Complicit Simplicity Chapter 8

The rendezvous point was about twenty miles from the border, in an active manufacturing zone. Jon piloted their rental car, Gloria was in the navigator/copilot spot, Mose was sitting rocking chair in the back.

"Next block," Gloria instructed, "second warehouse on the right - pull up to the guard shack."

Jon followed her instructions, and slid down his window to talk to the guard. The guard just waved them in, so with a smile and a nod Jon headed toward the office next to the loading docks.

They chatted quietly as they walked by some picnic tables where workers were taking a break, and continued up a wide ramp to the office door. Once inside everything was business, lots of clerks and stock pickers were scurrying about filling orders. A clerk receptionist looked up and nodded his head toward a door leading further into the warehouse - this place was big.

As they stepped out of the office a forklift appeared driven by a young rebellious looking teen. On the forks rode a platform with poles and chains at the corners. "Hop in, Put up the safety chains, and lets take a ride."

The smiling long hair took them down a two way isle toward the back, then scooted behind a tall stack of pallets to another office nestled against the back wall. Jumping from his seat as the lift slowed to a stop, he led them into the office. "Pops" he declared, "they're here."

Th office was large and very quiet compared to the hustle of the warehouse itself. Inside were a couple of desks, several tables for sorting or auditing, and an older window van next to a rolling door at the back wall. Midas was rising from behind one of the desks as they entered, a big smile on his face.

"Welcome, we have a bit of equipment here if you want to pick through it, but of course what you carry into La-La-Dee is up to you. We also have a four passenger business van set up for you. Company name, lots of storage already full of sales materials and samples, and several hidden goodies. It has tools of your other trade included also."

They each already had tools and secrets not shared with their compatriots. Facing the specters that haunted Elldee, determination alone would not keep other's secrets safe from systematic mind invasion. They understood if they were captured they would not be abandoned by their co-hackers. But following any abduction they could not disclose unknown abilities while hoping for deliverance. When the phrase "I don't know" is a truth, no torture can discover a truth beyond it.

Everyone walked over to a table Midas indicated, and there were some cool tools on it. high speed sonic drills, belts that had saw wire as stitching, and a bunch of clever miniaturized and disguised weapons. "Everything you see is not yet on the market, their security won't even know this stuff exists. Take what you will, but you will find the multifunction watches with the XeMax name look like your specialty advertising giveaways, without your personalized engraving on the back. Yours have some special extras, let me demonstrate."

The next half hour passed pleasantly, and each decided to wear their watch, so another case of similar looking watches was loaded into the van. There were other items, clever and useful; as backups in case their plans to depend on their wits needed some support.

At Midas' suggestion they also choose some heavy personal weapons, "You will need to dispose of these once you are out of the forest, but you may need them for protection from gangs. Just across the border, while still in the forest areas; gangs have killed, raped, and looted entire villages, taking away children as slaves and recruits.

Midas walked them to the van. "It looks a bit worn, but everything is top notch and better than new - it can stand a lot of abuse and keep running. The sound deadening is excellent, and it will repulse most listening devices. There is a film on the outside that dissipates energy weapons, anything hand held, from puke rays to heavy blasters. The film will spread the energy around the vehicle and then ground it harmlessly. The van may glow a bit - but nothing dangerous should get through.

There are few heavy weapons on the other side of the border until you hit the big cities, they are mainly used for crowd suppression. If you encounter heavy mounted weapons, they will be official; your id, travel permits, check point verifications, rationing cards, and other paperwork should mollify them. Its all in the glove box for you to sort and carry.

Don't try to bribe mobile troops inland, there are many moles in the outfits and everyone is wary. You can leave some fresh fruit or a couple of packs of cigarettes on your luggage as you cross the border or reach permanent check points. Fruit will be confiscated, cigarettes will disappear; and you should be moved through quickly.

There are plenty of gangs preying on the people in Elldee, but they will be poorly armed compared to you. You should be able to ignore, outrun, or defeat them as you feel necessary. It would probably not pay to display any public heroics, Scar would not be pleased.

On this side of the border there is no telling what you will encounter, but there are no gangs. The citizens can have any weaponry they want, and some of them want the best and most powerful. If the van breaks down, stick to the roads and walk openly and slowly toward any farm house. Loving folks here, but cautious. Last year we lost seven cows, and one farmer that tried to slip into a neighbors Mellon patch - the farmer knew better.

We are like the Hoplites of ancient Greece, each warrior supplying his own arms. Sometimes neighbors or towns go together to field armored units or aircraft - but it is all first quality. No warrior will short change himself when going into battle. When your own life is at risk: you get the best training available, pick the wisest leaders, and you don't consider poor quality munitions from the lowest bidder.

That is why the gangs don't cross the border. The criminals have weapons over there, and they prefer to terrorize folks that aren't allowed arms to protect themselves or their property. Sadly, good kids that joined the police to help people have found themselves trained to act more like occupying troops of a foreign army. Pahl's police troops always show up too late to do anything except investigate and write reports. Their reports never seem to do dead or abused villagers any good.

We welcome refugees, and are happy to help them get settled, but Pahl's border guards have been trained to kill border jumpers. The poor people of Elldee are caught in a meat press, and they can't get official permission to move from the border.

Once you are past the border we may be able to get occasional reports to you, but realistically you are on your own. If someone comes up to Gloria and calls her Maria, she can say "no, that is my cousin." Or Gloria can say nothing, our operations there are always at risk of infiltration. Use your own judgment, based on circumstances.

Enough of warnings, you are professionals, you know there is danger. Let's have something to eat, then you are on your own. Pick your own time table and activities - God Bless you.

If you don't mind I'll have my son say the prayer over our meal. When Zack is not driving a forklift he is studying at BFU seminary.

Midas put on a proud smile, and slipped his arm around the boy's shoulders as Zack began to pray.

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