THEPEOPLEvs

APD
byAnonymous


ForJamesBoyd.

Thearcofthemoraluniverseislong,butitbends
towardsjustice.MartinLutherKingJr.


CHAPTER1

"Letthosecurseitwhocursetheday,Whoare
preparedtorouseLeviathan."JOB3:8

ThePeoplewereagitated.Weekafterweekthe
Statesponsoredviolencecontinuedtowreakhavoc
uponthepoorofAlbuquerque.Therichdidn'tcare
aslongastheydidn'thavetoseeit.Thepolice
servedtherichattheexpenseofthepoor.Inother
words,businessasusual.

ThePeoplecontinuedtowork.Lawnswere
mowed,disheswerewashed,homeswere
constructed,andlifeproceededinanorderly,
predictablemanner.JustthewayTheManlikesit.
Anyonesteppingoutoflinefoundthemselves
incarceratedordead.Individualsspeakingout
aboutitdisappearedinthenight.Somethingwas
clearlywrong.Toomanykillings,notenough
oversight.Itwasalloutofsight,outofminduntil
theincidentinthefoothills.

Thebloodthirsty,jackbootedstormtrooperswere
outonakillingspreeasusualandhadcorneredan

acceptabletarget.A"schizophrenic,"whichis
moreofapoliticaldesignationthananactual
illness.It'showtheelitesay"undesirable"or
"uselesseater."Thistime,theirsavageactof
murderoccurredinplainsight,atopahill.The
executionwassimplythat:acoldblooded
execution.Thevideofromthelapelcamera
recordedasnufffilm.Thisblatantandcruelactof
homicideputalltheothershootingbypoliceinto
context.Thesewerenotisolatedincidentsasthe
mediawouldhaveThePeoplebelieve.

ThiswasTerrorism.

WhenThePeopleweren'twatching,A.P.D.
becametheterroristwingoftheemergingfascist
dictatorship.Now,ThePeoplewereawake,and
watching.Thekillingonthehillprompteda
massiveprotest,organizedinpartbyJill.Nother
realname,butasanactivistworkingforANWER
NM,sheconsideredthatusingherrealnamewould
beilladvisedgiventheriseofrightwingviolence
sincetheinaugurationofthefirstblackpresident.
Thiswascertainlyacontentiousandinteresting
pointinAmericanhistory.Changewasintheair
andJillsavouredeverybreath.

"Nowlistenup,"sheaddressedthepacked
classroom."Weneedtorecognizethatthepolice
nolongerserveus,ThePeople.Theyservetheone
percent,theuberrich.Or,moreaccurately,they
servethealmightydollar."Theroomeruptedin
claughter(clapping+laughter)."Thecapitalistpigs
knowtheyarecriminals.That'swhytheyneeda
privatearmy.Tokeepus,ThePeople,from
establishingajustsociety,asocietyofequals."

Theclassroomwasmesmerized.Orstoned.Itwas
difficulttotell.MostofthemwereUNM
studentsfreshmenmainly.Afewwerehomeless
bumsandtherewasamiddleagedprofessorinthe
frontrow,noddingenthusiasticallytoJill'severy
word.

Jillreachedintoherpurse,withdrewagunand
pointeditattheceiling."Weneedtorestorethe
balanceofpower.Weneedtotakeovercity
council,overthrowthecitygovernment,and
instituteaneworderhere.Weneedrevolution!"
Shebaskedinthestandingovation,wavingthegun
around,pretendingtoshootheraudience.Itwas
notloaded.

"ArriveattheAlbuquerqueCenterforPeaceand
SocialJusticeatnoon.Youwillbeissuedagun
andagrenade.Youwillneedabackpacktotake
whateveryoucanlootintheensuingchaos.We
mustfightuntilalltherichpeoplearewillingto
spreadtheirwealtharound.Wearetheoneswe
havebeenwaitingfor!Areyouwithme?"The
audiencenoddedandcheeredtheirassent.Itwas
theirtime.


CHAPTER2

PoliceChiefOdinflippedthroughthenewspaper,
shakinghishead."Hey,tellTheJournaltostepit
up.Don'tcallthemprotesters.Callthemdomestic
terrorists.Morefear,lessfacts."Hisassistant
immediatelynotifiedthemediarepresentativeto
issueanordertothelocalmediaonthecorrect
anglefortheircoverageoftheprotests.All
journaliststooktheirordersfromtheAPD.Itwas
eitherthatorwritefortheWeeklyAlibi.

Theprotestwasbeingplannedforthefollowing
evening.Hisspiesinformedhimthattheywouldbe
takingthebaitoneofAPD'sundercoveragents
hadworkedadealtoarmtheAlbuquerqueCenter
forPeaceandSocialJustice.Theprotesterswould
bepickingupweaponsontheirmarch,weapons
whichhadbeendisabledbyAPDbeforebeing
giventotheundercoveragent.Notthatthehippies
wouldnotice.

Assoonastheymarchedwithweaponsinhand,
ChiefOdinhimselfwouldbetherewithafullteam
ofSWATofficersreadytotakedowntheuprising
onceandforall.Hewouldbehailedasaheroand
Albuquerquewouldbefreeofseveralhundred
dissidents.Awinwinsituation.

Helitacigarandpuffedsmokeagainsttheglassof
thewindowoverlookingtheplaza.Hecouldseeit
now,theDepartmentofHomelandSecuritypinning
agoldstaronhislapel,apresidentialmedalof
honor,andhell,maybeevenapeaceprize.

CHAPTER3

TimothyRuizlikedtodescribehimselfasa
"practicalidealist."HeworkedattheChannel14
NewsRoomasasoundtechnicianandanoncall
cameramanforspecialinvestigativereporterDebby
Smith.Heworeanicesuitandtie,workedout,
tanned,gelledhishair,andwhitenedhisteeth.But
underneathhistelegenicexteriorhewas,atheart,an

idealisticnonconformist.Beneaththesuitwashis
favoriteteeshirt,anoldsweatstainedonefromhis
preantiperspiranthippiedayswiththefadedChe
Guevarasilkscreenedprint.The"VivaLa
Revolucion!"sloganwasbarelydiscerniblebuthe
woreitasaremindernotto"sellout."

Hispersonalpoliticalviewsarewhatmade
tomorrow'sstorysoexciting:hehadbeenaskedby
Debbytoaccompanyheronhercoverageofthe
antiAPDdemonstrationatthecityplaza.Hewas
happyfortheovertime,happytobeworkingwith
Debbyagain,andabsolutelyebullientabout
coveringtheprotestandbuildinghisownfilmreel.
Andthetruthis,hewouldfeelmoreathome
amongthechanting,impassionedmobthanamong
hisconservative,reservedcolleaguesinthe
newsroom.Itwouldbeawelcomerespite.

Itwasfiveo'clockandhewasmakinghiswayto
theexitwhenhegotthetext.Atextwhichcould
fundamentallychangethetrajectoryofhisentire
career:"Tim.It'sMalcom.Igotaleadforyou.
BIG.\M/"

Impatientandannoyedbythetease,henearly
deletedandignoreditbutsomethingtoldhimto

followthroughwithareply.Hehadn'theardfrom
Malcominacoupleofyearsandsotherewas
enoughcuriositytowarrantareply."What?I'm
driving.BeSpecific."Secondslaterthereply:"At
theACPSJ.Tomorrow,predemonstrationmeeting
atnoon.....we'retakinguparms."

Timothyfrozeintheparkinglot,didanaboutface,
andheadeddirectlybackinside,downthehall,and
intoDebby'sofficewhereshesatinfrontofa
giganticmonitoreditingvideofootage.Without
lookingupshetoldhim,"gohomeTim.It'sone
minutepastfive.Youshouldbethreeblocksaway
bynow.Youneedyourrestfortomorrow."

"Debby,Iwouldn'tbotheryounowbutIgotabig
newstipanditpertainstotomorrow'sstory."She
continuededitingthevideo,notlooking.Hetookit
asacuetocontinue."Therewillbea
predemonstrationmeetingtomorrowandthe
protestersaregoingtotakeuparms."

ShestaredrightintoTim'sface,eyebrowsraised.
"Who?Where?When?How?Why?"

"Afellowtraveller,afriendIusedtodoactivism
withtoldmethatattheAlbuquerqueCenterfor

PeaceandSocialJusticeatnoontomorrowthe
protestersaregoingtoarmthemselvesenrouteto
theplaza.Idon'tknowthereasonwhy....Icanonly
guessatthispoint."

"Doesanybodyknowaboutthis?"Hehadherfull
attention.Itwasalmostintimidating.

"Nn..n..n...nnno.No.Justus.Thisfrienddropped
meahintasafavorIsuppose."

"Don'tbreatheawordofittoanyone.Don't
respondtothetexts.Takemethere.Weneedto
takesomeestablishingshotsandfindaplaceto
park."Theyheadedoutthedoortomaketheir
preparationsforwhattheybothhopedwouldbea
careerboostingstory.

Timothy'sexcitementgavewaytoamorepensive
moodasheconsideredwhetherhewouldfeelbad
aboutgettingagoodstoryifitmeantwitnessing
someofhisformerpeersbeingteargassedand
brutalizedbylawenforcement.Couldhe
compromisehisidealsifitmeantgreatereconomic
freedom?Orwouldhelendhisvoicetotheircause
andriskeverything?

Debby,bycontrast,becameincreasinglyanimated.
Sheinsistedthathepromisenottocallthe
authorities."Wedon'twantthistobeinterrupted.
Wearenotheretomakethenews,onlytocoverit.
Besides,"shesaidwithahyenasmile,"ifitdoesn't
bleed...itdoesn'tlead."Hesmiledbackwhile
concealinganinnerrevulsion.Howcouldshebeso
callous?

Hethoughtoftheofficersshootingthehomeless
manonthehill,howoneoftheshooterscelebrated
hiskillshotwithaproud"Booyah!"Itreminded
himofthehuntingshowshewatchedasakidon
Saturdaymorningswaitingforthecartoonsto
begin.Thehunterswouldsitupintreestandsand
pointtheirweaponsatthetrailwaitingforthedeer
toarrive.Theywouldcountthepointsonthe
antlersbeforedecidingwhetherornotitwouldwin
themanawardatthehuntinglodge.Theywould
posewiththedeadanimalafterwards,smilingwith
theirweapondrapedovertheantlers,givingthe
appearanceofbeinggreathunters,andnotjust
ambusherslookingforaneasyprizekill.

Whatpridecouldtherebeintakingsuchcheap
shots?Whatkindofpersonwouldtakepleasurein
spillingbloodjustforatrophy?Whatkindof

personjuststandsbyandwatchesasthebloodof
theinnocentisspilled?Theseandotherquestions
floodedhismind.Uncomfortablequestions.
Questionsforwhichtherearenoanswers,and
thosewithanswersbetterleftunsaid.


CHAPTER4

Malcomandtheotherorganizerswerestayingthe
nightattheoffice.Allthecoucheswereoccupied
bytheotherA.C.P.S.J.volunteers.Theirmarch
wouldbeginthefollowingafternoonbutthe
preparationswouldbeginmuchsooner.He
proofreadthepressreleasehewasworkingon.All
heneededtocompleteitwasthelistofdemands
whichJill,fromANSWERNM,wouldbe
providinghim.Itwasclosetomidnightatwhich
timeshewouldbecallingortexting.Hetook
advantageofthefiveminutewaittotakeasmoke
break.

Outside,dozensofsleeperslieintheirsleeping
bagsandolivedrabarmyblankets.Thiswas
Albuquerque'sOccupyWallStreetcontingent,an
adhocmovementconsistingofvagrants,bums,
andcollegeageliberalsfromwealthyhomeswho
havenonethelesscometoidentifywiththepoorin
theircommonstruggleagainstTheSystem.

Malcomcarefullytiptoedaroundthemandwentto
thesidewalkbeforelightingup,allowingthesoft

breezetocarrythesmokeawayfromthesleepers.
Heonlyhadfivecigarettestolastuntilmorningand
ifthere'sonethinghelearnedaboutworkingamong
thechronicallyunemployed:theyaremastersat
cigaretteextortion.

Earlier,henoticedanunmarkedvanparkedacross
thestreetwithit'sbackfacinghisownoffice
window.Thevanwasstillthere,nearlysixhours
later.Itdidn'tbelongtoanyoftheactivistsand
noneoftheOccupyWallStreetcrowdhad
vehicles.Hestaredatit,lookingforanythingwhich
mightsuggesttheidentityofitsowner.

"Pigs,"saidthevoicebehindhim.ItwasZaiger,
thecomputerhackerfromAnonymous."What'sup
Malcom?Whysojumpy?"

"Neversneakuponabrothalikethat,you
understand?"Malcomwasshakingandhiseyes
bulged.Hehadn'trealizedhowanxioushehad
become.Hetriedtopushthethoughtofallthose
AK47'sandhandgrenadesoutofhismind.He
wasparanoidbutdidn'twantittoshow.

"Gotasparecigarette?"Zaigerreachedoutasoft,
wellmanicuredhand.Hewaspastywhite,chubby,

andhadablondefauxhawkunderneaththeblack
hoodie.Hisgrinningfacesuggestedhewaspleased
atthereactionheelicited.

"Spare?Ihavesmokedfortenyearsandnotonce
haveIpurchasedapackwithtwentyonecigarettes
inside.Notonce.Buthere."Hehandedthe
hacktivistacigarette."Whatwouldthepigsbe
doinghere?"

"It'sjustanattempttointimidateusbeforethe
demonstration,that'sall.Anditwon'twork."
Zaigerproducedacanofspraypaintfromhis
pocketandgaveitahardshake."I'mgoingtomark
itwithaswastika."

"Thehellyouare!Thisisdefinitelynotthetimeto
agitate.Therewillbeplentyoftimefor
confrontationtomorrow.Notroubletonight,you
hearme?"Malcomwasunabletodisguisethefear
inhisvoice.

"Whatisit?"Zaigerasked,nolongergrinning."Is
theresomethingwrong?"

"Listen.RememberwhatJillsaidaboutOperation
APDatthegeneralassembly?Aboutrestoringthe

balanceofpower?Shewasn'tjusttalking.Thatwas
notrhetoric.We'redoingitforreal.Ican'trelax,I
can'tsleep.Doyouknowwhatthiscouldmean?"

"Yea,it'snotthatbigadeal.We'rejustmarching.
Weexerciseourfirstamendmentallthetime.
Marchingwithriflesatoursidesisessentiallythe
samething.It'saboutcivilrights,notviolence.
Don'tworrysomuch."Zaigertookalongdrag
beforecontinuing."Andthem?Dotheyunderstand
thatwe'replayingforkeeps?Thatwedon'tback
downevenifthehitshitsthefan?"

Malcomsurveyedthesleepersagain.Thenylon
sleepingbagsreflectedthemoon'slight,andfora
secondhethoughttheyresembledbodybags.
"Theyhavenothingtolose."Hisphonevibrated.A
textmessagefromJill:"ThePeople'sListof
Demands."

Hescrolledthroughthelist:

"$30perhourminimumwage.
Collegeloanforgiveness.
Affirmativeactionforallemployers.
Highertaxesontherich.
MandatoryCommunityServicefortheRich.

BanTalkRadio.
ReEducationCampsforTeaPartyMembers.
CloseDownWalmart.
ReplaceFastFoodwithOrganicProduceStands.
FreePalestine.
BanGluten.
MandatoryIslamicCulturalStudiesforHigh
SchoolStudents.
ChargePoliceChiefOdinwithTerrorism."

Thelistofdemandswouldbesubmittedviapress
releasetoeverymajornewsoutletandreleased
ontosocialmediainthemorning.Thearmed
insurrectionwouldlastuntileverylastdemandwas
recognizedandsatisfied.Malcom,Zaiger,Jill,the
Occupiers,andAnonymouswereonthecutting
edgeofsocietalevolution.Theywerethevanguard
ofanewsocialconsciousness.Theywere
revolutionaryMarxistsandwerepreparedtofight
anddiefortheirideals.

"Zaiger?"Malcomwasangryagain.Moreangry
thanscared.Theragethatmotivatedhispolitical
activismresurfaced."Givemethespraypaint."

CHAPTER5

JillarrivedattheStarbucksintheUptownshopping
centertenminutesaftersix.Thedemonstration
wouldbegininafewhoursbuttheotherorganizers
wouldalreadybebusywiththelastminutedetails.
Shejustfinishedfaxingthefinaldraftofthepress
releasetothemainheadquartersoftheANSWER
Coalition,toMediaMatters,toFoxNews,ABC,
NBC,theBBC,andtotheSouthernPovertyLaw
Center.

Shedideverythingaccordingtotheinstructions
thatcamefromabove.Fromthosewhocontrolthe
media.Shepreferrednottothinkaboutthem
directlyorthecontroltheyexertedoverherlife.It
wasbettertojustgowiththeflowandreapthe
rewards.EventhestopatStarbuckswasdone
because"They"summonedher.Shehadno
choice.

Jilllearnedearlyoninhercommunityorganizing
careerthatitwasbetternottodiscussoreventhink
aboutthem.Itwasbettertoreactappropriately,
andstrictlyaccordingtoprotocol."They"never
camewhenyouexpectedthemto,andonceyou

acceptthetermsofyourcontract,"They"were
unavoidable.Therewasnoescapeandnopointin
trying.You'reinitforlife.Ortilldeath.She
supposeditwasamatterofperspective.

Thesummonscamejustmomentsbefore,asshe
sentherfaxes.Sheawaitedtheverificationpageto
beprintedwhenaFedExdeliverymanpassed
behindher,brushinghershoulderwithhis.She
turnedandlookedintotheexpressionlessfaceofa
nondescriptmanwhomadeacurious,butfamiliar
gesture:hetracedhishandacrosshisthroatfrom
lefttoright,thennoddedtowardsablackJaguar
creepingthroughtheparkinglot.

Thatishow"They"sendtheirmessages.
Everythingiscryptic,everypersonwearsamask.
Ortwo.ShesawtheJaguarparkatStarbucksand
sothat'swhereshewent.Sheorderedacoffeeand
satdownwithacopyofTheWeeklyAlibitoawait
theinevitable,awkwardconversation.

Shedidn'thavetowaitlong.Ascrawnymanwith
beadyeyesandametalcanesathimselfdown
acrossfromherandopenedabottleofSnapple
lemonade.Itwas"Mr.Poe,"herlinktothe
organization,heronlyfacetofacecontact.Asshe

watchedhiminspectthebottleoflemonade,Jill
wasremindedofthehomedrugtestsherfather
usedtomakehertake.Sherememberedhisfascist,
conservativefaceashewouldtwirlherpeearound
intheplasticcontainer,asthoughhecouldvisually
identifyanyTHCpresent.Itwaslikehewas
tauntingherwithhisabilitytoviolateherprivacyon
suchadeeplevel.Inaway,herpoliticalactivism
wasjustanexpressionofadeepseatedneedto
rejectherconservativeupbringing.

"HiMr.Poe.Haveyoureadthelistofdemands?
Theyareexactlywhatyouasked."Shegavehima
warmsmile,squintinghereyesslightlytomakeit
appearsincere.Mr.Poelookednothinglikeher
fatherbuthehadthatsamesmugstarethatisso
typicalofconservativesthesedays.Theyalltend
tolookthesameoncetheyreachacertainage.

"Yes,Jill.Wearepleased.Iwantedtopersonally
commendyouonbehalfoftheorganization.Today
isabigdeal.Big."Hepushedabulgingenvelope
acrossthetable.Itsendsweresecuredwith
packingtape."You'vedonewell.Quitewell."

"Thankyou."Sheplaceditinherpurse."And
here."Shehandedhimaflashdrive."That's
everything."

"Everything?"Itdisappearedintoacoatpocket.

"Yes.Everythingandeveryone.Alltwohundredof
them."Shewasalreadycountingthemoneyinher
headasshehaddoneeverydaysincetheofferwas
firstdangledinfrontofher.Rollsofhundreddollar
bills,tightlypacked,bundledtogether,clean,crisp,
andallhers.Shewouldsoonhaveitall:anewcar,
amoveacrossthecountry,anewname,anew
home,andanewlife.

"It'sallinthere.Onethousandforeachdossier.It
wasniceseeingyouagain,Jill."Hewashalfwayout
thedoorbeforeshenoticedthathehadevenleft
thetable.Hewasanonentitynowthatshehad
whatshewanted.Herworkherewasnearly
complete.Sheremovedthephonefromherpocket.
Tenmissedtexts,allfromtheotherorganizers.
OnefromMalcomcaughtherinterest:aphotoofa
whitevanwithabrightredpigfacespraypainted
onthesideofit.Ithadaswastikaonitsforehead
anddollarsignsforeyes.

Apartofherwantedtotextthemback,laughabout
it,andhaveagoodtimespeakingtruthtopower.
Theothersideofherwantedtoberich,tobefree
topursueherownselfishinterests.Itwasthisother
sidethatdroppedthephoneintohercoffeecup.
Shedisposedofthecupinthetrashcanonthe
wayoutthedooranddroveoutoftheparkinglot
headingwestwithnointentionofstoppinguntilfar
outsideofNewMexico'sborders,farfromthe
accusatorystaresanddeaththroesofthe
movementshejustbetrayed,andfurtherstillfrom
theidealssheabandoned.


CHAPTER6

Thedrumbeatsbeganpromptlyatnoon.These
weren'ttherhythmicmarchingbeatsofan
organizedmilitaryforcehellbentondestroyingThe
Othertheseweretheflowing,tribalpatternsof
intercommunalharmonyandmutualunderstanding:
hippiedrumbeats.Thestreetswerepackedwith
demonstrators,onlookers,andvendors.Therewas
asenseofpeaceandgeneralgoodwill.Noteven
themotoristscaughtupinthemaelstromseemed
annoyedattheinconvenience.Andwhyshould
theybe?Themajorityofthedemonstratorswere
regularpeoplefromdifferentbackgroundswith
diverselives.Theygatheredoverasingleissue,that
ofpolicestateterrorism.Andtheygatheredin
peace.

Thegroupwascomprisedofvariouspolitical
factionsaswellasapoliticalanarchists.Therewere
cyclists,bikers,andprolifersmarchingalongside
BlackPanthers,LaRaza,andWhiteNationalists.
OccupyWallStreetactivistswereeasytoidentify:
thestandardlookwasacrossbetweenBobMarely
andCharlesMansonforthemenitwaspretty

muchthesame.AnonymousHacktivistsworethe
plastic,grinningmaskfromapopularactionmovie,
thevisageofGuyFawkes,revolutionaryand
terroristwho,in1605,attemptedtoblowupthe
HouseofLordsduringthestateopeningof
England'sParliament.

TheorganizersfromtheAlbuquerqueCenterfor
PeaceandSocialJusticewereidentifiablebytheir
CheGuevarateeshirts.Che,aniconicandironic
rolemodelforrevolutionariesaroundtheworld
wasstrictlyopposedtorebelliousyouthprotesting
inthestreetsandheisknowntohaveemployed
forcedlaborcampstocontrolsuchactivity.Butas
withallthingsProgressive,imagetakesprecedence
oversubstance.

TimothyRuizandDebbySmitharrivedearlierthat
morningt0setuptheirbaseofoperationsinthe
whitevantheyputintopositionthenightbefore.A
vanwhichnowborealargeredpigfaceonthe
side,withdollarsignsforeyesandaswastikaon
theforehead."Flak,"Debbyexplained,seemingly
exhilaratedbythedestructionofcompany
property."Ifyou'renotcatchingflakyou'renot
overthetarget."

Shewasright.Theywererightinthecenterofthe
action.Noothernewscrewhadtheview,the
position,andthedirectconnectionwiththe
brewingstorythattheyhad.Timothyscannedthe
crowd.HecouldseeMalcominthemix,
unmistakablewithhisberetandhisexaggerated
handgestures.Hecouldmakethemostmundane
statementsoundandappeargrandiosewithhis
emptyposturing.Allofasudden,Timothy
rememberedthefeelingshehadwhichimpelledhim
togetarealjob,to"sellout"asMalcomso
succinctlyputit.Allthattalkbutforwhat?He
foundhimselfprayingunderhisbreaththatthetext
messageabouttheweaponswasalieoran
exaggerationtosecuremediacoverage.Themore
hethoughtaboutit,themoresenseitmade.After
all,howcouldanonprofitorganizationdedicated
to"peaceandsocialjustice"inciteaviolent
insurrection?

Rightnowhewastakingsomeestablishingshots,
seekingoutthoseclipswhichwouldcommunicate
tohisviewerswhatThePeoplewerefeelingand
whattheywishedtoexpress.Oneofthesignsin
particularcaughthiseye:"CapitalismisStructurally
Violent!"Herememberedwhenheusedtobelieve
thesamething.Heusedtobelievethatmoneywas

therootofallevil,soitmadesensetoeliminatethat
politicalandeconomicsystembasedonmoney:
Capitalism.

Butwhenhecommittedtobecomingajournalist,
helearnedaboutpoliticalfreedom,thefreedomof
speechinparticular,butalsothewaysthatpolitical
freedomitselfcannotexistwithoutpropertyrights.
Communism,whichiswhatheusedtoadvocate,
stoodfortheabolitionofpropertyrights.This
madehimrethinkthewisdomofdestroyingthe
systemwehavewhenit'sthebestthathasbeen
developedyet.It'snotthebestpossiblesystem,
butthat'sonlybecausepeoplefallshortof
perfection.Money,Timothycametobelieve,is
onlyasevilasthepersonwhoholdsit.

Debbiesteppedinfrontofthelens."Okay,it's
showtime."Thedrummingstopped.Avacuous,
expectantsilencedescendeduponthecrowd.
Malcomcouldbeseenclimbingatopthehoodofa
carhisownGeoMetrowithamegaphonein
hand.Hestartedreadingthepressrelease.Debby
quicklybeganherintroductoryremarks."Thisis
DebbieSmithwithaChannel14SpecialReport.I
amherewithTimothyRuiz,mynewcameraman,
withexcitingfrontrowcoverageof'APDvsThe

People,'ademonstrationbyThePeopleof
AlbuquerqueagainsttheAlbuquerquePolice
Department.Theyarenowreadingtheirhatefilled
manifestowhichtheyhavethreatenedtohand
delivertoPoliceChiefOdinlaterontoday."

Timothyhadreadthelistofdemandsanddidn't
thinkitwas"hatefilled",anditwasn'tmuchofa
manifesto.Ifanything,itwastheincoherent
ramblingsofanincoherentpoliticalmovement.He
wasstartledbyDebby'sinterpretationoftheevents
buthewasinnopositiontodoanythingbutfollow
ordersifhewishedtoremainhernewcameraman.
Hefocusedonobtaininggoodfootage.

"MinimumWage.$30perhour!,"Malcom
deliveredeachdemandtoraucousapplause."Ban
TalkRadio!""ReEducationCampsforTeaParty
Members!"

BehindMalcomalinewasforming.Aprocession
ofmarchersenteringtheA.C.P.S.J.headquarters
andreemergingwearingcamouflagebackpacks,
gasmasks,andcarryingassaultrifles.Debbywas
speechless.Timothypannedacrossthecrowdthen
backtoMalcom."MandatoryCommunityService
fortheRich!CollegeLoanForgiveness!Legitimate

WealthRedistribution!LegalizeSexWork!
DecriminalizeDrugs!FreeBirthControl!Free
Abortions!"

"Comeon!"Debbyledthewayintotheheartofthe
gathering,amidstthearmeddemonstrators.The
marchersheadedtoCentralAvenue,disregarding
traffic,bringingitalltoastop.Thedrumming
resumedandnewsoundsissuedfromthenow
emotionallychargedmob:angryshouts,epithets
againstthepolice,andcallsto"RISEUP!"Then
therewasthesoundofglassbreakingasrocks
werethrownthroughwindowsofsmallbusinesses,
sendingthemessagethatThePeoplewouldbe
comingsoonfortheirfairshareoftheprofits.

DebbyandTimothyfollowedalong,shegivingher
runningcommentary,andhesimplytryingtokeep
thecamerafromshaking.Fromthecornerofhis
eye,hesawwhathethoughtwasagrenade,being
casuallytossedupanddowninthehandsofa
scrawnypunkrockerwithflamestattooedonhis
face.Heheardsirensinthedistanceandsuddenly
feltlikehewastrappedinasteelbarreltravelling
theupperrapidsoftheNiagaraRiver,approaching
theedgeoftheFalls.

CHAPTER7

Whatbeganasanicesunnymorninggavewayto
anovercast,gloomyafternoon.Fromhisvantage
pointatoptheBankofAlbuquerque,atwentythree
storybuildingcappedwitharedpyramid,Police
ChiefOdinsurveyedthestreetbelow.The
demonstratorswouldbepassingbywithinthehour
ontheirwaytotheplaza.Thestreetwaslinedon
bothsideswithspectatorsunawareofthedirection
theday'seventswouldbetaking.

Thesniperswereinplaceandtheriotpolicewere
assemblingatthatverymoment.Aconvoyof
squadcarsspedupCentralAvenueandthree
policehelicopterspatrolledthesky.ChiefOdinfelt
likeagod,commandingtheveryforcesofnature.
Everythinghecouldseeandhearandfeelwasan
extensionofhiswill.Heraisedahandtotheskyas
lightningflashedonthesouthernhorizon.He
neededthestormcloudstoobscurethesun'slight,
thewindtomaskthesounds,lightingtodrivethe
sensibletoseekover,andfinally,heneededrain,to
washawaytheblood.Torrentsofrainfortorrents
ofblood.

Accompaniedbyhistwobodyguardshe
descendedtheelevatorandenteredthebackseatof
theblackJaguarawaitinghiminthebasement
parkinggarage.Hedidn'trecognizethenondescript
maninthedriver'sseatbutheinstantlyrecognized
thescrawny,bespectacledmanwiththecaneinthe
passengerseatasMr.Poe,theliaisonbetweenthe
AlbuquerquePoliceDepartmentandthe
Cryptocrats.Thecarleftthegarageandheaded
directlyovertotheplaza.

"Everythingisundercontrol,Mr.Poe."Mr.Poe
didn'tturntofaceChiefOdin,whichwasashe
preferredit.ChiefOdinconsideredhimselfan
excellentjudgeofcharacterandwheneverhehad
themisfortuneoflookingMr.Poeintheeyes,he
knewhewasdealingwithadisturbedcharacter.
"AndonceIhavethosedossiersinhand,thepurge
willbegin.Haveyoupersonallyexaminedthem
yet?"

"Yes,Chief.Ihave.Ipersonallyexaminedalltwo
hundredfiles.Here."Hehandedthepolicechiefa
flashdrive."Therearesomestartlingrevelationsto
sayintheleast.Therearesomepeople,enemiesof
theneworder,whowilllearntorespectyourpower

andobeyyourwill.Butyouknowwhathasto
happenfirst....."

ChiefOdinalreadyknewwhoandwhatwasonthat
flashdrive.Whoitimplicatedandinwhat.But
knowingsomethingismeaninglesswithout
evidenceandthatispreciselywhathenowhad.He
waspreparedtobringdownpublishers,talkshow
hosts,congressmen,authors,andprofessors.The
webofblackmailanddeceitwouldensnarefamous
comediansandactors,judges,doctors,lawyers,
musiciansandartists.Henowhadaccesstoprivate
videos,pictures,andpersonal
emailsincriminating,embarrassing,perverted,
andintimate.Informationandevidenceaboutthe
twohundredmostpopular,influential,andrevered
individualsonthepoliticalandculturalleft.He
wouldbringdowneverymajorliberalcausefrom
environmentalismtofeminism,includingsocialism,
atheism,andgovernmenthealthcare.Allliberal
causeswouldbecriminalizedastreasonousand
unAmerican.

Hehad,inthepalmofhishand,thepowerto
subverteveryProgressivepoliticalorganizationin
thecountry.Therewasinformationwhich,ifacted
upon,couldturntheIRSintohispersonaltoolof

politicaloppression,awaytoeliminateand
persecutehisenemiesandcompetitors.Abigpart
ofhisagendawasthemassincarcerationoftensof
thousandsofleftwingpoliticalradicals.Hewould
maketoday'sdemonstratorsthenewfaceof
domesticterrorism.GoodbyeTimothyMcVeigh,
helloAnonymousandOccupyWallStreet.But
ultimately,todemonstratetreasonandseditionon
thebehalfoftheLiberalProgressiveEstablishment,
therewouldhavetobeacatalyst,something
chaotictojustifytheimpositionofadictatorial
order.AndwiththeaideoftheCryptocracy,he
wouldhavethatchaos.

TheJaguarpulledupbehindtheassembledranks
ofriotpolice.ChiefOdinlookedupatthe
Americanflagwhippingviolentlyinthewindthat
wasnowcominginbursts.Hefocusedabovethe
flagatthemetalsphereatthetop.Atthepolice
academy,theyweretaughtthatitsymbolizedthe
"shotheardaroundtheworld"firedatLexington,
MassachusettsonApril17,1775.Itmadehimthink
ofanavalancheandhowontheground,apebbleis
justapebble,butifcastfromtheheightsofagreat
mountain,thepebblecantriggerachainreaction
untilafullonavalanchesweepsdownandburies
everythinginitspath.


Therewasnoquestioninhismindthattherewould
beanavalanche.Itwasinevitable.Therewasonly
onequestionwhichremainedtobeanswered:who
wouldcastthefirststone?Whicheversidestarted
thechainreaction,hebelieved,wouldbethesideto
finishit."Fortunefavorsthebold,"hemuttered,
unconsciouslyopeningandclosingthestraponhis
pistolholster.

"We'llbeseeingyou,"Mr.Poesaid.

Withoutbotheringtoreplytothatinsectofaman,
ChiefOdinsteppedoutofthecarjustasthefirst
dropsofrainbegantotrickledown.Thesirens
weremuchlouderdownhereonthegroundand
therewasatangiblesenseofexcitementamongthe
gatheredpoliceintheirparamilitaryuniforms."The
endjustifiesthemeans,"hesaidtohimself,lighting
acigar,walkingtowardsthebackoftheplazato
awaitthearrivalofthedemonstrators.

Fiveminuteslater,thefirstofthedemonstrators
roundedthecorner.Thenadozenmore.Thenthey
floodedthestreetleadingintotheplaza.They
weren'tchantinginunisonnordidtheyseemtoo
organized.Theymovedrapidlybackandforth

acrossthestreet,kickingparkedcarsandhurling
stones.Nowlessthantwohundredyardsaway,
ChiefOdincouldgetasenseoftheirtemperament.
Whathesawstillsurprisedhimdespitehaving
expectedit.Insteadofsignsandmegaphones,they
hadassaultriflesandgasmasks.Theseweren't
peacefulprotesters.

Oneofhisbodyguardshandedhimagasmask.
Theyalldrewtheirweapons.Asthefirstofthe
demonstratorssteppedontotheplaza,therain
startedtopour.Hisofficershaddonetheirjoband
keptthemediaout.Therewouldbenolive
coverage.ItwasjustThePeopleandtheAPD.

CHAPTER8

DebbywasfearlesslyleadingTimothyalong,
keepingpacewiththemob.Shewasblockingthe
rainfromherhairwithan"ENDTHEFED"picket
sign."PolicehaveblockedoffCentralAvenueand
thedemonstratorsaremovingnorthon4th,and
shouldbearrivingatCivicPlazaanysecondnow."

Theformerlypeacefulmobhadadecidedly
differentcharacterthanitdidwhenitstarted.There

weremoreweaponsthansignsanditmovedalong
aggressively,staringdownbystanders,throwing
rocks,kickingovertrashcans,anddefecatingon
policecars.Thereporterandcameramanstopped
simultaneouslyjustoutsideoftheplaza.Therain
obscuredtheirvisibilitytoanextentbuttheycould
seeclearlyenoughthatsomethinguglywasabout
tohappen.

ThreesidesofCivicPlazawerelinedwith
paramilitarypolicetroopsinblackDarthVader
uniforms.Therewerenonewscrews.Nocellphone
cameraswerewavingaboutcapturingthe
showdown.ItwasThePeopleversustheAPD.A
policehelicopterhoveredoverheadshininga
spotlightupontheadhocgatheringofactivists.

"PUTDOWNYOURWEAPONS.THISIS
YOURONLYWARNING!"PoliceChiefOdin
addressedthecrowdthroughamegaphone.
Timothylocatedhim,visibleabovethebackrowof
officers.Hepannedtotheright,thentotheleft,
estimatingthattherewereperhapsthreehundred
officers.Whilethemobconsistedoftwicethat
number,itquicklylostallenthusiasmforanarmed
showofforce.Thedemonstratorsputtheir
weaponsdown.


"ISAIDDISARM.YOUHAVEFIVESECONDS
TODISARM!"ChiefOdin'scommandresonated
throughtheCivicPlaza.Thecrowdputtheirhands
up.Debbyaddressedthecamera,shoutingtobe
heardabovethehelicopternowdirectlyabove
them."ChiefOdinisorderingthedemonstratorsto
disarm,andasyoucansee,theyhavedoneso,and
appeartobesurrenderingnonviolently...."Then
theshootingstarted.

Everypersonintheplazatookcoverinplace,
protesterscoveringtheirfaceswiththeirhands,
scatteringlikeroaches.Timothydidn'tremember
droppingthecamerahisbodywasoperatingon
autopilot.Ittookhimbackthewaytheycame.It
wouldn'tallowhimtolookback.Heheardthefirst
shotclearly,thentheotherstofollowblended
together,theterriblesoundofautomaticriflefire
mowingdownthecoweringdemonstrators.

Debbywashit.Herlegsdidn'toperateandshe
couldn'tliftherhead.Shewatchedhelplesslyas
demonstratorsattemptingtorunawaywerebeing
shotintheback.Sheliftedherarm,wavingtoget
theattentionofthePoliceChief,certainthatthere
hadbeenamistake,andthatifonlyshecouldjust

gethisattentionhelpwouldarriveforherandthe
otherwoundedanddying.Shetastedbloodand
triedtocryoutbutcouldonlymanagetocough
andgargle.

ChiefOdinpointedtowhereDebbylaybleeding.
"Shootherinthehead.Takethatcamera!"Histwo
bodyguardseagerlyresponded,pointingtheir
highpoweredriflesather,theirlasersights
convergingintoaglowingredblob,illuminatingher
forehead.Herskullimploded."BooYah!"they
shoutedinunison.

MalcomsprintedtotowardsChiefOdin,aiminghis
AK47attheuniformedman'streacherousblack
heart.HelookedtohislefttoseethatChannel14
reporterDebbySmithhadbeengrievously
wounded.TimothyRuizwasnowhereinsight.All
aroundhimhisrevolutionaryvanguardwasbeing
choppedtopieces,butcheredbytheNewWorld
OrderDeathSquadknownastheAPD.

"ChiefOdin!"Heshouted.

ChiefOdin'sfaceborewasastrangeexpression.A
mixofamusementandrage.HestaredatMalcom's

weaponandgrinned."Whatareyougoingtodo,
hippie?"

Malcompulledthetrigger.Nothinghappened.He
lookedbackatbulletriddenbodies,someofthem
moving,mostofthemstill,allofthemdoomed.All
atonceherealizedthathehadbeentricked.
Betrayed.Theirweaponswereallduds,disabled,
and.....Bulletsrippedintohischest.Malcomdieda
martyrforhiscausebutwouldberememberedasa
domesticterrorist,aviolentrevolutionarywhose
actionsledtotheestablishmentofatotalitarian
policestateinAmerica.

Noneoftheprotestersintheplazasurvived.APD
sufferednocasualties.Newsspreadofhowa
violentinsurrectionwasputdownandChiefOdin
receivedaPresidentialMedalofHonorandwas
madethenewheadoftheDepartmentofHomeland
Security.Hewashailedasa"greatAmerican,""a
hero,"and"thedomesticterrorist'sworst
nightmare."

Timothymadeitoutalivebutwaseuthanizedby
theCryptocracybeforehecouldtellhissideofthe
story.Theymadehisdeathlooklikea"suicideby
cop,"ironically,anaptdescriptionforwhat

broughtaboutthedeathofLibertyandFreedomin
America.

THEEND