An enemy of peace

"An Enemy of Peace" by Ralph Burke is a science fiction story that imagines a future America struggling to rise from the ashes of nuclear war. Amidst the rubble, two cities, Center City and Northburg, rise as symbols of opposing views; Center City seeks to rebuild through peace under the leadership of Mayor Lloyd Riddell, who tirelessly works to restore his community, while Northburg, under the iron fist of David Barr, embraces power through fear and control. As conflict looms, Mayor Riddell, determined to maintain his commitment to non-violence, goes undercover to infiltrate Northburg. As he witnesses Barr's oppressive rule firsthand, he wrestles with the moral dilemma of fighting for peace with violence. The story culminates in a tense face-off where Riddell makes the ultimate sacrifice, taking Barr’s life in a fateful showdown, resolving the conflict between peace and tyranny within this post-apocalyptic world.