The Shock of the New

Chapter 26: Arrival

As the San Angeles express thundered it's way across the plains of W.E.R. North America, nobody on board was aware of a pair of stowaways the train had picked up while stopping at the previous station that were currently resting in the cargo hold inside a large crate.

"Are we nearly there?" Sam asked Lawrence sleepily

"Not yet buddy" Lawrence replied "You just keep resting and we'll be there before you know it"

Sam lay back on the floor and smiled. As he did so, he thought about the world of the L.S.E.I. A world where he could ask questions and get answers instead of being punished by his teachers for asking them. A world where Lawrence's music was plenty instead of the state sanctioned music that regularly filled the airwaves.

Sam's thoughts then turned to his parents. By now, they must have been absolutely devastated without him. A part of him wished he could see them again and tell them about the wonderful world he was about to visit. Deep down however, Sam knew that wouldn't be possible. Although he did miss his parents, Sam just couldn't back out now. Not when the two of them were so close to their goal.

"Lawrence?" Sam said

"Yeah" Lawrence replied

"Do you have family or anything like that?"

Lawrence blinked in surprise "Why'd you ask?"

"I just wondered" Sam yawned "I mean you're much more willing to go through with this than I am. What's your story?"

Lawrence sighed "I ain't got much of one. My old man was a full on W.E.R. patriot and my mom obeyed his every whim like a good W.E.R. housewife should. Every night in my house, Dad would make us watch the news and Franklin Harrison's nightly broadcasts. If we said anything outta line or anything he felt was unpatriotic and against the laws of the state, he'd get pissed and yell if he was having a good day"
For a second, Sam wanted to ask what would happen if he was having a bad day, but decided against it.

"How'd you end up at the camp?"

"5 years ago, I got kicked outta my parents home after I insulted the W..E.R. in front of my dad one time too many. Dad said he didn't sweat his ass off to raise an anti-white cuck of a son and refused to have anything to do with me. Mom knew it was smart to agree with anything dad said. So they had me sent to a home for bad kids. That was the last time I ever saw my parents."
"What was that like?"

"Same as usual. I was forever gettin' myself into trouble for talkin' outta line or questioning what I was told and that's how I ended up at the camp"

Sam looked up at Lawrence. Although he didn't say anything, Sam had the feeling that deep down, Lawrence was extremely unhappy about all this being brought up. So he decided to change the subject.

"Have you ever met any of the L.S.E.I. before?"

"Nah" Lawrence replied "They know damn well not to make themselves visible. The W.E.R.'s always threatening to crack down on em, but they always find a way to get round it."

"How did you get that map in the first place?"

Lawrence smiled "I guess you deserve to know. A guy I used to know at at the home gave it to me. The night before I left, he came to my room and told me to get myself there. It was a way out from the hell we live in"
"Why didn't he come with you?"

"He was very sick. Said he didn't have much longer in this world, so he wanted me to go there. Apparently sending me there was a final act of disobedience. The next day, I arrived at the camp, met you and here we are"
Sam smiled "I'm glad you did"
"Me too" Lawrence replied "Now get yourself some sleep. We've got a long couple of days of walking to look forward to"