The Land of the Free (29 page)

Burrows heard
the announcement from Colonel March, ordering everyone to report to the main
hangar.  If recent experience taught him anything, it was not to take such
instructions at face value.  He had no intention of reporting to the hangar. 
He made straight for the base perimeter.  In the darkness, he only had to lie
low twice to avoid being spotted by one of the Morningstar mercenaries.  They
were rounding up everyone as a routine matter, and thanks to the cooperation of
Colonel March, weren’t meeting any resistance.

Burrows was
able to walk right out of Laughlin, and onto route 90.  It was only about five
miles to Del Rio, he reasoned.  He walked through the night, getting off the
highway when he saw the approaching column of heavy armored vehicles.  They had
come through Del Rio, and continued east on route 90.  He arrived at the door of
his cousin Jenny at dawn, and was supremely relieved when she opened the door
and hugged him tightly.  “We heard about your disappearance, and assumed the
worst.  Especially with what happened to Jason.”

“I escaped from
a base in Mexico and went straight to Laughlin to report what I’d seen.  The CO
there jailed me for doing it.  They were invaded, and surrendered.”

Jenny welcomed
him in, and woke her husband, Tony.  Burrows filled them in on everything he’d
seen, including the invasion currently underway.  “Did you hear the rumbling
all last night?”

“Yeah, what was that?”

“It was the mechanized army from
San Gustavo on the move.  The United States is being invaded as we speak.”

They turned on the TV, and saw the
horrific news of the Pentagon massacre, which served as a backdrop for news of
ports being taken over, air bases falling, a possible EMP strike on American
forces in Taiwan, and massive highway closures all over the country.  They
stayed tuned through breakfast, when the coverage was interrupted by an address
from the President.  They saw Torres deliver his last address and slump down in
his chair, presumably dead.

“Cam, I’d like
you to come with me to a meeting of former Guard troops I’m attending today,”
said Tony.  “If this is what I think it is, we have to organize ourselves,
align with other groups around the country, and plan a defense.  We can’t count
on our troops overseas.  You have information that needs to spread across
America.”

“You’re on,
Tony.  I’m done with official channels.  From now on, it’s going to be the
people fighting for America, independent of our institutions.”

“President
Torres was hardened against launching the strike,” said Hanna Morgensen.  “It
dawned on him that we were manipulating him, and the visitors we let in to see
him were of no help.  Instead of pinning it on the Chinese, they too decided it
was manipulation.  Since Mr. Connolly reported to me, I take full
responsibility for our handling of Torres.”

“One can never
quite rely on elected leaders,” said Councilor Three.  “We can pre-select them
all we like, but, in the end, they’re never as trustworthy as our people.  The
Council absolves you of the blame.  But our situation is now problematic.”

“The lack of a
nuclear strike has complicated matters for my administration,” said Derek
Ellis.  “The Chinese government won’t recognize me.  They won’t even speak to
me.  They think I’m the one who tried to launch the strike.  Instead, they’re
calling for their soldiers to return home with complete amnesty.  My control is
tenuous at best.  I implore you all to press upon the world’s governments the
need to prevent American soldiers from leaving.  If they return to America in
large numbers, their oath to the Constitution will make commanding them
impossible.”

“Mr. Ellis,
your task became impossible when the strike failed to occur,” said Councilor
One.  You will not be able to maintain control of America in the long run.  But
you can still work into our plans.”

“Yes,
Councilor.”

“You must
appear to be doing everything to maintain your control.  Take a heavy handed
approach.  Arrest bloggers and other dissidents.  Execute a few, or even a lot. 
Deport entire towns to FEMA camps if you even suspect they harbor terrorist
sympathizers.  The economy is already beginning to disintegrate.  Push it along
a little.  Nationalize a few industries.  Shut down others.  We want you to
come across as nothing short of a tyrant.”

“May I ask,
Councilor, how that will advance the plan?”

“We’re close to
appointing the Seventh Councilor,” said Councilor Four.  We’d like the United
States to disintegrate economically, while suffering under an oppressive
dictator.  Europe will bankrupt shortly, when we order the end of the rescue
packages.  Chaos will follow.  We’ll introduce the Seventh Councilor into this
environment.  He’ll take a public leadership role, will stabilize Europe, and
liberate the United States.  With the economies destroyed and debt overhangs
reduced or eliminated, there will be an economic boom.  The Seventh Councilor
will take credit for this.  We feel this will give him all the credibility he
needs to govern the world.  We’ll see to it that you’re evacuated from the
United States at the right time.  You will be richly rewarded.”

“I understand,
Councilor.  You may count on my cooperation,” finished Ellis.

“There’s still
the problem of China,” said Councilor One.

“Inflation in
China is a serious concern, Councilor,” said Yu-Xin Zheng.  “You control the
Chinese central bank, so raise interest rates.  Collapse the money supply. 
With the American economy collapsing, China’s export markets are shrinking
rapidly.  If Europe follows, so much the better.  Act now, and the Chinese
economy will be a shambles within three months.  Follow this by having your
corporations close their Chinese operations.  Within six months, there should
be societal chaos.  Your problem will be solved from within.
”

“Are you
concerned about the government taking control of the Chinese central bank, Mr.
Zheng?”

“It’s
irrelevant, Councilor.  By the time it did, the process would be too far
along.  You could add some insurance, however.  An attack on Iran’s oil
infrastructure would ensure there was no recovery.  China is incapable of
quickly replacing Iran’s oil, from a logistical perspective.  If Mr. Ellis
could do this, it would eliminate any chance China could weather the storm.

“Excellent
suggestion, Mr. Zheng.  Mr. Ellis, can you arrange this attack?”

“Yes,
Councilor, it should be a simple matter.  I presume you’ll send an envoy with
the precise timing, once that’s determined?”

“Yes, Mr.
Ellis.  We will keep you fully informed.”

…

Once back in
the United States, Ellis called Ian Rennson for a meeting.  “They’re asking me
to take the fall, Ian.”

“What fall,
Derek?”

“You can see
for yourself how everything’s falling apart.  They want me to be their Hitler. 
Completely destroy the economy, the society.  That way their new golden boy can
swoop in and save everyone from me.”

“Did they
promise you safety?”

“Sure.  Just
like they promised it to Milosevic, and Ceausescu, and the rest.  The list is
long.  But you can be absolutely sure that they always lynch their whipping boy
in the end.”

“So what are
you going to do?  Play along?”

“Yes, for a
while.  But I’m going to give them a little surprise when they least expect
it.”

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