Chapter 257
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On her first day in the sector Zoey Allen got right to work. She interviewed councilman Wilkins in his home. To Eve's suprise Zoey recognized her. These two ladies had met a few times these last two years. Zoey asked to interview Eve, but Eve politely declined. Things were more awkward than previous encounters. Zoey saw Eve's tattoos. One of 11 stars in a circle, symbolizing the collective army, and one of skull and crossbones, symbolizing that Eve was a convicted murderer. It seemed that Zoey looked down on Eve as a traitor and a murderer. Eve was well aware of the fact that she'd murdered a woman, but George Stalin Mason had murdered millions of men, women, and children. Zoey had helped his propoganda. It was also a matter of public record that Zoey had an abortion. Eve knew that if reverand Jenkins was right, Zoey had damned her own child to Hell. Zoey felt that Eve might be a little selfish, bringing a child into this world when he or she would likely freeze or starve to death. These two ladies tried to get along, but things were very awkward between them.
The rumor was that Zoey Allen was staying at a different councilman's home every night in this sector. Eve believed this on Tuesday night when Wilkins asked her to prepare an extra room for Zoey. Wilkins ofcourse asked Eve to be discreet about it. On Thursday August 9th Eve visited Jenkins' church. This day Eve also met Anne. Even before 2/4 Anne had been involved in an underground railroad. They helped abused women and children escape and hide when the courts ruled against them. Although noone said as much Eve suspected that Anne was in charge of another safehouse. During this visit Zoey Allen entered the church with two sector guards. They asked to see reverand Jenkins. Jenkins hoped this was just about an interview with the local clergy. If his cover was blown, they were all screwed. Although Jenkins feared the consequences, he went up to see Zoey Allen.
Eve watched the interview from a distance. She was close enough to signal Anne if things seemed suspicious. So far in the interview reverand Jenkins talked about helping people in Christ's name. He denounced mercy clinics, accussed them of forcing abortions and euthnsia on unwilling patients. He didn't expressly admit to harboring refugees. Officially sector police were suppossed to protect these refugees. Reverand Jenkins didn't directly accusse sector police of looking the other way, but the implication was clear. Zoey asked about his brother, the governor. The reverand lamented that his older brother had chosen the corrupt secular world over service to Christ. He hoped the governor would get saved, before it was too late. Reverand Jenkins used this opportunity to warn viewers of this film to accept Jesus Christ as their personal savior. They had very little time before judgement day. Less than a year at most.
As Zoey Allen left the church with her film crew Eve had planned to leave shortly after this. But then the film crew quickly went back into this church. Zoey and her sector guards remained outside. It seemed they were surrounded by a group of five radicals. The radicals were determined to either kill Zoey Allen, or die trying. But at least both sides had cleared civilians away from the area. Reverand Jenkins told Eve and the three from the film crew to take cover in the pews. Eve wanted to run to the basement, but she knew why Jenkins wouldn't allow this. For all he knew this was a trick. At any rate, he couldn't allow three enemies with cameras into the basement to document the refugees, along with the likely protector of another safehouse. Eve took cover, and prayed that Allah didn't let a stray bullet hit her.
Time seemed to move slowly right now. As Eve huddled between the pews it probbly wasn't more than a minute, but it felt longer. Waiting for the sound of gunshots, fearing them, but also wanting this over with. Finally they came. The gunfire probably didn't last more than few seconds. When they stopped, Eve stayed in the pews. It wasn't until other sector police showed up, said everything was okay. The five radicals were dead, as was one of the sector guards. Zoey Allen was shot in the arm, but she'd survive. It was uncertain if these radicals were bad shots, or had just been determined to die themselves. The sector police were more curious about how they'd obtained fire-arms in the first place.