Chapter 353
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There had been a cartoon published in Texan newspapers wheh Eve lived there. It warned of giving away military knowledge. If loyalist spies heard something from you, other spies might hear something from others. When put together, this might mean death for collective soldiers. The old expression "Loose lips sink ships" became popular again. Eve understood this was probably why the president didn't say where his son was being deployed to. Even with only 48 days until impact, he still wanted his son relatively safe. He had once made sure that Gary was in the same unit as Jed, knowing Gary would die to protect his boyfriend. But Gary had indeed died protecting Jed, and few others would be willing to make this sacrifice. Eve said Goodbye to Jed in private. She didn't expect to be with the first and second families for the big goodbye. That was a family moment, she was merely his mistress. But he was more than that to her, he was her friend. And Eve wanted to say goodbye to her friend, before it was too late.
The night of June 2nd, after Jed was deployed, Eve tried to comfort Zoey. She knew it was odd, she was Jed's mistress, and Zoey's, yet she was comforting Zoey about her husband. The girls got high and watched an odd movie. In this film a disaster had wiped out almost everyone on Earth. A colony of women found one male, and forced him to have sex with all of them at gunpoint in order to re-populate. Eve still remembered hearing horror stories from Sangalan refugees of mass-rapes and forced pregnancy camps. Apparently in both this movie, and real life, very desperate measures were required to insure the survival of the human race, or one ethnic group. Typically a movie about rape wouldn't have reminded Zoey about Jed, except that everything reminded Zoey about her husband.
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Zoey: We'll never see him again, will we?
Eve: I wish I could say he'll come back to you, but I don't know.
Zoey: To us. I wish ELE was stopped, Jed came back. And the three of us continued. Even under reconstruction, wouldn't mind you being his mistress.
Eve: Strangely, I'm not ashamed to be his mistress, or yours.
Zoey: Thank you. I hope he does find comfort with someone else, in his final days. And when the time comes, I hope some sniper gives my husband a quick, painless death. I know that must seem crazy, not hoping he returns, just for a painless death.
Eve: I understand. With so little time left, I doubt many of the un-chosen are expecting long, happy lives.
Zoey: I doubt the chosen are expecting happy lives, but they are hoping for long ones. Do you think he and I will see Mary in the next life? Do you think she'll forgive us?
Eve: I like to think so. I used to believe that Jesus Christ was the only way of getting into Heaven. I became a born-again christian, but I've done a terrible job living up to my duties. I didn't do a good job with islam or catholicism either. I do believe your child is happy. As for you and me, I don't know how we'll be judged. I think he gave up on me a long time ago. Can't say I blame him.