MacArthur's Freehold

Chapter 42

Chapter 42 -- LIFLUOHRJHJC

Grant Page's phone buzzed. Luther's name was on the screen, and he swiped the answer button.

"Grant here" he said.

"Hello, Grant. This is Luther. Would it be possible to have a meeting soon?"

"Sure" Grant said. "We're all here just now, when's a good time?"

"As soon as possible. Can we meet over here?"

"Just a second" said Grant. "Let me check."

Bill and Arthur were there, they called Gerald and Douglas to confirm their availability.

"OK, it looks good" said Grant. "You want to meet here or at your place?"

"It would probably be easier for the five of you to come here than to get the seven of us over there - would you mind coming?"

"We can be there in fifteen, maybe twenty minutes." said Grant.

"That's fine" said Luther. "We'll see you shortly then."

They had had a occasional conversations over the past few months, mostly about the continuing deterioration of the system. Already firearms prohibitions were making their way through the congress, largely unchallenged. The minority party had never been willing to fight without superior numbers, and had not had those in years. The process of confiscation was merely awaiting final approval, and only then would anyone know how it would go.

The 'education reform' law was now on the books, and by the beginning of the next school year all children under the age of eighteen would be required to attend an approved school. Private schools were for the present allowed, but had to be licensed. Thus shutting them down was simply a matter of paperwork.

It was the latter, Grant and his fellows suspected, that Luther wanted to discuss. They themselves had not yet decided on a course of action for their own children, and the coming end of the current school term would signal a time for decision. The government would likely begin the process of rounding up the home-schooled children for registration well before the beginning of the next.

It was certainly the most pressing, Grant thought. They got up and went out to where their vehicles were parked, awaiting the arrival of their comrades. Once they had arrived, they got into two of the trucks and drove over to Luther's settlement.Luther and all of the elders were there, and they sat down to talk.

"You've probably guessed what we wish to discuss" said Luther. "as you will be dealing with the same matter, presumably."

"The schools" said Grant. "Yes, we seem to be up against it, or soon will be."

"Have you reached a decision?" Luther asked.

"No, we haven't" said Grant. "But we'll have to soon. I'm guessing you're not planning to turn your children over to the state."

"No, we aren't" said Luther. "As I said before, if we resist they kill us or put us in prison and take our children anyway. If we don't we will watch them taken away, perhaps never to see them again."

"The only other option" said Bill "for those who can afford it, is to put them in private schools. And most people can't afford it, and it would be a brief respite, if any at all. The approved schools will sooner or later have to do the same indoctrination as the government schools."

"We don't see a way out" said Luther. "Perhaps we could hide our children, for a time, but even giving over to a life like hunted animals they must eventually find us."