THE MERCANTILE ECONOMY

Of the five, Commanders Putnam and Calhoun were there. There was also a new Commander, one who Serena Joy Waterford at first did not recognize.

Nick Blaine recognized him. The man was Commander Joseph Lawrence. As a result of the loss of so many Commanders with the bombing, Warren Putnam had convinced Lawrence that it was, 'time to step up and accept governing responsibility.'

At it was, he'd been a theoretician, this was his first kick at the governance-cat since being appointed directly to Chancery. His one condition had been, 'as long as I don't have to go to meetings,' to which Calhoun had said, 'how do you think governance happens!?'

'Non-Cushing-unilateral governance', Putnam had thought.

Nick knew Lawrence as a chief advisor to the now deceased High Commander Pryce - Lawrence had been in Pryce's car many times when Nick had been driving. Just never actually inside the Chancery chamber. Until now.

Serena Joy knew him from his writings. Dry subjects which Andrew Pryce had prized, and had caught the attention of some D.C. Commanders. "Problematic Populism: Upheaval During the Fertility Crisis," "The Case for Relaunching the Mercantile Economy." Many credited him with the framework of how women's labour was used in Gilead - he saw salvagings as waste, and most forced labour as preventing the leveraging of incentives in female workers. His most popular 'system', though, was completely forced - the use of criminalized women in The Colonies - "killing two birds with one quite radioactive stone," he had quipped.

"Nick," Commander Putnam began, "why is Mrs. Waterford here? You'd have thought she would be at her husband's side." That latter quip was not why he'd asked the question.

"Commander Waterford," Nick answered, "had a good day today. He asked me to bring this warrant to you, so that you could convene and sit as the Consular of Divine Law."

Serena piped up, she said, "Commander Waterford believes that there is a treasonous apostasy, a cancer…"

To which Commander Calhoun immediately cut her off. "…. Mrs. Waterford! Please! You're straying from your station, ma'am. As you yourself wrote previous to our righteous revolution…"

To which similarly Commander Lawrence immediately cut him off. "….. Commander Calhoun. Forgive me, I'm the new kid on the block. Me, I'd like to hear what she has to say."

"Gentlemen!" Putnam said calmly. "Let's just keep it to Guardian Blaine for now, then if we need to, we can get Mrs. Waterford to respond to any questions we might have." Putnam looked straight at Lawrence, and said, "Look Joseph, you're new at this. Pay attention. One day you may send for me - this is how it's done."

"Well, I have a question, Warren," Commander Calhoun said. "Why isn't Cushing here? He controls security forces, he's acting unilaterally - setting up shoppe at Eyes HQ. Didn't even bring up Pryce's replacement as security chief to Chancery for a vote. He just moved in."

Calhoun looked around, "before I say anything, I want to know if he's aware that we're even meeting like this."

"He does not," Serena Waterford said, drawing a pointed stare from Calhoun. But she continued, "Commander Waterford has become aware of Ray Cushing's apostasy. He ordered Guardian Blaine to get the requisite form for it, for him to sign and bring to the Consular of Divine Law. The CDL. Before it's too late."

"Before 'what' is too late?" Calhoun acidly asked.

"I think what she means is, what makes you think you're not next, Matthew?" Joseph Lawrence asked. "Glen Deeds and his house were salvaged. What did Commander Deeds know that Ray Cushing didn't want us to know?"

"Ofglen was a terrorist!" Calhoun yelled. "The whole house needed rooting out!"

Putnam said, "and yet, here you are, Matthew."

Calhoun spat back, "you're still mad that Ray laughed about your arm, Warren."

When the men stayed silent for a sufficient time, Putnam said to Mrs. Waterford as obliquely as he could, "you know that I was involved with Sonia Cushing, prior to our marriages. This could be misconstrued." Both Calhoun and Lawrence stared at Putnam at the admission, waiting for him to provide 'background' to it. One that never came.

Serena Joy said nothing, remembering Sonia in tears many years ago. Putnam continued, "Mrs. Waterford, does The Commander appreciate that any sanction that the Consular of Divine Law approves for Cushing, will apply to his whole household as well."

"I do," Serena said.

Putnam paused. "Naomi was the maid of honour at the Cushing wedding. This is not payback is it, for you being snubbed?"

Blaine piped up, "Sir, with all respect, this is about Commander Waterford's order - one to convene the CDL. As High Commander Pryce was fond of saying, an order to clean up Gilead."

Not answering Blaine, Putnam continued with Mrs. Waterford. "She's your friend, Serena. You four used to holiday together. Have you thought this through?"

When Mrs. Waterford sat silently, Nick piped up again. "Look, this is Commander Waterford's order! Why don't we take this meeting down to his hospital room!?"

Lawrence said, "we're going to have to run this by D.C. They probably don't know that this is Cushing's second strike - he killed a Handmaid, he killed Ofray. Smashed her head in. Only got a fine. He needs dealing with."

"Who's going to do the arresting?" Calhoun asked.

"I'll do it," Putnam said, still looking at Mrs. Waterford. Putnam thought that neither Lawrence nor Blaine would 'have the balls' to arrest anyone, much less pull the trigger. So that left him.

"Take more Guardians with you than he has," Lawrence said. He then too looked at Mrs. Waterford, and added, "I hear he'll be at your place tomorrow morning. I don't think he's visiting to offer support in your time of need."

"I'll do it there," Putnam said. He then turned to Nick, "you can control the block. How many household Guardians will you have?"

"Three, sir," Blaine said. "Cushing travels with half a dozen when he's doing his thing. If you come, sir, you bring ten or so. I'll have one of mine across the street in an upper window."

The five sat silent, as the enormity of their plan sunk in.

Finally, Mrs. Waterford asked, "what about the Cushing daughter?"

"What do you care, Serena?" Calhoun asked.

"We know the girl," she said.

"Do you want her?" Lawrence asked.

"No. Not with Fred convalescing. Besides, our Handmaid, she's pregnant." Serena, thinking ahead, also did not want to raise a daughter who might eventually ask questions about her biological mother.

Sally.

Nick, he breathed a little easier. As the meeting of the five broke up, he wasn't going to completely relax until Offred and their baby was safe - this time from Ray Cushing.

He was coming.

THE RIDE HOME

"So," Mrs. Waterford said from the back seat, to Nick who was driving. "So, we go home and sleep. We wait. For morning."

"That's about it," Blaine said.

"Do you do things like that a lot, Nick?"

"Not quite like that, Mrs. Waterford. That was the world of Commanders, when you look behind the curtain. There's not much there."

As the night sped by them outside, Mrs. Waterford said aloud, "they never once asked for 'evidence'." She also wondered if the three were going to take Fred's warrant straight to Cushing himself.

She said aloud, "we'll know in the morning."

Nick thought that the three Commanders seemed less than curious about how one of their brothers could issue such orders to the Consular of Divine Law, while still floating in and out of consciousness. Other Commanders in Chancery might be more curious.

"I think they were scared, ma'am. Putnam, Calhoun and the new man, Lawrence. Putnam has had his own sanctioning. He probably wants to get ahead of things if Commander Cushing resurrects that."

Nick was silent for only a moment. "Mrs. Cushing, ma'am."

"What about her?" Mrs. Waterford asked.

"Their daughter, ma'am," Nick began. "She'll land on her feet. This is, after all, Gilead. But Mrs. Cushing, Sonia - she's your friend. Ma'am."

"Sonia was gone anyway," Mrs. Waterford opined. "Ray won't be coming for Fred, he will be coming for me and Offred. Probably you and Rita, too. But not Fred." Nick thought Mrs. Waterford's words a non sequitur. What could she possibly have meant by that? Going for the Waterfords, but not for the Commander?

That didn't make any sense. But if this worked, Offred would be safe. That's what Nick wanted out of this.

DIE ANOTHER DAY

There was no back-stabbing by Putnam. The morning went exactly according to plan.

Putnam alit from the prison van, and announced, "Ray Cushing, by order of Commander Waterford, you have been stripped of your command. And charged with apostasy and treason." By instinct, Cushing made a quick inventory of guns around him - how many Putnam had, and how many Cushing commanded. After that showed him short, he immediately knew what was going to happen.

Cushing said, "that's ridiculous, Warren," knowing that Fred Waterford himself was still unconscious in ICU. Not that it mattered, with Putnam actually saying those words the die was cast.

But Warren Putnam soldiered on, "you have aided terrorists and have conspired to undermine our Divine Republic. The evidence submitted by The Eyes is overwhelming." Non-existent evidence, since The Eyes, up until a moment ago, had worked for Cushing.

From the house, Nick, Offred and Serena Joy watched silently all that transpired outside their gate. When Cushing was loaded into the prisoners' van, the three of them simply returned to their business, now knowing that there was going to be another day. Nick knew that Offred was safe. For now.

The one person oblivious to what had just happened, was Rita. When Mrs. Waterford came into the kitchen, it was all business as usual for the Martha.

Rita asked, "begging your pardon, ma'am, but I'll need Offred to go to Loaves and Fishes for a pick-up. I want to get ready for The Commander's return, which I pray is soon. I'm making his favourites."

Serena thought briefly, 'a walk to Loaves and Fishes with my baby, how wonderful to see the sun.'

DREAMING OF SONIA

It had been a long, long time since Serena Joy had slept with anyone else in her bed.

There she was, Sonia, in the dream, starting with the day Serena had been a senior in university - the day they had met. Then the dream fast-forwarded through the tendons of a fast friendship.

I look up to you, Serena, I really do. And not because you're so tall. You go out with who you want to, you don't wait - not like me - you don't countenance people who would hurt you. You can cut them off, quickly, you can move on, never looking behind. I admire that in you.

And you're smart. I read your final year thesis for Women's Studies, the one that the professor refused to mark. The one that you took so much social-media flack for - you had to cancel your accounts.

I joined the Jacobs because of you, Serena. I'm not religious, never have been. Nor anyone in my family. It was all new. The detractors and haters, they had called you regressive. That you would set women back 300 years.

Then I read your paper, which many want you to turn into a book. You were so passionate. A book we can all have on our shelves. Have women read it regularly to remind themselves - 'don't confuse meekness for weakness'.

Most of all is your loyalty. You've been with me through my darkest times. You didn't have to. I've lost friends because they call me needy and annoying, no boundaries. You, you listen. I don't think anything can happen to make me change my feelings for you.

Look at this soft, marshmallow-sand of Princess Diana Beach. I'm glad I talked you into hopping islands from St. John's, the day your credit cards didn't work. The day that Fred bailed you out, but then wouldn't let it alone. Always shoved it in your face. Ray found that amusing. He needed to take you down - I would never do that. I would never give you up.

You never knew Ray the way I knew him. To you he's an overblown, blowhard. To me, I see his vulnerable side, his confusion as to who he is. Then there is 'that'. A 'that' which includes - are you sitting down, Serena? - your own dearly beloved. I could never measure up to, nor compete with Fred. That was hard to take.

Me, I wondered how I'd failed Ray? I felt I was living a lie, not about him but about me. I looked to you, Serena, for guidance. Your strength, your poise, your quick wit - those were all the things I lacked to understand my own husband.

Then there was The Jacobs, Serena. I'd never cared about people like Ray before joining. Ray seemed the perfect Jacob. Then, after becoming immersed, words like 'shame', 'fear', 'hurt', 'rejection', and 'anger' come to mind. All words that would be easy for you to parse, Serena - you have the wordsmith ability that so many lack, that I love.

If it weren't for you, Serena, I would have no one. I isolate myself now - I've never done that. I was the one who 'turned' him, if only I had been more adventurous in bed, like he wanted. Every good time Ray and I ever had now seems fake.

Then there's you, Serena. Always there for me. Always strong. Always decisive. Please don't remove me from your life. I can be better. I love it when you decide something, then move on with no regrets.

Just don't decide that with me in mind. I beg you.

I WILL SURVIVE

I just walked in to find you here with that sad look upon your face
I should have changed that stupid lock, I should have made you leave your key
If I'd known for just one second you'd be back to bother me

Serena Joy Waterford had never woken in a cold sweat before. With Sonia now gone, Serena feared she'd killed something in herself. No matter.

Time to move on. Fred was going to be home from hospital in a few days. Serena needed to get Offred, June Osborne the editor, into Fred's office before that - to help with documents and orders, to demilitarize what Ray Cushing had inflicted upon New Gilead.

They'd work all night, all the next day if need be. 'It will be like old times,' Serena thought, 'me and Fred with our heads together sketching out the future for the God we love. For the family we soon will have.'

'Fred will be pleased once he sees it.'