Jolyon Hallows - The Collapse

“You mean who we leave to die.”

“That’s what I mean. We can’t handle everyone. I doubt we could even handle most of them. So a lot of people will be killed as subversives. There’s nothing we can do about that.”

“That’s going to be a tough decision. Who makes it?”

Candale said, “Ellen and I, based on Ivan’s information. We are the selection committee. I don’t think that’s a job either of you wants.”

Alan nodded. “A form of triage. That’s nightmare-inducing.”

Jerry said, “So how many people are we talking about bringing here? Any ideas?”

“No more than two or three thousand.”

“Two or three thousand? There’s no way we could handle that many. Two or three hundred is more like our limit.”

Candale said, “I think you underestimate the numbers this community could support. We could handle a lot of people here. Yes, there would be more mouths to feed, but there would also be more hands to grow crops and raise livestock. More people to make clothes and cut wood and hunt. A better opportunity for the specialization of labour. And if we do outgrow what we can manage, we can identify other sites and build communities there.”

“Using this place as a template.”

“Yes. We’ll learn a lot about being self-sufficient as a community, and we can transfer that expertise to others.” He turned to Alan. “As to your fourth point, an attack by the Peaks. I agree it’s a risk. I also agree with you that this community could never hold off an onslaught. So, yes, we would be in danger. We have just one real defence. Anonymity. If the Peaks don’t know we’re here or what we’re doing, they won’t be a threat.”

“That’s not comforting. If they do find out about us, it wouldn’t take much effort for them to wipe us out.”

Baxter said, “More than you might think. From information my contact gave me, I’ve been able to get a look at their equipment and training. They’re set up for urban conflict. Cities. They have rovers and automatic weapons and surveillance helicopters to support their mission, which is to deal with riots and demonstrations, but they’re not equipped to launch attacks on distance targets. They don’t have the mobility or weaponry of an army. I’m not saying they couldn’t attack us, but it wouldn’t be as easy as dispatching a few troops.”

Candale said, “And if we keep a low profile, they won’t have the incentive to attack. Besides, I’m guessing the resistance will be keeping them too busy in the cities to bother about some remote town they can’t easily get to. We just wouldn’t be a priority. Yes, it’s a risk, but one I’m willing to take. If we could reduce that risk, would that satisfy you, Alan?”

“My biggest concern has been that if we stand up to the Peaks, this wouldn’t be David and Goliath. It’d be more like Tinkerbell and Godzilla. But I have to admit that even the most adamant people in my group aren’t comfortable doing nothing. If we can be careful, avoid direct confrontations, remain anonymous, I think I can convince most of them.”

Jerry frowned. “You said we wouldn’t be a priority. That means we haven’t done anything useful. Is that what you propose? Just being a sanctuary for a bunch of subversives?”

Baxter said, “Not at all. That’s one way to support the resistance. Another is to identify weaknesses and targets within the NPF and alert resistance cells so they can launch an attack.”

“Weaknesses? What do you mean?”

“When are the NPF commanders going out to the field where they’ll be vulnerable? When and where are they redeploying troops? When are they receiving shipments of equipment? When are they organizing a new cohort of recruits for training? Remember, the NPF is an organization with its own internal processes. Those are areas the resistance can exploit.”

Alan said, “How do we identify all of this?”

“That’s my job. My contact will funnel me information, and I can relay it to you for distribution to the resistance group best positioned to attack.”

“So we would be like coordinators, directing resistance fighters.”

“Exactly.”

“Except how do we communicate with them?”

“We can use satellite communications. Email or texting. We’d need to use a secure application, but those exist. We could—”

Alan said, “Hold on. Cell phones need electricity. We may have some, but there’s no way to tell how long that will last. If the hydro generator dies and Ron can’t fix it, our cell phones will be useless.”

“Not if you have backup like a hand crank or a solar panel. The hand crank is more reliable, but the solar panel can keep the battery charged when the sun is out.”

“You figure this will work?”

Baxter pulled out his cell phone and a box with a handle pivoted in the middle. “Have a look. My phone has 43 percent of its charge. Now watch.” He plugged the phone cable into the box and turned the crank for a minute. The phone read 44 percent. “It takes some time, but with this device, I don’t need a power outlet.”

“Where do we get these gizmos?”

“Right now, online. But I have a couple of extras I’m leaving with Ross and Ellen. They can use them to keep in contact with me.”

Alan said, “So we need to get these into the hands of resistance cells?”

“For many, you won’t have to. The government will need to maintain its propaganda network, like a government news channel. That requires electricity for television and radios, so most of the resistance groups will have power. For those that don’t, this will work.”

Jerry said, “Okay, but how do we fit into this? You tell some resistance group of a vulnerability. They attack. A bunch of Peaks are killed. What’ll we be doing?”

“I guess I didn’t make myself clear. I won’t be in contact with the resistance groups. That will be your job. You will be a clearing house for attacks. The coordinators. You’ll assess vulnerabilities, evaluate how effective the various resistance groups are, pick the most promising ones, and relay information to the groups themselves. That’s a lot of work. It’s more than I can handle, and it’s more than I should know. After all, I could be captured, even tortured. The less I know about the location or the members of any resistance group, the better.”

“So we’ll need a body to coordinate these coordinators. Who will be on it?”

“That’s up to you. This is your show, not mine. My sole responsibility is to funnel information to Ross and Ellen. What you do with it or how you handle it is up to you.”

Alan said, “Okay, we’ll be providing sanctuary to subversives and coordinating attacks. I guess I could sign on to that.”

Candale said, “There’s one more thing we need to do to support the resistance and undermine the Peaks. Let me ask you, what do you think they will do when they’ve been hit?”

“They’ll hit back.”

“Who would they hit? Any decent resistance group will be clandestine. The Peaks wouldn’t know who they were. If they did, they’d have wiped them out before they could carry out any attack.”

“So who do you think they’ll hit?”

“Our guess is innocent citizens. That’s been the way of most oppressive forces throughout history. Now how do you think the public would react to this retaliation?”

“It depends on whether people blame the Peaks or the resistance.”

“Right. From our point of view, which is preferable?”

Alan snorted. “That they blame the Peaks, of course.”

“And how do we ensure that happens?”

Jerry said, “I think I get it. Propaganda.”

Candale smiled. “You did get it. That’s going to be key. Convincing the public to blame the Peaks and not the resistance. If they turn against us, we won’t stand a chance. We need them to support us or at least turn a blind eye to what we’re doing.”