Book, Saddle, and Go. By Hamberglar Watch

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20-5-2023



Today, they tracked down the Whistleblower.



He'd been silent for the past four days and we were all beginning to think he'd been caught. Brynden wouldn't admit it, but we were sure he was thinking the same even though he still tuned in every day right at noon.



I was in the next room writing when I heard the burst of static on the radio. It went on for almost a minute. I'd started to tune it out when I heard that voice.



"Good day, citizens."



Everyone in the room heard. We'd already started moving when Alec stuck his head in the room and called us all to the radio. When I entered, his arm was around Brynden's shoulder. The two of them were beside the radio with the biggest smiles I'd ever seen. Despite the fact that they were the only ones making a sound, they hushed us all in unison.



A few more seconds of radio silence passed before the voice returned. That soft, sweet accent carrying across the waves as he spoke.



"No doubt you have noticed my absence for the past few days. For that, I sincerely apologize. Nothing has pained my heart more than having to leave my loyal listeners in silence for so long. I hope you all believe me when I tell you that I had each and every one of you in my head for each night I was unable to bring you my message. Our message."



I don't think I truly realized until later, but looking back I can't deny the change in his voice. In the past, his broadcasts had always been... I don't know, happy. Energetic. Sometimes verging on manic. Today, there was a calm about him.



"I promise you, loyal listeners, my hiatus was one of pure necessity. Though my very close friend Meiser was very keen to point out, I was just as surprised as you to learn that it's not easy to broadcast while on the road. But now, I am home.



Thirteen years ago, seven years into the Universal Union's rule, I escaped City 17. Ten years ago, three years into my new freedom, I began this little radio show you are enjoying today.



It still brings a tear to my eye when I think how far we have all come. From scattered Resistance campfires in the mountains, men and women fighters huddled around ham radios to where we are now. Loyal listeners just like you who have braved the Combine's order in the very heart of City 17."



Gabriella heard them first. None of us noticed when she slipped out of the room and over to the window. We barely heard her frightened whispers. I watched Brynden's eyes shift from the radio to the living room then back, as if he couldn't decide if he should pull himself away.



"I don't have long, loyal listeners. It is my greatest regret that this final broadcast must be cut short."



The tone in the room was shifting. I could feel it. I think we all could. Alec was leaning closer and closer to the radio. Jolene leaned against the wall, looking like her knees were about to give out. I heard Gabriella over my shoulder, "It's a raid." she whispered.



"I have come back to you, loyal listeners. Back to our home. Back to our city... No. I lied to you. My greatest regret is that I must leave you again."

I had started to move to the living room when I heard Brynden whisper back, "No, there's not enough."



"Sacrifice is necessary, my loyal listeners. Today, I will join those we have lost. Those legions of the dead who will never see the day when we shatter our chains against those very walls that have kept us locked away. Those who rose against our oppressors only to fall again and, yes, those who never had the chance."



Brynden was right. Only one of Civil Protection's armored cars had parked outside. The vehicle's back doors flew open and four officers came marching out with machine guns and batons in hand. I lost sight of them as they moved to the door.



"Today, loyal listeners, I am home. I sit alone in the very apartment the Combine first put me in. In this building alone I have watched the officer's of the Union's Civil 'Protection,' rape, murder, and brutalize my friends and neighbors on countless occasions. By some miracle, I have never been a target.



I have watched them shove a gun in my friend's mouth and pull the trigger, but they have never so much as drifted a weapon my way. I have watched them break a woman's face, but they have never so much as given me a shove. I have seen girls as young as twelve... Taken, but never even received a cross glance. I admit, loyal listeners, that I have watched you suffer more than I ever have myself.



So today, I welcome myself to it."



I turned and watched the room. Alec was on his knees in front of the radio. Jolene was on the floor with her arms around her legs.



"I can hear them, loyal listener. It is time for my farewell. Those of you who have been with me since the very beginning, you are what has made this worthwhile. You are the thing that has made every second of my life under their rule worth living. My Loyal Listeners, I carry you in my heart to the very end.



To those of you just joining me today: I welcome you into my arms as I hope you will welcome me into your hearts and minds. It is my wish that you will carry this message and rise to join my brothers - your brothers - in battle when the time comes. And I promise you, it will come.



The day WILL come, Loyal Listeners, when we all must return home. When we will all march home with a fire raging in our hearts and our fists raised to the sun. When that day comes, we will topple their rule. We will take back our homes. We will take back our planet.



I wish I could stay with you.



I wish I could see them fall."



We heard the crash on the radio and knew they'd found him.



I ran to the door, barely hearing Gabriella call my name. I threw the door open and stared out into the hall. Others were doing the same. There wasn't a single occupied room that didn't have at least two heads poking out.



At the far end of the hall, I could see the door hanging on its hinges. A second later, two of the officers marched out with a man between them. Their arms were looped through his elbows and I could tell his hands were bound. This was not the man I had pictured, but the voice was unmistakable.



My mind was a tornado. I couldn't even make sense of his words. I became aware of the mass behind me. Everyone had come to look, and there I was at the very front. All I could think was "The Whistleblower was here. He was in our building today. He made his final broadcast just down the hall." I had always hated the Union, but I suddenly found myself wanting to hurt them for the first time.



A few men shouted curses at the officers as they marched him down the hall, but one of them was carrying a pistol and quickly silenced them. Their voices came through their gasmasks as a growl as they ordered us all to return to our rooms. I didn't need to look to see that no one was listening.



As soon as they went down the stairs, the entire floor started to follow them.



And I was at the front.



We followed them all the way to the ground floor before we were stopped by a third officer with a machine gun. He waved the gun in the air and I stopped, though the crowd was slow to get the message and pushed me forward a few more feet.



I could see them shoving the Whistleblower in the armored car. Finally, I made sense of his words.



He was singing.



"You can take down my violin,

And play it all you please.

For at this time tomorrow,

Well it'll be of no use to me.



I know they're gonna hang me,

Tomorrow I'll be dead,

Though I never even harmed a hair,

On anybody's head."



That was the last thing I heard the Whistleblower say before they slammed the door behind him.



The third officer jogged to the car and jumped in. A second later, they were gone.



The crowd stood still and silent.



I'll be honest, I don't remember much after that. I think Gabriella - or maybe it was Brynden - put their arm around me and led me back to the room.

We're sitting in the dark now. Alec thinks he was mad. Brynden thinks he was a martyr. Jolene hasn't said much at all and Gabriella has been by my side the whole time.



I think I want to make a difference.



- Stevie

A Loyal Listener.

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Published : Oct 5, 2013