Burn District 1 by Suzanne Jenkins Page B

intervention.”
    “But killing people on welfare is huge intervention!” Katherine Garrison retorted, shocked.
    After a lifetime of privilege and ease, Katherine knew she and Victor were guilty of much of what Miranda stood against. Looking at her daughter, she wondered how someone with so much devotion to helping people, so much so that she’d risked her life, could have come from the environment she and Victor provided for their family.
    “I can’t believe they’d purposely burn a house with children occupying it,” Katherine said sadly. Miranda looked out the window. They were on the outskirts of Atlanta, Ed driving southwest trying to get out of town.
    “Look out to the left, Mrs. Garrison,” Ed said. The van sped by, fires prominent in the night, eerie bright orange flames over a huge area and spreading.
    “That’s Adamstown,” Mrs. Baker said, crying. “Those poor families.”
    “Note the absence of fire engine sirens,” Miranda said. “They’re over by your house, putting out the fires of the rich people.” The occupants stretched over the window to watch the horror of a city burning.
    “We’re hardly rich,” Mrs. Baker said, indignantly.
    “I don’t think it makes any difference now. Eastman has a taste for the power it’s giving him and he can’t control himself. It will only escalate,” Ed said.
    “I’m going to record the podcast now,” Miranda said. “It’ll be short one.” She turned her phone on again, aware of the danger she was putting all of them in with a click of a switch.
    Closing her eyes, she started to talk into the phone. “This is Miranda Garrison. This is first chance I’ve had to talk to you. I’m sorry for the silence.
    “A young woman, Maryann Caldwell was in the wrong place at the wrong time. The bullets that took her life were meant for me. I am so sorry. We took advantage of her murder to protect me a while longer, and that is why her death was mistaken as mine. I hope you can forgive me. If you knew Maryann, please tell her parents I’m sorry. I have heard the mistake was uncovered soon after the authorities removed her body from the scene. It afforded me the time to run for my life. We are appalled at the extent of the devastation we are seeing as we travel.” Miranda stopped for a moment to compose herself, self-conscious with all ears in the car tuned in.
    “I won’t have time to edit this before we send it to you. I don’t know what information you are getting, but I want you to know that as soon as we are able, we will begin broadcasting again. For now, the key is to avoid urban and congested areas, prepare to leave your home in case you receive warning, and above all, share your wisdom. Please keep the rumor forum going. Goodbye for now and we will be together online soon.” She took a deep breath and tried to keep her emotions in check.
    Katherine Garrison reached over the seat and embraced Miranda. “I am so proud of you. I’ll do anything to make it up to you.”
    “Mother, thank you,” Miranda said, passing her phone to Alex. “That means so much to me.”
    “Miranda, it sounds good,” Alex said, moved.
    “I’ll pull over,” Ed said. Alex had his computer ready to download the recording and send it out. In minutes, the podcast was live. Ed pulled away from the curb.
    “Okay, so say goodbye to your phone,” Alex said as he broke it in half and gave it a toss out the window.
    “I’m glad I didn’t get the latest model,” she said, sighing. “That phone was expensive enough.”
     
    Alex and Ed talked in low tones through the night, leaving the frenzied Atlanta traffic behind. Soon, traffic died down. Fires were visible in the distance and occasionally, at the side of the road so that soon the travelers didn’t notice, numbness setting in fast.
    By sunrise, the group was hungry and in need of a bathroom. The box of crackers and jar of peanut butter grabbed from Mrs. Baker’s house was almost gone. Alex turned to look back at