by Hannah Ross
"That's cheap populism," Thornton said through gritted teeth. "Nobody can do whatever they feel like. Most people have no clue what's good for them and what's not."
"I think you've led a much too insulated life, Ned. Yes, there are people like those you describe. But most are not, especially out here. And I suspect a good percentage of those inside the Boundary are that way only because of how they've been exploited. But that's a conversation for another day.
"When Dahl lost the Presidency, we soon realized Connor was just a puppet being controlled by the Dahl and Van Wullen families. That bothered a lot of people, out here and inside the Boundary. There were quite a few of us, including folks who can shoot as good or better than our friend just did, who were all for putting an end to the Dahls, Van Wullens, Thorntons, and others. Not everyone, mind you. Just the ones in government and who controlled the government. But others of us reasoned that the devil you know is better than the devil you don't, which is why you're sitting here today, probably not feeling quite as superior as you did when you hopped in the car to be driven here.
"You might be interested to know that it was Priscilla who changed the minds of most of those who were calling for assassinations. She gave a very impassioned speech, but I think it was her example, how she rejected her privileged life to embrace life out here, that really changed people's minds. I guess they figured that if a Dahl princess could become one of them, then maybe it was worth the time and effort to try and reform the rest of the families. That's just a guess, mind you.
"The point of this is… what you have before you is the Treaty as we lay it out on our terms. Some of your relatives and friends in the existing government may not be happy with some of the provisions, but please do impress upon them that times are changing, and those who want to continue prospering must embrace the changes. All people out here and within the Boundary want is to live peaceful lives. You have the power to help that come to pass while retaining your position and fortune. You have the power to shape the future and, perhaps, become one of the greatest politicians of your generation, perhaps of all time. The man who brought peace and prosperity to a continent once ravaged by war, and then exploited by the greedy for generations."
Ned Thornton opened and closed his mouth like a fish, looking furious.
Ben shook his head and grinned. "Seriously, Ned, you guide the Boundary through this kind of change and they'll be writing books about you."
Thornton looked utterly unimpressed with the implication that he might make history. "Suppose you really have had people passing information on us for some time," he said with an ugly scowl. "Good for you. I knew there are some people in the lower echelons of the Tower who could not be trusted, but chose to keep things quiet, because I didn't want the sneaks to get a warning. I figured we'd stomp them all out like cockroaches when the time comes."
"Don't try to bite off more than you can chew, Ned. There are people way too important for you to fool around with unless you want to drag the country into an even bigger mess. Or get yourself shot. And just to make things perfectly clear, we know everything about the Van Wullen Corporation, everything it intended to do with the people across the Boundary. There were no mistakes. The labor camps in Zone C were planned well in advance. It was your intention from the start to shut people up in labor camps, kill them with overwork, discard, repeat. Were you the slimeball who came up with this ugly business? No, my guess it was Priscilla's dear uncle, Andrew. If I were him, I'd disappear, and quick, because now there's nothing preventing us from leaking the whole documentation to the press."
"That's cheap sensation-seeking," Thornton said, but Ben wasn't fooled by his bluster. He noticed beads of sweat forming on his brother-in-law's forehead.
"Whatever you say, Ned. But I've studied this thoroughly, and I can cite numbers. Budget figures, life expectancy estimations. You didn't really plan to keep a newly Registered worker, or should I say slave, longer than eighteen months. I have report dates and numbers, names of the whole chain of supervisors, from the lowliest to Van Wullen himself, and all the snakes in the White Tower who collaborated with him. Once the reports are published, no shadow of a doubt will remain. People will know they've been duped by a totalitarian, thoroughly corrupt regime posing as a democracy."
Thornton's eyes were as cold as steel. He finally realized in what deep trouble his ilk was. "Someone from Environmental Restoration ratted on us. Who was it? You won't deny that someone from within the department copied and handed you the reports."
"I will neither confirm nor deny anything." Ben knew his brother was not safe. Jordan will have to leave. Not just his position, but probably the Boundary itself. His wife won't be happy about it, but they have no choice. The Van Wullens do not forget.
Thornton got up, finality written in every gesture. "You have the upper hand in this battle," he acknowledged, "but don't think this ends here. Your dogmatic views might bring you support and popularity for a while, but it won't last. The wildlings of the unregistered lands will never be a match for a well-regulated system with a place for everyone, with order and security. Your ideas of a government order of economy and social systems are laughable. You have no more sense than a child haphazardly trying to place wooden blocks one on top of the other and crying because his tower topples. You think you have disarmed the White Tower, but you have not. We will continue to defend our peace and prosperity, and use legal means to punish those who try to sow chaos and disruption."
Ben was unimpressed. He rose likewise. "As you say, Ned. As you say. But I'll give you my two cents, though I know you don't want them. Don't try to step into Alexander Dahl's shoes. They will never fit you, and I mean this as a compliment. Be a man, Ned, so you won't have to blush with shame for your choices in thirty or forty years.
"And one other thing. Now that you know about our friends inside the Boundary, I expect you'll begin trying to ferret them out. Good luck with that. But I have to warn you. If you do find one, you'd be perfectly within your rights to fire the person. Perhaps even kick them out of the Boundary. But if anything unfortunate should happen to a friend of ours inside or outside the Boundary, be it a robbery gone bad, a car accident, or a bolt of lightning from the sky, two of your people will pay the price. And since I won't have any say in who the two will be, it's likely those in charge of such things might start at the top to make an impression."
* * *
Priscilla slid a few inches across the bench and rested her head on Ben's shoulder. "So. Do you think he took you seriously?"
"I think so, Pris, but it was hard to tell. For his sake, I certainly hope he did."
"I can't help but be concerned about all the people we might have incriminated. General Evans, Senator Newson… and your brother."
"I didn't give him names. Ned's not stupid, though, and the Van Wullens are not known for their forgiving nature. They'll dig into this, you can be sure, and they'll get back at everyone who isn't strong enough to resist them. General Evans and Senator Newson are most likely safe enough. Jordan is not. He'll have to flee." Ben paused. "I'm proud of Jordan. You know, for years I used to consider him a self-serving wimp. But he proved himself at the moment of truth. He did what was right."
"He's your brother."
"And Stephanie is your sister. I would have expected better from her, you know."
"I don't. I quit having expectations from Steph."
"Don't dismiss her, Pris. Your sister might yet show that she's made of better stuff than we give her credit for."
Ben and Priscilla took a short leave to visit Ben's parents and plan the next phase of what they were going to do in the near future. Riding side by side, enjoying the pleasant scenery, at times they would nearly forget the gravity of the entire situation.
"Well, at least the war is over and the Registry program called off. I wonder how many of those who have citizenships will want to leave, though?. As for the rest of us, life is going to get a lot more difficult for a time."
T
he familiar, comforting sight of the Hurst farm was like a piece of heaven in its constancy. As their horses approached, the front door swung open and Rebecca ran out to the front porch with an alacrity far beyond her years.
"Ben, dear, I had a feeling you would come soon! How are you feeling? Come in, dear, I have a surprise for you inside. Prissy, I'm so sorry, I've hardly noticed you. I'm in such a fluster today."
Little Ian toddled out of the door and, with a squeal of delight, rushed into his mother's arms, giving a rather shy and reserved look to the father he hadn't seen in a while.
Daniel followed his grandson. After hugging Ben and clapping him on the back, and kissing Priscilla on the cheek, he said: "You've just come from the signing of the treaty, didn't you? How did it go?"
Ben opened his mouth to answer, but was prevented from doing so by someone storming out of the house and flinging her arms around his neck.
"Kate! I didn't know you were here already!"
"Tony and I started on our way as soon as we heard of the big mess in Resurrection Town. We wanted to take part in the battle, but were too late."
"Thank goodness," Rebecca said under her breath. Kate overheard her, though.
"You might feel that way, Mom, but Tony was ready to run for cover in shame when it turned out he missed all the action. We were so relieved to hear Ben was fine, though. You can't imagine."
"Did Jill come with you?" Priscilla asked, coming over to hug Kate with the arm that wasn't occupied in holding Ian.
Kate smirked. “Jill? I don't think she'll leave that camp anytime soon. She has a pretty good, ah, understanding with Midnight Fox by now."
"I knew they would get there eventually," Priscilla said, nodding her approval. "How did it happen, Kate?"
"Well, it did take a buffalo nearly trampling Midnight Fox to death to get her to climb down off her high tower, but…"
"Midnight Fox was trampled by a buffalo? How dreadful!"
"Yes, it wasn't his most successful hunt, but don't worry about him. He's feeling fine now, and enjoying Jill's attention. She was almost wild with worry at first, and didn't let anyone else take care of him."
"Mac and Gabby might not be too thrilled to have Jill settle so far away from home, though," Ben said as they all walked into the house together and were enveloped by the smells of his mother's excellent cooking. He took a deep breath. "I smell meatloaf," he said with satisfaction. "And… chicken pie and apple crumble?"
"Come on, Ben," Priscilla tugged on his arm. “Let's sit down to the table. I don't know about you, but I'm starving."
With the big table groaning under the weight of dishes, and chairs crowded all around it, the kitchen had a festive air. "Only Jordan is missing to have the whole family together," Rebecca said with a wistful sigh.
Ben grew somber. "He might come. To save his life, if not for any other reason."
Rebecca paled. "What do you mean, Ben?"
"You know Jordan has been passing inside information on the Van Wullens, Mom," Kate said. "And it's not like Tony and me, who've been thorns in the mammoth's ass for a long time."
"Watch your tongue, honey."
Kate rolled her eyes. "Give me a break, Mom. I'm thirty-seven years old."
"High time you started choosing your words more carefully, then, sweetie. You have children to bring up, and they happen to be sitting at this table."
Ben cleared his throat. "About Jordan, though. Kate's right. Jordan's been one of our sources, and I'm afraid I might have hastened his exposure by what I said to Ned Thornton today."
"They would have found out anyway," Kate said. "We plan to publish the reports in any case, right? And the Van Wullens aren't stupid. They can put two and two together."
"Jordan has no protection. The Van Wullens won't be satisfied with kicking him out of his job, though they will certainly do that. I won't be surprised if Thornton is making phone calls as we speak and demanding that the mole be found at once. They'll persecute Jordan, and he'll never get another decent job. They have too many connections."
"But do you really think Jordan is in danger?" his father asked.
"Well, maybe not in immediate danger, though I wouldn't put anything past the Van Wullens. But he has nothing to look forward to in the Boundary anymore. Better he comes out here and starts over. It is the most sensible choice he has right now, I think."
"Allie will never agree to it," Rebecca said, shaking her head.
"That's hardly the most important thing right now, Mom. Listen…"
Aided by his wife, he proceeded to tell all that had happened during the signing of the treaty. Daniel and Rebecca listened with rapt attention, wavering between satisfaction and concern. Ben understood how they must feel. His parents lived outside the Boundary for over a decade. Their little farm was established, but much of their security came from their savings, which were kept in a bank account in the Boundary, and their ability to drive across the crossing point at any moment to see a doctor or buy whatever they might need on the farm. The treaty might be signed, but the White Tower could not be trusted. Some reforms would surely be made to undermine the financial stability of the settlers. The Boundary was stifling but safe. His parents were getting on in years and he wondered if it might not be wiser for them to move into the Boundary, collect their pension, and obtain a little one-room housing unit.
As if answering his unspoken question, Rebecca said. "We aren't leaving, Ben, but I'm sure many others will."
"We've done without the Boundary for a long time," Ben said. "We know we can survive without its resources. But with the new settlement of Resurrection and surrounding areas, we've become the minority. Most people depend on the Boundary, and with the White Tower attempting to sow seeds of doubt, there will be lots of confusion."
"I'm sure that's what the White Tower wants," Daniel said, playing with his fork. "To cause a rush of panic, get people to leave of their own accord, if they can't force them to do so by law. The settlers around here rely on their legal status as a backup. The White Tower wants to topple that balance. Take it away, and you leave people with no safety net, no money stashed up, no pension programs. The Freeborn have never had that, I know, but the rest of us can hardly fathom living without government guarantees."
Ben shook his head. "I don't want to depend on the White Tower at all. Not in the long run. I want us to be independent. To accomplish that, we need numbers. Some of the hardcore camps look down their noses on the legals, but I know that having more people here across the Boundary has made things better for everyone. I wouldn't like to live in a crowded hive like the Urban Islands for all the world, but I do realize it's a lot easier to make it when there are more than just a few camps scattered around the country."
Kate brought the chicken pie to the table and sliced into the flaky golden crust. "How do we get people to stay, you ask? And how do we get more people to come? By doing what the Freeborn, no offense, are not very good at – gathering, organizing and having a plan. You have to show people they have something worth working for."
Kate and Tony decided to take their children back to Resurrection Town, for their house was intact and they were anxious to get back to normal life, as much as it was possible. Despite their history, it was unlikely that the White Tower would choose to pursue them now. Ben and Priscilla determined to follow them as well, and take Ian with them. Things were going to get more complicated for a while, and the Council of Leaders was due to hold many urgent meetings in succession.
Rebecca and Daniel were not without a twinge of anxiety as they said goodbye to their children and grandchildren. "You all be careful, now," Rebecca said, kissing Kate. "The war might be over for now, but that doesn't mean things are perfectly safe. Come down here again as soon as you can."
"I'll try to send word with folks traveling down to the southern camps, if we can't get here ourselves soon," Ben promised.
* * *
"I had no choice," Ned Thornton said. "That wildling brute Priscilla lives
with got me cornered. I was forced to sign the goddamn rag he shoved in my face."
He reached for the cigar tray. His fingers were shaking.
"Calm down, Ned," Andrew Van Wullen said, taking a sip of whiskey.
Thornton looked vaguely relieved. "You don't blame me, then?"
"No, of course not. In these circumstances, you had no choice. But this doesn't mean there is nothing we can do."
"Really?" Ned sounded skeptical. "You have the copy of the damn thing right here. So tell me, what can we do?"
Andrew Van Wullen topped off his glass and pulled the copy of the treaty toward him. He squinted and read through, very carefully, with a beady eye. "Well, it's clear that we can't outlaw their pathetic little settlement. We can't take over the lands to the west. We can't block the cross-Boundary passages, nor cut them off from supplies and fuel."
"That's just what I'm saying—" Ned began, but Van Wullen raised an arm and he fell silent.
"Right. So in a way, we have our hands tied, because we can't throw them off directly. But nowhere in this treaty does it say that we can't act against them in other ways."
Ned looked up. "What did you have in mind?"
"Tax penalties," Andrew Van Wullen said. "We have no authority over the cross-Boundary assets now, but remember, many residents of Resurrection Town and the surrounding farms, those with legal status, have savings and assets within the Boundary. We can tax them so cleverly that it won't be profitable or practical to keep these assets, bank accounts, and pension programs."
Ned frowned. "But can we do that? Would that be legal?"
"Certainly. We do that by granting the cross-Boundary settlement the status of a foreign country. It's part of the treaty, right? Legalizing them? Well, read up on the laws regarding Canada that were set up in the post-War years. Canada was better off than we were at those times, and there was a trickle of refugees escaping up north that our government just couldn't allow, because it would depopulate us to the point of being hardly sustainable. So there was a series of laws which made it clear that anyone who goes off to Canada, basically goes off with their bare ass, leaving all their savings and assets in the hands of the state. This is history now, but the laws are there, and can be used to our advantage in the present case."