Chapter 207
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Almost as soon as Eve enlisted she was sent to Colby's farm. It seemed that the foreman, Dale, had betrayed them and stolen crops for Endor. Because Endor was allied with the United States they were stealing crops. Many believed that Endor was using this "patriotism" as an excuse to steal limited resources. Mason might even be sending reinforcements to back them up. Eve had some experience with firearms, agriculture, she didn't have as much learning to do as the others. But she would still need some more training, and their instructor Hamilton didn't seem very patient with fools. Everyone had to pull double duty, sentry and tending animals. Although she'd expected fighting right away Eve was still willing to do her part for the collective. Whatever she could do to stick it to George Mason.
Over the Month of December 2034 Hamilton trained Eve and the other new recruits how to be soldiers. They learned how to shoot rifles, but also about stealth, camoflage. They dug holes and placed sandbags near the barn so they could make a decent stand if loyal forces attacked. Hamilton was strict, but Eve understood. These crops had to be protected, for the Arks to preserve the collective. Eve realized that the chances of getting into an Ark were pretty small, but that wsn't her priority right now. Her anger died down during training, fear came and went. Neither ever went away completely. During this month Eve befriended two people in particular, Bianca and Jacob. Both were born in Texas, sixteen, and both lost their parents, and younger siblings, in the plague. Angry, displaced, Eve felt right at home with them. Although Eve was an immigrant to Texas, Jacob and Bianca accepter her easily. Whatever their minor differences, they all understood the pain of loss, the fear of ELE. They all sang newely written folk songs around the fire. Songs about freedom, people coming together. Because of the cold, and limited oil for heat, collective soldiers often slept side by side. Purely for warmth, mostly. Eve slept between Bianca and Jacob. She didn't even consider sex with either of them, not yet anyway. This was her family now. And if she died soon, a private in the collective army, that was okay with Eve.
On December 15th Hamilton had Eve begin learning another skill. The collective army developed a version of Morse code for covert communications. Because Eve knew a little of Morse code Hamilton wanted to train her in this new version for secretarial work. After her first class Eve went to see Jacob and Bianca. Bianca had a christmas gift she wanted to share with them. It was a candy bar, they would each have a piece. Eve could only imagine how she got this on the black market. It wasn't uncommon for officers to use this black market for candy bars or clean socks, but harder for enlisted soldiers. It was ramadan, but after sunset, so Eve accepted this. The three friends knew they should eat this quickly, or it might be stolen or "confiscated" by Hamilton. There was a movie playing in a tent so they watched the movie with this candy. It was a christmas movie. About a young woman, pregnant, scared, alone. She finds a real baby in a nativity scene. Caring for this baby briefly, the woman finds the courage to have her child and be a mother. Eve enjoyed watching this movie with friends. Briefly enjoying their camaraderie, and this movie's message of hope.