MacArthur's Freehold

Chapter 8

Chapter 8 -- XEQKKZWZHGOBYMTTPF

Carter finished packing and sat down to wait for Jessica to arrive. Almost three weeks earlier Jessica and Tommy had installed him in the old mobile home, and he was beginning to think of it as home. It was typical of its era, probably twenty to thirty years old, but having been remodeled at some point. It seemed to be an example of the most common type of the time, probably about fourteen by seventy feet. Evidently designed for at most a small family, there was a large master bedroom and bathroom at one end, two smaller bedrooms and a bathroom at the other end, with kitchen and living area in between. The furnishings were minimal - a couch and chair, a good-sized bed in the master bedroom, and not much else.

He was sitting on the couch now, his bags on the floor in front of him. He had not yet completely absorbed the implications of the recent events. He had been exposed to something he never suspected could exist, given his general disdain for the character of most of his countrymen. Yet it seemed serious enough, that there really was a network of organizations with both the ability and the will to actually challenge a tyrannical government with force, if it came to that. Such an operation would require incredible discipline and control. Especially with the ability of the government to spy on everyone, everywhere, all the time.

He remembered the book his cellmate had been reading. In the story, a planet was ruled by an all-powerful, tyrannical monarch. Yet large tribes of the indigenous population were able to live untouched by the government, in part by learning to live in an impassable, for the rulers, desert and by being indomitable fighters. In the short term, at least, camouflage might serve as the desert - the question was how tough would they be in a fight. He might get some ideas, he thought. Jessica would be driving him to an enclave in the south for some acclimation. He would meet members of several other groups for orientation and training.

He heard a car outside and picked up his bags and carried them to the door. Jessica was standing behind a Trailblazer which he first thought was the one Tommy had been driving, but it was a slightly different shade, more like a light beige. The rear hatch was open. Carrying his bags out and closing the door he went out to meet her.

"Morning" she said. "Ready?"

"Ready." he replied, putting his bags in and closing the door. They got in and were on their way. Jessica was dressed in what he had learned was their most common attire - jeans and a khaki shirt like the ones everyone seemed to wear. Leaving the farm they headed south.

"We'll stop in Chillicothe for breakfast" Jessica said. She had advised him to be ready to leave early, and it wasn't yet seven o'clock. The town was just a few miles away, and before long they were eating at one of the small town's homegrown restaurants. Carter knew their destination was somewhere south of Springfield, over in the Arkansas Ozarks.

"Are we going off-road?" he asked.

"Not quite" Jessica answered, "but there are some unpaved roads down there, especially where we're going."

She had told him they were going to visit an enclave in the Arkansas Ozarks, a large mountainous area mostly in south Missouri and north Arkansas. While the mountains were not especially high - the highest being around 2,500 feet - the area was mostly forested and provided cover for those seeking privacy. Their destination was in those deep forests.

They didn't discuss any business during breakfast - security was the most important rule in any public interactions, and even conversations at a restaurant table were risky. Since they didn't much in the way of small talk there was not much to say. Back on the road, Jessica filled him in on some of the details. He knew he would be meeting the members of a fairly large operation, as well as some from others. Back on the road again, Jessica continued.