After a day or so I moved back into my apartment and tried to resume normal life. I called my folks in New York to make sure they knew I was safe-- I told them some parts of the story--the way GL’s mob had got out of control and I was forced to hide in a closet but not how I was captured and driven to DC in the open part of a pickup. They were getting on in years why should I frighten them--nor did I tell them I had been fired from my job and still being pursued by two hooligans that our next president had incited to do violence on me as a “member of the media” --who knew media could become such a dirty word. They were pleased to get the phone call I went shopping for groceries and filled up the gas on my old Volvo. I brought some treats for Hamilton and flowers for Ms as a thankyou gift. It was when I decided to take a stroll that evening to my local bar and see what was going on in town that I saw the car. It was a small FEDEx van driving slowly down past my building and now crawled to a stop as it tried to keep pace with me. Soon enough it stopped and a man dressed in a FEDEx uniform approached me as if he was going to give me a package.
“Got a package for you sir if you are Frank Germond?” said one of the FedEx imposters.
“I am” I said
“Well here it is” Pointing an AK-47 at me.
“We have orders to shoot if you do not get in the vehicle now” he said with the kind of emotion you reserve for asking you whether you wanted milk with that coffee.
“Yes sir” I said every organ in my body shaking from the fright of having a weapon of that power pointed at me.
“But just one more thing —there is another person of interest --what apartment is she in?” He asked with more menace.
“Don’t know who you are talking about” I replied trying to keep an even tone but failing completely.
“The elderly woman you were with two nights ago.” he said bored that he had to repeat this information to someone who knew the facts too well.
He towered over me wearing a classic black ski mask--the kind you wear when you want to crack a bank safe or rob millions of dollars from a jewelry store.
“I don’t know” I said
“Get in the back and we will see what you know or don’t” he said pushing me into the van which was parked on a corner curb where it kept its flashing lights on as if it were making a delivery.
The interior was without seats--just meat hooks with straps. Someone emerged from the darkness and strapped me to one of the ceiling straps and laughed while he punched me --lightly at first in the stomach then heavily.
“Still don’t know?” asked the ski masked man, punching me not too gently in the stomach
“I think she is in my apartment building” I confessed hoping that would be enough
“We know that dummy--what number?” said my captor, readying himself to throw another major punch.
“Do you guys have any patience--I’m trying to remember” I said with as much sincerity as I could manage.
“And we are trying to help you remember” said the accomplice goon.
“156” I yelled as he began to move his large muscled arm more firmly in the direction of my stomach.
“We can make another house call today--plenty of room in this old truck”said the shorter accomplice
“Treat her well like a lady please--she does not deserve any of this animal behavior” I said
“Talking of animal behavior--she has a dog--what are you going to do with him?”
“We don’t take dogs in this shipment so I guess we will have to shoot him of’ Said the ski masked man without much thought as he quickly radioed to one of his troops wan him of th dog and to follow that order
“No” I yelled--that dog is worth more than your life--there’s no need to be so cruel
“Cruelty is the point” as GL says “Without a certain amount of cruelty they don’t believe you are serious” said the ski masked man.
The gunshot rung out seconds after. I managed to hold back a scream.
“You the knight in shining armor are you Frank were going to save both the lady and the dog--I don’t think so” he said
After a wait of what seemed like an eternity but was in reality only ten to15 minutes--my professor friend appeared. She had on a worried face but was to my relief being led into the van without obvious force.
People were now paying some attention to what was happening and just as I was about to shout out to someone on the street we were being kidnapped—what seemed like a thick rubber band was placed across my mouth.
Things now were getting dark and would only grow darker.
A jogger stepping down the street changed his stride to slow down and figure out what was going on. ”What are you doing? with that lady” He yelled into the van. The ski masked man quickly kicked the guy in the groin and had him double over.
“We are FedEx we sometimes deliver some bad news to people” he said to us chuckling.
Eleanor was helped up the stair a more fragile and diminutive lady than I remembered her in a grey pant suit matching her tousled white hair trying to wipe away her tears.
“You killed my dog--you bastards —you shot him. How dare you do that! You will all pay for this--you and your rotten regime” she yelled as she entered the van
“Oh I am so sorry for your dog--and dragging you into this mess” I blurted out.
“You didn’t drag me into this mess--they did--always remember that. They are pure evil not a question” she said still wiping her tears and then breaking down as she sat in the van.
I grew enormously proud of her poise and fortitude as I stood hanging by the straps the message firmly conveyed I was now just a lump of meat to my captors.
“Can I ask where are we all going gentlemen?” Eleanor asked in an even voice
“Can’t spill all the beans just yet m’am but we have our orders to take you to a secret location”
“Why did you have to kill the fucking dog? That was totally unnecessary” I yelled out
“We will judge whats necessary” said one of the goons.
Eleanor kept the upbeat tone and it brought a smile to my face.
“Be a gentleman though and unstrap my friend Frank”she asked in a queenly voice
The shorter guy unbelievably unstrapped me and pushed down a folding chair tucked into the back for me to sit on.
We drove south down long country roads and well into Virginia countryside for what seemed like an hour or more. As we got nearer to the destination--the tall thug insisted we wear blindfolds.
Soon we came to a stop and the blindfolds were removed as we entered what seemed the basement of a large house--we were escorted through a kitchen facility as large as one you might see in a restaurant--five or so large ovens and rows of burners decorated with saucepans and frying pans hanging from the ceiling.
My arms were still sore from being strapped up like a hunk of meat and my stomach felt as weak as a paper drum.
I asked for a glass of water. Later they said as they marched me upstairs to what seemed like the reception desk.
Two men in business suits were there to greet us. One was young and bearded with a bright red tie against a white shirt with a wrestler body and large face and the second was a lot older with glasses with his salt and pepper hair tied back into a pony tail.
“So welcome to our Information Center --this is one of five we have across the country.” said the one with the pony tail while the bearded guy just smiled as if he had tasted a nice cocktail or piece of candy.
We were instructed to take a chair positioned at a desk in a large lounge area that looked like it was once the drawing room in a country estate - lots of paintings of what appeared to be famous 18th century people against green wallpaper and red embroidered curtains. I waited for a moment while the two goons adjusted their seating posture and grabbed a tablet notebook from a desk.
“I was told there would be a job offer--we were told by your incoming Director of the Immigration and Naturalization Service--David Ross-my former boss that he had a job for me.” I began
The body language told all as the bearded man slumped his head
While the pony tailed guy moved up to stare at me as if I had just said something in Chinese and he was reconstructing the words from memorizing the way my lips had formed.
“Can’t help what new employees say--they have not been properly briefed yet on our protocols regarding employment” said the bearded guy as if reading from a manual
“We can’t rule out that if you are able to complete some of our training that you might one day serve in the GL administration” said the pony taliled one.
“Can we sit down and chat?” I asked
“Would you prefer coffee, tea, soda or just plain water”
We both said water.
“You know that abducting people from their homes is illegal and holding them in prison is doubly so?” said Eleanor after we sat down.
“I’m afraid we are in a state of emergency right now. The president has called it as such and both the constitution and normal rules don’t apply--we are in danger from terrorists and those who want to over throw our government
If you have been paying attention to the latest developments out of Washington the Supreme Court has met in emergency session and given GL full police powers” Said the bearded man his blue eyes shifting his focus like a pendulum between us as he attempted like a used car salesman to guage our reaction.
“Then we are completely fucked” I muttered under my breath
“What’s that Frank?” said the ponytailed guard who smiled knowing full well what I said
“We are completely at your mercy--I guess GL wants to live in a completely different America from the one we knew”
“Not exactly” he replied
“Why us ? why did you pick us up?” I asked my desperation now fully on display
“In the interests of transparency I will tell you. Two gentlemen --loyal to our campaign reported you and Professor Harper to our surveillance team as being suspicious characters. One said he had been attacked by you and your dog Mrs K
And that the attack was unprovoked. When we did a background check on you both we have found evidence that you belong to parties and organizations that pose a threat to the stability of the country. You Professor Harper for example are a member of the socialist party and have taught a biased view of American history that included books that have been banned in 12 states so far. Frank your Facebook postings listing GL as “public enemy number one” has indicated to our security forces that you might be preparing for an armed attack. We cannot afford to take a chance given the circumstances we find ourselves in.”
“So are we allowed lawyers to argue our case. Are you just going to hold us here indefinitely on suspicion of some future crime. Have we now finally arrived at Orwell’s 1984 where “thought crime” is a reality and we are guilty until proved innocent. Is that the world we are now in?” said Mrs K tearfully.
There was a pause while Eleanor collected herself.
We don’t see it that way the bearded guy replied and part of why you are here is to convince you to see it another way.
“Then you are running a “Re-education camp” then?” I interjected
“We are not that but I guess as libs and very woke libs at that--I understand that is the way you see things” he replied without a pause having the GL script fully down
“We see things from a rational perspective--there are sometimes not two sides to a question but one side--the side of truth and justice and the other side is wrong, evil and destructive. This equivalence stuff is not going to fly with me or Frank. We had a constitution before GL ripped it all too shreds--a Supreme Court and politicians that functioned to defend it. It is clear as daylight that we can’t have a United States unless we reverse this nonsense.” Eleanor said in her most professorial voice.
“Let us show you around and so you can see how you might be able to fit into our little community here. We always leave open the possibility that you can change your mind.” he said more softly now.
“I’m never going to kiss your ring or GL’s ring. I don’t know what your names are or how you got caught up in this awful fascist psychodrama but you know some day you will find yourself brought to account by your actions it may not be an American court that does that--we may need to have you tried by the World Court--but there are some things known as Universal Human Rights that you cannot flout.” Eleanor said still on her high and noble horse.
“Strong language Professor Harper. Please note we have recorded it and will be sending it to our advisory committee as to how to proceed” said the bearded man. Meanwhile I can take you on a tour of our facility if you would like.” Using the same tone of voice as if he was selling timeshares.
We got up and were taken to the elevator by the two goons to what I presumed was the second floor of the building
“I did dot have time to pack a suit case --I trust I will be allowed to change” asked Eleanor
“You will be issued uniforms in fact let me take you to your rooms now” he replied like the prison guard he really was.
“Are we allowed to even make a phone call?”asked Eleanor
“In a word no but we can make one for you--it can be in your voice but we write the script” he said mechanically.
“Look I am a retired politics professor and I don’t have the capacity or the energy to overthrow any regime--what are you holding me for”
“Me too I added--I am a fired audio engineer--I am so low down on the food chain that I am not even a microcobe in your universe” said Eleanor still trying to reason with the jerk.
“We want to set an example--we want you to help build a network of dissidents who will all be captured in due time” he replied
“What if we refuse?” asked Eleanor with evident pain in her voice
“We send you to one of the camps we are building”
“So you are following the Hitler playbook?” She said without any obvious sarcasm.
“It worked so well we got the country unified, got rid of the democracy that wasn’t working for most German people, began to be respected in the world and hosted the Olympic games, turned around the economy.”
“You forgot one thing--how about the loss of 75 million lives, massive world war, the near annihilation of an entire people--did you ever pick up one history book-just one” she said forcefully.
“You forget one thing-history is written by the winners. We are going to write the next chapter. America is not like Germany was in 1933--we have more resources and we want to ensure that there will be no need for war
We will simply dominate the world if we can rid ourselves of the endless discussions about who we are. We are born to be exceptional and to lead it out of chaos.
“Who appointed you?” asked Eleanor indignantly
“GL “he said as if were an unquestioned god—a Jesus come back to earth
“So you want to form some sort of master race?” I asked
“Your words not ours--we are just about establishing world order. The world will be facing a mighty set of challenges--terrorism, left wing efforts to erase gender distinctions, non belief in a divine being, immorality rampant, drug use and abortion on demand--the world is in chaos--not just America-but America is the hotbed and the leader--GL has been chosen by history to change this” he said in that fluent manner that must have got him the enforcer job
“Complete popycock” said Eleanor
“Careful-you don’t want to be writing your stay in our first reception camp--do you?” said the enforcer more sharply.
“How the hell do I get out of here?” yelled Eleanor now on the verge of crying again.
“There’s only one way out and that is by accepting GL and chose an assignment”
We then went on a tour of the building visiting a lot of identical looking rooms with 10-15 people hunched over their computers. One was a room dedicated to creating news reports favorable to GL that sometimes meant creating fake videos with the use of AI. Other rooms were tracking and monitoring certain individuals social media use, others were creating op eds for news outlets, Other rooms were top secret and we were not allowed to enter. After the tour we were taken to our rooms--a small bedroom located in the roof of the building with a small shower and windows sealed shut and with bars over them.. On the bed was a series of packages. One package stated uniform on the front and another had a package marked “RULES” and a third package looked like a box of candies but I suspected were really psychotropic medicines.
The package containing the uniform was a large one--each had a different pair of medical scrubs --in blue, green, red and yellow. We had two choices of color when it came to sneakers and matching socks and underwear. colors- pants
The following day we were instructed by a separate note thrust under my door to report to the head office after we had “coffee and croissants” at the “breakfast bar” --four offices down from our sleeping quarters. Mrs K was dressed in a bright yellow scrubs-I was wearing the red ones.
“I wonder whether they will tell something about our attitude based on the color of scrubs we chose.
“Who knows? I stopped caring at this point” I replied
“You mustn’t stop caring--then they everything is over--they broke your spirit--you can’t have them do that.” said Eleanor again wiping away a tear but looking at me with a new kind of resolve.
“Whats the plan then prof?” I asked
“Well we are going to have to play their game at least for a while and pretend we are impressed with their arguments for GL and all he stands for --however nauseating that might be. But I don’t know how to make it look real and believable. Do you?”she asked
“I could fake a break down and make it appear that I have accepted GL as my new savior” I replied.
“I don’t believe that will get us very far but I do think that we need to mute the opposition to GL and suggest that both of us are wanting to cooperate in subtle ways. So I think the only language they understand and what they want us for is to betray people--that was what the McCarthy people wanted--you know the House on Unamerican Activities in the 1950s designed to root out communists. They wanted names. I am never going to give them real names--but if we betray each other with fake information. You say for example that I was a member of the American socialist party and I tried to recruit you that kind of thing. We will need some time to perfect our stories but that’s the way they like to do business. “ she said helping me understnd why she had been such a much loved professor.
Soon someone wearing a blue uniform with a face covered by a large sunglasses and greased back blonde hair came by-and just using his eyes signaled to us to leave and follow him . He walked us down to an empty office.and cleared his throat. We braced ourselves for what would come out of his mouth.
“Compile a list of your friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, assuring them that the election had been decided fairly and that you now pledge our support to GL”he said in a slightly bored manner as if he were reading from a shopping list.
As the weight of our predicament settled in once more, Eleanor and I exchanged a silent understanding. It was a daunting task, one that tested the very essence of our moral fiber. But as we prepared to embark on this new phase of our resistance, she looked at me with an expression that suggested that no matter the cost, we would remain steadfast in our defiance, refusing to betray those we held dear. For in the face of tyranny, it was not just our own freedom at stake, but the collective spirit of humanity itself.