The small towns and family-owned farms had become indispensable to the
rebuilding of America after the Collapse. In the United States the
nuclear devastation of those horrifying years had been severe. Most
major cities had been destroyed, but much of the outlying and rural
areas had survived. In the latter half of the 21st century new
leadership arose from these areas, and the American spirit, which for a
hundred years had gradually been eclipsed by special-interest groups,
lobbyists, fringe organizations, and major corrupt economic interests,
was largely purified. The "old values" became popular again, if not
always followed. A generation of leaders arose with an appeal similar
to that enjoyed by the "log cabin" presidents. A candidate who claimed
to have basic values and homespun philosophy was guaranteed to win
support from the remaining American population.
With his eyes still closed, David smiled. He tried to imagine the aroma
of his Aunt Clare's freshly-ground coffee coming from the kitchen,
mingled with the smell of hot-off-the-griddle blueberry pancakes. The
drizzle was stopping, and the dawnlight of the newly-risen sun was
sending sparkles through the light rainy haze that shrouded the fields
and crowning the eastern fields with the arc of a rainbow. The haze
would soon burn off, leaving the dark earth sodden and leaves dripping.
Pages:
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191
192
193
194