Firebase Freedom by William W. Johnstone Page B

of the head with his pistol.
    â€œPop!” Eddie screamed.
    â€œGet on the bus now, or I will shoot your father for resisting orders,” Carter said.
    â€œCome on, Eddie, let’s do like he says, please,” Jane said, pulling on his arm.
    Eddie looked back at his father, and saw that his mother was wiping blood from his lip.
    â€œPop, are you all right?”
    â€œPlease, Eddie,” Edna called to him. “Do what the man says before you get hurt.”
    Eddie paused for another moment, then turned to go with Jane toward the bus. Halfway to the bus Eddie heard a pistol shot and turning quickly, saw that the SPS had shot a man who was protesting what they were doing with his children.
    Jane had shut her eyes when she heard the gunshot.
    â€œIt wasn’t pop, or your mom,” Eddie said, comforting Jane.
    â€œEddie, will we ever see our families again?”
    â€œYeah, sure we will,” Eddie said, though he wasn’t sure he believed they would.

C HAPTER N INE
    St. Louis
    Â 
    The TV screen opened with the call letters AITV, then a full-screen picture of Ohmshidi over the words “Obey Ohmshidi” as a voice-over spoke the words

    â€œAll praise be to Allah, the merciful. Whomsoever Allah guides there is none to misguide, and whomsoever Allah misguides there is none to guide. You must live your life in accordance with the Moqaddas Sirata , the Holy Path. Those who do will be blessed. Those who do not will be damned.
    â€œThis is American Islamic Enlightened Television.”

    When Ohmshidi’s picture went away, it was replaced by a newscaster who stood facing the camera. He made a fist, and folded his right arm across his chest.

    â€œObey Ohmshidi!”

    The newscaster then sat behind a desk, in front of the familiar portrait of Ohmshidi with the words Obey Ohmshidi underneath.

    â€œAnd now, the news.
    â€œOperation Blooming Flowers is nearly completed. Although it has been reported that some parents have protested the operation, the vast majority of our citizens welcome it and the positive effect it will have on raising a new generation, free from any corrupting influence from America’s sordid past.”

    On screen a series of pictures showed young people in classrooms, in games, and at worship in Moqaddas Sirata –compliant mosques.

    â€œHere you see some of the children at an Enlightenment Center at an undisclosed location. And as you can see, everything is being provided for them, from their studies, to their physical needs, to their religious training. It has been decided to allow no visitation between parents and children until they reach the age of eighteen, when the young people will leave the Enlightenment Centers, well prepared to become productive citizens in our new society.
    â€œAs of now, every young person between the ages of six and seventeen has been enrolled in these Enlightenment Centers. Should anyone be found in noncompliance of the Blooming Flowers order, the entire family will be executed.”

    The picture returned to the studio, where the stern-looking male newscaster continued with his report.

    â€œIt was announced in Muslimabad today, that ninety-nine percent of the country has embraced, with great enthusiasm, the progress toward peace and prosperity offered by our Great Leader, President for Life, Mehdi Ohmshidi. The only dissension seems to be coming from an insignificant island that acts as a barrier between the Gulf of Mexico and Mobile Bay.
    â€œReed Franken, who is the National Leader of the State Protective Service had this to say.”

    The picture on the screen switched to a rather small man, wearing rimless glasses over beady eyes. He smoothed his close-cropped moustache with the end of his finger as he stared into the camera. Off camera could be heard the words, “ You are on, National Leader.”
    Franklin looked toward the sound of the words, then back into the camera. As the newscaster had