Chapter 1
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July 1941
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Marybeth had set up everything nicely. The six guests would be arriving soon. Betty, Tina, Alice, Shane, Jenny, and Julia. None of them actually had these names, but, by the end of the night, they would likely be grateful for the use of an alias. The final guest, the only male who was coming tonight, mr Body, was giving them at least some anonimity. This was an old victorian mansion, isolated from population centers. One could fire a gun outside and people wouldn't hear it for miles. Marybeth actually laughed at this silent little joke. One by one the guests arrived, Tina arrived first, then Jenny, Alice. Shane and Julia came together. Julia's car had evidently broken down and Shane was kind enough to give her a lift. Betty arrived last. The six guests talked about the war in Europe and the likelihood that America would soon be involved, for better or worse. None of them knew exactly why they'd been asked to come tonight, few had met before tonight. But none of them wanted to revel their secret, if there was any chance these other guests didn't know, why expose themselves. Finally the host, mr Body arrived, just in time for dinner. The seven of them began eating as soon as Marybeth served it.
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Body: Sorry I'm late. What were you lovely ladies discussing when I arrived?
Alice: The war in Europe.
Body: Well then, in the interest of full disclosure, I should warn you that my views may offend some.
Julia: We already had a debate, you might as well give us your opinion.
Body: Very well. I made my fortune in the manufacture of weapons. I have contracts with the United States War Department.
Tina: Does it bother you knowing that you're making money making weapons that will kill people?
Body: I would actually be okay if Roosevelt keeps us at peace. But if Germany and/or Japan declares war on us, we should be prepared.
Alice: I agree with mr Body. Hitler wants war. Against us, against Poland, against Stalin, who used to be his friend.
Shane: I was an army nurse in what was suppossed to be the war to end all wars. I'd be okay with not seeing that stuff again.
Alice: Don't blame Roosevelt for that, blame Hitler. I have cousins still in Poland. I know what he, and the soviets, did over there. Not to mention what they plan for the jews.
Tina: What Germany and Russia did in Poland is despicable, I don't think we need to exxagerate their evil.
Jenny: You think stories of the holocaust are exxagerated?
Tina: During the last war England claimed that the german army was committing terrible attrocities, impaling infants on bayonets. But it was just propoganda.
Alice: That doesn't mean this is a lie. Hitler outlined his plan for genocide in his best selling memoir, and the people elected him anyway.
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This political discussion continued for most of dinner. As heated as it was none of them were angry enough to kill someone, not yet. After dinner they all went to the parlor where mr Body would give them each a little gift. Little did they realize that one of them wouldn't leave the room alive.