Canvas Skies (Reliance on Citizens Makes Us Great!) by S. L. Wallace Page A

wouldn't suspect him either.
Plus, the people who'd gone missing were all in Special Ops and
Harlow wasn't.
    “Do you think they're doing it again?” he
asked. He meant genetic manipulations and cloning, Ramsey Corps's
specialty.
    I'd wondered the same, but Guy had his own
opinions about that. “If they are, it's not Ramsey Corps. Elaine
Ramsey and her partners would raise too many suspicions both here
and overseas. We took them out the right way. We shared their dirty
laundry with the world, and it brought them down completely. But,”
he paused and looked around the table before he continued, “I've
been following the newsvids carefully. Watching for any hint of
genetic engineering, for any mention of the doctors and scientists
we learned about from the Ramsey files.”
    We hung onto every word.
    Guy shook his head. “There's been nothing.
However, there have been some shifts in the political arena over
the past few months. A couple of new ministers have been appointed,
and some who had the same ideals as us have been pushed out. Prime
Minister Armstrong. He's been with the ministry forever, and now
he's at the top. I know him personally. He's ruthless.” Guy sat
back. “That's all I've got.”
    He reached into his pocket and withdrew a
long thin piece of paper. Handing it to Harlow, he said, “These are
the military personnel who side with the Resistance. Stay here
tonight and memorize those names.”
    I knew the list in Harlow's hands had been
culled from the master list, of which there were only two
hand-printed copies. Guy had one and Scott had the other.
    “I want to know if anyone else has
disappeared. I'll expect a report by the end of the week.”
    “Yes, sir!”
    Before we left, I also handed Harlow a slip
of paper. It had two transceiver numbers written on it, mine and
Guy's. “Memorize those too and keep in contact.”
    Then Guy handed Harlow one more item, a
special cufflink, a serpent striking at a gold coin. It was how the
other soldiers and officers would recognize Harlow as their new
link to the Resistance.

 
     
     
-Aimee-
Getting to Know You, Again

    The next morning, streaks of sunlight
splashed across the burgundy comforter. I stretched and stood, then
reached for my red satin bathrobe. Tying it at the waist, I made my
way into the kitchen and began rummaging through cabinets and
drawers, in a search for breakfast supplies. I put a pot of water
on the stove to boil before carefully spreading a white embroidered
tablecloth on the dining table. Then I set three places. I found a
beautiful porcelain tea set, placed a few teabags into the pot and
added the boiling water. I took the pot and three teacups with
saucers to the table and sat down to wait. When Keira joined me a
short time later, I was surprised to see her alone.
    “He didn't stay?”
    “No, it's better for him to leave while
everyone is asleep.” She sat across from me. "The neighbors think
I'm single. Oh, be careful what you say to Miss Violet in 1023.
She's a gossip."
    I raised my eyebrows, but Keira only
shrugged and said, “I've been sociable.”
    “You? Sociable with the neighbors?” I
laughed. “Why?”
    “Practice. And besides, people are just
people, no matter their social standing.”
    “You really believe that?” It didn't sound
like the Keira I'd grown up with.
    “Guy does, and I'm trying to.”
    “I don't get it. You two have been together
for over a year, and you've been living with him for months. His
parents really don't know? His friends either?”
    “Well, some of his friends know because
they're my friends too, but they're all about keeping secrets.”
    I rested my chin on my palm and studied her
face. “You don't agree.”
    Keira stared back.
    “What is it?”
    “I agree that secrets can be used to keep
people safe, but...I just think if everyone knew more, we could
start a revolution.”
    “What?” My voice was sharper than I had
intended.
    “Too many people believe the Resistance is
just an