Page 58 of Longing for Liberty

FORTY-SEVEN

STATE NEWS: VICE PRESIDENT WALINGER’S WIFE PREGNANT WITH CHILD NUMBER SIX!

After nearly thirty hours on a bus, I was stiff, and my stomach ached despite the two peanut butter sandwiches we’d both been given with water.

I probably smelled bad, but the whole bus was rank with unwashed bodies, so it was hard to tell.

I almost reached for Jeremy’s hand as I stepped off the bus into the breezy autumn sunshine, but I stopped myself just in time.

We all three stretched. I rolled my neck.

An old sign lay on the ground covered in dirt, but the lettering was visible: Norfolk Train Station. Coastal Virginia. One state away from where I grew up. Emotion clogged my throat as I breathed in the salty East Coast air.

State Force had a heavy presence here, just like in our community.

Our guard spoke to one of them, and he followed us into the station, keeping the extra set of eyes on us as we went into the bathrooms to do our business.

I used paper towels to clean under my arms and felt a little better when I came back out.

I tried not to stare at Jeremy, but everything about him was so comforting.

The shape of his hands with scars from nicks and fights over the years.

His wiry, strong arms. The light curve of his nose and crinkle of his brown eyes, which took on the glow of honey in the sun.

He caught me looking and we both dropped our eyes, but not before I saw the satisfied, small smile on his lips.

“Let’s go.” The guard poked Jeremy in the back and pointed us toward a darkened government vehicle.

We did as he asked without question. Jeremy and I sat in the back with room between us.

The guard sat in front with a driver. But we didn’t drive for long.

We stopped at a port. Not far away were Navy ships.

I didn’t know enough about them to know what kind, but they were large, gray, and appeared ready for war.

We got out and followed our guard to a small fishing boat that looked to be a former personal vessel. The man wore worker clothes, just like Jeremy. He spoke to our guard and nodded, motioning us to board. Jeremy took my hand to help me step up, and the guard yelled.

“Don’t touch her!”

I pulled my hand away and saw Jeremy grit his teeth in silence.

“I was told to give you these,” the boatman said, handing us each a paper bag. “This isn’t the most comfortable transportation, but it’ll get us north. We’re exiting the Chesapeake Bay and going around the peninsula, up the Atlantic coast to Nova Scotia.”

Canada.

How ironic that six years ago I’d booked us flights from Canada to Italy, and now it was happening.

I couldn’t help the flutter of delight despite our circumstances.

I looked around the boat. The plastic flooring was dingy but thankfully not wet.

The only two seats were the captain’s seat and the one beside it, which the driver and guard took.

I let myself slide to the floor at the front, and Jeremy did the same a few feet away from me.

It was an easy ride at first as we left the bay, but when we got to the ocean, where it was a little rockier, sea sickness came over me.

The men ate sandwiches and apples from their bags, but I had to lie down on the disgusting floor.

Now and then we’d hit a jarring wave that cracked my ankles and elbows against the hard plastic, but at least I didn’t vomit.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Jeremy watching me from the corner of his own eye. I was low enough that the other men couldn’t see me. I gave a small thumbs up, and my husband faintly smiled to himself.

At some point I fell asleep, though I wasn’t sure how.

Hours must have passed because when I finally cracked my eyes open, I saw Jeremy staring out over the side of the boat at the sky as the sun set in layers of orange, peach, and pink.

When he saw that I was awake, he nudged my paper bag with his foot, telling me to eat.

I wished I could give the food to him, because my stomach was not ready for it, but I also knew I needed to keep up my strength.

I pulled out the peanut butter and jam sandwich and literally gagged when I started chewing.

There was nothing wrong with it, but my body rejected the feel of food in my mouth.

I pressed a knuckle to my lips and forced myself to swallow.

After three bites, I leaned my head back and hoped the sensations would pass soon.

On top of my stomach aching, a chill had taken to the air.

Thankfully I’d had the forethought to pack a sweater, which I pulled out of my bag and tugged on, hugging it tightly to my body as I clutched the paper bag.

“You’re not eating that?” the guard asked. As much as I didn’t want to eat the food, there was an even bigger part of me that didn’t want him to have it either. I would have happily given it to the captain or Jeremy, but not him.

I held the bag tighter. “I am.”

His eyes narrowed on me, but I looked away, pulling out the apple and forcing a bite.

Ugh, a soft apple. My body shivered as I pretended to like it.

Chew, chew, chew, swallow.

I took a few sips of water from my metal bottle. My nose was getting cold. I curled my legs inward to store body heat, while keeping my knees together in the skirt.

It felt like hours more before the boat finally began to slow.

Dusk had dimmed to early night, but lights shone from the docks ahead.

Was this Nova Scotia? It certainly felt cold enough to be Canada.

I watched in surprise as the State Force guard took off his helmet and police gear, changing into a button-up shirt and sports jacket.

But his gun was still holstered underneath.

As we pulled up to the dock, the guard pulled a small box from his bag and set it on the captain’s seat.

“Your payment.”

The worker gave him a nod as he got us to the dock and told Jeremy to grab the rope.

I wondered what the man had been given to do a secret run to Canada.

Cigarettes? Liquor? Chocolate? Medicine?

He must have been doing well with bribes to stay in the State and not flee to Canada himself. Maybe he stayed for his family.

My legs were gelatinous as I climbed onto the dock, still swaying internally.

Another car awaited us. Were we going to the airport?

My God…we were in civilization! Out of the State!

I climbed in and stared out of the window at the dimly lit buildings and houses that we passed.

If Jeremy weren’t here, I could fling myself out of the moving car and run.

My heart raced as if I were actually sprinting away from the State Force guard.

In my mind I would be flying, and he’d never be able to catch me, though I was sure the reality would be much grimmer.

To my dismay and disappointment, we pulled into the lot of what appeared to be a tiny airstrip.

As far as I could tell, there wasn’t even a building to walk into.

Was this place private? I knew Amos would probably fly private, but I’d hoped we’d be on a commercial plane surrounded by the safety of other people.

We stopped beside another black car, and its driver got out to open the back door. I sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the man standing there.

“Get out,” our guard ordered us.

Jeremy and I obeyed, climbing out with our bags and standing very still while the guard shook hands with the well-dressed man.

I couldn’t believe it. We were standing feet from one of the richest men in the world—the first human to become a trillionaire.

Ronald Hempshire was the owner of the world’s largest private equity firm.

He’d bought up everything from hotel chains and resorts to banks to electricity and oil companies.

He’d had a hand in everything, and he heavily backed Wright’s party.

It was because of Hempshire and his government affiliations under Wright that the U.S.

had financially tanked, causing the largest homelessness epidemic in U.S. history.

The apple mush churned in my stomach as I heard him say, “Anything for Fitzhugh. The plane is stocked and ready.”

We definitely weren’t flying commercial. I wouldn’t be able to corner a flight attendant by the bathrooms like I’d been hoping, to pick someone’s brain about what was happening in the world. No chance of losing the guard in a busy airport or getting to a phone.

To my surprise and disgust, Ronald Hempshire, with his lumpy bald head, looked me over and gave me an amused chuckle. I raised my chin.

“Enjoy,” he said to me.

I didn’t know what Amos had told him, but at risk of ruining everything, I gave a simple nod and said, “Thank you.”

One of Hempshire’s men led us through a gate onto the tarmac where a private plane sat with its stairs down. The three of us climbed on. Jeremy and I stood stupidly staring around at the lush, white leather cabin.

“Hurry and sit down,” the guard said. “Front row. Separate windows.”

I rushed to one window and tucked my bag away. A blanket and pillow were awaiting me. The guard sat on the aisle seat behind me. My heart jumped when a woman in a red beret and fitted navy dress came out with a tray. Our own flight attendant? She carried a tray of what appeared to be mimosas.

“No alcohol on this flight,” the guard told her. The woman’s eyes widened, but she nodded and hurried away. He leaned forward and warned us, “Don’t try to talk to her or the pilots. They’ve been ordered not to speak to you. There are cameras.” He pointed to at least three of them. “Understand?”

“Yes,” I said, and heard Jeremy murmur his understanding.

Well, shit.

“Once we’re in the air, we’ll take turns showering.”

Showering? That sounded nice.

The shower was glorious. Hot water the whole time.

It felt good to be clean and to change into new clothes.

Back at my seat, I draped the blanket over me and kicked out the footrest. I didn’t dare look over at Jeremy in case Amos was watching from somewhere, but I felt his eyes boring into me.

Finally, I glanced quickly and saw him frowning at my throat.

I brought my fingers up to cover my lower neck.

Shit! I’d forgotten when I put on the lower cut, loose dress, and the bathroom mirror had been foggy.

A flash of Roan’s face turned my stomach, but I tried to give my husband a reassuring ‘I’m okay’ smile. It didn’t work. His entire body, neck, and face were tight. He was livid as he finally turned his face forward, probably imagining all the ways he would kill whoever touched me.

After we’d all showered, the flight attendant brought out trays of hot food.

I couldn’t help but peek at Jeremy again as his eyes widened when she set the meal in front of him.

Chicken in a savory gravy over rice. Side salad with vinaigrette.

A fluffy roll with butter. A fudgy frosted brownie.

The guard stood up and walked forward, plucking the roll off Jeremy’s tray and tossing it in the air, catching it and smirking.

“Give that back,” I said.

I didn’t mean to.

The guard went still. Jeremy’s face swung to me, pursed with warning. I locked eyes with the guard.

Oh, no.

I had a choice to make. Apologize and back down or stand my ground.

“Give it back to him,” I said in a lower voice, menace rolling off me.

He let out a huff of laughter. It had probably been years since a worker-class citizen questioned him. But I wasn’t just any worker.

“What are you gonna do?” he asked. “Tell on me?”

“Yes,” I said plainly. “Fitzhugh’s quite fond of me.” I gestured to the plane and watched his eyes narrow.

“You think he’ll be happy to know you’re sticking up for this man ?”

“That man is practically starving compared to you,” I pointed out. “It’s one thing to uphold the law and another thing to be cruel.”

He chuckled again, clearly in disbelief. “Whatever.” He slightly crunched the roll in his fist and threw it onto Jeremy’s lap, then stomped past me, whispering under his breath a word that sounded like, “ Jezebel .”

I should have that word written on my tombstone someday.

In my peripheral vision, I still felt a warning glare coming at me from Jeremy, but I ignored it and began to eat, feeling relieved that I’d kind of won that small battle.

As soon as I was finished eating, I angled my body toward the window, away from Jeremy, so I wouldn’t be caught on video gazing at him.

This was really happening. With each mile that we flew farther away from North America and closer to our children, my internal phoenix cawed as it soared, a shrill and deafening call of freedom.

I hoped wherever the resistance was right now, and whatever they were doing, they could also hear that call.

I only regretted that I didn’t have Roan at gunpoint for them.