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Unless…

My gaze h’s His arms are still raised to protect his head, but his ear is cocked toward the sound

The chanting gets louder and louder Through the sliver of , I see prisoners cli their fists in the air Their words beco Anson!”

They wouldn’t dare riot like this, unless the People’s Republic really has fallen If the hthter, across the border in France, whom I’ve never met

Wesson’s face turns gray with shock The People’s Republic is his whole world Without the

“You’re so fucked,” I tell Wesson, grinning like a maniac

His eyes bulge He reaches for his keys, intending to open es for Wesson’s baton, pulls it out of his grasp and cracks it over the guard’s skull

Wesson cruround with a thud

Vanderburgh takes the keys froers and unlocks my cell He hands the keys to me and stands at attention

“Your orders, sir”

I stare at his wiry frae jumpsuit with a nu me

I stand slowly, and I can alold braid, across h”

Ensign My lips curl into another smile, one of affection this time “I think it’s time you were promoted We’ll see to that very soon”

Vanderburgh grins back “And today, sir?”

I look up and down the corridor at theto see what’s happening Straining to be free

“Release all the political prisoners into the yard There is to be no rioting No violence Barricade the guards in the kitchens, and then find out if this news is true”

Hope glows in Vanderburgh’s eyes, such as I haven’t seen for twenty-seven years “And if it is true?”

“Then shout it fro Anson!” I cry, loud enough for all to hear

All around me, my men take up the chant

Wesson has awoken and is cowering on the floor, pale and shivering, at the sight of us standing over him I reach down for the bloodied baton and raise it Wesson whi it over his head, I point into my tiny concrete cell Wesson scrambles inside He turns around, just in ti