Chapter 86

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Eve obeyed her father's rules about not eating more food than she was rationed. It was hard, not eating when she was hungry, but bareable at first. But the food supply was dwindling quicker than expected. She might not be great at keeping track of these things, but clearly someone was eating some of her food. Eve tried not to be paranoid, not blame her father or Karen, she still had enough to survive, for now. It was 1014 days until impact, she could last until then. But she had learned not to let her bagged lunch out of sight at school or Ravenwood. On Monday October 10th something happenned that changed Eve's perspective on that. She merely went to the ladies room between second and third periods. Suddenly Eve was mugged, two girls just held her, took her lunch, and ran off. Eve didn't remember the girl's names, but recognized them from school. Eve reported this to principal Bauer, who promised to look into this incident. Since this food shortage muggings had beome common. Most often christian and muslim students stole from each other. Surviving on less food was possible, but not if others stole what little she had. Eve had heard rumors that her friend RJ was involved in black-market activities. He'd obtained more food and the like than he was suppossed to have, and he sold it to others for a profit. It was illegal, but perhapshe could help her, more importantly, provide her with protection from muggings like this. After her mugging Eve seriously considered working for RJ. Eve didn't want her decision to be rushed. She decided to wait one day before approaching RJ. Eve went to her remaining classes, worked her shift at Ravenwood. The next morning Eve ate the breakfast that Karen made for her, and knew it was lessthan it was suppossed to be. That was the last straw. Before school on Tuesday Eve went to see RJ.

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Eve: Hey RJ. I need your help.

RJ: No problem. If you need food, I can even give you a discount.

Eve: I need more than that. People steal from me, not just in school. I'm pretty sure my step-mother takes my food at home.

RJ: I can sell you food, you could eat it before you go home.

Eve: Can you give protection for your employees.

RJ: They're not my employees. I work for people, they have other employees. But to answer your question, yes. They can give protection. Even starving employees don't mess with them.

Eve: What would I have to do?

RJ: You'd be a foot-soldier. We give you contraband, you sell it. You can buy some of it for yourself if you want. But at the end of the week they expect either the goods back, or cash for it. You work at Ravenwood today?

Eve: No.

RJ: Okay. I'll explain it to you in more detail after school. The you can decide for yourself if you still want the job.

Eve: Sounds fair.