1 00:00:02,160 --> 00:00:07,640 Speaker 1: Chapter fourteen Roland. Once he'd been dismissed, Roland had made 2 00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: it his immediate business to get as high as post 3 00:00:10,039 --> 00:00:13,240 Speaker 1: humanly possible before he was needed. This was not a 4 00:00:13,280 --> 00:00:16,920 Speaker 1: difficult task. Rolling fuck had been built to keep buzzes going. 5 00:00:17,560 --> 00:00:20,279 Speaker 1: The main roller's bar stocked an assortment of beers mixed 6 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: with LSD laudanum, dimethyl trip tomine, and a half dozen 7 00:00:23,480 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: shogun chemicals. Roland started off by sampling them all. He 8 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:30,400 Speaker 1: drank until the fireworks showing his head was indistinguishable from 9 00:00:30,440 --> 00:00:33,760 Speaker 1: the actual fireworks outside and those real Am I just 10 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:37,680 Speaker 1: fucking lit? Roland decided that answering that question wouldn't make 11 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:40,879 Speaker 1: him happier. He lost himself for a while and drifted 12 00:00:40,880 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: from one of the fondel boats to a dance party 13 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: in a field underneath the main gantry. After hours of that, 14 00:00:46,320 --> 00:00:48,479 Speaker 1: Roland had his fill of rhythm, so he found his 15 00:00:48,520 --> 00:00:50,680 Speaker 1: way to a coke benge in a weird purple house 16 00:00:50,720 --> 00:00:53,080 Speaker 1: atop one of the spindles. The rest of the night 17 00:00:53,120 --> 00:00:55,520 Speaker 1: he spent testing the limits of his talks and filters 18 00:00:55,640 --> 00:00:59,280 Speaker 1: and his tolerance for human contact. The latter came first, 19 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: he had and in the coke party and stumbled through 20 00:01:01,880 --> 00:01:04,520 Speaker 1: rolling fuck until he reached a small booth with baggies 21 00:01:04,560 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: of umnuloch, a d M T based hallucinogen made from 22 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:12,440 Speaker 1: synthetically grown giraffe liver. Thanks got fuzzy. After that, there 23 00:01:12,480 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: was a fireworks fight on a spindle that caught a 24 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:16,920 Speaker 1: shack on fire. He downed a shipload of mescal and 25 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:19,760 Speaker 1: as the sun breached, and then quite suddenly it was 26 00:01:19,800 --> 00:01:22,200 Speaker 1: afternoon and he was lying on his back across the 27 00:01:22,240 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 1: baking hot metal of one of the spindles. Schoolfucker Mike 28 00:01:25,400 --> 00:01:27,679 Speaker 1: stood above him, naked as the day he was born, 29 00:01:27,720 --> 00:01:30,120 Speaker 1: and holding some sort of frosty purple beverage in a 30 00:01:30,200 --> 00:01:33,679 Speaker 1: large teaky cup. Hey man, Mike said, as he took 31 00:01:33,720 --> 00:01:36,440 Speaker 1: a sip, Nanny as he told me to find you. 32 00:01:36,440 --> 00:01:40,440 Speaker 1: You straight enough to talk to people. Roland nodded. He wasn't, really, 33 00:01:40,520 --> 00:01:44,240 Speaker 1: but he could sober up fast. Maybe sober wasn't the 34 00:01:44,319 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: right word. His brain could flood itself with focusing drugs 35 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,160 Speaker 1: to offset the hallucinogens, and he had a vial of 36 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:54,360 Speaker 1: liquid meth amphetamine somewhere in his pack that might do 37 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: the trick. Roland sat up, grunted, and waved a hand 38 00:01:57,640 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: at Mike. Then he dug around in his pack for 39 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,200 Speaker 1: the vile. He found it and drained half. All right, 40 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 1: let's go, he said. Let's go to the place and 41 00:02:05,520 --> 00:02:09,359 Speaker 1: do the things. Mike helped him down the spindle. Roland's 42 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,160 Speaker 1: unsteady legs were proof that he'd managed to find himself 43 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,440 Speaker 1: a worthy drug bench. The satisfaction he felt from that 44 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,240 Speaker 1: mixed well with the initial meth euphoria. By the time 45 00:02:18,280 --> 00:02:20,680 Speaker 1: they reached the conference room, he was wired as fuck 46 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 1: and kind of wishing he'd picked a different drug to 47 00:02:23,160 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: spend his mood. Roland sat down and eased into his chair. 48 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: A short, young Anglo fellow entered next and sat down 49 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,959 Speaker 1: on the opposite side of the conference table. He looked 50 00:02:32,960 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 1: and smelled nervous. Roland paid him little mind. He was 51 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:38,840 Speaker 1: too jittery from the meth to want to talk. He 52 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,440 Speaker 1: decided a nice dose of some downers would help his 53 00:02:41,480 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: situation and rooted around for his heroine kit. At that moment, 54 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:49,280 Speaker 1: another young man entered the room. He was short, Hispanic, 55 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:52,480 Speaker 1: and about twenty one years old. Nanni Yazzi embraced the 56 00:02:52,520 --> 00:02:56,080 Speaker 1: kid schoofucker might clapped him on the shoulder. They started talking, 57 00:02:56,160 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 1: the kid said something that seemed to surprise most of 58 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:00,920 Speaker 1: the people in the room. Roll and half paid attention 59 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: to all that while he loaded up his syringe and 60 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:05,560 Speaker 1: tied off his arm. He stopped when he realized everyone 61 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 1: else in the room was staring. Hey, something wrong, he 62 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:13,160 Speaker 1: asked Rowland. Nana Yazi said in a warm voice as 63 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:16,519 Speaker 1: she gestured to the Hispanic kid. This is Mannie. He's 64 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: going to be your partner for the mission. He grew 65 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:21,440 Speaker 1: up in the Republic and he's a skilled negotiator. He'll 66 00:03:21,440 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 1: help you blend in while you do your work. Er cool, 67 00:03:25,400 --> 00:03:28,959 Speaker 1: Roland grunted and returned to his heroine. Roland, if you 68 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,200 Speaker 1: wouldn't mind, Reggie was about to speak. Nana yazi smile 69 00:03:32,320 --> 00:03:35,600 Speaker 1: was as indulgent as ever. He's uncovered something important about 70 00:03:35,640 --> 00:03:39,400 Speaker 1: the Heavenly Kingdom. It might be useful to you, Roland shrugged. 71 00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,360 Speaker 1: Mossy's galis to which bartenders and playing on make a 72 00:03:42,440 --> 00:03:45,440 Speaker 1: pass of a whiskey. Sara can't imagine caring. But if 73 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:47,840 Speaker 1: you let me finish this, he jiggled the syringe in 74 00:03:47,880 --> 00:03:49,880 Speaker 1: the air, I might be able to at least pay 75 00:03:49,920 --> 00:03:53,080 Speaker 1: attention right now, I'm quite too met out to focus. 76 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:57,480 Speaker 1: The old man leaned forward and sighed. The kid looked horrified. 77 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: He started working his mouth and what Roland was pretty 78 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: sure must be the prelude to some sort of expression 79 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: of shock or offense. Schoolfucker Mike preempted him. Lead Roland 80 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:09,880 Speaker 1: shoot up. Trust me, drugs aren't going to make him 81 00:04:09,920 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: any more or less effective here. Rowland grinned. Skullfucker Mike 82 00:04:14,160 --> 00:04:16,520 Speaker 1: clearly knew him, even if he could only sort of 83 00:04:16,520 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: remember skullfucker Mike. He went back to tying off his 84 00:04:19,800 --> 00:04:22,039 Speaker 1: arm and shooting up, while the younger Brits stumbled into 85 00:04:22,080 --> 00:04:26,080 Speaker 1: the start of his speech. Yes, well, I've been going 86 00:04:26,120 --> 00:04:29,000 Speaker 1: over the last few days of successful vehicle based bombings 87 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:32,080 Speaker 1: on checkpoints from Galveston and Lake Houston and all across 88 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,480 Speaker 1: the Dallas Fort Worth area. In total, I've identified three 89 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 1: hundred twenty one bombings that appear to have been carried 90 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:41,200 Speaker 1: out as part of this overall offensive. Two hundred and 91 00:04:41,240 --> 00:04:45,160 Speaker 1: forty of those bombings involve autonomous vehicles hitting dedicated autonomous 92 00:04:45,240 --> 00:04:49,000 Speaker 1: vehicle checkpoints. Right on cue, a projection map flickered to 93 00:04:49,080 --> 00:04:51,680 Speaker 1: life on the wall behind him. Hundreds of red dots 94 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:54,640 Speaker 1: populated a map of the conflict riddled regions of north 95 00:04:54,680 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: central Texas. It looked like the pattern of attacks you'd 96 00:04:57,760 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: want in order to funnel the stf's limited resources towards 97 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:04,159 Speaker 1: the least defensible chunks of their line. What was weird 98 00:05:04,320 --> 00:05:07,080 Speaker 1: was that so many bomb rigged autonomous vehicles had gotten 99 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: through the scanners. So Roland asked, how the fuckers do it? 100 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: Munch zero days. Reggie shook his head. That's what I 101 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:18,000 Speaker 1: thought at first, he said, But these attacks actually started 102 00:05:18,040 --> 00:05:20,360 Speaker 1: more than a month before this offensive. If they were 103 00:05:20,360 --> 00:05:22,800 Speaker 1: relying on exploits, the s d F I T folks 104 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:25,840 Speaker 1: would have caught something by now. The most likely explanation 105 00:05:25,920 --> 00:05:28,320 Speaker 1: is that the mattys found some way to make vehicles 106 00:05:28,320 --> 00:05:33,359 Speaker 1: that aren't autonomous. Seemed that way, yeah, Manny said. The 107 00:05:33,400 --> 00:05:36,360 Speaker 1: martyrs have tried to hide drivers and autonomous vehicles before 108 00:05:36,640 --> 00:05:39,479 Speaker 1: the s d F watches for it, which means the 109 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:42,919 Speaker 1: martys have figured out something new, said the journalist, some 110 00:05:43,040 --> 00:05:45,640 Speaker 1: new way to hide a human driver that doesn't register 111 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:50,320 Speaker 1: on conventional senses. And that way is nanny, Yazi asked. 112 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,840 Speaker 1: Reggie's face reddened. He grunted and swallowed, and then spoke, 113 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: I've got no idea. But I think I know where 114 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,880 Speaker 1: they're putting these new vehicles together. He's Napta's fingers and 115 00:06:00,920 --> 00:06:03,400 Speaker 1: the projected image changed to a map of a city 116 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: called McKinney and the Dallas suburbs. It zoomed into an 117 00:06:06,839 --> 00:06:10,280 Speaker 1: aerial shot of one enormous factory building near the outskirts 118 00:06:10,279 --> 00:06:13,640 Speaker 1: of the city. The Earth BBC pays for access to 119 00:06:13,680 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: a few independent satellites that overlooked this part of North America. 120 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 1: We also pay the s DA for limited access to 121 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,000 Speaker 1: some of their drone surveillance footage. From all that, I 122 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,320 Speaker 1: was able to trace out pass for seventy eight of 123 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 1: the vehicles used in these attacks. Every one of them 124 00:06:28,360 --> 00:06:31,919 Speaker 1: started their journey here. The projection changed again to it 125 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 1: looked like a stock photograph of the front of a 126 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:37,799 Speaker 1: large white factory building. The Tesla logo was displayed prominently 127 00:06:37,800 --> 00:06:40,880 Speaker 1: by the front door. It's an old Tesla plant. They 128 00:06:40,960 --> 00:06:43,599 Speaker 1: finished it about a year before the Civil War. It's 129 00:06:43,640 --> 00:06:46,159 Speaker 1: been in and out of operations since then. As best 130 00:06:46,200 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 1: as I can tell. The last normal vehicle rolled off 131 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:51,799 Speaker 1: the line three years ago, before the Heavenly Kingdom started 132 00:06:51,800 --> 00:06:54,880 Speaker 1: cacking things up. McKinney was one of the first parts 133 00:06:54,920 --> 00:06:57,200 Speaker 1: of the old Metroplex to fall, so they've had plenty 134 00:06:57,200 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: of time to fiddle with shit. Roland ray his arm 135 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: and realized belatedly that the needle was still dangling out 136 00:07:03,480 --> 00:07:06,200 Speaker 1: of it. The old man sighed again, but Rowland bravely 137 00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:08,479 Speaker 1: ignored him. So what does this have to do with 138 00:07:08,520 --> 00:07:11,160 Speaker 1: your captives, he asked. I didn't sign on to help 139 00:07:11,200 --> 00:07:13,360 Speaker 1: you guys spy or blow up a factory. Send this 140 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:17,120 Speaker 1: data to the SDF for Austin if you think it matters, schoolfucker. 141 00:07:17,160 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: Mike put a hand forward in a placating gesture. We're 142 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,960 Speaker 1: not asking you to do anything about this, he said, 143 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: but you and Manny will be our only eyes and 144 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 1: ears inside the Kingdom. If you get a hint of 145 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: how they've accomplished all this, it will be valuable to 146 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:32,560 Speaker 1: us in the SDF. We'll find a way to make 147 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: it worth your while. I mean, the drinks are free, right, 148 00:07:36,280 --> 00:07:38,320 Speaker 1: Roland asked. I don't know what else you got that 149 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:42,200 Speaker 1: I might want. Mike smiled and gestured to Roland's backpack 150 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:44,440 Speaker 1: of narcotics, which sat next to him on the big 151 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:48,040 Speaker 1: redwood table. By my account, you've gone through about half 152 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,400 Speaker 1: your stash that's coming out here. If you're able to 153 00:07:50,400 --> 00:07:52,720 Speaker 1: get us any worth while info, I'll make sure the 154 00:07:52,760 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: bags full before you leave. Roland narrowed his eyes. It 155 00:07:56,880 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: would be a giant pain in the ask to find 156 00:07:58,840 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: good percoset between here and Cammebltowe. He sighed, alright, fine, 157 00:08:03,640 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 1: if we hear something, we'll look into it. But Donald 158 00:08:05,880 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: your breath. After the meeting, schoolfucker Mike took Rolland down 159 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 1: to the city's makeshift morgue so he could steal a 160 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:22,880 Speaker 1: dead man's face. Rolling Fox Militia had found the fresh 161 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:26,000 Speaker 1: corpse of some guy Roland's rough height and build. He'd 162 00:08:26,000 --> 00:08:28,240 Speaker 1: fled Dallas and made it almost as far as Waco 163 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:31,040 Speaker 1: before getting hit by a drone attack. The four funk 164 00:08:31,120 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: had been gutted by shrapnel, but his face was intact 165 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:37,280 Speaker 1: enough for Roland's chameleon implant. Roland hadn't used the thing 166 00:08:37,320 --> 00:08:40,400 Speaker 1: in so long he worried it might not work. He 167 00:08:40,520 --> 00:08:43,080 Speaker 1: stared down at the man's face and took in his features. 168 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:45,760 Speaker 1: The fellow was white, but his skin was burnt a 169 00:08:45,800 --> 00:08:48,439 Speaker 1: deep reddish brown. He'd clearly spent a lot of time 170 00:08:48,520 --> 00:08:50,880 Speaker 1: under the Texas sun. He appeared to be in his 171 00:08:50,920 --> 00:08:54,840 Speaker 1: early forties and clearly hadn't taken many juven treatments. His 172 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,240 Speaker 1: hairline was fine, but the man's eyes and the edges 173 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:00,280 Speaker 1: of his lips were creased with wrinkles. His dead ring 174 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,360 Speaker 1: eyes were blue. There were deep dark bags beneath them. 175 00:09:03,840 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: Plenty of time to sleep, now, Buddy, Roland thought. He 176 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: closed his eyes, focused on the dead man's face and 177 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 1: felt his facial bones start to tear themselves apart and 178 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,880 Speaker 1: then reform. He felt the pigments in his skin shift two, 179 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: which was always strange. The sensation of his pigments opening 180 00:09:19,520 --> 00:09:21,400 Speaker 1: up and taking in more light felt a little like 181 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:25,120 Speaker 1: stripping off a thin layer of clothing. While Roland did this, 182 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,200 Speaker 1: skullfucker Mike ran a scanner over the corpse and located 183 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:31,040 Speaker 1: the I D card in its right forearm. Mike used 184 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:32,960 Speaker 1: a tool that looked like a long metal straw to 185 00:09:33,040 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: suck the I D free and then shoot the tag 186 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:37,880 Speaker 1: into Roland's own arm. He took a second for Roland's 187 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: body to pull the data. His name was erin Wether's. 188 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: He was single. He worked as a mechanic in Arlington 189 00:09:43,120 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: for most of his life. He had a clean criminal 190 00:09:45,160 --> 00:09:49,160 Speaker 1: record save for a drunk driving arrest in his early thirties. Roland, 191 00:09:49,280 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 1: now Aaron, left the morgue with skullfucker Mike and headed 192 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:54,840 Speaker 1: for the ride that would take him into the Heavenly Kingdom. 193 00:09:54,880 --> 00:09:57,040 Speaker 1: He used the walk as an opportunity to smoke a 194 00:09:57,040 --> 00:10:00,000 Speaker 1: couple of grams of fine Afghan opium. He was still 195 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:02,319 Speaker 1: smoking when they reached the battered old pickup truck on 196 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,840 Speaker 1: the outskirts of Rolling Fox campground. The kid Manny was 197 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: in the driver's seat. Hey Manny said, and stared wide 198 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,240 Speaker 1: eyed at him. You look different, he added, with a 199 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:16,240 Speaker 1: forced smile. Yeah, Roland replied and pulled himself into the 200 00:10:16,280 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: passenger seat. Mike tapped him on the shoulder, What, Roland asked, 201 00:10:21,040 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: I'm gonna need your bag, man. He pointed to the 202 00:10:23,240 --> 00:10:26,520 Speaker 1: still smoking opium pipe in Roland's hand, and that the 203 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: Heavenly Kingdoms got a pretty strict policy on intoxicans. You're 204 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:32,400 Speaker 1: not going to get a backpack full of narcotics through 205 00:10:32,440 --> 00:10:36,600 Speaker 1: their checkpoints. Roland growled at Mike. He couldn't fault the 206 00:10:36,600 --> 00:10:39,160 Speaker 1: other post humans logic, but he'd be damned. He was 207 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:41,280 Speaker 1: going to spend several days surrounded by a bunch of 208 00:10:41,280 --> 00:10:45,599 Speaker 1: religious nuts and do its sober. Roland locked eyes with skullfucker. 209 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:48,800 Speaker 1: Mike opened his bag and grabbed a heavy handful of drugs. 210 00:10:49,160 --> 00:10:52,520 Speaker 1: He swallowed them all one by one, pillbottles and baggies, 211 00:10:52,600 --> 00:10:56,200 Speaker 1: vellucinogens and vials of amphetamines. He ordered his gut to 212 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:58,600 Speaker 1: reduce its acidity so he could store the drugs for 213 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: later regurgitation and can sumption. Then he took one last 214 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,560 Speaker 1: deep hit from his opium pipe and handed it and 215 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 1: the bag to Mike. Manny popped the car and to drive, 216 00:11:08,000 --> 00:11:11,000 Speaker 1: and they rolled off into the night. They drove in 217 00:11:11,040 --> 00:11:13,960 Speaker 1: silence for a while. Roland's hind brain would have marked 218 00:11:13,960 --> 00:11:16,280 Speaker 1: the time if he hadn't done such a successful job 219 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: of pickling it with opium before they left. The quiet 220 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:22,640 Speaker 1: got awkward and boring pretty quick though. He considered putting 221 00:11:22,679 --> 00:11:25,120 Speaker 1: on music, but of course his head wear was severed 222 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,800 Speaker 1: from all outside networks. He couldn't connect to the car 223 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,760 Speaker 1: anymore than he could blinks into an email. He decided 224 00:11:30,760 --> 00:11:34,319 Speaker 1: to ask Manny to put something on, guy music, Can 225 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:37,319 Speaker 1: you music? Roland realized he was slurring and his words 226 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,760 Speaker 1: were not coming out the way he'd intended. The kid 227 00:11:39,960 --> 00:11:43,600 Speaker 1: Manny looked irritated. How fucked up are you right now? 228 00:11:44,400 --> 00:11:47,920 Speaker 1: Roland gave a shrug that meant very You know my 229 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:49,920 Speaker 1: ass is on the line here too. I'm not made 230 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: of whatever fucked up science you've got in your veins. 231 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: I'd appreciate it if you took this seriously on an 232 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,440 Speaker 1: objective level. The kid's request was fair. This must be 233 00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:00,600 Speaker 1: a big moment for him, going off on a dangerous 234 00:12:00,600 --> 00:12:04,199 Speaker 1: mission to enemy territory, et cetera. But to Roland, this 235 00:12:04,280 --> 00:12:08,080 Speaker 1: was Tuesday or whatever day it actually was. He disabled 236 00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 1: his clock and calendar years ago because funk that noise. 237 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:14,280 Speaker 1: Funk that noise, he said, without meaning to good God, 238 00:12:14,320 --> 00:12:19,600 Speaker 1: I'm so high? What Manny sounded confused and perturbed. Sorry, 239 00:12:19,679 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: man Roland rubbed his eyes, a little dazed from the opium. 240 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:25,640 Speaker 1: I wasn't talking to you. I am the only other 241 00:12:25,720 --> 00:12:28,920 Speaker 1: person in this car, Manny said, yeah, but you know 242 00:12:29,000 --> 00:12:31,840 Speaker 1: I'm highest. Shit. Words come out sometimes they aren't meant 243 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: for anyone, and they just happened. The car slowed, and 244 00:12:34,840 --> 00:12:37,720 Speaker 1: Manny pulled over to the shoulder of the cracked old highway. 245 00:12:38,240 --> 00:12:40,080 Speaker 1: When the car came to a stop, he put his 246 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:42,280 Speaker 1: head in his hands, and breathed in and then out 247 00:12:42,520 --> 00:12:45,599 Speaker 1: very slowly. It took Roland a moment to realize the 248 00:12:45,679 --> 00:12:48,640 Speaker 1: kid was going through a panic attack. He's never done 249 00:12:48,640 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: anything like this before. Of course, he's terrified. Roland wondered 250 00:12:52,240 --> 00:12:55,240 Speaker 1: if he should do something to comfort the kid. You know, 251 00:12:55,559 --> 00:13:00,400 Speaker 1: he said, I've killed about twelve thousand armed people. Many 252 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: turned to stare at him. He looked shocked, but Roland 253 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 1: noted with satisfaction the statement had disrupted his panic. What 254 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:11,280 Speaker 1: what the I mean, give or take a handful? Roland continued, 255 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: I burnt my brains, killed canner out with crocodile and 256 00:13:14,240 --> 00:13:17,280 Speaker 1: cheap vodka while back. Why would you tell me this? 257 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:21,000 Speaker 1: Why would you think this would help? Because Rolland said, 258 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: we're about to go into a very dangerous place together. 259 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: You're scared you're gonna die, and I want you to know, 260 00:13:26,960 --> 00:13:29,680 Speaker 1: however many arm nut jobs are in that city, I 261 00:13:29,760 --> 00:13:33,920 Speaker 1: can murder them, all of them. Manny stared at him. 262 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 1: He still looked terrified and vaguely pissed, but his heart 263 00:13:37,080 --> 00:13:40,400 Speaker 1: rate was steadier, his breathing had slowed. Roland declared his 264 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:46,160 Speaker 1: gambit a success. Okay, the kid finally said, that's actually comforting. 265 00:13:46,400 --> 00:13:49,160 Speaker 1: Thank you. There was silence for a beat, and then 266 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:52,800 Speaker 1: Roland spoke again that all sudden, I'd prefer not to 267 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: kill anyone. I'd really prefer that. I was on a 268 00:13:55,840 --> 00:13:58,400 Speaker 1: pretty good no murder streak until a couple of days back. 269 00:13:58,520 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: I'm trying to stay on the waggins talk well, be 270 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:04,320 Speaker 1: a good face, man. This will all be easier if 271 00:14:04,360 --> 00:14:07,439 Speaker 1: I don't have to commit murder. Manny looked a bit 272 00:14:07,480 --> 00:14:09,880 Speaker 1: nervous again, but he popped the car into drive and 273 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:13,839 Speaker 1: rolled back onto the highway. I'll do my best, he said. 274 00:14:14,720 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: They were an hour outside of Dallas when they hit 275 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:19,680 Speaker 1: the first checkpoint and the Kingdom's guards ordered them out 276 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:22,480 Speaker 1: of the truck. Roland stepped out with his hands up. 277 00:14:22,840 --> 00:14:26,160 Speaker 1: Manny had done the same. The guards scanned them, verified 278 00:14:26,160 --> 00:14:29,440 Speaker 1: their status as Republic citizens, and then the questioning started. 279 00:14:30,240 --> 00:14:32,800 Speaker 1: What brings you to the Heavenly Kingdom? Their leader, a 280 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: fat man with the kalashnikov, asked Manny. We heard about 281 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 1: the amnesty, Manny replied, and we thought it sounded good. 282 00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,480 Speaker 1: We we want to live under the rule of God. 283 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:45,880 Speaker 1: The fat man grunted. So you're both good God fearing men, then, yes, sir, 284 00:14:46,200 --> 00:14:48,640 Speaker 1: Manny nodded, of course, and praise be to God for 285 00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: all the victories you've won here. The fat Man sniffed 286 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 1: at the air and looked over to his partner. I'm 287 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:56,600 Speaker 1: not wild about another skin here, Hanson. You think we 288 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:00,200 Speaker 1: need any more Mexicans? Hanson shrugged orders say you the 289 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:03,920 Speaker 1: faithful are all welcome. Yeah, the fat guy continued, if 290 00:15:03,960 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: they're faithful. He looked back to Manny, why did it 291 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,280 Speaker 1: take a couple of devout men like yourselves so long 292 00:15:09,320 --> 00:15:11,600 Speaker 1: to make a break for the heavenly Kingdom. We've been 293 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:14,479 Speaker 1: at this fight for a while, you know, I. I I 294 00:15:14,600 --> 00:15:17,160 Speaker 1: mean we we were scared, and we didn't we weren't 295 00:15:17,160 --> 00:15:19,800 Speaker 1: sure what to believe. What you're supposed to believe is 296 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:22,560 Speaker 1: the word of God, the man snarled. And that's as 297 00:15:22,560 --> 00:15:25,520 Speaker 1: clear as day to everyone who lives inside the kingdom. 298 00:15:25,560 --> 00:15:27,760 Speaker 1: He looked back at his men and smiled an evil 299 00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:31,280 Speaker 1: wolfie grin Hanson malloy, I think we might need to 300 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:36,120 Speaker 1: question these two more intensively. Radio command, and that was 301 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:40,080 Speaker 1: the last thing the fat Man said, probably ever. Roland 302 00:15:40,120 --> 00:15:43,000 Speaker 1: shoved a hand into the martyr's mouth, pulled downwards, and 303 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:46,280 Speaker 1: shattered his jaw in four places. Then he leapt into 304 00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:49,800 Speaker 1: the others. It went quickly. He gouged eyes, broke jaws, 305 00:15:49,800 --> 00:15:52,600 Speaker 1: severed tongues, and then started in on their limbs. By 306 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: the end of it, all four men were still alive, 307 00:15:55,120 --> 00:15:57,080 Speaker 1: but none of them were in any shape to report 308 00:15:57,120 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: on what they'd seen. Manny vomited several times. What I 309 00:16:01,480 --> 00:16:04,200 Speaker 1: happened to do? In your best, Manny, Roland asked, more 310 00:16:04,280 --> 00:16:07,960 Speaker 1: irritated than angry. Once he'd finished, the kid recoiled, Roland 311 00:16:08,000 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 1: realized Manny had started to shake a little. He also 312 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:12,600 Speaker 1: realized there was still a part of a man's ear 313 00:16:12,640 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: in his mouth. Hell, you scared him, Sorry, kid, he said, 314 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:19,720 Speaker 1: and squatted down next to Manny. Look, the odds were 315 00:16:19,720 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: always good that this first tryal was going to be 316 00:16:21,720 --> 00:16:25,000 Speaker 1: a scratch. The good news is they've got other checkpoints. 317 00:16:25,040 --> 00:16:27,480 Speaker 1: Will hop on the access road and find the next one. 318 00:16:27,680 --> 00:16:31,840 Speaker 1: It'll be fine. What did you too, Manny started? I 319 00:16:31,960 --> 00:16:35,600 Speaker 1: stopped them from talking, he said, very quickly. No one's dead. 320 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:38,520 Speaker 1: There'll be uh. He glanced down at the burbling, bleeding 321 00:16:38,560 --> 00:16:41,600 Speaker 1: mess of shattered humans. They'll be I but we need 322 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: to move now before someone else comes along, and I 323 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:47,840 Speaker 1: gotta break them too. Roland popped open the cab so 324 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:50,160 Speaker 1: he could change into a clean set of spare clothes. 325 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: He was grateful that skullfucker Mike had packed them bags 326 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: to lend their story extra versimilitude. Manny changed too, and 327 00:16:57,080 --> 00:16:59,360 Speaker 1: once his hands stopped shaking, they rolled off to the 328 00:16:59,360 --> 00:17:02,360 Speaker 1: next check point. Roland tried not to think too much 329 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:04,959 Speaker 1: about the men he'd just broken. That helped that one 330 00:17:05,000 --> 00:17:06,840 Speaker 1: of them had been an asshole. It helped that none 331 00:17:06,880 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 1: of them had died. But still they hit the next 332 00:17:10,200 --> 00:17:13,560 Speaker 1: checkpoint eight minutes later, and things went much better this time. 333 00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:16,760 Speaker 1: For one thing, it was busier. There were already a 334 00:17:16,800 --> 00:17:19,080 Speaker 1: dozen other cars in line when they pulled in. The 335 00:17:19,080 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: guy who was questioning them was less of an asshole, 336 00:17:21,480 --> 00:17:25,040 Speaker 1: and he seemed to buy Manny's claim. We weren't brave 337 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:27,399 Speaker 1: enough to make the journey until now, but we prayed 338 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:29,680 Speaker 1: all night about this. I know it's the right thing 339 00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:33,200 Speaker 1: to do. Roland had to fight to avoid rolling his eyes. 340 00:17:33,600 --> 00:17:36,200 Speaker 1: The line worked, though. The man at the checkpoint waved 341 00:17:36,240 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: the men and issued them a temporary transit pass. This 342 00:17:39,400 --> 00:17:42,639 Speaker 1: is good for six hours, the checkpoint officer said. That's 343 00:17:42,720 --> 00:17:45,560 Speaker 1: plenty of time to find the immigration center. And poured in. 344 00:17:45,880 --> 00:17:48,480 Speaker 1: If you're caught driving around the Kingdom after that, it 345 00:17:48,520 --> 00:17:51,919 Speaker 1: won't end well for you. They drove on, but it 346 00:17:51,960 --> 00:17:55,000 Speaker 1: was slow going. After the checkpoint, the roads into Dallas 347 00:17:55,000 --> 00:17:58,440 Speaker 1: were choked with ruined vehicles and actual traffic. It looked 348 00:17:58,440 --> 00:18:00,760 Speaker 1: as if hundreds of people had taken a heavenly kingdom 349 00:18:00,840 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: up on its amnesty offer. Roland couldn't fault them for that. 350 00:18:04,960 --> 00:18:08,320 Speaker 1: The Kingdom seemed to be winning. As they rolled towards Plano, 351 00:18:08,359 --> 00:18:11,199 Speaker 1: they were stopped regularly by patrolling martyrs and asked to 352 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:13,840 Speaker 1: present their papers, But bit by bit they made their 353 00:18:13,840 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: way onto and through the packed and crumbling highways of 354 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:20,640 Speaker 1: Old Dallas. At one point they found themselves installed traffic 355 00:18:20,680 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: on Highway seventy five, overlooking the cratered ruins of the 356 00:18:24,080 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: Lakewood Blast. He felt cold October air. He smelled barrel 357 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:30,760 Speaker 1: fires and heard the sharp crack of rifley. He saw 358 00:18:30,800 --> 00:18:33,240 Speaker 1: flashes of a face it might have been Gem's, and 359 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:36,000 Speaker 1: he remembered the feeling of a cold metal handle attached 360 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:39,760 Speaker 1: to something heavy dense. He remembered yelling to a small, 361 00:18:39,800 --> 00:18:43,280 Speaker 1: sweaty hand held tight in his own. He remembered guilt, 362 00:18:44,960 --> 00:18:47,920 Speaker 1: what's up, Manny asked. He looked over at Roland and 363 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,520 Speaker 1: his eyes widened. Dude, you're shaking. Don't tell me you're 364 00:18:50,520 --> 00:18:52,440 Speaker 1: flipping out now. We're way too deep in this thing. 365 00:18:53,480 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: Roland shook his head. It's it's it's nothing, he said. 366 00:18:56,920 --> 00:18:58,720 Speaker 1: Just a piece of an old memory hit me in 367 00:18:58,760 --> 00:19:00,880 Speaker 1: the face. I think I've was in town when that 368 00:19:01,040 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: fucker went off. The young man's pupils grew as big 369 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:09,200 Speaker 1: as saucers virga, he spent. You're fullish shit, Roland shrugged. 370 00:19:09,359 --> 00:19:11,439 Speaker 1: I don't know. Maybe it's just a piece of a memory. 371 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:14,400 Speaker 1: I might be confusing it with something else. Sure got 372 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,000 Speaker 1: triggered by seeing the blast side, though Manny was not 373 00:19:18,240 --> 00:19:21,640 Speaker 1: satisfied by that answer. I refuse to believe that someone 374 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,320 Speaker 1: could watch an atom bomb evisceraate a city and not 375 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:26,280 Speaker 1: have a clear memory of it. I had to take 376 00:19:26,320 --> 00:19:29,760 Speaker 1: anti Radtoll's my whole childhood because of that bomb. I 377 00:19:29,800 --> 00:19:32,920 Speaker 1: don't have any clear memories, kid, none from further back 378 00:19:32,920 --> 00:19:35,480 Speaker 1: than about I guess, five or eight years ago. I 379 00:19:35,520 --> 00:19:37,920 Speaker 1: don't have a whole lot of clear memories since then either, 380 00:19:38,040 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: But that's from the drugs. What the hell happened to you? 381 00:19:41,000 --> 00:19:43,800 Speaker 1: Manny asked, I thought you post humans all had hard 382 00:19:43,840 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 1: drives running through your blood. Were you too cheap to 383 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:50,199 Speaker 1: pay for a photographic memory? Roland scratched his neck. He 384 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:52,960 Speaker 1: wasn't ditchy, it was a nervous gesture. He was a 385 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,480 Speaker 1: little fascinated at the fact that this line of questioning 386 00:19:55,520 --> 00:19:58,640 Speaker 1: made him feel nervous. He really couldn't remember the last 387 00:19:58,680 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 1: time a conversation had made him feel that way. Weird. 388 00:20:02,480 --> 00:20:05,240 Speaker 1: I got hurt, was all he could honestly say. I 389 00:20:05,280 --> 00:20:08,119 Speaker 1: don't remember much of anything from before the revolution. Help, 390 00:20:08,440 --> 00:20:12,320 Speaker 1: I don't really remember the revolution. The line of cars 391 00:20:12,359 --> 00:20:15,600 Speaker 1: started moving again. Many popped the car back into drive, 392 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 1: and they rolled further into the Heavenly Kingdom. Both men 393 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:22,640 Speaker 1: were quiet for a minute until Roland spoke again, That's 394 00:20:22,680 --> 00:20:25,440 Speaker 1: why I'm doing this, you know. He wasn't sure why 395 00:20:25,480 --> 00:20:27,639 Speaker 1: he was saying all this, but Roland found he couldn't 396 00:20:27,680 --> 00:20:30,760 Speaker 1: stop himself. Jim, the guy who brought me on, you know, 397 00:20:30,880 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: some fucking East Coast search and who specializes in post 398 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,640 Speaker 1: human brains. They think they can give me back my memory. 399 00:20:37,000 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 1: This rescue mission is That's how I pay for that. 400 00:20:41,040 --> 00:20:44,439 Speaker 1: Are you sure you want those memories? Back. Manny asked, 401 00:20:44,840 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: what fun do you mean. I don't even know who 402 00:20:46,560 --> 00:20:48,840 Speaker 1: I am or was right now. Wouldn't you want that 403 00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,600 Speaker 1: ship back if you lost it? Many glanced over to him, 404 00:20:52,640 --> 00:20:56,000 Speaker 1: they locked eyes. I don't know, the kid said, you 405 00:20:56,080 --> 00:20:58,959 Speaker 1: say you killed at least twelve thousand people. I've been 406 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:01,000 Speaker 1: working as a fixer for the last two years, and 407 00:21:01,040 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: I've seen a lot of fucked up eyes, dead eyes 408 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: on men who have done too much killing. But none 409 00:21:06,280 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: of them hold a candle to what's going on there. 410 00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:11,800 Speaker 1: He pointed to Roland's face. I don't know. I got 411 00:21:11,800 --> 00:21:14,360 Speaker 1: a feeling your past as one big fucked up nightmare. 412 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:18,199 Speaker 1: Maybe you're better off without it. Rowland was quiet for 413 00:21:18,240 --> 00:21:21,439 Speaker 1: a while, and Manny didn't say anything else. They crept 414 00:21:21,480 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: along and stops and starts, and inched closer to Plano 415 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,639 Speaker 1: as the sun cracked open the horizon. Kid. At a point, 416 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,040 Speaker 1: Roland decided he'd worried about the same thing himself since 417 00:21:31,119 --> 00:21:33,960 Speaker 1: Jim made the offer. Every hour or so, he still 418 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:36,879 Speaker 1: found himself thinking about the driver of that technical The 419 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,000 Speaker 1: man had reeked of love, and yeah, the guy had 420 00:21:40,040 --> 00:21:43,640 Speaker 1: been fighting to establish a crystal fascist nightmare state. Somehow 421 00:21:43,680 --> 00:21:46,880 Speaker 1: that didn't mitigate his death. In Roland's head, most causes 422 00:21:46,880 --> 00:21:50,400 Speaker 1: were ship. Most men who fought for anything fought for nightmares. 423 00:21:50,920 --> 00:21:53,040 Speaker 1: That guy and all his friends had just been doing 424 00:21:53,080 --> 00:21:55,560 Speaker 1: what felt right based on the ship lives they'd lived. 425 00:21:55,960 --> 00:21:57,639 Speaker 1: The same thing had to be true for most of 426 00:21:57,640 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: the soldiers and insurgents Rowland had killed. How many civilians 427 00:22:01,400 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: did you kill, Roland? How many lives did you in 428 00:22:04,160 --> 00:22:07,359 Speaker 1: just to keep the battle drugs flowing? When he thought 429 00:22:07,359 --> 00:22:10,359 Speaker 1: about it that way, he really didn't want his memories back. 430 00:22:11,320 --> 00:22:14,120 Speaker 1: But then, of course there was Topaz. He loved her 431 00:22:14,160 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: so much, or rather, the pieces of him that remembered 432 00:22:17,240 --> 00:22:20,280 Speaker 1: her loved her so much. Roland knew he wanted those 433 00:22:20,320 --> 00:22:23,600 Speaker 1: memories back. He needed them back. Every time he thought 434 00:22:23,600 --> 00:22:26,240 Speaker 1: about her face, something twisted inside him, as if his 435 00:22:26,280 --> 00:22:28,800 Speaker 1: guts were being tugged in whatever direction he thought she 436 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:31,360 Speaker 1: might be. It was a weird way to feel about 437 00:22:31,359 --> 00:22:34,800 Speaker 1: a woman he only remembered in fragments. Roland shook his 438 00:22:34,840 --> 00:22:37,120 Speaker 1: head in a nervous attempt to shake the thoughts from 439 00:22:37,119 --> 00:22:40,159 Speaker 1: his mind. Then he stared ahead at the line of cars. 440 00:22:48,200 --> 00:22:51,080 Speaker 1: The immigration center was chaotic, crowded, and heavy with the 441 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: smell of scared humans. It was also a happier place 442 00:22:54,080 --> 00:22:57,440 Speaker 1: than Roland would have expected. Martyrs in fresh, olive drab 443 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:00,320 Speaker 1: uniforms with bright golden crosses and blasted on the arms 444 00:23:00,359 --> 00:23:03,000 Speaker 1: handed out food, water, and even cups of instant coffee 445 00:23:03,000 --> 00:23:06,040 Speaker 1: to the adults. They posed for pictures with children. The 446 00:23:06,080 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: whole place almost had the air of a party about it. 447 00:23:08,840 --> 00:23:11,679 Speaker 1: There was someone filming, too. Roland guessed he must be 448 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:15,360 Speaker 1: a propagandist for the Kingdom, putting together some sort of documentary. 449 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:18,080 Speaker 1: They stood in line for two full hours before it 450 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,879 Speaker 1: was their turn in front of the intake officer. He 451 00:23:21,000 --> 00:23:24,240 Speaker 1: was an older man with a big, bushy mustache, red jowls, 452 00:23:24,280 --> 00:23:26,679 Speaker 1: and a droopy rooster wattle of a throat. He had 453 00:23:26,720 --> 00:23:29,119 Speaker 1: a whiny voice that baraged them with questions as soon 454 00:23:29,160 --> 00:23:32,440 Speaker 1: as they sat down at his desk. How many apostles 455 00:23:32,440 --> 00:23:34,440 Speaker 1: did Christ have? What was the name of the hill 456 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:37,400 Speaker 1: where our Lord was crucified? What is the fifth Commandment? 457 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:41,240 Speaker 1: Manny answered every question while Roland sat there and smiled 458 00:23:41,320 --> 00:23:44,320 Speaker 1: vacantly like an invalid. They decided in the car that 459 00:23:44,440 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 1: playing dumb was his best option. He'd probably wind up 460 00:23:47,560 --> 00:23:50,040 Speaker 1: starting a fight if he talked to the man. And besides, 461 00:23:50,320 --> 00:23:52,840 Speaker 1: Boland didn't no shit about the Bible. He didn't even 462 00:23:52,840 --> 00:23:56,000 Speaker 1: have any memory fragments of church services. And why is 463 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:58,480 Speaker 1: it that you're answering all the questions, young man? The 464 00:23:58,560 --> 00:24:03,159 Speaker 1: officer finally asked about your friend here erin is it? Ah? Yeah, 465 00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:06,480 Speaker 1: Roland replied, I just I don't know. I don't test 466 00:24:06,520 --> 00:24:09,320 Speaker 1: so good. Mom said, I ain't a thinker, but you 467 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:13,600 Speaker 1: are a Christian. Yes, oh, yes, sir, he nodded enthusiastically. 468 00:24:13,720 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: I love God. I am all about God. The intake 469 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:20,199 Speaker 1: officer narrowed his eyes at Roland. Manny flashed him a 470 00:24:20,200 --> 00:24:22,159 Speaker 1: look of fury, and then quickly turned it into a 471 00:24:22,200 --> 00:24:25,720 Speaker 1: smile directed at the officer. He's a he's slow, sir. 472 00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:28,000 Speaker 1: His mama took care of him, but she died in 473 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: a drone strike two months back from the SDF. I'm 474 00:24:31,080 --> 00:24:34,680 Speaker 1: just trying to make sure he's okay. The man grunted, 475 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 1: and then looked to Roland. I imagine that must make 476 00:24:37,200 --> 00:24:40,520 Speaker 1: you angry, losing your mother. Roland nodded and put on 477 00:24:40,560 --> 00:24:43,720 Speaker 1: his best fasimile of an angry face. They're bad men. 478 00:24:43,920 --> 00:24:48,040 Speaker 1: I want to hurt them back, the intake officer chuckled, Well, 479 00:24:48,119 --> 00:24:50,720 Speaker 1: I've got good news for you. Then. The Heavenly Kingdom 480 00:24:50,760 --> 00:24:53,640 Speaker 1: needs soldiers. I'm sending you both to a training platoon. 481 00:24:53,800 --> 00:24:56,199 Speaker 1: In a few days, you'll be martyrs and you'll have 482 00:24:56,200 --> 00:24:59,600 Speaker 1: a chance to get your revenge. Wait, Mann, he asked, 483 00:24:59,720 --> 00:25:03,639 Speaker 1: were we're being drafted? The officer narrowed his piggy eyes. 484 00:25:04,200 --> 00:25:07,160 Speaker 1: The Heavenly Kingdom is fighting for its life. Boys. Every 485 00:25:07,160 --> 00:25:09,280 Speaker 1: person we let in has a job. There are no 486 00:25:09,359 --> 00:25:12,160 Speaker 1: shirkers here, no layabouts. If you aren't willing to help 487 00:25:12,200 --> 00:25:14,159 Speaker 1: build the Kingdom of God on earth, we have no 488 00:25:14,320 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: use for you. And I've decided you boys will best 489 00:25:17,280 --> 00:25:21,560 Speaker 1: serve God in our infantry. And just like that, Roland 490 00:25:21,560 --> 00:25:24,520 Speaker 1: found himself inducted into a military for what was at 491 00:25:24,600 --> 00:25:27,840 Speaker 1: least the second time in his life. The intake officer 492 00:25:27,880 --> 00:25:30,520 Speaker 1: gave them more papers, signed a mustering order, and sent 493 00:25:30,560 --> 00:25:32,840 Speaker 1: them off with directions to find the barracks that was 494 00:25:32,920 --> 00:25:36,320 Speaker 1: apparently their new home. Manny handled the rest of the 495 00:25:36,359 --> 00:25:39,840 Speaker 1: interaction well. He even managed to act enthusiastic after his 496 00:25:39,920 --> 00:25:42,439 Speaker 1: first startled outburst, But once they were out of ear 497 00:25:42,480 --> 00:25:45,240 Speaker 1: shot back in the truck, he started to hyperventilate again. 498 00:25:45,480 --> 00:25:49,080 Speaker 1: It looked like another panic attack ERDA. He cursed. This 499 00:25:49,119 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: was such a fucking bad idea. Hey, Roland patted the 500 00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:54,760 Speaker 1: kid on the shoulder. It's gonna be all right, buddy. 501 00:25:55,280 --> 00:25:57,879 Speaker 1: Some aspect of his comforting tactic must have gone wrong, 502 00:25:57,960 --> 00:26:00,959 Speaker 1: because the kid just looked pissed. You not realize how 503 00:26:01,000 --> 00:26:03,960 Speaker 1: fun this is, Manny shoved rolling back. We're supposed to 504 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,720 Speaker 1: be affecting a rescue here, he yelled. They're going to 505 00:26:06,760 --> 00:26:08,879 Speaker 1: have us drilling and training day and night, will be 506 00:26:08,880 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: surrounded by soldiers. I thought we'd just be squatting in 507 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:13,200 Speaker 1: an apartment saying some peace be with you is when 508 00:26:13,200 --> 00:26:15,160 Speaker 1: we went outside, I thought we were going to track 509 00:26:15,200 --> 00:26:17,320 Speaker 1: down those hostages and like a day, Now, what the 510 00:26:17,359 --> 00:26:20,119 Speaker 1: funk are we supposed to do? Roland thought about that 511 00:26:20,160 --> 00:26:22,440 Speaker 1: for a moment. You thought about the martyrs he'd faced 512 00:26:22,480 --> 00:26:24,920 Speaker 1: on the battlefield three days ago in their motley armor 513 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:29,000 Speaker 1: and battered, rusted weaponry. Look, he said, this for a 514 00:26:29,080 --> 00:26:31,600 Speaker 1: real army, we'd be fucked. But you've seen how these 515 00:26:31,600 --> 00:26:35,480 Speaker 1: guys fight. They had numbers and some professionals, but the 516 00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:37,840 Speaker 1: bulk of their forces are just poor dumb fox with 517 00:26:37,880 --> 00:26:40,560 Speaker 1: a week's worth of training and whatever gun was lying around. 518 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,400 Speaker 1: We're not going to be drilling from dawn till dusk, 519 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,680 Speaker 1: he gestured at the truck's dashboard. They're letting us drive 520 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:48,800 Speaker 1: our own fucking truck up there. This ain't gonna be 521 00:26:48,840 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: like a real army. I guarantee you we'll have time 522 00:26:51,520 --> 00:26:54,199 Speaker 1: to do our ship. Stay calm, stick close to me, 523 00:26:54,359 --> 00:26:56,960 Speaker 1: do what I do. I'm real fucking good at soldiering. 524 00:26:57,200 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: If you follow my lead, they love us, and our 525 00:26:59,440 --> 00:27:02,160 Speaker 1: job will be that much easier. And what if something 526 00:27:02,160 --> 00:27:04,479 Speaker 1: goes wrong? Man, he asked, what if they catch us? 527 00:27:05,000 --> 00:27:07,639 Speaker 1: Roland shrugged. If they catch us, then will already be 528 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:09,720 Speaker 1: in the middle of their army. That will save me 529 00:27:09,880 --> 00:27:15,639 Speaker 1: so much time. Hey, I'm Robert Evans. I hope you 530 00:27:15,720 --> 00:27:17,880 Speaker 1: enjoyed this chapter. I hope you enjoyed the chapters to come. 531 00:27:17,920 --> 00:27:20,160 Speaker 1: You can find the free e pub of every chapter 532 00:27:20,240 --> 00:27:22,280 Speaker 1: and eventually the whole book at a t r book 533 00:27:22,359 --> 00:27:25,880 Speaker 1: dot com, complete with illustrations. If you want to support 534 00:27:25,920 --> 00:27:28,400 Speaker 1: me in writing the sequel, you can crowdfund me at 535 00:27:28,440 --> 00:27:30,879 Speaker 1: After the Revolution the Sequel at go fund Me. Just 536 00:27:30,960 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 1: type and go fund me after the Revolution the Sequel. Um. 537 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:37,040 Speaker 1: I'd like my books to always be free, so I'm 538 00:27:37,080 --> 00:27:39,439 Speaker 1: just going to try to crowdfund the next one and 539 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: see how that works. So After the Revolution the sequel 540 00:27:41,880 --> 00:27:45,240 Speaker 1: on go fund Me. You can also find the community 541 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:48,879 Speaker 1: of fans of this book online at our slash after 542 00:27:48,920 --> 00:27:52,800 Speaker 1: the Revolution on Reddit. So after the Revolution the sequel 543 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:55,480 Speaker 1: on go fund me and are slash after the Revolution 544 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:57,840 Speaker 1: on Reddit. A t r book dot com for the 545 00:27:57,840 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: whole book. Thanks