Chapter 348
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Zoey and Eve both feared for Jed's safety in the next few days. Jed tried to brush it off, but he was visibly shaken. It wasn't death they feared as much as a painful death. Zoey told Jed she would understand if he committed suicide before then. But Jed refused to take the easy way out while his brothers and sisters in arms were still out there in the fight. They kept track of the warlords and mini-kingdoms, which ones were likely to let their chosen leave for the Arks. Zoey estimated that Faith would likely allow this in exchange for some sort of bribe, food or fuel to sustain her people and solidify her own position. The preacher/dictator in Florida was a wild-card. Many of his people legitimately believed they could survive ELE by observing strict monotheistic laws. Those who wanted out, he might exile them. As for Nolan, he was far less rational. Nolan seemed to believe he really was a god. Some actually considered him to be the anti-christ. He seemed small time for the representative of all evil. According to this theory Nolan, the anti-christ, would achieve his full power after impact, during the great tribulation. Even if it meant damnation, Eve really hoped she wasn't around for this.
Monday May 26th was suppossed to be memorial day. But with 55 days until impact, there seemed little reason to celebrate. President Mason went to the Washington colliseum this day. He brought Eve to the special skybox seats, along with vice-president Allen and cabinet members. Everyday was a workday, they discussed efforts for the final retrievals. Eve had to admit, this was a beautiful stadium. The field could be changed easily for different events. This place had pretty paintings on the walls, good views of the Capitol, a play area for children, cool music playing, even a swimming pool. Tickets were free, everyone got free hot dogs and soda. Veterans from both sides in the war, escaped slaves, and gardner's minions all mingled together freely and peacefully. For just a brief time, Eve liked this place, until she remembered what this collisseum's true purpose was, to keep a doomed population entertained and out of mischief. Today's events included fights between gladiators to the death. Mason had tried to curtail slavery, but still allowed these fights between willing participants. Noone under fourteen was allowed to fight. Some gladiators were runaway slaves, others just desperate refugees. The prize was food, enough to feed them and their families for a few days. Occasionally gladiators were children of military officers or members of congress. The people seemed to prefer these, letting the offspring of the ruling class suffer as their children had sufferred. There were also private duels between them at times. Zoey admitted to having participated in five duels. These teens knew they were likely to die soon, if not from ELE, then torn apart by an angry mob. There was a reason why little Rebecca had never been in school. Even if they were still open, the Mason's feared for her safety. Amongst this crowd, some wanted to see six year old Rebecca fight another child to the death. In England, the royal family had partly financed the construction ot the Arks, yet the angry masses didnt want them to take up space. Princes and princesses, brothers and sisters, killed each other in televised pistol or sword duels. The point of these events, and in the Washington Colliseum, was to keep the desperate masses entertained, and hopefully not hurt the few elites who made it safely to the Arks. And to ultimately make them briefly forget how close they all were to death. The fianl event of May 26th was the public execution of general Gardner. Gardner walked to the chopping block with as much dignity as he could. He gave a brief speech encouraging unity. With the mobs gathering outside D.C it was more important than ever for both sides to work together. If nothing else, to defend their capitol, or die trying. Than Gardner put his head on the block, and the ax came down.