Chapter 188
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On the street Eve could see a vendor selling both Batman and Guy Fawkes masks. The Batman masks were again being use by vigilanties, those who beat up the homeless and petty thieves. Eve had to think back, and wonder if Batman had ever really been a positive role model. Wearing a mask and enacting your own version of justice, outside the law, did seem like what the Ku Klux Klan had advocated. She had to research Guy Fawkes. He'd been a radical in 17th century England who'd been executed for trying to blow up Parliament. Since then Guy Fawkes became a symbol of anarchy. One anarchist group described Guy Fawkes as the "only man to ever enter Parliament with honest intentions." These days these masks were often worn by Maggie's followers, pretending that their sadistic actions were revolutionary, rebelling against authority. News stations in both countries claimed these incidents were much more common on the other side. But noone could deny they were a problem in both. Maggie's followers had formed their own "rape clubs" that sexually assaulted innocent people. These "clubs" were often rivals, even killing each other. Eve had little problem seeing them wipe each other out, but innocent people were often killed in the crossfire. Eve had heard one story of a teenage girl who raped a boy, then got pregnant. The boy then tried to sue to force her to have an abortion. That case was being taken to the United States supreme court. Eve was glad to be in the Brotherhood of the Wolf. Whatever their faults, at least they believed in something. Not in violence for its own sake, but fighting to protect your comrades.
Saturday October 14th. 645 days until impact. Lee had politely asked Eve to come to the bowling alley that night. She knew this was a pro-collective place. After bowling a quick game together Eve and Lee went to another room. A police officer, and member of the Brotherhood, kept watch.
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Lee: We have a mission for you.
Eve: What is it?
Lee: We need you to deliver bomb.
Eve: I told you, I wouldn't hurt innocent people.
Lee: You won't. This place is empty. We just need to fire a few warning shots to Santos. Deliver it tonight. It has a 30 second timer. Make sure it's empty, set the timer, then run like a bat out of Hell.
Eve: Okay, I can do this. What's the target?
Lee: Arnett public playground.
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Eve thought about her mission. It was always wrong to kill innocents, even when her own life was in danger. If she were careful Eve could make sure noone got hurt. But then what? Were there others, planting bombs in buildings with people inside? And even if not, what if Santos didn't concede immediately? Would the Brotherhood resort to murder? Eve didn't want to get Lee in trouble. But she couldn't let terrorism occur, not when she could stop it. Despite her reservations, Eve called Ranger Burkle. Ranger Burkle agreed to meet Eve in private. Eve showed her the bomb.
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Burkle: What's the target?
Eve: Arnett public playground.
Burkle: Are there other targets?
Eve: I think so. But Lee didn't give me any details. Just that it was important to do this before sunrise.
Burkle: We have some time. If I showed you pictures, could you identify the other cell members?
Eve: Yeah. But Lee and one cop are the only ones I heard talking about this bombing.
Burkle: We'll need more. Could you infiltrate more of these meetings?
Eve: I guess. But how can I explain my bomb not going off?
Burkle: You can't. We'll do it together, make sure noone gets hurt. It's the best way to sell credibility to the Brotherhood.
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It was after midnight, now Sunday October 15th. Lee had given her the bomb hours ago, she should've completed the mission by now. She could perhaps say she lost her nerve, but if the bomb went off she'd still have credibility with the Brotherhood. Burkle did another quick sweep, noone else was around. Eve put the bomb on top of a twisty slide, one the local kids had nicknamed the "Sundae Slide." She figured putting it on top would make it even less likely kids would climb up in the remaining time. Finally Eve pushed the button. As soon as the countdown started Eve went down the stairs. She moved quickly, perhaps too quickly. She fell and hurt her knee. Despite the pain she knew she had to move fast. Burkle came to Eve's rescue, helped her move faster. How much time had passed, they didn't know, but it sure felt longer than thirty seconds. As they were running away, the explosion came.