck on’t need to use them”

“I think we’ve just about used up our fair share of luck just getting back to dry land in one piece, don’t you?” Ted shoulders his bag and looks toward the ocean “But who knows? Maybe it’ll keep holding out”

Chapter 12

Washington, DC