Walking Dollar Bills

Chapter 48 (2/2): Homebound

Looking over Richie's shoulder, Amara laughs at Byrd's defiant casualness. The Nationalist still wears her black mid-drift top and jean shorts. Amara notices that her gait is much improved as she no longer walks with a limp despite the bandages wrapped around her leg.

"I thought you were going to walk in the parade?" asks Byrd placing a hand on the top of Richie's head, "I was hopelessly searching for you until I ran into Gumbo, who told me you were kicking it up here."

"I thought about it, but I couldn't pass up the view," says Amara.

"You don't have to explain yourself," says Byrd laughing and peering over the balcony herself, "I love heights too. Is the Freedom Flyer ready for their trip, Richie?"

Richie pinches the skin between his eyes, "It slipped my mind, Byrd. I'll go check on things. It's almost time for our heroes' departure anyway."

His jewelry dances to its own music as he scurries away. He disappears briefly before returning and giving Amara an emphatic thumbs up. His eyes shine with a liveliness that can finally emerge now that the source of his despair is deceased.

"How come he doesn't call you ma'am?" asks Amara.

Byrd pushes herself onto the balustrade in a sitting position facing her friend, "Just know I have my methods. I got nothing against people having manners, but calling me 'madam' makes me feel like I have cobwebs on my wings."

The women share an honest laugh before Amara continues, "All of this wouldn't have been possible if you didn't save me that day."

"You're talking about the factory? The funny thing is that I literally had to save myself before I saved you" says Byrd, "It seems like that day was years ago."

"So, what are your plans for Mao country? The Nationalist are in control now."

"We're figuring things out," starts Byrd, "Me and Horatio. Even though the guy was working for Dictator Beneficence, he really turned one-eighty. I know he can be trusted; plus, working so close to the dictator helped him build relationships with people outside of the country."

"I've been thinking a lot about different types of governments and economic systems," continues Byrd, "I want to transition this country from a dictatorship into a democratic socialist society."

"We're not going back to a dictatorship, but we can't allow a few people to make all of the decisions. This system makes sense because it will give all of us a voice. I don't care if you're a woman working in the silk factory or a merchant, every voice will represent one vote equally. Also, everyone should have a say in the economic decisions that affect our country."

"No offense, but I don't want to replicate what goes on in your country of Laissez-Faire. You have elected politicians, but unfettered capitalism allows people like Elliot Tusk and P.J. Moribund to hoard all of the wealth, which obviously gives them political influence and corrupts the integrity of elections."

Byrd's eyebrows pinch down as she speaks, "I also want to avoid the inequality that your country is built on. The Vipers get the scraps, the Hornets work their asses to the bone to barely make enough money to survive, while Humans enjoy privileges the other two races can only dream of."

"We have to build the New Mao country on equality and quality of life," continues Byrd, "That's why Horatio and I are going to co-lead this provisional government until we get everything in place. He'll deal with the bureaucratic stuff, while I connect with the people on the grassroots level. We have to convince them that things are going to change for good, and that starts with the people at the top. Neither of us can become another Dictator Beneficence."