Excerpt
Wiping the tears from his eyes. He wondered how God could let this happen to his children. The Reverend became suddenly angry with him. This was no way for people to be treated. They did not deserve the destruction that was sweeping across the country. It confused him. He felt torn from his faith. Like it was a waste of his entire life. How could he serve a superior being that would persecute his followers in such an unfavorable fashion. It made no sense to him. He needed a sign to keep his faith. To be shown a way.
Further up the highway, about a hundred soldiers, wearing full body white decontamination suits, were busy working around an open pit they had dug in a farmer's field. Full body bags were being tossed out of the back of a series of trucks lining the mass grave. Reverend Fitzgerald slowed the car down watching in awe.
Slowly advancing, unnoticed by the workers, he saw hundreds of body bags lining the bottom of the shallow pit. Many more callously tossed on top of them. Front-end loaders were being used to bring farm animals to the grave. That sight disturbed him.
Humans, cows, pigs, horses, chickens and the occasional pet dog fell out of the buckets. The disease killing everything it touched. Merciless on it's quest to eradication all life on earth.
Just beyond the first pit, he noticed a second one. He wondered how many of these graves were being dug across the country? How many bodies were being lost forever? They would never know the exact figure. His heart was saddened with grief.
The second pit was still smoldering, as soldiers were busy spreading a white substance over the charred remains. He figured it was probably lime. When they covered the pit with dirt, the lime would dissolve any remains left from the raging fire. All traces of the people buried in the pits, would be lost forever.
After emptying their diseased cargo, the vehicles moved away from the first pit. Moving away to a safe distance. A single fuel bowser replaced them. A shower of gasoline slowly filled the pit. Two soldiers used a hose to soak the corpses thoroughly. The fuel floated amongst the body bags. One man placed a small object on the ridge of the pit. He then hopped onto the fuel bowser as it made its way to the safety of the tree line.
A loud pop came from the small object, echoing in the stillness, immediately followed by the roar of the pit catching on fire. It sounded like a freight train passed right over them. The sudden flames danced high in the air. Billows of black smoke reached for the stationary clouds looming above. The fire seemed beautiful. It acted like it was alive, as it slowly consumed everything it touched.
Having seen enough, Reverend Fitzgerald put the car back in first gear. Quietly driving the vehicle out of the soldier’s sight. He no longer trusted them. He paid witness to what they were capable of. Accelerating the car, he headed to the small town of Cairo.