Liquid Stone

Liquid Stone - Chapter One

The Inquisitor snorted while he talked. His neck was so thick he couldn't suck in enough air for a few words without a slight snore. He waved his hand over a glass disk embedded in the middle of the steal table between us. The disk lit up yellow indicating the audio-video device was recording. He glowered over a clip board clamping an inch of scribbled forms.

"Devaney Shea." Snort. "Age 18. Date of birth, April 19, 2025. Brown hair, brown eyes." Snort. He looked at me as if to verify I had these traits. When satisfied by my shoulder-length thick waves and, blood-shot and drooping, but caramel-colored eyes, he went back to his clip board.

Snore. Gurgle. "Height five-foot, two. Approximate weight, 115." Now, he glowered at me.

"I've-I've been hungry a lot lately," I whispered. I was thin as a rail.

Double snort. I'd swear that one was intentional.  He continued, "Residence unknown. Seen last in Erie, Pennsylvania, with a Mr. Liam Archer--"

"Doctor," I spoke too loudly. Then I lowered my voice and bowed my head in shame for correcting Mr. Mountain-man, "Dr. Archer."

Deep snort. Almost a gasp. "Miss Shea," he fixed his creepy yellow eyes on mine and exhaled rotten egg smelling hot breath all over my face, "do you know why you are here?"

Keeping my voice and head low, "Yes. I think so."

Silence. No snorts. No words.

"You want to know if I'm a fake."  That didn't seem to suit him.  "Um, and a traitor."

With a bellowing laugh, mixed with multiple snorts and a few clucks he barked, "Oh, I already know you're all that!" He sat back deep into his chair and raise his feet to rest on the table. "Why don't you start at the beginning, Miss Shea. The UOS is very interested in all the specifics." 

I couldn't tell him everything. I worried I was too tired to sift through the past six months and not exclude incriminating details.   I knew I was a traitor.  But, I wasn't a fake.

It starts with Jamie and ends with Jamie.

Ten years ago, before Jamie's accident, when the United States was still thriving in a new government under President Carmen Carey, kids were happy. Heck, everyone was happy. Carey had joined initiatives with Britain, Canada, the Soviet Union, and the United European Republic to form an international strong-hold alliance that eliminated the need for economic relations or reliance on the rest of the world. Five countries bowed out of world-wide involvement that had historically led them to costly wars and tragic terrorist acts. A smaller team led loyalty to peace and prosperity for these countries' entire populations. Hunger disappeared, the drug war was stamped out, the economy soared, healthcare was easy, education was rich, and people were blissful.  The rest of the world didn't see such rewards. Aide for natural disasters and hunger relief efforts continued from the International Five, but greed and mistrust within the countries excluded from the new prosperity bred vicious attacks and invasions on each other.  

Unfortunately, the bliss did not flourish in the corporate sector at home either. International business took a grave dive for several years. Despite the financial assistance and continued campaign for patience from the new federal governments, large companies took a hit. Although I don't know the intricacies of all of it, since there was still a McDonald's in China and a Disney Kingdom in Mexico, the business gods fiercely protested. Politicians no longer let them rule. They were demoted and their pocket books showed as much.

No one saw the new order coming. While small businesses were expanding and families were celebrating, a secret society simmered.  The Bidwarren Group, named after Doctor George Bidwarren, a renowned economist, met secretly and designed a new constitution for the United Ordered States. Missing their politician-lined pockets, top executives and brilliant minds joined forces, not to re-establish their silent hold on the government, but to outwardly take over full power.  Order means rule. And, rule they did. Well-dressed militia stood on every corner in every US city. Banks fell into their hands immediately and the media cowered.  A select group gained free college educations at a few top schools while state universities closed. Entrepreneurs stood in unemployment lines and welfare had to be re-instituted.  Within 24 months, trade gates opened world-wide and the old United Nations re-organized. So did the taxes, and poverty, and crime. The UOS leaders claimed this was the fault of protesting rebels still loyal to the exiled Carey.