MacArthur's Freehold

Chapter 39

Chapter 39 -- KGAAANTZTUFCOTZMRNV

Grant Page and Bill Clayton had driven over the neighboring community to see how things stood with them. They had called Luther earlier, and he greeted them as they parked their truck and went to the door. After the usual minimal pleasantries were exchanged - none of them being given to idle talk - they sat down to talk.

Their main interest was in the church community's reaction to the recent news, particularly with respect to the upcoming election. The primaries were almost wrapped up, but they all agreed that the election was no longer in question.

"We're interested in what you're thinking about what the Democrat candidates are saying" Grant said "in particular about the home school issue, and the likely action on guns."

"I'm sure you're hearing the same thing we do" said Luther. They're promising to end education outside of public schools, or private schools under government regulation. And of course the Republicans are opposed, but they have no chance of winning. So I'd guess that once the new government is in next January, it will start soon after."

"Same here" said Grant. "Do you have a plan? For when they come to enforce it?"

"We're discussing it" said Luther "and praying. We don't know yet how we'll deal with it. A lot depends on how fast they move. If they come around looking for our children right away, they it's likely there will be trouble right away. They probably won't try to enforce it until the next school year starts."

"Probably" said Grant. "It may be they'll spend the remainder of the current year and the summer preparing, and then we'll see how they go about it. They probably don't have the means, yet, to find every child that isn't in the public schools. They're probably close though, and if most people comply they won't have to many to look for."

"Sadly, many will" said Luther. "I expect there will be just the small groups like us to be rounded up."

"And when they show up at your gates demanding your children?"

"The only thing I can say with certainty is that our children will not be in harm's way." Luther said. "We'll have them somewhere safe if it looks like violence will occur."

"You plan to refuse then?" asked Bill.

"If we surrender our children, they will be sent to government schools to be indoctrinated in submission to the state. If we do not, and we resist, we will be killed or imprisoned, and our children still be taken. We will have given up our lives or freedom without accomplishing anything. Unless you know of a better way."

"Short of hiding out in the wilderness, even more remote than this, we don't know of one" said Bill. "At this point it's looking a lot like we may go down fighting, take as many of them as we can with us. At least there will be some retribution."

"You are not yet determined on this course?" Luther asked.

"Not yet" said Bill. "It just doesn't look like there will be any other choices."

"The other major item" said Grant "is guns. That's the other big thing. They're promising to essentially disarm the population. Probably very restrictive laws, like Australia did a few years back - nothing more than single shot or double shotguns, bolt action rifles, and no handguns without a license. And everything registered. I'd expect a lot more resistance to that."

"I'm sure there will be." said Luther. "I wonder which will come first?"

"Yeah" said Grant. "You'd think they would go after the guns first thing, to make the rest easier. But that can take a while, and each faction wants its own agenda to have priority. And those who want do capture the children don't want to wait."