Politics

In a large community structure near the edge of the village, refugees were being interviewed painstakingly. Ordinarily, it would be difficult to assess these people and to know whether their stories were true.

“You know these people! We don’t,” stated Marco, addressing Li. “I want you to assess which of them are worthy and honest. You have learned our customs now. If the elderly are not physically fit, they will not live here for long. A lot of these people are old. We don’t care for the elderly. We move seasonally, and everyone must carry their own weight.”

“It’s better if I do not engage directly but, rather, observe from a distance,” Li advised. “Otherwise, there are many among them who will cause a disturbance when they see me, because they know that I am aware of who they are. The bad ones. I will identify those criminals, and I suggest you take measures to ensure that they will not come back to give further trouble.”

Li flagged many men, whom he identified to his handler, Commander Zach, and his men. In all, Li identified about forty as being definite problems. Once they were flagged, they were taken to the jail, instead of being returned to a makeshift holding pen. After that, two men were retrieved from the jail each evening, presumably to be processed and integrated into Victorian society. In actuality, they were being banished, taken many miles out into the wild areas east of the village and left weaponless. None were heard from again.

Twenty days later, forty bad actors were forever gone, left to nature and its cruel, practical ways. The elderly faced a different dilemma. Virtually none of them were capable of passing Victory’s running test, so they had two choices. They could die the traditional Victory way, or they could leave and try to survive by themselves.

Most chose the second option and were allowed to leave in large groups. They would face a situation of brutal attrition, determined exclusively by the numbers and metabolic rates of the wolves that tracked and monitored them. In the end, a fortunate number of young men, women, and children had prospects of becoming Victorians.

As this process played out, Ramius, Pickett, Baggus, Cora, Angie, Megan, and Lobo crossed the river and carried on along the well-worn Victorian patrol road west of the village. An outbound patrol intersected them, and the head of the patrol immediately sent his best runner back to report directly to Marco that Ramius was approaching.

By the time they were entering town, Ana, Ramius’s son, Rex, and several other close friends were running out toward them, not able to sit idle and await their arrival. Ramius embraced Ana and his son. He apologized to Ana, who accepted it fully in her moment of complete gratitude. Ramius had come back to her. Later, he would answer for the stress he had caused her.

“Picket, can you find Hook and Johnny and meet back here as soon as possible?” Picket acceded, and shortly thereafter, Hook and Johnny arrived, happy and cheerful.

“Ramius!” called out Johnny joyfully. The men embraced, and Ramius waved them into the house in search of more privacy.

“I’m sure Marco will summon me to tell my story … probably today. I thought it prudent to get our stories together,” began Ramius.

“We just need to understand your story. Where have you been?” demanded Hook, always the most verbal of the group.

“I went back to Eden. I witnessed the death of Saul.”

Ramius paused. “Actually, I was responsible.”

The other men’s surprise was evident.

“How did you … ?” started Johnny. “The minions who witnessed it thought it was some kind of evil spirit that just swooped in and blew him away. He was cut in half, you know.

We couldn’t even find the other half. Marco still wonders if he’s alive and it was some sort of trick.”

“No. He’s gone. That’s for sure,” Ramius countered.

They waited for him to bring better clarity. “I positioned myself just above them in the canyon. It was a big risk. I found a loose boulder and somehow timed it perfectly from high above. It bounced down and was a direct hit.”

“But where is the rest of the body?” asked Picket.

“Dogs maybe? I don’t know. Maybe the cannibals ate him.” They all chuckled.

“Brilliant, Ramius! It makes complete sense,” answered Johnny.

“Yes! Well, the demon story … I was beginning to believe it myself,” added Hook. They laughed out loud, all relieved.

“So that’s it, then,” concluded Ramius.

“But why did you bother to just take off for Eden after that? We would have been celebrating a hero back here.

Instead, we were mourning a lost comrade,” declared Johnny.

“I can’t say that I was in a normal state of mind. I wasn’t thinking clearly. I knew the next step would be to declare our intentions to Marco. With what happened to Louis and all the rest, I felt uncertain. I had to go back and look again. To be sure.

I knew it was the only chance. I’m so sorry, boys.” They all nodded, considering his words. “But with fresh eyes and taking a second look, I am more convinced than ever. It is perfect. I suggest we make it known to Marco immediately.”

“What if he wants to bring it into Victory as a new territory? This is what I have been wondering. What then?” asked Hook pointedly.

“I also wondered. I don’t want to make it sound too encouraging. It will be an experiment of sorts, as far as he is concerned. Our goal is to establish a permanent settlement based on consistent agriculture and tending wild herds. I am hoping he will see the logic in it but also carry enough doubt that he won’t try to take over the whole thing. Anyway, the entire council will have the final say,” explained Ramius.

Just then, several military runners came to the door, calling for Ramius.

“That was fast. Okay. Wish me luck, boys. It’s for all of us.”

In a kind of ritual of solidarity, the four men stood in a circle and joined hands in the center, and then Ramius headed for the door. As he ran off with the military runners, his team lingered just outside the cottage.

“He’ll probably end up in jail,” lamented Hook.

“Then we’ll break him out and head for Eden,” answered Picket. “But they won’t lock him up! He’s a bloody hero. He saved us all.”

Ramius sat with the rest of the council members, following his account of Saul’s demise. There was a lot of levity and praise, as well as calls for celebration. But Marco retained a scowl that was not lost on Ramius. It was Marco, above all, who needed to be convinced to move on to the next topic of conversation—Eden.

“Ramius, you explain that your first impulse following this act of heroism was to go off to this new place you had surveyed,” started Marco. “That doesn’t make a lot of sense to me.”

“I tried to explain. I wasn’t thinking right somehow.

After killing Saul, I became consumed with memories of Louis and the grief. I wanted to present my findings about this place, but I felt uncertain. I had to go back and take another look. I don’t know what drove me really,” explained Ramius. “But I managed to recover myself during the experience—at least partly. I would like to take more people with me and try an experiment to settle this place … a permanent settlement to see if we can survive their all the time without migrations. If we can do it, it will become something valuable to Victory. A new future. Or at least an option, if we choose it.”

Marco didn’t soften. He was still reeling internally from what Ramius had been able to accomplish regarding Saul and the impending war. He couldn’t help himself. He felt threatened.

“We almost got into a war!” bellowed Marco. “Not ten days ago, we were on the run.”

“A war that Ramius ended,” countered one of the council members. This only served to confirm to Marco that his position was threatened—most definitely. He glared at the council member, who did not back down. The others were more passive and didn’t return Marco’s gaze, sensing his anger.

“Ramius, I will send a detachment with you and your men, along with a council member or two. I want other opinions on this before you just abandon Victory.”

“My intent is not to abandon Victory. I want to do something of value … something for all of us!” Ramius stood firm, and most of the council seemed supportive in body language, if not outright. “It’s a good idea. The more they see it, the more they will understand what I am talking about, and they will agree.”

Ramius was relieved that Marco himself was not demanding to go, his ego preventing him from exhibiting any curiosity beyond his own political interests. Ramius had never seen this side of Marco, and it concerned him.

Following a long and intense pause that seemed like an eternity and during which no one uttered a sound, Marco finally spoke. “Very well. Let’s have this new place looked at. After that, in terms of whether to launch your grand experiment, we will put it to a vote. Any disagreements?” None were raised.

“Okay. Who would like to volunteer to go with Ramius to see this place?” Nearly every hand went up. Marco cringed.

Marco should have ordered a formal celebration recognizing Ramius for his bravery and the remarkable deed of dispensing with Saul. But he didn’t, and this was a further misstep. His political savvy was somehow disabled as he stewed over Ramius. In any event, an informal celebration erupted as word spread, and the next night, nearly the entire village lined the riverbanks and partied well into the night.

Walking with Ana and his friends, Ramius mingled as he received praise from anyone who was able to get close to him.

Inside, he felt no small amount of guilt for the lies that he had told and would no doubt continue to tell—lies upon lies. But, all in all, he knew that things were on the right track, and he was happy.

From his cave, which was slightly elevated and back from the river, Marco watched, listened for a few moments, and sighed in frustration. The sounds were jovial and raucous, with waves of rising cheers and laughter. His wife approached and stood beside him.

“Why don’t I just abdicate?” She put her hand on his arm, trying to calm him. “All I did was listen to the Oriental and run away at every step.”

“You did exactly what needed to be done. Everyone knows it. We hardly lost a man. It could have been terrible. You did what a leader had to do. Ramius was brave, but he was also lucky. What if he had missed? He would be dead, and we would still be at war. He was just lucky, darling.” Marco smiled stubbornly and looked at her affectionately. They turned around, locked arms, and strolled into the cave. After some rest, recovery, and preparations, Ramius held a briefing with the members of the party who would venture back to Eden. Along with his team and two council members, there was a detachment of twenty soldiers, commanded by Buckley. Picket had a rough map drawn out, and he went through the details of where they would camp and how far they would travel each day.

Once in Eden, they would stay for two days, one of which would be spent climbing the western slope to enable them to gain a complete perspective. On the way home, they would round the lake to the east and then north and survey the herds and savanna lands. Altogether, the journey was estimated to take twelve days based on the typical Victorian running pace.

They would depart in two days.

The next day, Ramius went to see Marco. Tension remained. Ramius started the conversation. “I suggest we take the group of minions I brought in. They were decent people and could be helpful. Besides, I think any of them who stay here will have trouble.”

“Now, that’s the most sensible thing I have heard you say recently,” Marco sneered.

“Marco, we have always been friends. I don’t understand why you seem to suddenly be against me,” Ramius offered.

“I’m not against you,” Marco said disingenuously, trying to diffuse the tension. “Have a safe journey. I hope it’s all good news.”

“Thank you, Marco,” Ramius offered sincerely.

“Ramius, one more thing. Take Mr. Li with you. I don’t care to see him ever again.”

The next morning, they all said their goodbyes and gathered near the river trail, as planned. Ramius was talking to Buckley and some of the soldiers, when they were joined by a new face. It was Harper.

Ramius greeted him happily. “Harper! Great to see you!”

“Ramius, I’m sorry I didn’t find you at the big party to congratulate you,” Harper offered. “I wanted to come along on this journey. I already got permission from Zeus and Buckley.

Buckley said I should tell you personally, since I wasn’t at the briefing.”

“Harper, no need to explain. Of course, you are welcome. By the way, what caused you to take an interest?”

“Uh, I had so much excitement and sadness when we were up against the minions. I just feel the need to do something adventurous … something big.”

“Well, you came to the right place. It will be great to have you on the team.”

Harper’s motives were a little different from those that he had just shared with Ramius. Harper’s search for the girl who had become his infatuation had not resulted in any information about what had befallen her. Then, he heard rumblings that Ramius had arrived with a group of minions, and he thought it unlikely that she would be among them. As a well-known, decorated soldier, he had complete access to the minions who were awaiting interviews. His heart fluttered as he approached the small compound where they had been sent. He went in and began searching everywhere.

Then, suddenly, he saw her, and yes, she was every bit as lovely as he had imagined. And there with her was the other girl. They had both made it possible for him to escape. They had saved his life. Yet, he had not been able to fulfill his promise to rescue them from Saul and the minions.

He approached her, a little unsteady and not exactly sure what to say. She saw him, froze, smiled, and tapped the other girl on the arm before pointing to him. He closed the distance.

“Hello. I am Harper.”

“I’s Megan. An’ dis is my sistah, Angie.”

“I wanted to thank you. I tried to find a way to bring you back, but I was chased. My friend was killed by the dogs.”

“Yeah. We’s so sorry ‘bout it.” Megan was so expressive and charming, that this was all that Harper focused on—not her tattered clothes nor her rough speech. She was a vision.

“You came with Ramius? I am so happy that you made it here. I didn’t know what happened to you. I looked everywhere.”

Megan blushed. “Ya did?” she questioned with a wide smile.

“Hey, handsome! Ya got a brutha or a friend looks like you? I like ta meet ’em,” cut in Angie with a smirk.

“Uh … yah. I have friends,” stuttered Harper.

Angie caught a glimpse of Lobo some distance away, glaring at her. She stiffened up and controlled her smile. As the conversation went on, Baggus walked up, looking jolly, still just happy to be alive and in Victory. Then, he saw Harper, recognized him, and froze. Harper looked over and immediately tensed up. He recognized Baggus and started to walk over to him, suddenly enraged. Baggus started to backpedal. Megan ran up beside Harper and grabbed his arm.

“No, Harpa! Please! He’s okay. He’s a good man.”

Harper stopped himself as if her touch had some kind of immediate calming effect. He didn’t want to find her, only to lose her again. He breathed heavily, trying to calm himself down. By this time, Baggus was out of sight, not at all interested in tangling with this muscular giant. Harper recounted the capture scene and explained that Baggus had been in charge.

“He was only followin’ orders. We all wanted ta ’scape away from Saul. But Baggus, he’s smart, and Saul always makin’

’im do stuff he did’n wanna. He’s good! He’s sorry! Promise ya, Harpa.” She pulled him into her, and they were connected. He could feel her warmth. He forgot all about Baggus.

Harper had no intention of going anywhere. He had told Megan that he would try to get them all admitted into Victory.

But just last night, he had heard from Buckley that those minions were all going with Ramius, and were essentially being banished to a remote area. Harper lost no time in convincing Buckley to add him to the dispatch. But Buckley wanted approval from a higher command. He ordered Harper to ask Manfred, who deflected it all the way to Zeus.

“You really want to go, then figure it out yourself. Go ask Zeus,” said Manfred, assuming that Harper would drop it rather than talk to Zeus. But no one understood Harper’s determination with regard to the minion girl. Without hesitating, he tracked down Zeus and got the approval.

Now they were off on the trail leading out of the village and headed west along the river. Everyone was excited to be on such a worthy expedition—even the soldiers. Harper was especially buoyant and enthusiastic. For him, Megan’s heroism was inescapable. He was under her spell. Ramius saw it clearly.

He supposed that Saul had been comparably spellbound.

Ramius made sure to cater to his two peers on the council, Stephan and Wayne. Stephan was younger than Ramius, but he was very closely attuned and attentive to Marco.

Other than that, Ramius only knew that Stephan had served in the army and earned a senior command before stepping down to run for the council.

Wayne was a contemporary of Ramius and Marco, all of them having served together in the army back in the day. But unlike Ramius, who was very independent and was eventually appointed to the council based on a broad consensus, Wayne was ushered through by strong support from Marco. They had been very close since their days in the army. As far as Ramius could tell, Wayne’s only contributions to society and to the affairs of the state were that he simply backed up Marco’s positions.

Marco had sent two men along, and they were sure to be sufficiently jaded with whatever predisposition was held by him. It was of paramount importance to keep these two men satisfied, if things were to go smoothly in any transition. The two council members had already isolated themselves and were speaking in suspiciously, low tones.

“Wayne! So, it’s you!” Ramius greeted his fellow soldier and council member with a big smile and a warm handshake.

“Stephan, I’m glad we have your youthful energy on this trip.

It’s not a very easy journey.” They shook hands.

“I think it should be a lot of fun … like a vacation,” responded Stephan.

“Absolutely!” responded Ramius enthusiastically. “So, have you gentlemen spent any time with this Mr. Li? Because of my absence, I really never had a chance to speak with him.”

Wayne started. “I think he provided some good insights and warnings about the minions. But I don’t think all of his advice was good. It’s believed that he had something to do with us running from trouble rather than facing it.” Wayne was being candid, and Marco probably wouldn’t have appreciated hearing it. So, an even less independent mind jumped in.

“I think Marco made the call that we should avoid the minions on his own, and in the end, we were unscathed,” added Stephan. “But I guess that was also due to your perfect accuracy in aiming at a giant boulder! Wow! If only I could have seen it.”

“Honestly, guys, it would have been shocking to see. I myself was equally shocked. It was is if I was there but someone else who was much better than me took over and made it happen.” Ramius felt entertained by the fact that he was staying so close to the truth. “A lucky shot really.”

“Very humble of you to say this,” added Stephan. “You asked about Li. I believe that he was trying to help. Some thought he was a spy, still carrying out Saul’s will and trying to get us to misstep. But I don’t believe this. He did provide us with key intelligence.”

“So, why did Marco want him banished?” asked Ramius.

“Who’s to say?” replied Wayne. “He never explained it to me.” They looked toward Stephan, who also shook his head, indicating a similar lack of insight.

“I suggest that during the course of this trip, we try to understand both him and Baggus better,” declared Ramius. The other men agreed.

Ramius left them in search of his team. The expedition spread itself out over the course of the day, with Picket and Hook staying with the soldiers who could not be bridled into a walking pace. Not to be outdone, the two dogs stayed at the front with the lead runners but frequently exited the trail, distracted by dog interests, only to come racing ahead to the front once again.

The banished Mr. Li, who kept mainly to himself socially, showed that he was already Victory material by joining the front group and keeping pace with the others, hanging about ten yards behind Buckley and Hook. Despite his age and the fact that he was a minion, he obviously kept in shape.

The lead group went ahead to prepare ropes for the river crossing. The rest of the group, who would otherwise be running as well, maintained a brisk walk, encouraging the minions to do their best and explaining that running was fundamental and that they would need to learn how to do it.

The river crossing presented some apprehension and difficulty for the ladies. Harper, for one, did not complain when Megan clung to him, helpless and shivering, as he hauled her across. Another soldier similarly assisted Baggus’s wife, Cora, as her husband struggled just to get himself across in the frigid, rapidly flowing waters.

Lobo wasn’t about to allow some other man to assist Angie, and seeing how Harper handled Megan, he similarly brought himself and Angie across without much difficulty. Hours later, they arrived at the base of the falls, where Buckley informed everyone that they would be camping for the night as the sun started to set over the western peaks.

Ramius huddled with his three confidants, Johnny, Hook and Picket, away from the fire, where Lobo had insisted upon and then perfectly executed a beautifully cooked meal of fresh fish and venison. Lobo had brought in the fish from the bottom of the falls, where some pools of water provided gathering points for large schools of fish.

Angie helped him as they worked skillfully to bring in a satisfactory catch for the thirty-one people on the expedition.

Meanwhile, two teams of soldiers with long bows were off hunting.

One of the teams brought down a good-sized deer. The falls cascaded behind the camp, creating a tranquil scene of stunning sights, sounds, and smells of water, pine, and smoke.

There was laughter and good camaraderie among the factions involved.

Baggus was an open and friendly person, and his ambassadorship quickly brought similarities, not differences, to the fore. As the good spirits persisted following dinner, fueled by libations that had been secretly and painstakingly hauled in by the soldiers, Ramius wanted to speak with his men about an important matter.

“When we get there in a few days, there will be something that will surprise you. But I want to tell you about it because I don’t want you to act surprised. I have already built something of a house for myself there. It may be hard for you to believe, but I have actually gone to Eden twice since we last went,” Ramius declared.

“Bullshit! How could you do that?” Hook blurted. The others looked on, also expecting an explanation.

“I went there as soon as we got everyone to the south camp. Then I came back, killed Saul, and then went back again.

That’s when Picket found me.”

“More like you found me,” answered Picket.

“I swear it. But my main point is that the house will be a surprise to you. You will wonder how I could do it myself, even if I did go back two times. Even if I went ten times. All I can say is that I did it, and it’s there. And you will know when we arrive that it definitely was not there before.”

“Okay, fine. So, what about it?” asked Johnny.

“I don’t want you all to act surprised like you didn’t know. That will seem strange. And I want everyone to think that you helped me. Because it will seem impossible that I could have done it alone.” Ramius paused. “Because the truth is, I didn’t do it alone. I had help. I don’t know who they were. They were different from us. They helped me. In fact, they did most of it. I just told them what I wanted.”

“Is this a problem? Why were they there?” demanded Hook.

“Maybe they also want to claim the land,” stated Johnny.

“No. They’re gone. They have no interest in claiming it. I don’t know really what motivated them. But it was incredible.

And now there is a structure there, and I will take it for myself.

And we will work to build others, starting with yours.” Ramius scanned the three of them. “But I’m just saying. Do not act surprised. We all did it together. Got it?”

“Okay,” said Picket immediately, which triggered affirmation from the other two.

Later that night, the group sang songs and finished the last drops of applejack. Megan laid back on Harper as he wrapped his big arms around her, having never felt happier.

The guards posted watch for wolves and were supported by Baggus’s two dogs, which weren’t much to look at, but they were sizable and were useful as sentries. With that, the group started to retire, sleeping before another long march started early in the morning.

The next morning started with the punishing, thousandfoot climb out of the river valley, rising above the upper plateau, losing the sights and sounds of the falls for most of the way, and then rejoining the river at its new elevation some five hundred feet higher than where they had camped the night before. After working their way upriver, they broke for food and rest, as well as to replenish their water. But Ramius had other ideas. On an apparent excursion to gain privacy for the purposes of relieving himself, Ramius hiked an extra distance just to make sure that no one would accidentally stumble upon his position.

He pulled out the headset that was always buried deep within his small pack. It came to life with a small flash of light, which Dream had explained was a security check that examined his eyes to ensure that the headset was being used by someone authorized to do so.

“Dream?” Ramius spoke in a soft voice. There was a pause, during which nothing happened, but he could see a green light flashing, so he thought that something was happening.

“Yes, Ramius,” replied Dream, following the pause. “I note your position. Do you need overhead surveillance?”

Ramius wasn’t exactly sure what she meant, but he deduced that she must have been referring to Saginaw. “Uh, no.

I don’t think so. Wait! Can you show me the house?”

“Yes. Please standby.” He waited for what seemed like an eternity but was only a minute. An image came up on his visual.

“Oh no! No!” Ramius was panicked. “That’s the house?”

“We enhanced the design to add more essential spaces.

I also considered that the entrance to the shelter would be more effectively concealed if the house were larger. This was my understanding from our discussion.”

“Oh. Oh no!” Ramius was virtually speechless.

Saginaw was circling the structure, showing him the bird’s-eye view from all angles. Then, the image switched, and in the corner, Ramius could see “Drake 7 – CAM 2,” so he knew that it was taken from inside by one of the Drakes. While in a state of total panic, Ramius marveled at the sight of his new palatial home, yet he was horrified. It was three stories high and four on the side facing the lake as the hill sloped down gently. It was easily four or five times larger than any structure that had ever been built in Victory.

“Dream! They won’t understand. I … I have no way to explain it. What shall I do? I have thirty people with me. We will be there in three or four days.”

“Do you want it removed?” Dream answered matter-offactly.

“Yes! No! I mean, I don’t know. Can it be made smaller?

I just want the cave well concealed. The size of this place makes it clear that someone else did this for me. That will lead to the question, who is the someone? Do you understand?”

“Yes, Ramius. I will incorporate this learning. I apologize for your concern. I have failed.”

“No! Don’t apologize. That is not necessary. But please make it as small as possible but still large enough to conceal the entrance. Can you do this in three days?”

“Yes. We will start now.”

“Thank you, Dream! Thank you. You are the best.”

Ramius took some deep breaths. He looked distressed but then suddenly erupted into laughter.

“Ramius!” He heard a call from Picket below.

“Yes! Coming!” Ramius responded as he tucked the headset deep into his pack and started back down to join the group.

By nightfall the next day, they had reached the delta, where the mighty river flowed out of the great lake. As they camped and moved from place to place, Ramius, Hook, Johnny, and Picket acted as tour guides and ambassadors, pointing out highlights and features that made the place spectacular, strategic, promising, and abundant.

Baggus also chimed in, as he was also a step ahead, having been there before. And Baggus was a colorful figure with a lot to say, even if his way of speaking was a bit crude.

The next morning, they needed to cross the river. It wasn’t challenging at that spot. The river was extremely wide and shallow, and there were only a few narrow passages that required ten or so strokes of swimming to reach another stretch of knee-deep water.

Once they made it across, the party camped, feasted, and slept. By this time, as they were nearing Eden, and they were under constant surveillance from above. Their arrival was constantly being estimated and reestimated. Deadlines were set and work plans developed and executed dynamically.

Every Drake available was working day and night, only stopping to rapidly recharge or deal with the dull or damaged tools that adorned their powerful and precise robotic arms.

Dream was realistic. Pure practicality and brutal honesty were her only options. If there were no way to accomplish the task, she would not have offered to have it done, or she would have refused any such request. But as soon as destroying and rebuilding the house even became a remote possibility, the methods of accomplishing it were already fully considered before the question even needed to be asked.

Although she knew that it was achievable, there was only one high-probability approach concluded from her splitsecond analysis. The Drakes were in the process of accomplishing the first major step, which was to weaken a variety of structural points. This was an eleven-hour exercise, following which, the Drakes would place five specially prepared Micro Fusion 0.025 Kiloton grenades within the structure, as directed.

The grenades were adjustable in terms of the payload and would all be individually set to varying magnitudes according to Dream’s calculations. Following this, she would remotely detonate the grenades in a timed sequence spanning one-and-a-half-second intervals to achieve the desired result.

The detonations would be audible to Ramius and his followers, but as long as it was accomplished quickly, the sound would be mistakable for a naturally occurring phenomenon, such as thunder or perhaps a rockslide. The Drakes positioned the grenades and cleared the area.

Late in the night, Baggus was stirred from a deep sleep, startled by something, though he couldn’t say what. He heard men talking—the guards.

“Didn’t sound like thunder. I mean, look up. There isn’t a single cloud tonight,” Baggus heard one soldier say.

“Whatever it was, that was quite a sound. It came from over there, I think.” The other soldier pointed south, which was their intended direction.

Others now lay awake, but they soon drifted off to sleep again. Ramius, however, lay looking up at the sky. He had been wide awake and had heard the sound very clearly. He wondered about it and then listened to the muted discussion by the soldiers guarding the camp. Then, a smile crept its way onto his face. He closed his eyes and slept in complete peace for the remainder of the night.

Two days later, the party approached Eden and the location of the cave entrance. Ramius was out ahead, hoping to get a glimpse of the house. He was fearful that it would still be over the top and hard to explain. Where is the bloody thing? he wondered. Then, he saw it. He was relieved to see that it appeared modest at this distance. Within an hour, they could all see it clearly.

“Ramius, I wasn’t aware that you already had something built out here,” one of the council members called ahead.

Ramius fell back to explain. “We did put up the structure as a way to stake a claim on the area and show any others that there was a presence here,” Ramius explained.

“Hmph,” the councilman grunted.

“Weya dat come from?” Baggus blabbered from behind.

As they approached the structure, there still appeared to be some signs of previous excavations and subsequent work to quickly remove all the evidence. But, of course, this was apparent to Ramius only. The others just saw a smallish stone cottage with a timber roof.

“Please, councilmen. I insist that you stay in the cottage.” Ramius opened the door, and inside was appointed with raised wooden platforms for beds and a couple of chairs.

There were shuttered windows, which Ramius opened to allow more light to stream in. It was fine accommodation for the weary councilmen, who gladly accepted it and went inside to claim their beds.

“Wow! You are the craftsman, aren’t you?” whispered Hook to Ramius as they stood near the cottage door looking in.

“Not bad,” said Johnny. “We make a great construction team.” They all chuckled.

Ramius surveyed the structure, walking around it as if admiring his work. He noted that the entrance was on the uphill side, facing away from the lake. From that perspective, the structure appeared to be a single level. But from the lake side of, there was another level below with a heavy wooden door.

No one had followed him around to that side, so he opened the door and walked into the lower level of the structure.

It was a single room. He could see that there was no connection or stairway leading above, which was good. It was isolated. The back wall of the room was covered by closely fitted wooden planks, rather than by bare rock or cut stones.

Okay! Very smart, Dream. I will call this my workshop, Ramius thought. He knew what to do next. He scanned the wall carefully, looking for where the sections might have a seam. The woodworking was so precise that the seam wasn’t easy to find, but he did find it right in the center.

He could see a section that looked to be about the size of a door. He tried to find a place to grip and found a knothole up high near the ceiling. He put two fingers in, gave it a pull, and felt it give before a door swung open on some sort of hinges.

There was a deep gap behind it, and down a rock tunnel, he could see the shelter door. There it was!

Dream, you are a genius, he thought, feeling great excitement. This will do nicely.

Just then, he heard Johnny calling. “Ramius! Where have you gone?”

“Coming!” Ramius called out as he shut the wood panel and hurried out the back door.

Ramius had no further opportunity to go below, as he was the real expert on the place and had to sell its attributes to all who were unfamiliar with it, including likely skeptics. He did so in a very convincing fashion, outlining the plan to walk up to a high vantage point in the morning so that he could explain the overall geography. Then, they would venture around to the east side of the lake and look at the potential agricultural prospects and the massive herds.

“You see, agriculture will be the main effort,” Ramius explained. “Just hunting and fishing until the resources are gone will be a failure. We will use fish and animals sparingly, and we will keep numbers on the herd and the fish and maintain these resources so that they remain constant. This is the only way that we can maintain a settlement that does not require seasonal migrations. The climate here is warmer than Victory North and cooler than Victory South.”

Ramius stayed away from explaining another of his key requirements—the ability to defend the settlement. The natural landscape afforded very strong protection. “What I am really asking for is that we start an agricultural base here and live through some seasons. This way, we can verify what happens with what we are growing and also see what the animals and fish do according to the seasons. This will verify whether this place is as good as I believe it is.”

Ramius was clever to keep the whole affair discreet as a way to allow it to get started. He hoped that this message would carry to Marco and the others.

Days later, out on the savanna, when they were ready to head back to Victory, Ramius, Johnny, Hook, and Picket all embraced and recounted the highlights. Most of the recounting involved the others imitating Ramius and his embellishments as they laughed at their success. Johnny had hidden a private stash of extra-strong applejack for just such an occasion, and they were well into it. Baggus and Lobo heard the commotion and felt excluded, so they wandered over to see what the fuss was.

“Baggus!” howled Hook. “Come drink.” Baggus went from looking like a timid intruder to flashing a wide smile, and the two minion men were incorporated into the circle.

“As far as the men go, we are the core! This is the group that is committed, and we need to get more to follow us,” declared Hook. Ramius looked on with satisfaction as the men bonded.

“Now, don’ foget Harpa! Weya is he? Nevah mine,” said Baggus, and they all laughed.

“Haarrrperrr!” they all called out.

“I mean dat boy fo’ show gon’ com wit’ dat lil woman, Meg. Oh yah. So, we’s got plenny a men to start.” Just then, Harper ran up from wherever he had been, and they all cheered. Johnny handed him the bag of applejack, and he drank it heartily.

“Yaaah!” they all shouted. Feeling jovial, Baggus walked up to Harper, who then stared at him icily. There was a silent pause. Baggus changed his expression to one of concern and then fear. Suddenly, Harper broke into a smile and then laughed loudly. He and Baggus shook hands, and the group went wild.

As the party raged on, Ramius walked away as if to go relieve himself. He climbed up a little until he was out of sight and earshot, and then he pulled the headset out of his small pack. He quickly put it on, and it flashed green, so he knew that Dream was there. He didn’t wait for her to confirm her presence.

“Dream, I wanted to tell you that the house was perfect in every way. Thank you for doing that. I won’t be coming back this time. We are going back to Victory. Then, I will return in maybe ten or twenty days.”

“Ramius, it was certainly my pleasure. I will look for you upon your return.”

With that, he removed the headset, stowed it, and returned to the group.

On the return journey, Ramius asked the minions, including Mr. Li, to remain at the base of the falls and camp there for a week or so while he went to Victory to advocate for the settlement of Eden.

Back in Victory, Ramius was again before the council.

Absent information and surrounded by his “yes men,” Marco had grown even more negative when it came to the whole concept. It was as if decisions had been made and people weren’t even listening. The silent hand of political intrigue was visible in every fake laugh, in every weak attempt at civility, and in every pointed question.

Some council members were on board, and he was certain that they were satisfied. But they became muted and avoided eye contact with Ramius. Marco had gotten to them.

What a joke, Ramius thought. He didn’t show any anger, but deep down, he seethed with contempt for the whole lot of them. An unhealthy thought crossed his mind, and it involved the Zephyr 55 ballistic rifle, but it soon passed. Control yourself.

“Yes, I understand your position and your concerns. I will drop the matter entirely,” said Ramius. He knew that this would cause their attempt to evoke his anger and defiance to fail. Their plan to ruin him would have no basis—a total disaster.

I was right, Ramius concluded. This is worse than I thought.

They would have me marked as a traitor. What a small and insecure man you are, Marco. I’m shocked.

Ramius observed the faces of Marco’s confidants. They all looked at each other, confused and with nowhere else to go.

Sorry, you losers. Game over. “If there is nothing else about this to discuss, I just want to apologize for the inconvenience and get back to whatever important matters we have before us.” He knew that there were no other matters.

“Yes. Uh, thank you, Ramius. I guess we can call it a night and get back to normal affairs at our next session. But before we break, I wanted to ask you something. The others said that you had built a house over in this … this … Eden. It sounds like you have been there many times. It seems you may have a strong intent to leave and settle there. Is this your aim?”

“Actually, I didn’t build that small house. It was built by some others. I don’t know who. But it appeared deserted— definitely not lived in.” Ramius recalled that he had never been questioned about it, so he never had to claim that he and his had men built it. He now maneuvered to counter Marco. “In fact, when we arrived at the place, that was the first time I had ever seen the house. So, no; I have not been there many times—only twice—and the house is certainly no indication of any intent on my part since I didn’t build it.”

Marco waved his hand, knowing that it was futile to debate with Ramius. He knew that in any such discussion, Ramius would always get the upper hand and make himself look even better. The discussion was over—for now.

“Alright. Alright,” said Marco, frustrated. Let’s reconvene in three days at the same time. Thank you, all.”

The next evening, Marco called Zeus, Manfred, Buckley, and Zach to his cave for a private meeting.

“I have spoken to the council members, including your high commander, Zeus. Ramius poses a threat to us all. I suspect that he intends to go settle Eden with or without our support.”

The soldiers shifted and looked uneasy, except for Zeus, who looked upon the other three as if in solidarity with every word Marco had to say. “The problem is that a lot of people like Ramius, and he has the ability to draw many numbers of us away from Victory to populate his new fantasy land. It will leave us weak, and morale will be low. Families and friendships will be torn apart, and even more will defect and leave. I am fearful that it could be the end of us all as a cohesive nation.”

Marco looked down, breathing to calm himself. “The council thought I was being paranoid. But as I played out the scenario, I talked about human nature and that this was not a worst-case scenario but, rather, the likely scenario. Before I go on, Buckley, what do you think?” Buckley was shocked and uneasy, as suddenly all eyes were upon him. “Based on the time you spent on this journey with Ramius, what do you think might happen?”

Buckley thought about it for a moment. “Ramius is very positive about Eden; I can definitely see that,” he responded carefully. “I don’t know anything about a plan for him to go there on his own. But I suppose it could happen.” Buckley continued, “He has a convincing story, so I agree that he might be able to get people to join him. But my understanding is that he wants to do this for us—for all of us. So, my question is this: why don’t we just take Eden as a part of Victory? There’s very good land and water over there.”

“That’s a different question!” snapped Marco. “Maybe we will do just that. But what I want to know from you is whether Ramius might be determined to do it on his own schedule, regardless of what we say!” Marco glared at Buckley, prompting a response.

“I would say that he is very positive about it, and if you told him no, then I suppose he might try to do that. But I’m not sure.”

“That’s fair. Thanks, Buckley. That is good input.”

“Unlike Buckley here, I have known Ramius my whole life. He is as stubborn and determined as anyone I have ever met. It’s a good quality, unless it goes against us. We have a successful society here—the most successful of any we have ever encountered. This means we need to protect it and maintain its traditions diligently. Any departure should be approached very carefully and over a long period to ensure we don’t make a wrong choice.” Marco paused and looked carefully at his top military men. “I need your complete loyalty. It is loyalty to Victory. Do I have it?”

“Yes, Leader!” they all resonated.

“Before he has a chance to draw support, I want to place him under arrest. It might be unpopular and might be considered unnecessary by many, but we can’t take any chances. Our way of life is being threatened, and I believe that time is of the essence. Bring him in tomorrow—tomorrow morning.”

There was silence and a degree of shock, but no one showed any emotion. Only Zeus responded as the lead commander. “Yes, Leader.”

That day, Buckley was distraught. He looked up to Ramius. Ramius and Picket had been among his mentors when he’d first joined the military. He had complete respect for Ramius, and having seen Eden once again, he was now convinced that Ramius had conceived a good idea. He was conflicted and brooded openly at home all afternoon.

“Marco is simply fearful of Ramius. It’s so obvious. He is threatened by Ramius because Ramius is smarter and more creative and on and on,” Buckley complained to his wife, who listened sympathetically, uncertain how to respond when it came to such a high-level affair.

“Darling, be careful what you say. If Marco will lock up an old friend, he won’t hesitate to do the same to you,” she advised.

“Yes, of course.” But Buckley’s thoughts had already shifted to how to alert Ramius without implicating himself. We will go with him. Just leave, he thought. But he was worried about his wife and daughter. Would I be endangering them?

“I’m going out. I need to clear my head. Don’t worry about my dinner. See you later, love.”

“Okay. Be careful.”