Chapter 179
.
On Thursday August 31st Eve saw a news report. A woman in Arizona walked into a Mcdonalds and forced the to give her nine year old daughter a happy meal at gunpoint. She was hungry, they didn't have any money. After it was over the woman let the police gun her down. Eve feared this would be used as propoganda by the United States. Reverand Walker was already calling them a nation of criminals. This incident wouldn't help. Eve knew that violent crime had risen, in both countries. She didn't go out at night for fear of being attacked. There were stories of men and women forming small groups known as "rape clubs." The nickname meant exactly what it souned like. These packs would find some random stranger and sexually assault them. Some claimed to be following Maggie, latching unto whatever gave them liscence to hurt others. In many ways the world was still slouching towards Bethlehem.
Eve had noticed that Miguel Sanchez always ate alone in his room. Despite his surely demeanor Eve could actually feel sympathy for him. The collective army forced him, a loyalist, to share his home with three traitors, it was understandable why he didn't want to eat with them. But on Sunday September 3rd Eve saw Miguel sharing his meal with someone. When Eve returned home from work Miguel was giving some food to a stray cat outside. Few people had pets these days, couldn't afford giving away food. But at his age, with his wife deceased, his son stationed in Illinois, and little chance of getting into an Ark, he decided to do this. Nice to know he had a soft side after all.
On Monday September 4th Eve was watching the baseball game on tv. It was between teams made up from both armies. With major league teams scatterred through both countries the commissioner had suspended the regular season until further notice. The world series might be cancelled for the first time in forty years. This game was held in Los Angelas, Dodger Stadium. Amongst those watching in skybox were Mason's daughter Mimi, and Douglas' wife Martha. Some people at the game were waving United States flags. Despite being in collective territory they wanted to show that they were loyalists. The collective didn't seem particularly united if so much of it's population was rooting for it's loss. Miguel was wearing his marine uniform and rooting for the U.S.A. Eve, Amy, and Lee were rooting for the collective. They might be rooting for oppossing teams, but they were watching the game together. Maybe it was a start.
After the United States baseball team won in Los Angelas Miguel Sanchez was in a good mood, better than Eve had ever seen him. Eve was sitting on the porch, enjoying this late summer evening, when Lee joined her.
.
Lee: That guy is obnoxious in victory.
Eve: Yeah, but at least he's talking to us, and he's happy.
Lee: I supposse.
Eve: Being one of my former guards I'm guessing you know my story. What's yours?
Lee: My parents were from China. They immigrated here when she was pregnant with me. For 25 years before 2/4 I grew up believing in the ideals of freedom, more than George Mason apparently. That's why I joined the Sons of Liberty, to make sure that we are still free, even in the new world. I'm a little suprised Mr Sanchez isn't with us.
Eve: He's a marine, they usually don't lean towards treason. I heard him say he thinks Lee Harvey Oswald was framed, I guess he wants to give a fellow marine the benefit of the doubt. He's also a naturalized citizen. Earned his citizenship by joining the corps in 1986 at the age of eighteen. I guess he latched unto one side and is sticking with it to the end.
Lee: We offerred him money and the chance to leave, go live with his son in Chicago. But he refuses to leave his home.
Eve: I feel bad for him. Hope he'll be okay.
Lee: Me too. But if ELE hits, he's gor 685 days tops.