"Thank you." She smiled. The steamy cup radiated between her hands as she huddled to the glow of the campfire; damp March air swiped her back. The rebels' confirmation of their devotion to the Covenant's cause had suddenly bolstered her spirit. To that point, she had felt alone, many miles from home.
Most of the Tobacco Boys had come to the North Country after hearing The Wizard's broadcasts about families left shattered from the Massacre. Helen had met Chaos only twice before this. He charmed everyone. Helen also felt the allure: His good looks weren't the only attraction; he was mysterious in his own way, never really talking about himself. His philosophical quotes showed he was a thinker, possibly well educated--not like Tumult and Snake, the white trash that led the other factions. Chaos seemed kind.
The incident at her house that morning disturbed her; she had never seen the warrior side of this group. Helen realized the Tobacco Bunch were responsible for hundreds of casualties in their own uprising and wondered if they would have ordered the reporter killed or if it was all an act.
"This is as good a time as any to ask," said Helen. "How will you get Max out?"
"Well," an awkward hesitation ensued, "Ah...I could show you."
Helen glanced at Steve.
Steve blurted, "I don't think it's likely I'll sneak off to a pay phone out here and warn anyone." Steve looked past the Southerner's charm; he hadn't forgotten about the incident that morning.
"I'm sorry, you're absolutely right. It's not likely you would tell anyone of the plan, but it is possible. The fact is, only myself and five others in this expedition know where we're going and what we're there for. What the soldiers don't know they can't tell. It's not that they're traitors to the cause, it's just that the Feds have been known to use chemicals to jog memories. At least that happened to us in the Tobacco Wars."
"Can the Federal Government drug prisoners like that?" the reporter questioned.
"Mr. Morrison, you haven't had the pleasure of meeting Tumult, my overseer. Unlike myself, he is compelled to quote Adolph Hitler. His response to you would be: `You stand there with your law. I stand here with my sword. We shall see who prevails.'"
The reporter quipped back, "But Hitler didn't prevail."
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