Chapter One with HUMAN WRITING ONLY.

 I can't help but listen to the radio in the background. The enemy was advancing and soon they would be swarmed. A prison in the Illinois woods, a food hub filled with supplies. Our daily Scrabble game is laid out before us. Being able to spell got me in with the gang leaders, who a social worker talked into the games to keep the peace. Glother ran the library, told them about an ex school teacher who played Scrabble. They were looking for a challenge though they seemed fairly content kicking my ass. They had spent years behind bars studying the Scrabble book of words, played hours a day every day for years.

The planning was automatic. I couldn't stop thinking about how to defend the prison, then head out to the sanctuary in Chicago, the last public refuge from the climate. Most were private. Built and protected by Ellsberg security, who eventually revolted against he bits of government left, freeing the tecno crats to build underground communities for the rich. Before the civil war a climate tax against the trillionaires, three public sanctuaries were funded.

The crew around me includes the leaders of the whites, the Islamic based black gang, a Mexican gang, and the leader of the Native Americans, who while they did not have a large group they did have weekly sweat baths, and all were welcome. For the last three days I had been telling them what I would do if we were attacked, how the gangs could be used as an army, how he could go up the middle, lead a small charge...

Kareem interrupted me, "Okay, we understand. The teacher with all those knife and bullet holes... didn't make much sense, now..."

"Drafted. I am a school teacher, or was. Now I am just.... a guy who can't stop thinking about how to get us out of this."

I stood up, we are in the back of the library, a series of gray metal racks holding books, smelled like the bleach Glother used to clean the floors. The gang leaders were not going to take orders from me, that is for damn sure. I don't want them to.

"The only way this can be done is if you four lead. Like you do in here. I am just helping with the planning, leading a charge, because ... I have experience."

Red asked me a question filled with a threat, "Okay, who the fuck are you."

The others nod along. Or just stare at him.

"Classified. Which means Scrabble rules. Nothing leaves the room, unless you know... but this.. I'm a deserter from Ellsberg, they declared me dead. I had some friends who got me sent to this prison, changed my records. I'm Butler."

They knew about the strategic Field General who Ellsberg used in their propaganda. Heard about his death. "Ellsberg can't know I am alive. Let alone involved... I can get us to Chicago, and with the food in the storage here, your families... why do you think the guards are bringing in their kids. The front is close."