Chapter 229
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By Saturday Febuary 17th Eve was working in the coal mines. Sadler had his prisoners alternate between the mines and other duties, suppossedly to figure out what everyone's skills were. This first shift was exhausting. After she showered Eve got a package from the Red Cross, along with the other prisoners. This included three cookies, a small thing of shampoo, and a pack of ciggarettes. She decided to keep them close on her while they lasted. She'd heard rumors of theft in the camp, wanted to enjoy these. Eve went to the movie theatre as "Sgt Bilko" was playing. She needed a good laugh these days. Eve ate her cookies and had a ciggarette during this movie. After this they played a re-education film. This was clearly meant for P.O.W.s. It said how they had made mistakes, put their own selfish desires ahead of the common good. But they could atone for their sins, and the film began listing ways that these prisoners could atone.
Eve was working in the kitchen Sunday Febuary 18th. She saw people going into the sanctury for church services throught the day. Even Tara went in here. Tara admitted to having been an athiest pre 2/4, but like most people these days she needed some faith to survive. Between services people were discussing other things. Some council members were campaigning for votes, as were their opponents. The guards were also informing prisoners about another program. If they defected, joined the United States army, made a statement for the cameras, they'd be free. Even get more lottery chances. Eve avoided these guards, but kept listening. She did't see anyone openly accepting this offer. But others were almost certainly considering their options. Eve knew she was.
By Wednesday Febuary 21st Eve had been in camp 81 for more than a week. There were only 515 days until impact. Eve and Tara were talking, in part about the war.
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Tara: I heard that more than half the cities in Texas are now under loyalist control.
Eve: That's the rumor. Our side has too much in-fighting. If we don't put it aside and work together, we'll lose.
Tara: Assuming we haven't already lost. We've already lost more than ten million to the plgue. Mason's barely lost half that. What do you think will happen to us, after the war?
Eve: I don't know. Mason knows if he tries to execute all of us, we'll just keep on fighting. But you have to assume they'll execute Douglas, Santos, Dole, other major players. I wish I could be alone with George Mason. I'd kill him, or try. Either way I'm dead, but it would be worth it.
Tara: I know what you mean. I'm too much of a coward to try that, but I respect you. Listen, there's a poker game tonight, guards and prisoners. You could join in.
Eve: I have no money.
Tara: You could start a tab. The guards are in a better mood after you pay them. If they owe you, you could always forgive the debt in exchange for other things. You should probably have some collateral to start with.
Eve: I think I technically own a house. I'm not sure if it passed to me after my father's death. At any rate, I heard mason confiscated the property of rebels.
Tara: He did. Some are suing for their property back. They'll probably be settlements between the parties after the war. It's still collateral here.
Eve: Maybe. By the way, did you ever think about having children?
Tara: I don't know. Maybe someday. But after 2/4 I really didn't want to bring a child into this world.
Eve: When I was i highschool, a friend asked me to join her pregnancy pact. I rejected the idea, at the time. But, the deadline. I don't know if I want kids. But, for better or worse, the window is rapidly closing forever.
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Eve thought about what Tara had said. If she did own a house back in New Jersey, that might help her here. It might be a good idea to have the guards owe her, get more candy and shampoo. But did she really want to mortgage her house? Then again, what good did a house in New Jersey do her here? It was becoming less likely that society would ever re-build, despite what Mason was saying. But if there was a chance, however small, Eve decided not to play in the poker game, but she needed to keep her options open. Eve spoke to the council about this. She signed papers saying she didn't recognize the United States' authority to sieze her property. That she intended to sue to get it back. Eve had no idea if she would ever see her home again, but she wasn't ready to give it up just yet.