Chapter 256
.
In the week leading up to Zoey Allen's arrival there was increased security in the sector. Eve understood why. The radicals had assasiated a number of public figures in the months since the war. A justice from the supreme court was shot to death on the courthouse steps. After seccession most of those states' congressional representatives went home, whether they agreed with the move or not. A few stayed in Washington, Maso kept them around for symbolic value. Now, one of these congressmen had been kidnapped, given a mock trial, and beheaded live on the internet. Although those responsible were all dead, other radicals remained. This all fit into the claims by preachers like Walker that collectivists were more concerned with destroying America than establishing real communities. Mayor Ford strongly encouraged people to get the tattoos, which would likely be mandatory within a month or two, possibly in case someone thought about hitching a ride with Zoey outside the sector. The pilot educational program was already in danger. If anything happenned to Zoey Allen in this sector, the program might be done away with completely. Eve knew some within this sector were against the program. They might kill her to stop it. That would also mean retaliation from both sector guards and loyalist soldiers. This was going to be a nervous week.
Zoey Allen was scheduled to arrive on Monday August 6th. On August 5th Eve saw a movie. It was about a couple of teenagers whose parents wouldn't allow them to be together. They eventually go to a mercy clinic together. Eve wondered, was human life now so cheap that suicide was considered romantic? She preferred to think God could be forgiving, but she feared that reverand Jenkins was right. She couldn't help bu notice there had been a distinct decrease in the sanctity of life since 2/4. When Eve returned to her apartment Sunday evening she found a leaflet posted to her door. This seemed to be radical propaganda. Whether this was because of her job with Wilkins, or they were handing these out to everybody, Eve didn't know. At any rate, Eve took it inside and read it.
.
"History is full of stories of smaller forces standing up to much larger invading armies. The battle of Thermapolye, the Warsaw ghetto uprising, the passengers on flight 93. It might seem discouraging. None of these are known because the underdog won. They are remembered because fighting against impossible odds the little guy fought well, before being completely slaughtered. But consider what they accomplished. By sacrificing themselves at Thermapolye the Spartans helped rally all of Greece against the Persian invasion. This insured that Greece remained free, and invented democracy. Although almost everyone in the Warsaw ghetto died, their resistance weakened the nazi war machine. It eventually saved the jewish race from extermination. The passengers on United flight 93 knew that their hijackers were on a suicide mission. Knowing they'd die they fought back. Had they not done this the image we would all remember from September 11th 2001 would be a plane crashing into the capitol. Only you can decide for yourself if a similar victory is worth your personal sacrifice. The choice is upon all of us, choose wisely.
.
Eve told councilman Wilkins about the propoganda leaflet. Noone seemed worried, these leaflets had been flying around more in anticipation of Zoey Allen's arrival. Eve expected this, she just didn't want sector guards to think she supported these radicals. These guards seemed to look the other way for people helping refugees, if they informed on radicals. It was a fine line that allowed Eve to sleep better at night. With 349 days until impact, most would take whatever help they could get in a good night's sleep.