Chapter Seven
~/*\~ Cherry ~/*\~
Cherry had been preparing herself mentally for the conversation for hours, but she knew it wasn’t the time, when Gail crashed in.
Gail came home late that night, completely wired again. Cherry knew her roommate would pass out and sleep hard once the adrenaline wore off, and wake up starving the next morning. Idly, Cherry wondered what her roommate had been doing this time. Or if anyone had been killed.
She might have been raiding a house full of JW’s. Cherry thought grimly, before sliding into a prayer. God, is this crazy? Asking Gail? Preaching to her? She’s not like other people. She’s one of the ones actively hunting people like me. Or she will be soon. Jehovah God, I’ve been one of your people for about five minutes now. I know it’s hypocritical to ask for your protection, when I’m about to do something legitimately suicidal, but please… please, God, please…
She was asleep before she got to ‘amen’.
~/*\~
Gail staggered out of the bedroom the next morning, looking hungover. “I smell bacon and eggs.” She said immediately, coming to the kitchen. “Where did you find eggs? And… and bacon?”
“Well, I’ve given up saving money.” Cherry said, flipping eggs in the frypan. “I figured you could use a greasy breakfast after the night you’ve had. Whatever you were up to, it seems your job is an adrenaline sport.”
“Sometimes.” Gail conceded, and took the plate Cherry offered greedily. “But I’m not the only one dancing on the edge these days, am I?”
“No.” Cherry admitted, grateful for the opening. “We should talk about that. Because the days when we could ‘agree to disagree’ are all but over.”
“They are.” Gail agreed, eating quickly. It felt like they were squaring up for a fight over their breakfast plates. “And before you say it, I haven’t forgotten our last conversation on this topic, exactly. It’s just…”
“You’ve been patient with me.” Cherry conceded. “It hasn’t gone unnoticed that I’ve been basically living on your charity all this time. I can’t pretend I’ve spent the last few weeks out looking for work. Your new job has been paying rent and buying food for us all this time.”
“My Supervising Officer already knows about you.” Gail admitted. “I’ve been getting some sideways glances from the others as the deadline for the next stage of the FRA gets closer.”
“I’ve been getting the same from my father about you.” Cherry admitted. “And in all honesty, I’m not the only one. I’m hardly the only Witness living with… well, someone who’s opposed.”
~/*\~
Eldon was looking between the two cans he had left in his pantry. He’d been making deliveries to other Witnesses, and was finally next in line to get one of his own. Right now, his breakfast was either going to be a tin of peaches, or a tin of baked beans.
Then his phone buzzed. It had become a permanent fixture in his hand over the weeks. The situation was changing swiftly, and the Elders were keeping on top of things by staying in constant communication with everyone. “Hello?”
“Eldon? It’s Bradley.” The call came in. “We’re reaching Stage Four of the FRA, and the consensus is to get ahead of it, rather than let things get too close to the deadline for singing the Renouncement. We’ve received reports of bonuses given to people who turn in family members.”
Eldon felt a cold shiver go through him. “What’s our move?”
“We always knew there would come a time when some of our brothers and sisters would have to find a safe place to ride this out. Our Congregation is suggesting we do that sooner than planned; just in case.”
Eldon was already reaching for his car keys. “This is really happening, isn’t it?”
“I hope it happens soon. Sneaking up on it like this is harder than anyone thought.” Bradley agreed. “You’re on the ‘transportation’ list. I’m texting you a list of sisters who need a discreet pickup immediately. They’ve been alerted. They’ll be ready for you.”
“Understood.” Eldon was locking up his front door. There was a large van across the street with tinted windows. He’d never seen it before. “Once that’s done, I’m going to get my daughter.”
As he settled behind the wheel, he was already sending her a text message, telling her to be ready.
~/*\~
“I’ve heard reports from some of those ‘concerned relatives’.” Gail admitted. “People call the Coalition because someone in their family has run away to go live with the ‘illegals’.”
“Why do they call you?” Cherry asked, genuinely curious, hearing her phone buzz in the next room. “Signing the Pledge is a personal choice. Calling the Coalition to stop them is only going to get them arrested.”
“I know. But nobody knows what else to do.” Gail sighed. “In all honesty, Cherry? I had expected to come home one night and find you gone. Why do you stay?”
“Because pretty soon, we’re both going to have to make a choice.” Cherry said simply. “And I’ve already made mine.” She set aside her plate. “You said that you remember the conversation we had? We agreed that being able to predict something like the Coalition, let alone the FRA, would be a pretty impressive indication that the Witnesses were right all along.”
“I remember. And I’ve read those Bible Verses, you know.” Gail offered. “Those pamphlets of yours were quite clear. They even had the scriptures written out.” She took a moment. “They’re all about imagery, metaphor. You could use words like ‘Babylon the Great’ and ‘Wild Beast’ to describe a hundred different organizations or world leaders; with a million different meanings.”
“Almost every religion on the planet has done so.” Cherry agreed. “But there’s only one that lines up with what’s actually happening right now. No other religion in the world has been predicting this week’s headlines for a hundred years.”
Gail had no answer to that. As she paused, Cherry suddenly remembered her promise to alert her father when she started this conversation. But Gail’s time at home had been so haphazard that they’d slid into the conversation without warning, and she didn’t want to stop and call for an escape hatch in the middle of it.
Cherry took a breath. “Gail, I don’t know where the ‘point of no return’ is. In all honesty, I thought it was too late for me; back before this whole thing even began.” She reached out and took her hand. “You’re my friend, Gail. What’s happening in the world right now is proof enough for me that this is really happening. And that means that soon the world will change on us. Again. It’ll change into a Paradise where nobody ever gets sick, ever gets old. A world where there’s no war, no crime, no poverty… No death. Think about that for a second. To live in a world like that? What could be more important?”
“It’s a nice dream. Just like the dreams of heaven, or a garden full of virgins, or being reincarnated as something better than this.” Gail agreed. “I’ve been part of the raids that burned every last statue and saint. I’ve seen the ‘diehard believers’ that decided to paint scriptures on their rifles. You know something? God didn’t save any of them.”
“And none of them were expecting the FRA beforehand.” Cherry reminded her.
“You telling me that if I went and got my sidearm right now, God would make you bulletproof, but not any of the others?” Gail dared her.
Cherry was half-expecting the implications, having rehearsed the conversation in her head a thousand times. “Do you really plan to shoot me? What if your Supervisor tells you to? Will you do it then?”
Dead silence. Now that it had finally been said, nobody knew what else to say.
Gail made the first move. She went over to her jacket, hanging by the door, and drew out a piece of paper. It was a Renouncement. Cherry felt her heartrate tick up.
“There’s no middle ground anymore.” Gail said, pushing the paper at her. “Either you sign, or I have to turn you in.”
“If I’m wrong, those are the only options.” Cherry agreed. “But if the Witnesses are right… and recent headlines have convinced me that they are; then the world doesn’t have long left; and our whole lives begin, or end with this choice.”
Heavy silence.
“Pascal’s Wager.” Cherry said finally. “You mentioned that a long time ago, but we got interrupted before you could tell me. I looked it up since then. The idea is: There’s no way to prove if God is real, so if you live a life of sin and debauchery on the assumption there’s no Hell; you’re taking a huge chance of being wrong. If you live a life of virtue and goodness, then you might find yourself pleasantly surprised to meet an approving God. And if there’s no God either way, then once you die, it won’t matter what kind of life you led.” She let out a shuddering breath. “That ‘wager’ is different now. Because living a generic ‘good’ life isn’t enough anymore. Now, I gotta declare allegiance, one way or another. The ‘wager’, for me? It was settled when the Final Revelation Act was passed.”
Gail said nothing for a long moment. “There was an Outreach program, when I was a kid. It came to my school. It was run by some Church or another. I had questions. The same ones everyone has, I guess. Where do we come from? Why are we here? They told me I could come to the school programs and ask.” She shook her head. “I never did. I had questions, but it wasn’t like I was going to skip recess, you know?” She looked down. “I always meant to go one day. Life got in the way, but I always thought… one day, I’d go.”
“Gail, you’re my friend. For a while there, you were the only thing keeping me off the streets.” Cherry said seriously. “I feel like a complete idiot, for waiting as long as I did. You know why? Because this is The Proof.” She held up the Renouncement. “This is the Smoking Gun. And that means God is real. And it means This Is It. And that means He was always real, and this was always coming.” She shook her head. “My father was certain before today. He was right.”
“There’s nothing more irritating than a parent when they’re right.” Gail joked, but her heart wasn’t in it.
Cherry pulled out her Bible from its hiding place beneath the couch cushion, and started flipping pages. “Can I show you-”
With no particular expression on her face, Gail slapped the Bible out of her hand, and sent it to the floor. “It is… frowned upon, to proselytise to others now.” She said flatly.
Silence. The mood shifted suddenly, and Cherry realized she wasn’t speaking to her roommate. She was speaking to ‘The Coalition’.
“I killed a man yesterday, Cherry.” Gail said quietly.
Cherry’s face changed. Another reminder that this wasn’t a friendly chat.
“It wasn’t the first time.” Gail said flatly. “The riots have to be put down. So do the rebellions. So do the Holdouts.”
Cherry started to say something. Changed her mind. She started to say something else. Changed her mind. How is this my life? She suddenly felt like she was tip-toeing through a minefield. “Jehovah’s Witnesses view what’s happening as Judgement against False Worship. An awful lot of evil has been done in the name of God. Nobody hates that more than God Himself.”
Gail nodded. “I’ll buy that.”
“You’ve been tearing down Churches of all denominations for a week now. God hasn’t stopped you.” Cherry said carefully. “Do you think there’s anyone God will step up to protect?”
“No.” Gail said plainly. “Why do you?”
“Well, as I no longer have my Bible handy, you’ll have to take my word for it.” Cherry said, trying to sound lighter. “But there’s a verse where God said: ‘Not for your sake, but for the sake of my Name, I will protect you’. Or something to that effect. Back there and back then, only one group worshipped Jehovah God. If they fell, then it would make God look helpless against armies and weapons made by men.” Cherry took a deep breath. “After centuries of effort, almost every religion in the world has stopped using the name ‘Jehovah’ entirely, except ours.”
“You’re betting your life on a letterhead.” Gail said plainly. She got up, went over to the Bible, still splayed open on the floor, and she handed it back to Cherry. “I admit, the Coalition isn’t the Paragon of All Goodness. But what is? It’s a dirty job, but when it’s over, the world will be better.”
“What about you?” Cherry asked. “You hadn’t killed anyone before you started working for them.”
“No, I was camming in a bedroom that I had to timeshare.” She rubbed her eyes. “Cherry, I joined the Coalition because I wanted to be part of something that actually made the world better. I don’t know if I’m as certain of that as I was when it started, but… it’s either this uniform, or I go back to filming amateur porn, you know?”
“Gail, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. One way or another, neither of those options will exist much longer.” Cherry said, when she suddenly stopped, realizing. “Oh.”
Gail nodded. “I can’t imagine ‘God’ is too eager to have me around, given my history. So it’s either the Coalition, or… what?”
“I said the same about myself, only a few weeks ago.” Cherry admitted. “Turns out I was wrong.” She looked down at the Bible again, then back up at her. “It wasn’t too late for me. And… I don’t believe it is for you, either.” She licked her lips. “If you work for the Coalition, then my days are numbered in this apartment. But I stayed, because out of everyone in the whole entire world, one of the people I want to save is you.”
Gail had no idea what to say to that.
“In case nobody else has told you this: It isn’t too late. Not yet. Not for either of us.” Cherry said seriously. “Not that long ago, we sat on this couch, and agreed that any religion that could predict the future must have something to it.”
“I remember.” Gail said quietly. “But you could use those verses to predict all kinds of things. No other religion predicted this, and they all have the same Bible. Could be that your team just got lucky. A million confident religions out there, one had to guess right.”
“Could be. Could also be that they’re actually right. The Witnesses didn’t pull these positions out of thin air. And if they did know the Truth, then what? All the guns in the world can’t kill God.”
“And all the prayer in the world doesn’t make you bulletproof.” Gail returned.
“Then I guess the Final Revelation Act has forced the question: Do you trust God, or Guns?” Cherry summed up.
“You act like what I do about you is the only thing God will notice.” Gail retorted. “I’m wearing the uniform. I’ve already killed people. For the first time in my life, I’m getting respect. I’m doing something that matters. You’re telling me God’s going to wipe it all out anyway.”
“What we want isn’t the deciding factor here.” Cherry said passionately. “I’m talking about what’s going to happen, no matter what anyone says. All I can do for you is the same thing I can do for myself: Be standing on the right side when it happens.”
“At what point is God a moron?” Gail retorted. “Because after the life I’ve lived? Heaven would be easier to get into than…” Gail trailed off. “I signed the Renouncement, Cherry. Doesn’t that mean I’m committed?”
“I honestly don’t know.” Cherry told her. “But how ‘close’ do you want to cut it on something like your soul?”
“No, I mean: I’ve signed the Renouncement. If I had any plans about seeing heaven, I couldn’t have done that, could I? You’re asking me to cut all ties to the human race.”
“Plenty of people have lost faith in ‘the system’, Gail.” Cherry said seriously. “It’s happened before. When the world changes on people, and some refuse to surrender to whatever’s taken over their lives? Some people refuse to bow to a King, or a Flag. They live by their beliefs. Even when someone has a gun to their head.” She lowered her voice. “You’ve heard me talking about the future. About the… the Paradise that the Witnesses are expecting. To be there, what could possibly be ‘too much’ to give up?”
“...If you believe it.” Gail said harshly.
“If.” Cherry said the word like was the most important word ever invented. “And you have to make that decision honestly, Gail. Because nothing else matters. Not what you want to believe, not what you’ve done before now, not what anyone else says.” She spread her hands wide. “There’s a reason why I came to you when the Coalition began. I said to you that something like the FRA was coming. I didn’t know what it would be called, or exactly when, or how it would work… Only what the result would be. It was because I was terrified that one day we’d be having this exact conversation.”
“You don’t have a choice.” Gail retorted, getting angrier. “This world has already rejected you, your father, the rest of your type…”
“If I signed that piece of paper, the world would let me back in.” Cherry returned, feeling her heartrate tick up. “But I don’t want to be ‘in’. The System is coming apart. I don’t want to be back on board the sinking ship.”
“The System is finally getting better.” Gail almost raged at her. “Sign the #$%!& Renouncement.”
“...I can’t do that.” Cherry said with finality. This feels like a thriller you see on television. How is this really happening to me, of all people?
Heavy silence. And then Gail pulled out her phone. Cherry stood up, and went to the bedroom, reaching into the closet.
Gail dialled the phone, and began to speak. “Captain, I have an illegal in my residence.” She listened for a moment. “Yes, my roommate. I appreciate the time you gave me, sir. But it’s time we ‘clean house’.”
Cherry pulled out her backpack, already packed for a quick getaway; and slung it over the shoulder, heading briskly for the door without a look back.
Cha-click.
Cherry froze at the door, looking back. Gail had a gun pointed at her with one hand, the phone in the other. “I need you to send someone to collect the prisoner. She isn’t armed. I can handle her until you arrive.”
Jehovah God… Cherry prayed. Help! And she started moving. I’m running? Okay, I guess I’m running.
Gail jumped up, shouting for her to freeze. Cherry was already out the door, heading for the stairs.
Gail came running out of the apartment, giving chase. Her foot went straight through the top step, and she froze, crying out in shock. It was the same step that Cherry had taken just seconds before. With one leg sunk into the stairwell; she was unable to give chase.
Man, what are the odds on that? She complained to herself, carefully picking her leg out of the broken wood, trying not to slash herself open.
~/*\~
Cherry hit the street and cast about for danger. There was no sign of anyone yet; but she knew that would change. She unlocked her phone and caught a glimpse of a dozen text messages from her father-
Her phone beeped in her hand, and the screen popped up a message. This phone is locked down for illegal activity. Surrender it to the nearest Coalition Authority.
They can do that so quickly? Cherry thought in jaded awe. The phone is more than frozen, it’s trackable.
She tossed her phone aside, and started running. She only made it as far as the corner before she heard sirens. Gail would be able to call in every level of law enforcement. But she kept running until her legs burned, and then slowed to a walk.
Jehovah God, I don’t know where to go. Cherry prayed as she walked. No phone. Can’t call for help. Can’t call for a ride. And where would I go, anyway? There are checkpoints now. I wouldn’t get far, if they have my picture out. Public Transportation is too risky. They have checkpoints on the train stations. One camera gets pointed at my face, and I’m caught.
She was hurrying past a parked car, when the driver’s window rolled down. “Hey, beautiful. Going my way?”
She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sudden appearance, before she recognized the voice. “Jamel?” She blurted out, voice grating with disbelief. She was so stunned to see him, she hadn’t even noticed the car. It was an expensive sports car, polished and made for speed. “Where did you get this?!” The sirens were getting closer. “No, I don’t care! Lemme in!” She dove into the passenger seat, and ducked her head, even with the tinted windows. “Get us outta here!” My life gets more like a spy thriller with each passing moment!
Jamel had no idea what was happening, but he heard the sirens, and rolled up his window quickly; starting the engine. Police cars came screeching up the road, blowing straight past them. Jamel started driving the second they passed, turning down the first corner; out of sight. “What’s going on?”
“I finally had ‘the talk’ with Gail. She called it in; and I had to run for my life.” Cherry said. “Now you. Where’d you get this… this really expensive car?”
“Believe it or not, it was a gift.”
“No, I don’t believe that’s true at all.” Cherry said plainly.
Jamel grinned. “So here it is: Given we expect the world to end any second, we have people we want to save, right?”
“Right.”
“I’m an ex-junkie with issues. I’m one of the people who ‘fall through the cracks’ easily. You made a point of trying to save me. I figured there were some people I should talk to. People that nobody else would try to preach to.”
Cherry nodded. “My father once told me that Witnesses do some of their best work in Prisons. Jesus got his followers from the lepers, the disabled, the poor…”
“Exactly.” Jamel took a breath. “So, I was at this bar I used to hang out at-” He held up a hand at her expression. “I wasn’t drinking. I was… well, preaching.”
“That’s illegal to do in public now!” She told him.
“I know. But this isn’t a place where people call the cops. Not for anything. The regulars there laughed themselves stupid at me, but they kept ordering drinks, so the bartender was willing to give me a little time. Sooner or later though, someone complained, and I had to leave.” He licked his lips. “But before I could get thrown out, in comes this guy. The bartender knew him by name. Apparently, they were in the same college frat, or something; and in the years since, he hit it rich.”
“Okay.” Cherry nodded, listening, but scanning for more police cars. There was no sign of them.
“Well, this rich guy apparently read the news. Funny thing, but rich people can lose more in a day than we’ll see in a lifetime.”
Cherry didn’t follow. “I’m gonna need more than that.”
“I’m not exactly an expert, but it looks like this guy was expecting the bottom to fall out of the market today. He came straight to a bar his old frat buddy owned, because all the more expensive places that knew him wouldn’t take his credit cards anymore.”
“The economy is in trouble?”
“Because of the FRA.” Jamel nodded. “The Churches had more money than anyone expected. You can’t just burn it all down, without the fire spreading further than anyone planned.”
“Poetic.” Cherry commented, finally deciding the police weren’t following. Nobody would look for her in a car like this. “So how’d you end up with the car?”
“This guy was tossing out everything he had on him. Handmade shoes, tailored suit, solid gold pens, designer watch… Anyone who would trade him a bottle got something. The drunker he got, the more manic he was.”
“...‘they will throw their silver into the streets’.” Cherry murmured quietly.
“Huh?”
“Nothing. Something I read last night.” She shook her head. “You came by with this thing at just the right moment, Jamel. You were literally an answer to a prayer.”
“First time I’ve ever been that.” Jamel admitted.
“Gail pulled a gun on me and I ran for it, but of course there was nowhere for me to go, until you pulled up.”
Jamel grinned wolfishly. “A car that nobody will connect us to, and enough horsepower to outrun a helicopter if they send one.”
“Forget that. You’re not a secret agent. You’d smash this thing if you got it up to top speed.” She waved that off instantly. “But you saved my life. Gail no doubt told them I was on foot. There are checkpoints on the roads, at least in the nicer parts of town. Even a fancy car like this won’t get us far. My face is surely on their ‘fugitive’ app by now.”
“So where do we go?”
~/*\~
“We put out an alert on all the cars in the neighborhood. At least, the ones that haven’t signed yet.” Roderick told Gail. “As well as family members. You’re sure she doesn’t have access to any other vehicles?”
“People don’t pick up hitch-hikers around here. It has to be someone she knows beforehand.” Gail was certain.
“What about boyfriends? Old school friends?”
“There’s Jamel, but he doesn’t own a car, as far as I know. Can’t afford one.” Gail nodded. “A floorboard. I was running after her, and a floorboard broke under my foot. The only thing in favor of this rat-trap was that it was still standing; and the floor chose that moment to give way.” She was silent for a moment. “The nearest contact is her father.”
Roderick pulled out his phone, and called headquarters. “I need a trace started immediately.”
~/*\~
Eldon was parked two blocks from his daughter’s apartment. He’d seen the police cars, and one Coalition vehicle parked out front. He knew that Gail was getting more involved with each passing day, and had frequently asked Cherry to move out, but his daughter still wanted to try and convince her friend.
A lot of brothers and sisters were going into hiding now. Most of them had friends they could run to; but some of those friends had to go into hiding themselves. Opposition from workmates, or neighbors, or anyone who passionately supported the FRA meant that Witnesses were now hiding from the world.
But with the Coalition parked out front, it looked like he’d waited too long, despite their plans. Then his phone rang. He checked it. The number was unknown. Don’t do it. He thought. It’s a trap.
If Cherry got away, she’d be using someone else’s phone. He told himself firmly, and answered it. “Hello?”
“Hello, sir. This is Gail.”
Eldon gripped his phone so tightly his knuckles turned white. “Hello, Gail. Is my daughter there?”
“Yes, yes she is. She’s in the bathroom right now. But if you’re in the area, feel free to come by.” Gail said brightly. “She mentioned wanting to see you right away.”
Eldon relaxed and tensed simultaneously. “You don’t know where she is, do you?”
There was a pause, and Gail's voice changed. “I guess if you knew where she was, you wouldn’t have answered.” She spoke quickly. “Eldon, we’re past the point of ‘agreeing to disagree’. Look, why don’t you come in? We can meet, and talk about what’s next. If Cherry isn’t with either of us, who knows where she could be now? We both want what’s best for her.”
“Yes, I believe we do.” Eldon couldn’t help but respond.
“All she has to do is sign a piece of paper, and this is all over. If you sign it yourself, she won’t say no. You’ll be safe, she’ll be safe… Isn’t that what your feud was all about? Wanting her to be safe? Isn’t that what you’ve wanted your whole life? Doesn’t every father want that?”
“What?” Eldon blurted. “Gail, I know for a fact that you know exactly what the argument with Cherry was about. Why are you- oh.” He suddenly realized. She’s tracking this phone. Of course she is.
Without another word, he rolled down the window and tossed his phone out.
~/*\~
“He didn’t hang up.” Gail reported. “I think he tossed the phone.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Roderick nodded. “We got the location. Even if he doesn’t have it anymore, we know where his ‘last known’ location was, down to the second.” He smiled at her. “You did the right thing, Gail.”
Gail wasn’t as cheerful about it. “I know. But she’s a friend. I feel like I did the right thing, but not the good thing.” She sighed. “The whole point of the Coalition was that we didn’t have to get hung up on rules that stopped people from doing good.”
Roderick chuckled. “Well, look at it this way: You earned yourself another promotion. This little act of loyalty? There are some hard choices ahead for a lot of people. You’ve shown you can make them. That counts for a lot.”
“Would have counted for a lot more if we’d actually caught one of them.” Gail returned.
“These people tend to keep to their own. They don’t have military training, or a huge spy network, or even a steady food supply. They’re ordinary people trying to take on the entire world government with ‘thoughts and prayers’. We’ll round them up in due time. After all, the Coalition is Global, and has authority over every level of the world’s infrastructure and law. They can hide, but they can’t run. There’s nowhere to go that we don’t control.” His phone beeped, and he checked the screen. “He’s only two blocks from here!”
Gail jumped up. “Let’s go.”
Roderick’s phone beeped again, and he held up a hand. “Wait. New Code Amber. They need backup on Beech Street.” His face was grave. “Which one do we go for first?”
This is a test. Gail thought. “A Code Amber means lives are in danger. The FRA might be Priority One for the Coalition, but I know Cherry and her father aren’t going to kill anyone in the next few hours.”
~/*\~
Cherry tried again, gripping Jamel’s phone tightly. “My father isn’t answering.”
“Maybe he’s got my number blocked?” Jamel offered.
“Gail’s made her choice. She’ll have my father tagged. My phone locked down the second I went on their List. Dad will probably be the same soon enough. And Gail knows about you.” Her tone was leading, and he nodded at the window. She tossed his phone out, and he didn’t even slow down. “I can’t even warn him. He knew I was going to have the conversation today. He wanted me to wait until he got there.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because I knew she wasn’t going to wait for him to arrive. Another ten minutes, and she’d leave for work again. I only had one chance.” She scowled. “And look where that got me.”
“Driving around town in a fantastic sportscar, with someone who loves you.” He quipped.
She couldn’t help the blush. “Well, when you put it that way…”
He grinned, and let it go, getting back to work. “So. If it’s too dangerous to go to your dad, where else can we go?”
“The Hall. I know for a fact that all the Witnesses have made contingency plans for this sort of thing. Most of them will be in hiding once Stage Five becomes official. We’ve got to find one of those hiding places; and reconnecting with anyone in the Congregation is the best way to do that.”
“Will they just… let us in?”
“The Hall? Almost certainly closed by now. Most of our meetings have been online lately. But if there’s any chance of dad or his friends finding us, he’ll look for me there.”
“Good enough.” Jamel spun the wheel, and they made a quick turn. “And I know how to get there without hitting a checkpoint.”
~/*\~ Iyara ~/*\~
“There are no armies.” Arjun observed. “I was in a rush to get us out of a warzone, before the blood started flowing, but there’s been nothing.”
“It’s Harvest season.” Bodhir suggested. “Most men will be out in the fields. With the Jordan in flood, they probably believed the Hebrews would never try a crossing.”
“They crossed the river well south of us.” Iyara offered. “Maybe there’s fighting going on there. We know there were scouts posted at the River. Word will have spread by now.”
The family had escaped the city of Adam, and had ridden hard until they were well away from people. The horses were not battle trained and tested, as the militia horses were. The riot they had powered through had put both animals into quite a state, and Arjun had called for them to dismount for a while, to let the horses settle. Pushing them harder now would only increase their fear. A random snake across the road would cause someone a serious injury if thrown from a spooked horse.
In the time they’d been walking, they’d heard signal blasts from trumpets echoing across the land, sending warnings out about the invasion ahead of them. They hadn’t seen it, but there would be runners and smoke signals too, raising the alarm.
“You’d think there’d be someone responding to the warning.” Arjun insisted. “There should be soldiers from Jericho riding out to meet them; if only a small strike force. They have to know the best time to attack is before they can get established on this side of the River.”
“Did the River really seem like an issue?” Iyara countered darkly.
The journey to Jericho continued. There were scouts on horseback at full gallop, rushing cross-country… but no sign of what the response would be, if any.
“There.” Iyara pointed. “You can see the walls from here.”
~/*\~
Jericho was as panicked as their hometown. The word had spread faster than the refugees and escapees from Adam.
The farms around Jericho were crawling with frantic people. Most were slashing at stalks of wheat; tossing them into large baskets. Most were being run back into town. Some were being hidden under cloth, as others tried to hoard. A few guards were running back and forth between the farmers, trying madly to stop any thefts as the harvest was brought in early.
They could hear the sounds of frantic activity inside the City from the outer walls. Iyara sent a glance up the wall to Rahab’s Inn. The windows were shut tight, despite the time of day. Whatever was going on within Jericho, it wasn’t anything like the city she had left in the middle of the night.
Once they reached the Gates, they could see into the City. The marketplace was in chaos, and people were trying to get out, crowding the Gates; as the guards pushed them back, or at least tried to stop the mules packed with baskets.
“Have we made a mistake?” Sasah asked fearfully.
“...no. We couldn’t stay in Adam.” Arjun said finally. “But we came with nothing but the clothes on our back. If the City is like this now, we don’t dare spend too much time out in public. We need some supplies.” He got them organized. “Iyara, Bodhir; change places.”
They did so, and now the two men were on one of the horses, the two women on the other.
“Sasah, once we’re past the gates, you go straight to Rahab’s. Bodhir and I are going to try and get some supplies; before they’re all gone.” He gestured outside the walls. “We won’t risk the marketplace. If it’s bad in Adam, it must be worse now. We’ll buy directly from the farmers.”
~/*\~
Kayven recognized Iyara as she and her mother rode into the City Gates. “Hey. Where’d you run off to last week? I was hoping we’d get to spend a little time together.”
“Who is this?” Sasah demanded of Iyara.
Normally, the overprotective tone would have offended Iyara, but in this case, she was glad for it. “Mother, this is Kayven, one of the City guards. He was hoping I’d be working in Rahab’s Inn soon.”
“Mother?!” Kayven blinked, caught out. A moment later, another caravan of people appeared at the Gate from the other direction. “Wait! Nobody leaves, by order of the King, except on official business!” He scowled, talking to himself in a rush. “Everyone in town is trying to get out, and you pick now to try and get in?”
“We’re here for Rahab.” Sasah said shortly.
Kayven barely noticed, calling other guards to his side, trying to keep the crush at the Gates orderly. “PEOPLE! The King has ordered there be- GET BACK, WILL YOU!?”
Sasah kicked the horse into a trot, and they slipped into the City. “Pray to all the gods that your father has similar luck.”
~/*\~
The ride to the Wall was short and swift. Iyara looked around. It hadn’t been that long since she was here, but somehow everything had changed. There were faces she recognized, but they were wearing armor that barely fit, carrying spears they’d never held before. The Taverns were closed, and so was much of the marketplace.
The people were in a panic, crushing their way to and fro, looking for relatives, supplies, weapons, escape; anything that might help. It felt like everyone had opposing ideas of what to do, and all of them were certain their lives depended on doing it.
The chaos was overwhelming, but none of it was directed at them. The horse started to buck and kick again, feeling the fear of the crowd.
But they made it to the stairs. As they slid down from horseback, Sasah looked around. “What about the horse?”
“Leave it.” Wanting to get inside, Iyara slid down to the ground, grabbed her mother by the hand, and started pulling her toward the stairs. Her mother pulled away, and tugged on the reins, pointing the horse in the other direction.
“Where are you going?” Iyara demanded.
“To the Temple. Someone has to make an offering to the gods for our family’s safe arrival.” Sasah said firmly. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Iyara watched her go, following the horse with her eyes as it pushed into the crowd. Unsure if she should go after her mother, Iyara climbed a few steps up, to try and keep her in view. Once that failed, Iyara let out an anguished sound, and started climbing the stairs. It raised her up above the ground level, and she got a better view of the City. The crowd wasn’t as huge as it looked while you were in it. She could see the soldiers forcing people in various directions. From that vantage point, she could see sacks of grain being brought in, the guards holding tight watch over them, keeping the people out of the way as the Grain was taken to the centre of town; where the King lived, and his Court governed.
Of course, they keep the grain stores as close as they can to themselves. She thought cynically. The higher she climbed, the further across the City she could see. The King was preparing for a siege. Food was being brought in, and fortifications were being built around the Gates. If they’d taken another day to arrive, they never would have made it inside. The panic from the crowd was the certainty that if they didn’t get out now, they wouldn’t get the chance. As she reached the top of the wall, she expected to see more Soldiers, but there were only a few on lookout. Hurrying past them, she overheard them saying that the majority of their forces were needed to keep order. She hurried along the wall to Rahab’s house, and knocked on the door.
There were the faintest sounds from within, as Rahab opened the door just for a peek. When she saw her sister, Rahab opened the door quickly. She froze the second she saw her sister was alone. “The others?”
“They’re here.” Iyara reported dutifully. “Father took Bodhir to get supplies for a siege. Mother went to the temple to make an offering for our saft-”
Rahab swore fluently under her breath and called back into the house. “Vihaan! Lock the place up. Nobody gets in except family!”
“Vihaan is here?” Iyara was surprised. She hadn’t seen their eldest brother since he’d left for the City of Ai.
Vihaan stuck his head out the window above the front door. “Hey, sis.” He called down. “You’re late!”
Rahab was already locking the door and pulling her sister along. “Take it up with our parents.” She called up to him. To her sister, she spoke swiftly. “I need you with me. We might have to testify that you just arrived.”
Iyara nodded, feeling another layer of ‘overwhelming’ smothering her. “This is madness.”
“This is war.” Rahab returned. “Or it will be soon enough.”
~/*\~ Cherry ~/*\~
They drove, almost in circles, for several minutes, making their way through town. The traffic grew heavier on one of the main roads, and the car slowed right down. People were parking their cars, and then getting out to walk the rest of the way. Then they realized other people were on the road too. Ones that hadn’t driven there. First a few, then a crowd. Somewhere along the way, Cherry realized they were in the only car still moving.
Jamel’s hands tightened on the wheel. “Oh, what’s going on?”
Wondering that herself, Cherry started pushing buttons on the dashboard, turning the expensive sound system to the radio. “...avoiding the riots at all costs. Coalition spokesmen have assured the public that regular food deliveries will be restored as soon as the riots have been put down; and anyone who can should stay in their homes. Once again, this is a public warning to avoid the central city if at all possible. Coalition forces are massing to make arrests and disperse riots at Haverbrook, Ogden, and Beech Street-”
“Cherry, we’re on Beech Street!” Jamel said suddenly, knuckles turning white.
“Well get us off it, then!” She shouted, feeling adrenaline start flowing, yet again.
The crowd had pressed in too close for him to shove the car in reverse. The expensive looking car was a big target, and some of the rioters started hammering at the doors and windows with anything they happened to find. Cherry yelped in sudden fear as the windshield in front of her spiderwebbed, a brick coming straight towards her face. Jamel was sweating bullets as he hunted for a turn he could make, or any open path away from the crowd.
From somewhere up ahead, there was the sound of someone shouting over a loudspeaker, but even amplified, Cherry couldn’t make out the words. Whatever he’d said, the crowd around them roared back in defiance.
“I can’t see a thing!” Jamel shouted over the yelling outside. The crowd was pressing in on the car tightly enough that he couldn’t see more than a few feet in front of them. There were fewer violent attacks on the car, as everyone’s attention was on whatever was ahead of them, but there were still faces pressed against the windows, inches from the two of them. Cherry started praying again, though without any coherence.
From somewhere up ahead, gunshots rang out. Just a few, individual shots. The sound was met with screams from the crowd; but instead of scattering aside, the crowd met force with force, charging ahead.
The charge broke the tight press of bodies around the car, and Jamel could see ahead of them at last. He turned the wheel hard, and pressed on the accelerator. Adrenaline made him go harder than was necessary, and the sportscar roared into movement like a horse out of the gate. Even in the passenger seat, Cherry could tell he had no real control; and she could feel the sickening thud of bodies bouncing off the sides as the car lurched forward, and then up over the curb… and straight into a wall.
There was a horrible jarring; the sound of metal tearing apart, and then everything went black.
~/*\~
~/*\~~/*\~~/*\~
No comments:
Post a Comment