Chapter 214
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Eve thought about Mason's address. He had implied that certain ruthless measures to win this civil war, but hadn't directly taken responsibility for the plague. Mason stressed ending this conflict, that both sides would ultimately have to work together against ELE. Eve also thought about these population laws. Two years ago she'd assumed she'd have children someday. Not at sixteen, but then people were forced to grow up faster after 2/4. If she had a child in the next year, the baby likely wouldn't get into an Ark. If she had one after that, it definitely wouldn't get in. If Eve got into an Ark, she might never be allowed to have a child. Eve wasn't sure if she even wanted to bring a baby into this world. But, for better or worse, that option was rapidly closing.
Everyone on the farm was worried abou the increased fighting. Towns in collective states were fighting for the United States. Militias were fighting for the collective in loyalist states. Whether Mason sent reinforcements or not, it was probably only a matter of time before Endor's militia attacked this farm. Jacob attempted to lighten the mood with jokes. Others organized small football games to keep up morale. Hamilton had turned one tent into a movie theatre. Soldiers could come in when off-duty, watch whatever was playing. Eve laughed at seeing "Stripes" for the first time. They also showed the series finale of "Buffy." Seeing all the potential slayers get their strength seemed inspiring. Like their collective army, ordinary people rising up against oppression. These things helped relieve tension on the farm, but there was only so much they could do. Ultimately the tension was always there.
Friday January 12th. 555 days until impact. Eve was following a story on the internet. It was about Hailey, an advocate for less regulation on euthnasia. Her daugher was arrested for vehicular manslaughter while driving drunk. According to this story Hailey had encouraged her own daughter to commit suicide in light of ELE. Hailey, whose son had commited suicide, simply wanted her daughter to feel safe with whatever choice she made. Based on the arrest, the teen girl was allowed to go to a mercy clinic together. Some theorized that Hailey wanted to die, but didn't want to leave her daughter all alone. At any rate, they both died in the mercy clinic.