Executive Orders: Part 2 of the Homeland Series Read Online Free Page A

darkness.

3
    HANK
     
    Freeport, Tennessee
    Hank’s Office
    5:09 PM
     
    Hank sat across his desk from his chief deputy as Maggie did her homework at a table on the opposite side of the room.
    “You were right, Gunny. They’re taking over. Sanger isn’t even pretending anymore.” Hank’s face looked old and tired in the dim light of the desk lamp.
    “I knew it.” Gunny sighed. “Everything happened so fast. Too fast. The economy, the President, the attacks, the grid. It all lined up too neatly to be a coincidence. Then they put the blame on anybody with the guts to stand up to ’em and started workin’ their way down the list, eliminating them one by one.”
    “Where do you think we fall on that list?”
    “Sooner than later.”
    “Yeah,” Hank sighed. “Question is, what do we do?”
    “Papaw,” Maggie called softly, “can you please help me with my homework?”
    “Of course, sweet-pea. What are you working on?”
    “Social studies.”
    He waved her to him. “Bring it here and let’s have a look.”
    The girl climbed into her grandfather’s lap and handed him a worksheet. “It’s about the Constitution.”
    Hank examined the paper. The heading of the sheet read, ‘The Founding Frauds.’ He read on…
     
    Question 1 . George Washington has been called the father of our country, but he was a rich, white, male, slave owner who presided over the creation of a constitution that excluded women, minorities and the poor. Does this sound fair to you? How can America’s Second Founding avoid the mistakes of the past?
     
    Hank’s hand trembled as he read the rest of the questions in disbelief. Words like bigot, racist, sexist and obsolete caught his eye more than once. Stunned by what he read, he said simply, “This is a bunch of lies. George Washington was a great man.”
    “I guess he used to be good, but now he’s not.” Maggie shrugged. “I looked all through our text book and couldn’t find any of the answers.”
    “Where is your text book?”
    She held up the little green book her teacher gave her. “Ms. Dawkins says we have to keep this with us everywhere we go, even when we sleep. She says we are in the Green Guard now.”
    “What is the Green Guard?”
    “I guess it’s kinda like a secret club. It’s our job to help America by telling on bad people.”
    “What kind of bad people?”
    She pointed to a picture of George Washington on her worksheet. “People like him.”
    Hank tossed the piece of paper onto his desk and took the green booklet. He flipped through the thing. It was mostly a compilation of sayings and mottos, all of which had the same ideas as the homework questions.
    Hank’s heart pounded in his ears. The stress clinching in his jaw made him feel physically ill. He calmed himself and put his arm gently around Maggie’s shoulders. “Don’t worry about doing the homework. You’re not going back to that school.”
    Gunny picked the paper up to see it for himself. He seemed to deflate as he read. He finally wadded it up and hurled it across the room.
    “If you think that’s bad, wait till you see this.” Hank tossed the booklet to Gunny.
    There was a knock. Hank looked to see a kindly woman standing in the doorway holding a plastic grocery bag. It was Edith.
    “I didn’t think you would be able to watch Maggie today. What with your husband…”
    “I just went to see him at the drive-in,” The woman gave Hank a pleading, confused look. “Did they really arrest Ray just for being a preacher? Hank, you’ve been a member of our church for twenty years. He baptized you. You know he’s not a terrorist. Isn’t there anything you can do?” Her eyes began to tear up.
    Hank shook his head. “I’ve tried. The FEMA people don’t listen to me.”
    “I’m sorry.” She took a breath and wiped her eyes, then put her hand on Hank’s. “I know you’re doing all you can. He’s doing alright. His faith is strong.” She looked at Maggie. “Caring for her will help