The Revolution

Chapter Ten

Jackie stood, leaning against one of the supports of the skyborne D Train tracks. He was looking down at an old man who looked like he hadn't bathed since The Collapse. Jackie was too polite to show it, but the man's putrid smell burned Jackie's nostrils.
This is the homeless camp's leader? Jackie thought Time to be diplomatic.
He had the idea recently that if he could find some way to pull in the talents of the homeless population, The Farm would instantly have a nearly invisible intelligence network.
Two nights ago, while taking the subway to meet The Shadow, the answer slapped him in the face.
The old man looked up at Jackie, his eyes glassy and distant.
"I hear from the others that you're the one to talk to if I have business." Jackie began.
"Not interested," the old man said.
"Sir, if you would just listen, I think I have a proposal that will benefit both of us."
"I ain't sellin' no more of these folks into your sick medical experiments, mister."
Jackie had barely enough time to register "no more," let alone think of the implications.
"No, sir, none of that," Jackie croaked. "I've seen the crackdowns the police have been running on camps like this and would like to offer protection."
The old man's eyes became sharply focused, "What's the catch? We ain't got no money."
The old man didn't trust Jackie. Jackie couldn't blame the man.
"All I want is information, all the big things your people see. This camp has to have gossip about what's going on in this city."
"Who do you work for?" the old man's eyes shot open and he began looking around him for threats that were not there.
Jackie put his hands on the old man's shoulders to calm him. "Nobody wants to hurt you. The group I'm with just wants to liberate this state from the dictators who run it."
That answer calmed the man a bit, but he still looked at Jackie with a bit of suspicion.
Jackie got ready to make an offer. He hadn't told Rebecca about the first offer, this visit to the camp had been impulsive. This next offer would have been an immediate "no" answer from Rebecca. Jackie all too often lived by the motto, "It's better to ask forgiveness than permission."
"The people I'm with have a farm. If there are any willing and able workers, there's work for them there. We can share food between the network."
The old man's eyes softened at the mention of food. "If you are being truthful, I will run it by our people. How do I get ahold of you?"
"I will be back in town in two days. I can check in with you then."
This seemed satisfactory to the old man. Now he just had to figure out a way to pitch it to Rebecca.

Walking around The Farm, Rebecca James was struck by just how well the place had begun to run in the past month. The original five in the cell had grown to twenty-five thanks to Jackie's homeless work program. It turns out that when given the opportunity to work, the transient community was willing to put in labor with the promise of a meal. The autumn vegetables were being harvested, and the barn was fuller than it had been in years. Her father would have been proud if he was still around.
Her father's final weeks had been painful and confusing as the cancer finally ate away at his brain. He didn't recognize her in the end, and the look of terror on his face as he finally passed away would haunt her for the rest of her life.
Fritz Baldwin came striding up to Rebecca, a doccuboard in his hands. Rebecca waved as he walked up.
"Becks, three more workers arrived on the train this morning," Fritz said as he walked up.
"Where do they keep coming from?" Rebecca had to ask.
"Jackie said he had come into contact with three sizeable camps. The capable and willing find their way here."
"We don't have room for many more people."
"That's true, but I have some ideas for a quick and dirty barracks. We have the manpower to get it done pretty quickly."
Before The Collapse, Fritz had been an engineer of some renown. At one point, he had made large machines of industry, now he was designing sleeping quarters. He had never been happier. He considered it a kind of meditation to keep up the farm equipment, and the machinery operated at top condition at all times.
Fritz Baldwin had also found great success at managing the daily workload of the new workers. The barn's rapidly growing stores of vegetables had begun being traded with nearby farms for neat and dairy and other items necessary for the expanding population of the farm. The wood for the new barracks would be received from the Malkin farm for the low, low price of a half-ton of various crops. It was a good deal.
The farm ran as a pure commune. Each person slotted into the role they most fit into, and everyone had everything that they needed. Everyone was treated with more dignity than some of the transients had ever seen. The Farm ran like a machine.
"Kayla has some things to say about our new manpower. She's in the South Field doing some slugthrower training with her babies."
Rebecca rolled her eyes at Kayla and her "babies," a pair of BA-7 subcompact semi-automatic pistols that went everywhere on her hips. Kayla had always been prepared for a fight, but since the death of her wife, the preparedness had become almost an obsession.
Rebecca shook her head, "Tell her I'm at The Tree. She'll know what I mean."
Fritz nodded then turned on his heels to go to the South Field to relay the message.
The Tree had what, as a child, was her favorite view of the whole Farm. Now it was her least favorite place to be. She didn't know why she had buried Bud Maklin here, but the fact was, she had.
Not a day passed when she did not think of that night. She still vividly remembered the rain and wind mixed with the man's screams. It awoke her in the darkest hours of the night, sweat moistening her pillow. It brought her no pleasure, but her sense of justice demanded it at that moment. Now she visited The Tree daily, she guessed as some sort of reminder of her sin.
"Why do you insist on visiting this particular tree so often?" Kayla inquired as she walked up. She had found Rebecca many times at The Tree.
Rebecca turned to face her comrade. She realized that she had tears on her cheek she tried to nonchalantly wipe away. "Memories, I guess. Maybe someday I'll tell you about them."
"Ah," was all Kayla, who knew well enough about traumas, said in response.
"Fritz said you had an idea about what to do with the new people?"
"I think I can sus out the trustworthy ones and give them field work."
"They already have enough field work."
"No, dummy, our other work. Jackie's plan involves intel, so we could have a light, quick and mostly invisible tactical team."
Kayla had extensive "urban warfare" training in the Grandville Army, so she was the only one in the outfit who could do this training.
"I don't feel comfortable with that."
"Don't feel comfortable with what? Sending people into danger? What do you think you've been doing for the past nine months? What about Striker?" Kayla almost whispered his name almost as if to not summon his spirit.
The reminder of Bryan Striker's death hit home. Rebecca was scared of breaking down into tears, but hs ehardened her heart, her decison must be made on logic, not emotion.
"I'm not comfortable with a bunch of transients I don't know being inducted into our illegal dealings."
"Listen, Rebecca, there are at least nine former soldiers who feel forgotten about by the governement we fought for. They're tired of their existance being criminalized by a Governor who took the same oath they did to protect Grandville and uphold the constitution. We gravitate to each other like flies to shit. Hell, there are four I would take to war tomorrow if neccessary."
Kayla put her hands on Rebecca's shoulders, "Let me handle it. Any security leaks will be my responcibility. We're not going to do anything to change society with just the four of us."
Rebecca knew Kayla was right. She turned back to the tree. She knew that she was being asked to send people to fithg and die for a cause. She didn't know if she inspired the kind of loyalty to ask such a thing.
Kayla did, though, and she believed in the cause.
FInally, Rebecca said as she looked at the base of The Tree, "Get me a list and we'll talk specifics." A single tear rolled down her face.