“In order that the SPS be effective, it will be necessary for us to take over the administration of all police forces within the nation, city and state. Those organizations that we take over, and whom we deem worthy of the honor, will be incorporated within the SPS. Those who are not worthy to be incorporated will be dismissed. Those who refuse to be incorporated will be eliminated.
“In addition, all legal jurisdiction will be taken away from civilian courts, and turned over to the SPS. I have written a mission statement which I would like to read, for your approval.”
“Yes, by all means, read the mission statement.”
Reed cleared his throat, then began to read aloud. “We, the State Protective Service, shall unremittingly fulfill our task: to establish the security of our Islamic Republic, to maintain the safety of our Great Leader, Mehdi Ohmshidi, and to establish peace and stability. We will be the enemy to all Jews, Christians, and Muslims who do not show obedience to
Moqaddas Sirata
. And, without pity, we shall put the merciless sword of punishment to the neck of such infidels, today, tomorrow, and for centuries to come.”
“Very good, Franken. Or, shall I call you General Franken?”
“With your permission, Great Leader, I would prefer the title of National Leader of the SPS.”
“So be it. How soon can you put this organization together, National Leader?”
“I have the core of those who were members of the SPS in the before time. Those men whose loyalty I feel I can trust will be quickly assembled. And, because service in the SPS is to be much desired, I think that the ranks will be filled very quickly.”
“Very well, National Leader Franken. Put your plan into operation.”
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There began, after that, a gradual improvement in day-to-day living conditions, but not without some unwelcome changes. Television and radio broadcasts were reestablished, but they were nothing but nonstop propaganda for
Moqaddas Sirata,
words that, the first time they were heard, meant absolutely nothing to the average American.
Every television and radio broadcast began with the same statement.
All 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.
But these same television broadcasts brought the citizens of the American Islamic Republic of Enlightenment the welcome news that soon, a new currency would be issued.
So that all may start equally, we will establish distribution points where everyone will be given enough money to provide yourself and your family with the basic necessities of life. This we do in praise to Allah the merciful.
Less than a month after his meeting with Reed Franken, enough of the SPS had been reconstituted to make a show of strength in Muslimabad, and, once again, Ohmshidi was summoned by Rahimi. This time though, the meeting was not in the White House, but in what had once been the Harry S. Truman Federal Building, occupied by the Secretary of State. Mohammad Akbar Rahimi, the Minister of Culture for
Moqaddas Sirata
, now occupied the executive office suite on the fifth floor. In the “before time” the lobby of the executive office suite had been decorated with a mural by James McCreery, entitled
Liberty or Death: Don't Tread on Me.
The work depicted the founding of America, featuring maps, cannons, rifles, and flags of the era. Now, however, all the historical icons had been painted over by a dull green, in keeping with the elimination of images; for there is a
hadith
which states that one should not leave a picture without obliterating it. It was also a diminution of any history of what had been the United States.
“You sent for me, Imam?” Ohmshidi asked when he was shown into Rahimi's office.
“Yes. In one hour you will give a television address to the nation.”
“But, what shall I say?”
“It has been written, and will appear on the teleprompter. All you have to do is read what it says.”
“Where shall I give this speech?”
“You are the president; you will speak from your office.”
“Yes, Imam. Thank you, for your mercy and kindness.”
One hour later, cameras were brought into the Oval Office, teleprompters were put up, and a voice-over intoned:
All 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.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the American Islamic Republic of Enlightenment, Mehdi Ohmshidi.
C
HAPTER
T
HREE
Firebase Freedom, Fort Morgan, Alabama
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“Look,” Julie said, pointing to the TV screen. “It's President Ohmshidi.”
“Ohmshidi? I thought that son of a bitch was dead,” Willie Stark said.
The others who were present inside the fort at the moment gathered around the TV to see what Ohmshidi had to say.
Ohmshidi's appearance had changed drastically since he was first elected president of the United States. Now his hair was longer, he was wearing a beard, a
dishdasha
and a
taqiyah
. His desk was flanked, left and right, by two muscular and unsmiling men, both members of the elite Janissary Corps. They were wearing black uniforms with silver lapel pins of a scimitar and a severed head. Like the SPS, they wore the Ohmshidi “O” logo armbands around their left arms, and they stood at parade rest, staring unblinkingly straight ahead.
“My fellow citizens of the American Islamic Republic of Enlightenment, I am speaking to you from Muslimabad, a city you once knew as Washington. I greet you in the name of
Moqaddas Sirata
, and swear my submission to this movement of enlightenment.
“Since you elected me to this office we have suffered much, but much has been accomplished. And, as a woman must go through much pain to deliver a child, so too have we gone through pain, to deliver a new nation.
“Yes, my fellow citizens, we, you and I, have set forth upon this continent a new nation, conceived in obedience, and dedicated to the principle of holy submission. No longer are we a warlike nation imposing our will upon the rest of the world. No longer are we a society separated by a great gap between the wealthy and the poor. No longer are we a nation separated by apostates who practice heresy in the false religions of Christianity and Judaism, or even those misguided Muslims who have not yet found their way to enlightenment. For now, there is only
Moqaddas Sirata
. . . the true religion of Enlightenment.
“This wonderful change in our country was made possible by the brave jihadists who martyred themselves by detonating nuclear weapons to bring us into the light. Now we are an Islamic nation obedient to
Moqaddas Sirata
, and we are an equal partner in a growing international caliphate that will one day bring the entire world into holy submission.
“I am pleased to tell you that gradually our country is recovering from the turmoil it went through during its birth. We are printing new currency, to be called Moqaddas, which will be backed by our government, and accepted on the international market. In many parts of our country electricity has been restored, as you well know since you are watching this very television show.
“Fuel is again being delivered. Telephone service has been restored, some television and radio broadcasts have returned to the airwaves, and soon, more programs will be available. I am also pleased to report that distribution of food and durable goods is under way. If distribution has not reached your area yet, it soon will.
“You will also see that law and order is being returned, as I am greatly increasing the size and the scope of the State Protective Service. Soon you will be able to enjoy the safety and security of having men of the SPS patrolling your neighborhood. You will find comfort in knowing that the men who wear the forest green and gold uniforms will maintain peace and stability throughout the land.
“Now that I have told you of the wonderful things that are coming, I must tell you how you can enjoy the fruits of these developments. It is very simple, and it is something that I know most of you will want to do, because with your own eyes you have seen the benefits to be derived. So that you may take advantage of the newly emerging economy, I am asking you to denounce any former religion you may have practiced. It is an absolute requirement that you do this, and that you convert to Islam, and become obedient to
Moqaddas Sirata
.
“In order to do that, it will be necessary for you to appear before a government official where you will swear allegiance to me, to the American Islamic Republic of Enlightenment, and to
Moqaddas Sirata
, the Holy Path. Once you are enrolled, you will be provided with identity passes which will allow you to be reconnected to electricity and running water, and will enable you to purchase gasoline, food, and everything that is necessary to help us establish our new nation.
“In order to assure the peace and tranquility of our new nation, we will start by confiscating all privately owned guns, Bibles, Torahs, and any books deemed hostile to Islam. We will also carefully monitor all publications and speech in order to prevent the spread of anti-government propaganda that would do harm to our new order.
“And, so that we may bring this new nation into its proper place in the world order, I cannot, and I will not, waste your valuable time in seeking re-election. Therefore, I am declaring myself as president for life.
“There are bound to be those who will neither understand nor appreciate the new direction I am taking this country, so I am announcing today new government measures to deal with anyone who refuses to swear obedience to me, as well as with those who would cling to their guns and Bibles. All true citizens can serve the American Islamic Republic of Enlightenment by careful observance of your family, friends, and neighbors, reporting to the nearest authority anyone who does not submit.
“I am issuing an order today, that requires the police force in every city and town to swear allegiance to me. Those who refuse to swear allegiance to me will be eliminated. Soon, I will be sending members of the SPS to cities and towns throughout the land, to make certain that the police are acting in compliance with my orders, and that they, and you, are living in compliance with
Moqaddas Sirata
. Here is what you must do.
“First, you must remove all pictures of animals and people from your walls. Destroy all statues, busts, and figurines.
“In your place of work, be diligent that there are no images. If you must decorate, do so with ribbons, or colored cotton.
“Take down any calendars that have pictures of animals of any kind.
“Do not allow your children to play with dolls, for they are Satan's playthings.
“Do not take, or display, any pictures of children.
“Satan sees through the eyes of dogs, and he hears through the ears of dogs. You may not have a dog as a family pet, and all dogs must be killed at once.
“Those who fail to do these things, will incur the wrath of Allah, and Allah's angels, in the form of the SPS. The punishment will be severe.
“Thank you, and may the peace of
Moqaddas Sirata
be with you.”
“Turn that crap off, Willie,” Deon said.
“I thought we might like to get a glimpse of what we are fighting,” Willie replied.
“Do you think there is anyone living on this island who doesn't know what we are fighting?”
Bob Varney had been sitting in a chair, watching the news along with the others. Bob's wire-haired Jack Russell terrier, named Charley, was in Bob's lap and Bob was casually rubbing the animal behind his ears. It was a ritual they went through often, and Charley, to take advantage of it, would jump into Bob's lap anytime he had the opportunity to do so.
“Did you hear what that son of a bitch said?” Bob asked. “Excuse the vulgar language, ladies.”
“Is it vulgar, if it is the truth?” Karin asked. “I mean, the man is a son of a bitch, there is no way of getting around it.”
“He has just sentenced a million or more dogs to death. How could anyone do such a thing?”
“I don't think the people will do it,” Marcus said.
“They won't have any choice,” Willie said. “If someone is standing there pointing a gun at them, telling them either to kill their dog or get killed, what else can they do? If they refuse, they'll get killed, and so will their dog.”
“And all this business about pictures,” Cille Laney, James's wife, said. “Pictures are all I have left of my mama and daddy, and there's no way I'm going to destroy them.”
“I can't believe we let our country get into such a mess,” Willie said.
“What do you mean we
let
our country get into this mess?” Deon asked. “Hell, we not only let it happen, Willie, we caused it. Don't forget, Ohmshidi didn't take over by coup. We actually voted him into office.”
“Not me. I didn't vote for the son of a bitch,” Willie said.
Deon chuckled. “Since you can't find anyone who actually did vote for him, you have to wonder how he ever got elected, don't you?”
“Yeah, well, like I said, I didn't vote for the son of a bitch.”
The core of Jake Lantz's team was made up of a group of soldiers, men and women. And while the United States Army was no longer in existence and there was no longer any rank, a natural hierarchy had developed within the team. As a result, Jake Lantz, though no longer a major, was still regarded as the commanding officer of the survival team.
Shortly after the team arrived, they rescued a young woman who had been raped. Her name was Becky Jackson, though now she called herself Becky Warner, because she and Marcus were married. There was no existing legal authority to bind the marriage by contract, but their marriage had been blessed by an Episcopal priest on the island, and they were bound by love. When the baby, who was a result of the rape, was born, Marcus treated it as if it were his own son.
There were three families who lived in a housing compound known as the Dunes, when Jake and the others arrived. They had since abandoned their beach houses, and moved into the fort with Jake Lantz and his team.
Bob Varney was, as he liked to say, “a fount of useless information,” and before the Internet was restored, his knowledge was put to good use when he told the others the principle of wood gasification. By applying those principles, Marcus and James built a series of burners that would allow them to operate their vehicles without gasoline.
James's mechanical and construction skills had proved to be very valuable since the survivalist group had formed at Fort Morgan, and, with salvaged lumber and equipment, a complete village was taking shape within the walls of the fort.
First called “Mobile Point,” a zealous chamber of commerce had changed the name of the barrier island to Pleasure Island. There were two towns on Pleasure Island: Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach. The combined permanent population of the two towns was less than 15,000, but because Pleasure Island had been a popular tourist destination in the “before time,” at any time during the summer season the population could be as high as 250,000.
Although considerably fewer than 250,000 people were on the island now, the current population was significantly higher than 15,000, because many Americans, unwilling to submit to the dictates of
Moqaddas Sirata
, had come there. The island had no central source of electricity, nor did it have running water, but it did have a fairly stable supply of food from the many gardens, as well as unlimited seafood, ducks and geese, and a rather sizeable herd of goats. There were also enough freshwater wells and desalination units available, that the water supply was never critical.
So far the residents of the island had not been bothered by any security forces from the American Islamic Republic of Enlightenment, primarily because the AIRE was just now beginning to get back on its feet, and Pleasure Island was so far out of the way that nobody was, as yet, paying any attention to them.
“Did that son of a bitch say he was going to be president for life? What the hell is that all about?” Deon asked. “This is like some third world country.”
“Where have you been, Deon?” Jake asked.
“This
is
a third world country. No, that's not right. We'd have to come up some to be a third world country.”
“The way I see it,” Bob said, “it doesn't matter what Ohmshidi, or anyone in Washington . . .”
“Muslimabad, remember?” Karin said.
“Yeah, Muslimabad,” Bob said. “But what I'm saying is, it doesn't make any difference where he is, or what he says. We are off in our own world down here, and if we are lucky, they'll forget all about us.”
“Yes, well, we can't be lucky forever,” Jake said. “You know what I think we should do?”
“No, but I have a feeling you are going to tell us,” Karin teased.
“I think the South should rise again. I say we secede from the union.”
“Wait a minute,” Marcus said. “I'm not from the South.”
Chuckling, Bob Varney pointed south. “If you go two hundred yards that way, you'll get your feet wet in the Gulf,” he said. “You can't get any farther south than that.”