Paranoia

The radio is on. Americans are evacuating from Lebanon, although there are a lot still stuck there. All the other countries, like Russia or Britain, aren't having problems.

That's a bit unfair, my dad comments. Those are all in Europe. They don't have to cross the ocean.

This makes sense for a second. I think that we also don't know how many people each country had there. Then I think that the station is pretty trustworthy.

Then I think, who benefits or loses?

Then I say, Maybe they've got a point. I mean, who's saying we're really trying?

Dad says, Of course we are. Why wouldn't we?

Chile, I say. We left all our people there to die. If someone dies now, it'll be an excuse. It'll be a reason. Even if they don't, the way it's being done, the sense of rush and inevitability and fear of people trying to leave and there not being enough space to get them out yet, it makes people accept the war as a given.

Dad considers this. After a moment he says, People can overthink things, though. Remember how whenever anything went right for the Democrats people would say it was part of a vast conspiracy? But then it'd be pointed out that the Democrats are completely disorganized.

But they're not disorganized, I said. And what's happening helps them. And I don't think they'd care if a few more people died for that.

So really, how can you know?

Ch9 of Ice

Chapter Nine, Minor Changes of Ice is finally up.

As usual, violence and disturbing narration abounds. And liberal use of 'said'.