Chapter 304
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The Brooklyn jails had mostly fallen into dis-us after 2/4. They were used again after the sector was established. Most were released after the uprising. But with recent arrests the jails were becoming full. It was trying on the new governments resources. People in the sector didn't like these prisoners, particularly how they still got food without having to work for it. Some kept coming back, committing minor crimes just to avoid work. On March 1st some people in these jails had been selected for the Arks. The question became, what would happen to them? They were considered citizens of the new sector government, although they'd largely been neutral in the uprising. Their families came to visit them on this day, tell them if they'd been selected. Eve and Jamal stood guard with these prisoners, made sure no attempt was made to break them out. Thus far it had been relatively okay. But more fights broke out, people were arrested. Things could escalate very quickly.
On March 2nd a trade was negotiated. Six trees, and various piece of contraband, in return for canned goods, fuel, and a shipment of medicine. Eve and Jamal were amongst the sector guards permitted to leave for the trade. The man in charge of the warehouse slipped these guards some little things. It was expected that these guards would either be bribed, or take some of the contraband. This way, they'd at least perform their jobs. Eve didn't want to turn in her co-workers, especially when they offerred her a ciggarette. Jamal said nothing about this. When they reached the trading point the actual trades went off okay. Some workers were digging holes, likely governor Jenkins was creating jobs to prevent riots. But some of the loyalist soldiers seemed more concerned with those who'd been selected. They hadn't been able to negotiate for their extraction with the theocratic council. There were fears that Barnes and the others wouldn't allow them to leave the sector. Eve and the others promised to relay these concerns with their superiors. Privately, Eve feared that the rumors were true.
When Jamal and Eve returned to the sector they heard rumors about those recently selected for the Arks. The theocratic council had issued a statement. It said that some were refusing to leave this God-fearing community for the secular Arks. Others had already broken the sector's new laws and were being held in the jails. There was some question about their official status. Most likely there would be negotiations between the council and the loyalists over the next few days. Eve was suspicious. No doubt some people believed Barnes about rejecting man's salvation in favor of God's. But she found it hard to believe that all of the honest citizens would really refuse their best chance to survive this world.