Chapter 273
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As much as Eve regretted letting Jamal down, she felt it was right. Why he liked her, why anyone liked her, Eve couldn't understand. This was possibly the worst time in human history to start a relationship. Eve, Jamal, and the refugees were close to death, or worse. Washington D. C. was building a massive wall, to protect itself from lunatics and raiders. Rumors were that this was being built by slave labor. A lot of former soldiers were roaming the countryside, kidnapping refugees and escapees from the sectors. These slaves were being forced to build things like this, or act as domestic servants to wealthy individuals, even perform sexual acts. There were some legends of other wanderers fighting against slave labor, killing slavers, liberating captives. They were cool stories, but probably less real than the bad wanderers. The Brooklyn sector's black-market woman Amanda was rumored to be selling people to outside investors. Many of the refugees from the mercy clinics, or Sangalan refugees who spoke little english, were easy pickings for Amanda's thugs. Eve prayed that if this happenned to her, she would just get a quick bullet to the head.
Although she was close to bringing a new life into this world, December seemed very dreary. Parents tried to put on a brave face for their children, but there was only so much they could do. number of sentimental movies were given to the sector theatres for free. One was about a woman who accidentally killed someone in an accident, and tried to earn the family's forgiveness. Another about a teacher who tried to start a school for homeless children. And Eve remembered the one about a pregnant teen who found an abandoned child in a nativity scene. They tried to lift everyone's spirits, they helped a little It was cold, the heat seemed to go on and off sporadically. The violence at integrated schools got worse in December. Teachers were bringing guns to school. Constant fear of violence here, or ELE, made everyone jumpy, trigger-happy. Some parents even gave their grade-school children guns to bring to school. Over 100 died from tragic accidents. Some sector guards, trusted to protect these schools, used the opportunity to escape, even abandoning their families. Many in the sectors were volunteering to be gladiators, often the fights were between loyalists and collectivists. People were becoming more desperate to feed their families. Some just wanted to live the high life for a little while before death. According to some, these gladiators got a banguet the night before their fight, as well as a rubdown and entertainment after victory. Sometimes the fights were between Sangalan immigrants. Sadly this just reinforced the most negative, racist stereotypes about the Sangalan people. Their was one story of a gladiator who adopted the orphaned child of someone they killed, but that was a rarity. The losing gladiator's family often got nothing, and now no resources to feed themselves.
On Saturday December 8th pope Peter II visited the Brooklyn sector. The heat was finally working again. Eve suspected that governor Jenkins saved this for the pope's visit. Chief Bowen and captain Wells made sure security was tightened. It was important tp put on a good face for visiting dignataries. But there was only so much they could do with so little time until impact. Peter visited the soup kitchens, churches, foster homes. He was clearly frail, having to be helped while walking, others carrying Peter's oxyge tanks. Eve tried to get into a church where Peter was scheduled to speak, but it was too crowded. She stood outside, planning to listen to the speakers. To her suprise the pope was shaking peoples' hands outside. He was saying, in strained english, "Bless you my child." He actually noticed Eve. which kind of excited her. Maybe it was stupid, even when she was christian Eve knew this guy wouldn't have the power to absolve her sins. That was for God to do or not no as he saw fit. But Eve felt she needed validation. She stood at the line, and he saw her. Pope Peter shook Eve's hands and said "God bless you my child." Eve was almost in tears. She just said "Thank you father." Eve stood outside the church and listened to Peter's sermon, specifically the english translation.
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Peter: My friends, I know that things seem dark. Many have died, many more will die soon. But know that our lord has not abandoned us. Even in these horrible days, the spirit of compassion has been strong. Doctors have put aside their political differences to help each other treat the sick. Many orphans have been taken in by loving parents. Even when parents have attempted to murder their own children, many of these refugees were taken in by compassionate strangers. Some have given others their food, even at the risk of starvation. These ordinary acts, give me hope for the future. The question for each man and woman has remained, to live only for ourselves, or to take care of our neighbors. As you do unto the very least of God's children, so you do unto God. Choose for yourself who to serve but as for me, I will serve the lord.
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Sunday December 16th was the last day of pope Peter's visit to the sector. It was also 217 days until impact. On this day Eve heard Jamal listening to some old gangster rap music.
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Eve: I wouldn't have guessed you were that hardcore.
Jamal: Well, compared to today's music, Tupac Shakur was pretty tame. His point was to make it as graphic as possible, to show how poverty hurts the black community through crime, drugs, broken homes. Tupac sat in on peace talks between the Bloods and the Cribs, and tried to give them rules for fighting, like not hurting civilians. I won't pretend that Tupac didn't make some mistakes along the way, but at least he had a cause. Today's musicians, they do worse stuff, even kill each other, just for some fleeting fame.
Eve: I guess music is another example of how we're all slouching towards Bethlehem.
Jamal: Not all of us. Not you, and hopefully not me.
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Eve liked Jamal. He had been through much, but still fought for Allah. He believed his ancestors were originally from Sangala, before being kidnapped into slavery. In 2032 Jamal had gotten a girl pregnant, offerred to marry her, but she refused. Jamal got a parttime job at "Pizzatime" and gave up his dreams of playing in the majors to support this baby. Jamal's son Ali was born in January 2033, less than one month before 2/4. He got his G.E.D. and volunteered for Ark work. Ali, and Jamal's parents died from the plague, at which point he joined the collective army. Eve knew Jamal was a good man, he wouldn't hurt her, probably. Women with black eyes were common in the sector. One rumor was that sector guards would leave young women alone if they had black eyes, the understanding was she was someone else's property, and they had to respect that. Eve wondered, if she dated Jamal, maybe she wouldnt have to give the guards her body. But she couldn't take a risk with Teri's safety like that. And Eve felt it was wrong to use Jamal like that. She couldn't do that to him.