Page 75 of Vistaria Has Fallen

“No military action has taken place yet.It’s making the crowds more frantic. The size of the crowd is growing. There are more people coming onto the Avenue all the time.”

The picture changed, showing a view taken from a vehicle moving along the Avenue of Nations. The many people there jostled each other off the pavements onto the road itself. They looked angry.

“They’re talking about you,” Joshua said and cocked his head to listenclosely, “and Americans in general.”

Abruptly, he turned off the television.

“What?” Minnie said.

Joshua sat on the other sofa next to his wife and took her hand. “This is the government station yet they’re asking the same damn fool questions as the crappy newspaper. Why are Americans influencing the government? Why is it allowed to happen?”

Calli hugged her knees to her chest. “Nick isn’tthe government,” she protested.

“And you’re just an excuse,” Joshua shot back. “A damned good one as it happens. That’s all they ever needed, Calli. One lousy excuse.” He pushed his hand through his hair. “Well, they have that now.”

She hid her face against her knees. “I have to leave the country.”

“Good idea. Only, the first things to shut down in a civil disturbance are the transport systems.They won’t let you out.” Joshua smiled grimly. “You have to stay and face the music, my girl.”

“I wasn’t running away for my sake.”

“I know. They won’t see it that way, though.”

“Who won’t?”

“The rebels. The people. Vistarians. If this rioting keeps up, then the rebels will have a ready-made army at their disposal. It will take very little to turn these angry, roused civilian Vistarians tothe rebels’ cause now.” He shook his finger at her. “So you will stay put on that sofa and not make a squeak and we’ll hold our breath and hope this passes too.” He grimaced. “Let’s hope we don’t wake up to worse news tomorrow.”

Calli shuddered. “It can’t get any worse.”