Set the Night on Fire by Libby Fischer Hellmann

Author:Libby Fischer Hellmann
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
ISBN: 9780984067688
Publisher: Allium Press of Chicago
Published: 2012-06-21T08:07:09+00:00

THIRTY

The Chicago Eight were indicted on the first day of spring. Rain had given up her organic food kick and was teaching Alix how to fry chicken. She held forth while heating a frying pan filled with oil. “You should have been there, Alix. Judge Hoffman already has his mind made up. It’s a fucking joke. We need to stop it. The Seed is printing up posters announcing a mass protest.”

Following Rain’s lead, Alix coated a piece of chicken with a mixture of flour, salt and pepper and dropped it into the pan. “Is this right?”

“Not bad,” Rain said. “We’ll make a working woman out of you yet.”

“That’s bullshit,” Payton called from the other room.

“What?” Rain said acidly.

“Protesting against the trial. It doesn’t fucking matter. So what if they go to jail? You can’t jail the revolution.”

Rain rolled her eyes at Alix. A second later Payton appeared in the kitchen. “You can roll your eyes—I saw you—and plan demonstrations, but you and I both know the only thing that will make any difference is direct action.”

“You mean violence?” When Payton shrugged she added, “That’s not the answer—even in a repressive society. You’ve been spending too much time with the Panthers.”

“There is no choice. It’s the only thing the pigs understand.”

“That isn’t what SDS is all about. Ask Dar.”

“Dar doesn’t know shit any more.” He glared at Alix.

Alix gave Payton her back.

“Wake the fuck up,” Payton went on. “Student riots in France and Mexico. An uprising happens in Prague. This is a fucking international guerilla movement. SDS needs to be a part of that.”

Rain started to say something but was cut off by the sound of the intercom. Alix went to it and pushed the button.

“It’s me,” a thin voice said. Billy.

Alix pressed the buzzer while Payton kept blathering on. She went to the door and let Billy in. It was an icy, blustery night, and although Billy was wearing Dar’s old pea coat, he was shivering. Alix walked him into the warmth of the kitchen. His shoulders relaxed as the heat hit him. Then he started to cough. Long, wracking coughs that wouldn’t stop.

“Are you okay?” Alix asked.

“It’s just a cold.” He coughed again.

“Hold on. I’ll get you some cough medicine.” On her way to the bathroom she brushed by Payton, still leaning against the kitchen wall. He tugged at his ponytail, his expression flat, as if he was jealous of Alix’s attention to Billy.

Alix brought the medicine back to the kitchen. Billy’s shoulders were hunched, and he was still coughing. She poured the red syrup into a spoon and held it out. “Open up, champ.”

Billy gave the medicine a once-over.

“Come on. It’ll help.”

Billy opened his mouth and swallowed. He grimaced. “Stuff tastes like shit.”

“Don’t be such a baby.” She laughed. “And don’t say ‘shit.’”

Billy leveled a withering look her way. Rain, watching them, fought back a smile.

“Can I have some water?” he asked.

“How about tea?” Alix filled the kettle and put the flame on.

Billy started to take off his coat.

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