Desperate Times Three - Revolution by Nicholas Antinozzi Page A

anxious fingertips finding a spiderweb of stitching that started at his nose and spread in all directions.
    “Ninety stitches,” Dr. Dan said, pulling Jimmy’s hands away from his face. “I’m sorry, we did the best we could. You’re probably going to have some permanent scarring. Back in the old days, I would have advised you to see a plastic surgeon. Things are different now.”
    Jimmy balled his hand into a fist and slammed it down onto his hip which was a huge mistake, and he nearly cried out because of the pain.
    “Careful,” warned Dr. Dan, “Your body is covered with severe bruising. Let’s not try to make them any worse.”
    “What happened to Julie?” Jimmy asked between gritted teeth. “Why did she lose the baby?”
    “You know what happened,” the doctor said, softly.
    “Can I see her?”
    “I’m afraid not. She and your friends were taken to the Monroe Institute. You and Mr. Dahlgren are to remain here until you recover from your injuries. I wish I could tell you more.”
    Jimmy began to say something when there was a knock on his door. Dr. Dan turned and opened it up, and in walked Katie Flourish. She took one look at Jimmy and covered her mouth, her eyes telling a story all their own. Dr. Dan was right--she was even more beautiful in person and shorter than Jimmy had expected. She wore a conservative blue skirt that fell just below her knees and a matching blue blazer over a white blouse. She quickly removed her hand and smiled at Jimmy. He returned the smile.
    “Jimmy, this is Katie Flourish,” Dr. Dan said, making the formal introductions. “Katie, this is Jimmy Logan.”
    “Pleased to meet you,” Katie said, she paused there and looked down, as if she were gathering her strength to look at him. She moved to Jimmy’s bedside and took him by the hand. “Are you sure you’re up to this?”
    “I am,” replied Jimmy, nodding his head.
    Katie smiled and gave Jimmy a quick wink. “There’s a lot at stake here. So much has changed, and we’ve got to try to stop them before it’s too late. Do you have any idea what we’re up against?”
    Jimmy thought about that for a second and shook his head. He only knew what Mark Dundlemore had told them. “No, Katie,” he said. “Why don’t you tell me?”
    Katie smiled and pressed her hands together in front of her face, as if in prayer. She pulled the chair over to Jimmy’s bedside and sat down. “I’m going to have to give you the abbreviated version. There just isn’t time, and I’m afraid I only know so much. For starters, somebody had a camera when you and your friends were arrested and they posted the video on the internet. That footage has gone absolutely viral.”
    “I’ve got rounds to make,” Dr. Dan said, excusing himself from the room. “I’ll check back in later.”
    Katie waited until Dr. Dan had left the room and stared up at the ceiling for a moment before continuing. “They planned all of this,” she said, staring at him with wide eyes, “the stock market crash, the relocation camps, the rewriting of the Constitution, all of it. They’d been planning it for years. They want a one-world government.”
    “Who are you talking about?”
    “The powerbrokers, Jimmy, they’ve been assembling our government one piece at a time. They’ve stolen all the money. The only thing left to steal is our right to live. That’s what they’re after. Did you hear about the flu pandemic?”
    Jimmy nodded.
    “We really don’t have any concrete numbers, but we suspect that nearly a billion people died during the outbreak. There was no stopping it. Some of us suspect that it was no act of God. Do you understand me?”
    “That’s what Ken thought,” Jimmy said, shaking his head in disbelief. “How could they do such a thing?”
    “Because their goal is to trim the world population to five hundred million; that’s the magic number. You understand that we don’t have any concrete proof. For now, this is all just another