Louis Collins: A Post-American Odyssey

The RV rolled to a stop behind a line of trucks at the Central Union checkpoint. A tall barrier with the Union’s flag stretched across the highway. Louis looked out the window from the cockpit. The Union border service officers were wearing grey uniforms and carrying assault rifles. They gestured the convoy to a separate area. Yamamoto’s SUV went first. A Union officer with a stern face walked to the driver’s window and talked to him. The officer nodded and waved him through. The other SUV followed.

The officer approached the RV. “Mr. Collins,” he said. “We were informed of your arrival. Please present your passports and vehicle registration.”

Louis handed him their passports and the RV’s registration. The officer looked at them, then at Louis. “We heard you have a passenger without a passport. A Miss Rachel Allred.”

“We do,” Louis said. “We are escorting her to the Kingdom of Utah at the request of their Prophet King.”

The officer raised an eyebrow. “The Prophet King is expecting you?”

“He is,” Louis said.

The officer looked at their passports again. “Everything seems to be in order. Have a safe journey.”

“Thank you, officer,” Louis said.

The officer nodded and walked away. Louis drove the RV through the barrier. “That was easy.”

“Because the UIS and their president already smoothed the way for us,” Angelique said. “They want us out of their territory as soon as possible.”

“I don’t blame them,” Gladice said. “We’re a lot of trouble.”

The RV drove for less than a mile before reaching the Utah checkpoint. A large stone arch with a beehive on top stood over the highway. Guards in blue and gold uniforms were standing by the arch. They were carrying assault rifles and had short swords at their waists. They looked like a mix of modern soldiers and historical reenactors.

“Nauvoo Legion,” Willa said. “The Prophet King’s personal army.”

“They look serious,” Maeve said, coming out of the powder room, her eyes still a little red. “They have swords. I want one.”

“I’ll ask one for you, Mae-Mae,” Louis said, stopping the RV.

A guard with a captain’s insignia on his collar walked to the RV. He knocked on the door.

Louis opened it. “Good morning, Captain.”

“Good morning, Mr. Collins,” the captain said, his face stoic. “We were told to expect you. Please present your passports.”

Louis handed him their passports. The captain looked at them. “Is Miss Rachel Allred with you?”

“She is,” Louis said, looking at the stairway. “Rachel. Come down.”

Rachel came down the stairs. The captain saluted. “Miss Allred. Welcome home.”

Rachel smiled. “Thank you, Captain.”

The captain handed Louis the passports back. “You are all cleared to enter the Kingdom. Please follow the lead vehicle. It will take you to your accommodations.”

“Thank you, Captain,” Louis said. “One of my family members is interested in your swords. Are they for sale?”

The captain looked at Maeve, who had appeared behind Louis. “They are not, ma’am. They are a symbol of our faith and our duty. They are only issued to the members of the Nauvoo Legion.”

Louis looked at him. “We’re guests of the Prophet King. I’m sure an exception can be made.”

The captain hesitated. “I will have to ask my superiors. I will get back to you.”

“Please do,” Louis said.

The captain nodded and walked away. Louis kept the RV in its spot. Yamamoto spoke through the comms. “Sir, what’s the situation?”

“We’re cleared,” Louis said. “But we’re waiting for a souvenir.”

“Sir?”

“Mae-Mae wants a sword,” Louis said.

Yamamoto was quiet for a moment. “Understood, sir.”

The captain came back with a sheathed sword. He handed it to Louis. “This is a gift from our Prophet King to welcome you to the Kingdom.”

“Thank you,” Louis said, taking the sword. He handed it to Maeve. “Here you go, Mae-Mae.”

Maeve took the sword, her eyes gleaming. She drew it from its sheath. The blade was sharp and shiny. She swung it a few times, testing its balance. “It’s a good sword. A bit short, but it has a good feel.”

“I’m glad you like it, ma’am,” the captain said. “Now, please follow the lead vehicle. The Prophet King is waiting for you.”

“Okay,” Louis said. “Let’s go.”

Maeve sheathed the sword and put it away. “I’m going to name her the ‘Bee-Slayer.’”

Gladice laughed. “That’s a good name.”

Louis turned on autopilot and went up to the lounge. “We’re in.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” Angelique said. “Now we can finally see what this Kingdom is all about.”

Louis spoke to the comms. “Captain, status report. Have our weapons been checked?”

“Sir,” Yamamoto’s voice came. “All weapons are clear. The Legion didn’t even try to inspect them. They only scanned our vehicles for explosives.”

“Interesting,” Willa said. “They’re either very confident or very stupid.”

“Or the Prophet King told them not to touch our guns,” Angelique said. “He doesn’t want to provoke us.”

“That’s wise of him,” Savannah said. “Because we ain’t here to play games.”

“Let’s hope he continues to be wise for everyone’s sake.” Louis turned to the comms again. “Captain, how many local guards are escorting us?”

“Two Humvees, sir,” Yamamoto said. “One in front, one behind. They have a turret-mounted heavy machine gun on each.”

“Assess the threat level.”

“Low, sir,” Yamamoto said. “Unless they want to start a war with us, which I doubt.”

“I doubt too,” Louis said. “But stay alert.”

“Always, sir,” Yamamoto said.

Louis went to the upper deck and looked out the window. The landscape was dry and brown. The road was empty, besides their convoy. “So, this is the Kingdom of Utah.”

“It’s a desert,” Maeve said, standing next to him. “A hot and boring desert.”

“But a beautiful one,” Angelique said, joining them. “Look at the mountains and the sky. They’re magnificent.”

“They are,” Louis said. “Sometimes I wish we are just here for sightseeing.”

“Maybe we can do some sightseeing after the meeting, Louis,” Donya said. “If it goes well.”

“It will go well,” Louis said. “It has to.”

He looked at Rachel. She was sitting on the sofa, looking out the window with a smile. She seemed happy.

“Enjoying the view, Rachel?” Louis asked.

“It’s a blessed land,” she said. “I can feel the Lord’s presence. I can’t wait to meet the Prophet King and become his wife.”

“You seem very sure of that,” Angelique said.

“I am,” Rachel said. “Because it is the Lord’s will.”

“Let’s hope your faith is not misplaced, Rachel,” Angelique said.

“It is not,” Rachel said.

Louis spoke to the comms. “Captain, where are we going?”

“To the Grand Zion Hotel, sir,” Yamamoto said. “With an entire floor reserved for us, on the Prophet King’s orders.”

“The Grand Zion Hotel,” Angelique said. “That was the Grand America Hotel before the Collapse, built for the 2002 Winter Olympics.”

Willa looked up from her laptop. “The Prophet King nationalized it after he came to power. It’s only opened to the Kingdom’s elite and foreign dignitaries.”

“I’m glad we’re considered dignitaries,” Gladice said. “I was getting worried they were going to put us in a barn.”

Louis ignored her. “Captain, how’s our security detail at the hotel?”

“There will be a Legion perimeter on the ground floor, sir,” Yamamoto said. “They’re the only ones allowed on our floor, besides our own men.”

“We need an emergency evacuation plan, Captain,” Louis said.

“I’m already working on it, sir,” Yamamoto said. “Sergeant Petrov and I will personally inspect the building upon our arrival. We will secure all exits, stairwells, and elevators. We will also sweep the rooms for bugs.”

“Good work,” Louis said. “How about our vehicles? I doubt our RV can fit in an underground garage.”

“The RV will stay in the hotel’s private courtyard, sir, under the watch of our men and the Legion,” Yamamoto said. “The SUVs will park in the underground garage.”

“I want them together in the same spot,” Louis said. “ And I want a team to stay with our vehicles and ready to leave at all times.”

“I will arrange that, sir,” Yamamoto said. “Anything else?”

“Do you know our rods?” Louis asked.

There was a brief pause. “Yes, sir. Field Marshal McCarthy informed me.”

“And the code? Do you have it?”

“Yes, sir,” Yamamoto said. “Sergeant Zhang’s team had received a suitcase before we left Idaho Falls. They are keeping it safe.”

“Good,” Louis said. “I hope we won’t have to use it.”

“Me too, sir,” Yamamoto said. “But we are prepared.”

“I want a sidearm for everyone in our family,” Louis said. “Except Rachel.”

“Understood, sir,” Yamamoto said. “We will issue them after we are settled.”

Rachel looked at Louis. “Why not for me, Brother Louis? I want to protect you too.”

“Because you are a lamb, Rachel,” Louis said. “Lambs don’t carry guns.”

Rachel looked at him, her eyes filled with admiration. “You are so wise, Brother Louis.”

“I know,” Louis said, shaking his head. He turned to Angelique. “It reminds of me of New Orleans. Before the abduction.”

“I was thinking the same,” Angelique said. “Don’t worry, Louis. We’re prepared this time.”

Gladice scoffed. “We’re more than prepared. We are going to kick their holy asses if they try anything.”

Louis looked at Donya and Willa. “What do you two think? Can you carry a pistol and use it if you have to?”

Donya and Willa looked at each other. Then they looked at Louis.

“Show me how to use it,” Donya said.

“Me too,” Willa said. “I’m a quick learner.”

“I’ll teach you both,” Gladice said, a grin on her face. “It’s easier than you think.”

“I can shoot too,” Cherish said. “But not a pistol. I’m better with a rifle.”

“Never too late to learn, Cherry,” Savannah said, patting her shoulder.

Rachel looked at them, her eyes wide. “You are all armed. Why? Are you expecting a fight?”

“We are going to have a shooting competition with your king’s guards, Rachel,” Gladice said. “It’s a tradition among royals.”

“It is?” Rachel asked, looking at Louis.

“It is,” Louis said. “It’s a way to test our skills and show respect.”

“Oh,” Rachel said. “I see.”

Louis looked out the window. The Great Salt Lake glimmered beyond the shrubs on the side of the highway. “We’re close.”

“Close to what?” Maeve asked.

“The end of this road,” Louis said. “Or the beginning of a new one.”

The convoy drove into Salt Lake City. The city was clean and orderly with wide streets. The local police blocked off traffic to let their convoy pass. The city’s skyline was dominated by a large white building.

“Look at that,” Gladice said, pointing at the dome. “That must be where they keep the gold and the virgins.”

“It’s the temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” Angelique said.

“A temple,” Donya said. “It’s beautiful.”

“It is,” Willa said. “The architecture is impressive.”

“They probably use it to hide the key of priesthood,” Gladice said. “And the shrimp.”

Maeve laughed. “You’re obsessed with shrimp, Glads.”

“I’m from New Orleans,” Gladice said. “We love shrimp, especially with hot sauce and a cold beer.”

“They don’t have beer here,” Willa said. “It’s forbidden.”

Gladice’s face fell. “You don’t have to remind me again.”

Louis looked at the street and thought of their escape route. “Captain,” he said into the comms. “Make sure you find the fastest way out of the city from the hotel.”

“Copy that, sir,” Yamamoto said.

Rachel looked confused. “You are planning to leave so soon? But you just arrived.”

“We are planning to have a tour of the lake later,” Louis said.

“Oh,” Rachel said. “A tour would be nice. I hope you don’t plan to steal the shrimp.”

Louis sighed. “I won’t.”