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<strong>Homeland</strong><br />
“I got fired. Carrie Johnstone told Joe Noss's opponents that I'd been the one behind<br />
the darknet docs, and they called the FBI. Joe negotiated my freedom in exchange for<br />
shitcanning me. So I got home and emailed Carrie Johnstone a copy of her d0x. I've just<br />
sent a copy of the darknet address to your Tunisian Pirate Party email address. If I go<br />
missing, spread it around, okay?”<br />
“Marcus?”<br />
“Yes?”<br />
“What did you just say?”<br />
I repeated it.<br />
“That's what I thought you said.” There was a long silence.<br />
“Hello?”<br />
“I'm here.”<br />
“I'm not going to apologize,” I said. “It's my life. I'm tired of running away. I'm tired of being<br />
a stupid idealist. It's time to take charge, time to do something. I'm sorry I didn't talk to you<br />
beforehand, but --”<br />
“I wasn't going to ask you to apologize,” she said. “You don't owe me an explanation. It's<br />
pretty clear you don't owe me anything. Don't worry, I'll get that darknet address and keep<br />
it safe and make sure everyone knows about it if you go missing.” I had never heard the<br />
tone of voice she was using at that moment. I couldn't tell if she was angry or scared or<br />
maybe even...proud?<br />
“Oh,” I said. “Well.”<br />
“Well, I think I'd better go,” she said, and the line cut off. Not proud, then.<br />
-..-<br />
My parents were both out for a change. Dad was doing some grocery shopping and Mom<br />
had a client meeting. The house felt more than empty -- it felt hollow. Spooky. Every creak<br />
and bang was a squad of Zyz mercs about to break down my door and kidnap me.<br />
And even though I knew that was the one thing they couldn't afford to do now that I had<br />
my finger over the button, I was sure I was about to get snatched. Or maybe they'd take<br />
my parents. Or Ange. What had been Jolu's other suggestions for actions I could take?<br />
Move to Albania. I didn't even have a valid passport -- the one I'd used to go see Mom's<br />
relatives in the UK had expired two years before. I could dump it all on Barbara Stratford.<br />
Well, why not? She'd helped last time.<br />
I got my bike out of the garage and set off for the San Francisco Bay Guardian's offices.<br />
I was nearly there when my phone rang. The caller-ID didn't know the return number. I<br />
answered.<br />
<strong>SiSU</strong> www.sisudoc.org/ 250
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