Desperate Times Three - Revolution by Nicholas Antinozzi Page B

conspiracy theory. I don’t know if we’ll ever have proof that will stand up in a court of law; these people are much too smart to leave any evidence of their crime. Besides, you could hit the American people in the face with evidence and they still wouldn’t believe. We have to try to change that. You guys are big right now. Thank God for that video and that somebody had the guts to post it. We’ve got to make the most of this. Are you ready?”
    Jimmy stared at Katie for a moment and nodded. “I don’t know how you think I can help, but I’ll do whatever I can.”
    “That’s what I wanted to hear,” Katie said, reaching up and stroking Jimmy’s matted hair. “I’ve already got everything I need from Ken. He’s quite a character. I just need you to confirm his statements and explain to America what happened up in Ely. I want it beginning to end, all the way up to the time you arrived here.”
    “I can do that.”
    “Are you ready, Jimmy? I mean like right now, are you ready? I’m not supposed to be here, and I’m afraid we don’t have much time. They could come for you any minute.”
    Jimmy took a deep breath and nodded. “Let’s do it,” he said, giving Katie a thumbs up.
    Katie smiled, stood up and gave Jimmy a kiss on his forehead. The next five minutes was a blur of activity. Jimmy’s room was suddenly transformed into a television studio as half a dozen technicians strung cable and placed cameras around his little bed. Jimmy fought to remain calm, but inside he was shaking like a leaf on a tree. He hated cameras on the best of days, and here he was with a scrambled face, getting ready to do a television interview with one of the most prominent journalists in the country. Jimmy closed his eyes and tried to regulate his breathing as the techs did sound and picture checks. A small microphone was clipped to the flimsy collar of his hospital gown. He watched as someone touched up Katie’s makeup. There were three cameramen who took their positions behind their equipment.
    “Are you ready, Jimmy?” Katie asked, as a makeup artist applied a last bit of powder to her cheek.
    “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” Jimmy said, trying to sound brave despite feeling as if his insides had turned to water.
    “Live in five seconds, Katie,” called a man’s voice from behind Jimmy.
    “Let’s get this done,” Katie announced to the room. She stood in front of one of the cameras and gathered herself. “This is Katie Flourish reporting from Duluth, Minnesota. Twenty-two months ago, this country experienced the greatest economic crisis ever known. And while we’ve somehow managed to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps, much remains to be done. Sadly, as most of you already know, some things will never be the same.”
    Jimmy took a deep breath as Katie approached his bedside. “What we have lost as a society is almost incalculable. Our way of life has seemingly been stolen away, never to return. Rights that we once took for granted as the cornerstones of the American way of life have been unceremoniously stripped away by our government as our democracy teeters on the brink of fascism. How could we let this happen? How could we let ourselves be led like sheep into the relocation camps that would become our homes for nearly two years? Not everyone folded under pressure as the economy collapsed and the dollar became worthless. Some of us stood up for what we believed in and survived outside the barbed wire and the rationed food. Most of these people perished in the Great Pandemic, but some isolated groups managed to survive despite all the odds being against them. People like this man, Jimmy Logan, savagely beaten by area police for defending the most basic of human rights: his right to survive.”
    Suddenly the camera was staring Jimmy in the face, and he mustered a brave smile. Nervous and frightened as he was, Jimmy felt an odd sort of inner peace as Katie continued her monologue. The truth would be told