Chapter 297
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At the church Eve saw loyalist prisoners being guarded. They were cooperating, figured they and their families would be free very soon. There were also some getting married. The terms of the peace were them and their families, including wives and children. Eve wondered how many were really in love, or how many were just desperate young men and women trying to leave the sector. Captain Wells was among those who married his girlfriend. Eve was suprised that Amanda was among those scheduled to leave. Rumor was she'd been an arms-dealer even before Febuary 4th. She'd sold weapons to both sides during the war, and the uprising. Thrown into the Brooklyn sector because she couldn't be trusted to be free, afterowrds she profited inside through theft, prostitution, even slavery. Mason was accepting her because she'd given weapons to Wells' side. The rebels were letting her go because she'd given them weapons, and had forged birth certificates for those born after January 1st. Eve still hated Amanda for what she'd done to her, and the other girl. Against her better judgement, Eve decided to talk to Amanda this evening.
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Eve: Looks like you've weasled your way out of justice.
Amanda: I did what I had to do to survive, you seem familiar with the concept.
Eve: I don't kill for fun.
Amanda: Neither do I. Killing is just business for me.
Eve: Whatever deal you've made, God will judge you soon.
Amanda: If God sees any of what I do, he doesn't seem to mind. He certainly hasn't stopped me, or any suffering really.
Eve: What do you know about suffering?
Amanda: My mother abandoned me the day I was born. By this time my father was already serving a prison sentance, for rape. When I finally found my mother, years later, she wanted nothing to do with me, couldn't even look at my face. You know how I got over it? I stopped caring about what anyone thought of me, abandoning concepts like morality, empathy, compassion. Maybe I was never suppossed to exist, but I'm here now. And I will do whatever I have to do to live, and live in comfort. And if others suffer or die for it, I don't care.
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By sunset on Tuesday the rebels were addressing the sector through radio and television. The loyalists had used radios and tvs with chips that only accepted signals from state-controlled stations, including one within the sector. Only the council members and mayor Ford could communicate directly with the outside world. Now the rebels were using these stations to inform the new people. The new government would be ruled by a council of seven. In time, elections would be permitted. For now, it was these seven clergy. It included reverand Barnes, two other christian preachers, three imams, and one rabbi. It seemed that the new government would be based largely on religious principles. In their frenzy some were destroying the mercy clinics, some were saving the medical supplies first. Drugs, liquor, tobacco, gambling, abortion, and pagan rituals would be banned. The ration point was still in effect, those who ran the shops and grocery stores for the sector would now do it for the new government. Everyone was expected to contribute in one way or another. Many would keep their old jobs, people would be told specifics in the next few days. Eve was worried about the future. But as she held Hope in her arms, she was also hopeful.
Eve went with Jamal to the final transfer. Wells seemed to be helping out, making sure all who fought on his side got out safely, that those still in the hospital would be properly taken care of. These loyalists were being let go, governor Jenkins had promised to return some people to the sector, he kept his word. The real Hunger Games had been interrupted, with twelve of the twenty-four tributes still alive. Likely the loyalists decided to use them as hostages. At any rate these twelve were being returned. Suppossedly governor Jenkins had also located some of the slaves taken during the purge, was bringing them back home. Eve hoped Teri was coming back. During the transfer parents hugged their children, relieved that they were alive. Wounded, jaded, but alive. The same could be said for the slaves who came home. Other parents looked around in vain. It hit them hard, their children were never coming home. Teri wasn't among those who returned. But Eve did see reverand Jenkins, hand in hand with Anne. Given his family's connections, they probably could've stayed outside. But it seemed they would rather stay here, with their people. The reverand hugged his brother one last time. They both knew they would likely never see each other again. Wells was the last one to leave. As he left he and governor Jenkins saluted each other. Then they shut the gate, probably for the last time.