Azaleas Don't Bloom Here

by Frank Klus

  Gene grabbed his shoulder in a friendly gesture.

  “When she came over with those men it wasn’t her anymore. One of the men said ‘Sign the papers,’ real mean like. When I hesitated, she got real mad at me. Said I caused her to get in trouble. She said I was a lousy husband. I was really scared. I thought she’d say, ‘It’s okay, darling.’”

  “I don’t understand, Fernando. How could someone change that fast? You said she was only in that jail a few days. What the hell happened?”

  “My friend Jaime thinks she went to the camp.”

  “Camp?”

  “Yeah. It’s where they do things to you. They take you there when they want to change you; make you into somebody different. They monkey around in your head; turn you into whatever they want. They make you think differently.” He stopped, looking troubled. Then he turned to Eugene. “Do you think that’s what happened to her?”

  “I don’t know, Fernando; maybe.”

  Fernando looked away, feeling sad again. “I sure miss her.”

  Gene just hugged him. “I know, buddy. I sure miss Catherine.”

  “It’s not so bad being in prison when you got a friend to help you do time with.”

  Suddenly, a guard came to the cell door and ordered Fernando to come with him. Fernando turned to his friend with a fearful expression on his face. “They’re coming for me, Gene. Don’t let them take me to the camp.”

  “What’s this about, guard?”

  “Shut up, you, and mind your own business.”

  “Gene, don’t let them take me.” Then, Fernando turned to the guard with a most frightful look. “Leave me alone. I want to stay in jail.”

  “Please, guard, I don’t want to cause any trouble. Please, Fernando is scared to death.”

  “Scared of what? All I know is the warden told me to get you. Jesus Christ, you think I was taking you to the death house or something. Now stop this whining and come with me. You’re probably being released.”

  “Maybe he’s right, Fernando. Maybe they’re letting you go home.”

  Fernando looked at the guard, still fearful. “Can Eugene come with me?”

  “No, just you. Now come on out of there.”

  Fernando started to resist and Gene came to his aid. He tried to get the guard off of Fernando, but another guard came in and beat Eugene. The two carried a screaming Fernando out of the cell while all the prisoners in that wing began screaming as well.

  Afterwards, Eugene felt a little silly. They were just going to release him. It’s so ridiculous that someone would go out screaming about a camp; and me, going to his rescue like they were going to execute him or something.

  As time passed, Eugene couldn’t forget what Fernando said. Then he thought about some of the things the pundits were talking about. If you couldn’t get along you should be made to get along. Jeez, thought Eugene, What if taking your freedom away isn’t enough. Could they really take your mind too?

  “Mr. Casimir, you have a call on Line One. It’s Mr. Martinez.”

  “Thank you, Judy,” Casimir said, switching to Line One. “Al, I’ve already spoken to the D.A. and—”

  “That’s not why I called. It’s all over Washington.”

  “What is?”

  “Eugene Sulke! Rather, the situation he’s in. The word is out that you fucked his wife, he’s pissed off about it, and you’re about to permanently silence him. Nothing about the murder. Of course the mood in the Populist Party is it wouldn’t make any difference. They think we believe it’s okay to kill anybody we don’t like.”

  “But, Al, a few recalcitrant Populists has never been a problem before.”

  “You don’t understand, Jay. I don’t have god-like powers. We’re not talking about some worthless minority, some detritus off the street; we’re talking about a white professional, non-political, Middle Class brat being picked on. The whole goddamned country is going to cheer for this pest.”

  “You’re right, of course, Al. Should I have him released?”

  “I guess you’ll have to, but I would imagine he’s going to go to the news media, or his friends, like those real criminals, and play this up as if you’re the bad guy. There may even be a movement to get rid of the Lightning Squad. Christ, what a mess.”

  “Wait! I have an idea,” Casimir said. He explained his plan to Martinez, who listened revivified and with glowing satisfaction.

  “That’s going to be expensive,” Martinez said. “A lot of resources are involved.”

  “I realize that, Al, but just think: we’ll have a Eugene Sulke, which, if he should ever go to the press, will be singing our praises.”

  Martinez just smiled. “All right, Jay, but don’t fuck it up.”

  Chapter 8:

  Escape

  “Cass, I just got an encrypted text from Judy,” Ray said. “The text just said that Martinez and Casimir are up to something, and it may be worse than the situation Gene’s already in. She asked not to be contacted until we hear from her.”

  “It sounds serious. We rarely contact her anyway.” Cassandra looked bewildered, but then she turned to her husband with a curious expression. “Ray, do you suppose she was talking about that place…you know?”

  Ray was silent and frowning. Sean grabbed a few beers from the fridge and passed them to Ray and Cassandra. The three sat around the kitchen table, and were silent for a while until Sean broke the silence. “Have you two thought about giving up your revolutionary ambitions and retiring to the New World while you can?”

  “No!” Ray and Cassandra said simultaneously.

  Sean just smiled. He was Ray’s first cousin on his father’s side; the brother of Ray’s father, James. He was born outside Dublin and his family moved to Old Chicago, following James, when Sean was just eight years old. He lost most of his accent in the ensuing years, but not completely. Now it was an eclectic combination of Irish brogue and upper mid-western twang. “You two are the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. You’re wanted for murder and they’re going to execute your friend, accomplice, or dupe. What’s it all for?”

  Ray goggled and his face went red. “What’s it all for? You just look at the immediate problem and think we should bale out. The whole country’s our problem. We’ve lost our democracy, our vitality, and our sense of justice; not to mention everything else that’s wrong.”

  “And don’t call Gene our dupe,” Cassandra said, looking angry.

  “All right, all right,” Sean O’Reilly said. “Don’t gang up on me. I share your enthusiasm for change; well, maybe not as much as you two do, but I understand. All I’m saying is that you’re fugitives now. You show your face and they’ll execute you. Hell, they may not even wait for a trial. What can you realistically do? At least you’ll be safe in the New World; and everything you’re fighting against here won’t exist over there.”

  “We can’t abandon the people we leave behind,” Cassandra said.

  “Ray,” Sean said, “you saw that professor you want to be the intellectual leader of a revolution; a sort of Trotsky. What did he say? Did he encourage you?”

  Ray was reticent.

  “It’s as I thought,” Sean said.

  “No, it isn’t. It’s a process. He’s scared. That’s all. If he speaks or writes about the New World he loses the University’s protection. If that happens, Martinez will be on him like a wolf to his prey. It will take time to gain his cooperation.”

  “The same for Eugene Sulke?” Sean said.

  “Yes! Well, circumstances have changed somewhat, but it’s all about the process.”

  The three remained silent for a time, and Cassandra grabbed another bottle of beer. “Have you been to the New World?” she asked Sean.

  Sean swallowed a swig of his beer. His eyes enlivened and he smiled. “As a matter of fact, I have. Ah, tis a grand place, she is. That sense of vigor you talked about—” looking at Ray—”it’s there in New America. They’re building a future over there while you two try to rebuild a past over
here. There’s a sense of democracy that we’ve never had here. There’s no wealthy class with the power to influence who and how their nation is governed. They even have a fourth branch of government—the People’s Branch.”

  Sean had the look of someone seeing a glorious painting for the first time. “They choose one hundred people at random from a pool of anyone willing to serve, and they get to veto anything that comes out of government—any bill, court decision, police action; shit, anything. Now, that’s democracy. And because these one hundred are chosen at random, no one can use any influence they might have to get their own way. There’s no office to run for; there’s no cabal to exert a special power. It is rule of the people, by the people, and for the people—for real this time.”

  “Now you know why we have to fight,” Ray said. “This is what people want.”

  “I know, but does anyone else?”

  Ray and Cassandra looked bewildered, but did not answer.

  “Look, you guys, Old America is dead. No one is revolting. When you figure that out, the New World is waiting for you.”

  “So how come you didn’t stay?” Cassandra asked.

  “Ah, tis a glorious place, but not for an old criminal like me. There’s too much order there. I thrive on chaos; the thrill of the challenge. Besides, these people need me here as well. I rob from the rich and give to the poor—a regular robbing hood,” Sean said, grinning.

  Cassandra was slightly amused. “I think I’ll check for messages,” she said.

  “Another stout, mate?” Sean said.

  “Sure.”

  “Ray!” yelled Cassandra from the parlor. Ray looked concerned as he walked into the parlor.

  Cassandra just looked up at Ray with a sheepish smile. “Eugene is free.”

  “The lawyer?”

  “According to Judy it was your brother who got him out. He’s bragging that he talked Casimir into releasing him. Dennis is taking him home as we speak. This must be what Judy meant about Jay being up to something. He probably planned this.”

  Ray looked worried, and he didn’t respond immediately. He sat back down at the kitchen table and took a swig of his beer while Sean and Cassandra just stared at him like a Greek visitor waiting to hear from the Pythia.

  “Well, I suppose that was what Judy meant. On the one hand, Gene is going to see us as the ones who put him in prison, and Dennis, the long lost friend, is the one who got him out.”

  “I guess there goes a major piece of the revolutionary puzzle,” a smiling Sean O’Reilly said. Cassandra looked annoyed while Ray looked perplexed.

  “I know my brother is up to something. We know Jay Casimir was responsible for Catherine’s death, and I believe Eugene either believes it or is unsure of him. He also knows that Dennis works for Casimir. I don’t believe that just springing Eugene out of the joint is enough to cement a relationship with Dennis.”

  Sean looked on curiously. “So you think you may still be able to win Eugene over?” he asked.

  “Yeah, I do,” Ray said. “Still, we’re in a bad way right now. We’ll need to lay low for a while and see what develops. We’re going to have to assume Dennis removed our tracker from Gene’s car. We need to put ours back on.”

  “And take his off,” Cassandra said.

  “No! Then Dennis will know we’re close by. Furthermore, he’ll just put his back on and take ours off again. He’ll also put some men on Gene’s car. We have to put ours on, but let Dennis think we’re on the run.”

  “Is this for real? Am I really free?” Gene asked.

  “Free as a bird,” Dennis said.

  Eugene told Dennis the things Fernando talked about and then noticed something peculiar. “This isn’t the way home.”

  “We’re going to your parents’ house.”

  “My…why?”

  “They know you were in Joliet. They’re worried. They want to see you.”

  Eugene looked frustrated. “How did they know that, Den? I didn’t want them to know about prison. My mom would shit. How did they find out?”

  “Calm down, Genie. When you didn’t show up for work, and your boss couldn’t reach you, the company lawyer called them up.”

  “I don’t understand, Den. How did the lawyer know? They wouldn’t let me call him or work.”

  “I know. They can be dicks sometimes. Well, somehow the lawyer found out and he tried to call you. When that didn’t work, he had the number of your next of kin. That’s how your mother found out.”

  “I still don’t understand. How did the lawyer know I was in jail?”

  “He’s a lawyer, Gene. He probably figured it out.”

  “What about confidentiality and all? Why would he discuss this with my parents?”

  “How do I know, Genie? You’re free, my man. That’s what’s important.”

  Gene was silent while Dennis just smiled. “Anyway, that’s why we’re going to Countryside. They want to know you’re all right.”

  Eugene was silent for a while, and then turned to his friend. “My cellmate, Fernando, said they don’t stick pretrial people in Joliet unless they’re pretty sure they’re guilty. It saves them in transportation costs.”

  “The important thing is you’re out now.”

  “Is there any truth to this camp he was talking about?”

  Dennis laughed.

  “He was scared to death of going there. He begged me not to let anyone take him. Then, just before you rescued me, a guard told Fernando to come with him.”

  “So you think they led him away to some camp?” Dennis couldn’t stop laughing. “And you believed him?”

  “He told me about his wife. How they weren’t just husband and wife, but best friends. How sweet she was, and then she disappeared for months. When she came back she was all different.”

  “That’s supposed to prove their existence?”

  “So you don’t believe it?”

  “My guess is that Fernando left out a whole lot of stuff that would weaken his argument. What if they argued about money, or their living conditions? How educated was he?”

  “Not well-educated, but I’m a pretty good judge of character. I tell you, Denny, he was sincere. Furthermore, he was genuinely afraid of being taken to that camp.”

  “I know you’re a good judge of character, but these guys in prison are even better at it. They’re sneaks and thieves. What was this guy in for anyway?”

  “Embezzlement.”

  Dennis let out a laugh. “There you have it, Genie, my man. This guy was just putting on an act. If I didn’t get you out of there just now, he might have sold you a nice chunk of downtown Old Chicago. I’m telling you, Genie, embezzlers are the biggest sneaks and thieves you’ll ever meet.”

  “But he said they only charged him with that because he couldn’t pay his debt, and not because he embezzled funds.”

  “Let me put it this way, my man, what sounds more likely? That there is some camp where they hook you up to some machine, tell you how to think, and change your whole behavior, or that Fernando is a sneak or an uneducated fool who invents stories to get in your head?”

  Gene looked really confused now. Was Fernando a sneak or was he honest? I was sure of the answer before, but now….

  “Hey, Dennis; have you ever heard of a situation where if you borrowed money from your employer and couldn’t pay it back that you could never leave?”

  “What?”

  “Fernando said some Harvard professor called it ‘urban feudalism’.”

  Dennis just guffawed again. “No, man, there’s no such thing. Boy, that Fernando really had you going.”

  Eugene turned toward Dennis. He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes.

  “What?”

  “That was my boss’s idea. They were supposed to take the money out of the employee’s pay…but suppose the paycheck was so small that the employee was forced to continue borrowing the money? In that case, the employer might want to keep that employee who had the boss’ money…. Oh my God, that’s
where the embezzlement came from! The rationale must be that the employee was getting extra pay from his employer, and then looked to skip town with it.”

  “Well, that’s the first I heard of that,” he said.

  Eugene looked at Dennis sideways. “Dennis, why was I let out so easily? They wouldn’t let me call the company lawyer. Fernando said they don’t put people in a prison unless they were pretty sure they could keep you there. Why, Dennis? How did you get me out?”

  “I talked Casimir into dropping the charges. They thought you shot those men. I knew you didn’t do it, and then the warden called up Casimir and told him you fingered Cassandra. That’s why I could get you out.”

  “You have a pretty good relationship with the Commandant.”

  Dennis hesitated. “It’s purely business, Gene. You didn’t tell me before, that you knew Cassandra.”

  “She popped up from the floor of my back seat a couple days after my visit to your house. I’m not sure how she got in, but I didn’t see her at first.”

  “What did she say?”

  Eugene turned to Dennis with a sardonic smile. “She said you were bad.”

  Dennis howled. “Let me tell you something about her and my brother, who, no doubt, put her up to that. They’re both murderers. They both killed RAC and Squad soldiers. They want the Lightning Squad to return to supporting the Populist Party. I tell you, Genie, my man, they’re idealists who want to use you to start a revolution.”

  “I know. I told Cassandra I wasn’t interested. Look Dennis, there’s a lot I’d like to change, but someone else will have to take the lead on that.”

  “Good.”

  “She told me your Commandant put you up to our reaquaintance: that you work for this Casimir character. Furthermore, he was the one who drove Catherine to suicide.”

  “It’s not true,” Dennis said, although the joviality was gone now. “I’m just a simple squad leader. Why would Casimir have anything to do with me?”

  “You admitted you talked Casimir into freeing me; dropping the charges against me. Surely, you have some relationship.”