MISSISSIPPI
OCTOBER 28th
"Oh, no!" Jamie was driving and spotted a rollover accident in front of them, blocking the road. They stopped and jumped out of the car with their rifles in hand. When they got up to the badly deformed car, they saw that both the driver and passenger were dead.
With nothing more to be done, they got back in their truck and used it to push the car off the road. After the road was clear, they kept driving.
Jamie said, "Doesn't it seem weird the way we do things now? A year ago we would have been calling the police and they would have had the road closed for hours while they investigated. Now we just push it off the road and keep going."
"It seems pretty crazy. I won't miss that part of being on the road."
They were hauling medical supplies to Baton Rouge this trip.
"You do realize that we're millionaires and don't have to do this crap?"
He laughed and said, "You always say just the right thing. Maybe for another year, then back to school."
"Baby, we done been to school." They both laughed and he turned on some music.
They spent the next hour or so singing and laughing, the crash forgotten. Almost.
By the time they got into Baton Rouge, they were more than ready for a break. They stopped and grabbed a shower at a hotel near the drop off site and were thrilled to put on some fresh clothes.
As usual, when they stopped they were dragged around the facility to meet everyone. It was strange, but they were almost royalty whether they liked it or not. They kept their side arms in place just the same. They found it helped to keep things friendly.
Luke thought it funny to have professionals fawning over a couple of young accidental truck drivers with the pedigree of the moment. Naturally, the cameras came out and everyone got to have their story of meeting the famous Luke and Jamie. If they only knew that a few hours ago we were pushing bodies out of the road so that they could have their precious medical supplies, thought Luke. Hell, that would probably only make it worse.
"We can catch a nap at the hotel or push on to New Orleans to pick up a load," said Luke.
Jamie sighed, "Let's push on. Are you up for a lecture on social psychology?"
"Sounds good, but I drive."
When they got into New Orleans they checked in at the Kunoichi hotel and found a group of drivers there ready to hit the town. They dropped their things in the room and took off with the drivers.
Luke got a kick out of how the Kunoichi Shipping Company drivers wore pistols everywhere they went. He knew it couldn't go on forever, but for now they were an elite agency, charged with keeping the nation alive by getting essentials where they were needed no matter what the obstacles. It was well known that Kunoichi drivers made a practice out of killing robbers outright instead of turning them over to law enforcement. That reputation probably saved a lot of lives in the end.
The French Quarter was booming. I can't imagine what this must have been like before, thought Luke, but I like it!
Everywhere they went, people recognized Luke and Jamie and none of the drivers could pay for their own drinks even if they wanted to. Luke and Jamie both said that they didn't drink so avoided most of the foolishness if not the attention.
They hit clubs up and down the tourist area until Jamie said, "Okay, I'm done." The two of them said thanks to the other drivers and flagged a taxi for the hotel.
The driver recognized them immediately and was very talkative. Jamie asked him how the city was doing.
"We lose a lot, but people flocking in now. Still New Orleans, just not so busy."
Luke asked him, "What do you need here?"
"That's easy. We need more people. Way more. Everything else is getting better. We know you fix the country."
They arrived at the hotel and Jamie tipped the driver well. "Good bye, Harvey. Take care of yourself, you hear?"
He waved and drove on.
Jamie said, "I feel honored by their trust in us, but it creeps me out too."
"That it does," agreed Luke.
They were both glad to crawl into bed. Tomorrow's run would be a long one.
HAVANA, CUBA
OCTOBER 29th
Julie, Helen, Matt, and Richards had been meeting with representatives from the territories for hours. So far they had not gotten anywhere.
Richards said, "I know you don't like being occupied by American forces. We are not the American government or military. We would like to help get your economy running, but we're required to play by American rules. We are not allowed to give bribes or break laws."
Julie said, "We're talking in circles here. I'm done." She stood and the rest of them followed her toward the door.
The Mexican representative pulled out a small pistol and said, "I think you will not be leaving, Senora Julie."
Julie sighed. "You set up an attack to capture us and that's why you've been delaying us for so long. Really?"
The Cuban representative said, "The people won't be pawns of American imperialism." She was clearly playing to the cameras.
Julie said, "Wow, you speak English pretty well now. Imagine that. You should know that pawns are useless to us. The world can't afford them anymore. Free people working in their own interests are what we must have."
Matt took a step toward the Mexican representative, who pointed the pistol at Matt's head. Julie and Helen were gradually working their way toward the representative from either side.
Large explosions were heard outside of the building. Matt said, "Your men are dying, Senor."
The Mexican representative said, "That won't stop me from killing you," he said as he pushed the pistol forward toward Matt and pulled the trigger. Everything moved at an instant and time slowed for that same duration. Julie smoothly stepped forward and lifted the gun hand toward the ceiling as Matt shifted on leg and dropped to the floor, rolling to the side, and Helen pushed a dagger deep into the right side of the representative's throat, severing all the major blood vessels in both sides of his neck. Both women were sprayed with arterial blood as she ripped the blade free. No one in the room had seen her draw the blade.
Helen calmly took the pistol away as he fell and set the safety before tucking the pistol into her belt. She turned to the remaining representatives and said, "You have made an attempt on the lives of the family of the President of the United States. This is a serious matter."
The Cuban representative said, "We were not a part of this! You must believe this."
Helen said in perfect Spanish, "You were central to the plan, Representative Garcia. We came here in good faith and you hatched a plot to kill us. I declare you to be fallen, as are any who plot against their own people to enrich themselves. Leave this place now."
The Cuban woman turned white and ran from the room.
Helen continued in Spanish, "The people of Latin America are strong, hard working, and intelligent, but have been kept down by those who have stolen everything for themselves. I declare these thieves to be fallen."
Julie stepped forward and said in Spanish, "We will back the people at every turn, even against the political system if ever need be. We are for the people of all of North America." She raised the bloody knife high in her right fist. "We pledge our lives to defending the rights of the people. The people of all of North America will be free and will have all of their rights without being blocked by corruption. We declare anyone who stands in the way of this to be fallen."
Helen continued in Spanish, "The people will be free. For the rest of you in this room, you need to make up your mind if you are on the side of your people or not. Are you fallen or forgiven?"
The Kunoichi delegation walked casually from the room and to the waiting helicopters. On the way, Julie asked Richards how he was doing. "Terrified," he answered.
Not so smug now, are you, she thought, remembering that first meeting with him. She gave him a one armed hug and said, "Evita was never a soft touch. Just don't ever be fallen, okay?" He agreed with
enthusiasm.
LAS VEGAS
Speaker of the House Larson personally delivered the New Territories Enabling Act to Jim for signing. Jim said, "Thank you for making this happen, Nick. It is incredibly important to securing our future." Samantha took pictures as he signed it.
Whitman rushed into the briefing room. "Jim, you have to see this now!" He pulled up a file on the wall monitor. The entire episode of Julie and Helen dealing with the Central American representatives was shown with English subtitles.
Jim said, "I can't believe they did that. How long ago was it?"
Whitman said, "Less than 45 minutes. They haven't even made it back to Miami yet."
"I wonder if they realize that they just became both religious and revolutionary figures? What the hell are we going to do with this?"
"The only thing we can do. Back them all the way. And let our people in the territories know to keep their heads down."
MIAMI, FLORIDA
OCTOBER 30th
The video of Julie and Helen's actions went viral and the impact was felt immediately. The Cuban representative was killed within an hour of her declaration as fallen, then the real slaughter of fallen throughout the new territories began. Thousands would be killed in the next seventy two hours, but very few would be mourned.
Richards would later ask Helen, "Was that planned or improvised?"
Helen answered with a question. "Do you have any doubt what would happen to you if you were to go against the interests of humanity?"
He thought for a moment. "No. I do not."
"Then it doesn't matter."
SAN DIEGO
NOVEMBER 1st
Luke and Jamie caught a commercial flight back to San Diego the day before, after deciding to take a few days off. There wasn't much of a selection of flights, but they felt fortunate to have airlines operating once more.
They had slept most of the first day home, and were finally starting to feel human again.
Jamie looked up from her laptop and said, "It looks like the rest of the family has been busy."
"It's a little spooky to see the family so much in the middle of everything," said Luke. "Matt could have been killed. I don't want any part of this push into the new territories, even if everyone thinks it's so important. I'm not even sure if it's right."
"We're rich, remember. We don't have to do anything."
"That's good, because I think life just got a lot more dangerous for us. So what's on the agenda for today?"
"You know that we're starting to run out of classes on video," said Jamie. "You realize we've gone through a couple of degrees worth, so far."
Luke shrugged and said, "We can always pick up more text books."
"I'm thinking we need a better education than just reading text books."
Luke set down the novel he was reading and said, "I'm listening."
"Why don't we give up most of our driving and start hiring in professors, one or two courses at a time? We design our own education and we don't worry about degrees."
Luke sat forward, "What about the driving?"
"There are a lot of people to do that, now. We can pop in around the country and take a run here and there. People will still get to see us, and no one will be the wiser that we're spending most of our time here getting the best education on the planet. Besides, with what Helen and Jamie are doing, we can duck the lime light a lot easier than ever before."
"And everyone still thinks we're a couple of foolish kids giving up our education to drive trucks. I like it! Let's see what kind of professors we can find to do a little moonlighting."
"So what do you want to study first?"
"Math. I need to understand engineering. How about you?"
"I'd love to find a decent economics professor."
"Let's do it."
MONTERREY, MEXICO
NOVEMBER 2nd
Kunoichi Corporation was already being seen throughout Mexico and Central America. They hired locally, paid well, and worked to address the most pressing needs of the people. Of the government officials left, none would dare to oppose the company's progress for fear of being labeled fallen.
Where Julie and Helen had once been covered on Spanish television often, they were now on constantly, pushing to deliver the needs of all of the Central American countries and arguing for the people to join the United States and demand to have a voice.
Everywhere they went, crowds showed up cheering and crying.
"Ever get the feeling we might have screwed up?" asked Julie as she looked at the crowds surrounding their new Kunoichi building in Monterrey.
"Relax, love. This is only the beginning. Let's go talk to them."
Richards was very proud of the massive video screens he had purchased for the outside of the building. He had camera systems set up in one of the conference rooms. Helen turned on the wall monitor showing the crowds outside, and turned on one of the cameras in the room.
In Spanish, she said, "Hello my friends!" The crowd yelled and cheered. "You are doing the work to free all of the people. You are my heroes!"
Through the walls of the building, she could hear the crowds yelling.
"We will take all of the help you can give us to make Mexico worthy of your efforts. All of us together will make our future worthy of the proud Mexican people. You will take your rightful place in the world."
The crowd cheered louder, impossible as that seemed.
Julie stepped into the camera's view, and said in Spanish, "Thank you for having the courage to step forward into the future. You are all forgiven."
The building shook with the roar of the voices outside.
Helen said, "We have to leave you now to travel to more cities. We love you. You make us proud!" Both of them waved and they turned the camera off.
Julie said, "Let's get out of here before they get hurt trying to push their way in."
"I couldn't agree more."
They had a camera man follow as they went up to the roof and boarded their helicopter. Helen started the chopper and they were soon airborne. The crowds were able to watch them board on the large video screens and saw the helicopter taking off heading south.
Julie said, "You know this thing is going to bite us sooner or later?"
"We'll get the job done and get the hell out of the way," Helen said. "The forgiven and forsaken will deliver the vote we need. Once they join the States, it will be a whole new world."
"We seem to have a tiger by the tail."
"When has it ever been otherwise?"
SAN FRANCISCO BAY
NOVEMBER 3rd
Kemp was satisfied with the job the women had done outfitting the boat. They were practical for the most part, though he didn't want to think about how much was spent on cosmetics and clothes.
He had expected at least one or two of them to leave, but they were all determined to stay. He didn't understand but he was grateful for it. When the hell did I turn soft, he wondered? A year before he would have dumped the lot of them at first opportunity, great sex notwithstanding.
He was able to get the boat titled and registered in Pam's name and all of the women were able to get emergency passports. Kemp was surprised that the government was that functional already. He would have expected it to have taken years to get that up and running. Once again, Ambrose is on top of things. I'm afraid I was on the wrong side all the way around, he thought, grimly. And I deserve to pay the price for it if I'm caught.
The boat needed a new name, and Kemp christened it The Slippery Slope. Somehow the name seemed appropriate for the events of the last year.
The last detail was what to do with the old yacht. Kemp made up a bill of sale with his best Frank Edwards forgery and had Sandy offer it to Simon, the manager of the marina where they stayed. It's not like Frank will be coming back to inquire about it, and Simon shouldn't have any problem titling it in this post virus world.
Simon was shocked, and refused until Sandy said it would be scuttled at sea otherwise. W
ith the addition of fifty grand and a request that the boat be kept functional for sentimental reasons, Simon was more than happy at the prospect of moving into a larger live-aboard boat.
They left port that morning heading back to San Diego. Lisa took the boat out of the bay and out several miles out to sea before heading south. The first day, Kemp instructed all of the women on how to operate the new trawler's systems as they all would be taking turns on the bridge.
The boat was a dream. It wasn't as fast as the yacht, but was much more stable and comfortable, plus had the added bonus that no one had died on it.
Kemps biggest worry was striking a derelict boat or a loose shipping container in the water, so he had the women watching the radar for obstacles. Kemp knew better than to anticipate a routine voyage, but he was hopeful.
He spent as much time as he could on the bridge, but he seemed to get dragged to the bedroom with some frequency. He wasn't complaining.
SAN DIEGO
NOVERMBER 5th
Back in San Diego, Luke was thrilled to find an excellent math instructor from one of the junior colleges. He dove in with enthusiasm. The concepts were difficult but very interesting. He quickly saw the need for major amounts of practice and was up to several hours' worth of practice problems a day.
His instructor, Raul, was originally from Honduras and was thrilled to be teaching the president's nephew. Luke explained to him early on that he wasn't involved in Central America, but Raul insisted that Luke and Jamie both start learning Spanish. Jamie agreed that it was a good idea and they alternated back and forth between sessions on math and sessions on Spanish.
They planned to do two trips a month where they would fly somewhere and join up with one of the Kunoichi convoys. It wasn't that one more driving team made that much of a difference, but that the drivers were so strongly motivated by having them show up and do a run with them. The drivers deserved their best.
The Forgiven The Fallen The Forsaken Page 31