War of the Institutes by Paul James

Author:Paul James [James, Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2020-05-28T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 31: Alexis Becomes Suspicious

Moon City, 2098

Alexis observed Jamie carefully as he always did when Jamie returned from trips to Earth. Jamie was always hyper, itching for action but holding himself in, hoping no one would guess how much he missed Earth and action. This latest visit was no different. Sometimes Alexis wondered if Jamie thought he didn’t know about these trips, though Jamie never tried to hide them. He just never spoke of them.

“Hey, Jamie,” he said as they met in a cafeteria in Moon City’s public square. “How’re things?”

“Fine, fine,” Jamie replied.

“Where did you get to?”

“I saw Ben,” Jamie said. “He’s okay. Just as weird as ever.”

Alexis thought it time for plain speaking. “Did you go to Jamiestown?”

“No, not at all. I was going to but things didn’t work out.”

“Nadia and Tomas don’t mind you visiting?”

Jamie laughed. “Sure they do, but I don’t ask permission. I just go.”

“It can’t be safe.”

“I’ll never be caught,” Jamie said, still grinning. “Anyhow, I’m not going to Jamiestown again in the near future. I’m thinking of a new settlement in the interior, the old Midwest. There’s no effective government there now, just people scratching a living off the land.”

“If you set up a settlement, you can be sure one of the groups who were running the place will show up to claim it as their land. Give it up, Jamie. The only place for us is space.”

“There’s no reason why we can’t have a foothold in both places,” Jamie said. “Most of the world really is preindustrial now. We’ll be safe there.”

“There are still advanced weapons in the hands of people who won’t hesitate to use them if we return. It won’t be safe for another century or so.”

“You haven’t been there recently,” Jamie said. “It’s incredible how quickly it came apart. I met people who only know of machines from stories their parents told them. They have no idea how to build, maintain, or operate them. In fact, many of them can hardly read or write. The only tools they have are spears and bows for hunting and simple plows for turning the soil. That was the extent of their technology, and that was right there in the Midwest.”

“Leave them until they have forgotten any machines ever existed. Then it will be safe.”

“All I’m thinking is a small modular reactor, some decent housing, and tractors to plow the land. Enough to keep them warm and fed. I’m not planning a new superpower.”

“But what are their thoughts? Will they be happy with that or will you find them ready to move on to greater things once they’re comfortable? And you know Nadia and Tomas will never allow a rival in North America. Your settlement will be at war right from the get-go.”

“Okay, a modular reactor and a ShieldWall defensive system. It will be safe enough.”

“Jamiestown wasn’t safe with advanced weaponry and neither were the Underwater Institute’s cities. Please, Jamie, give it up.”

“It was just a thought,” Jamie replied with a shrug. “Maybe you’re right.

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