His satisfaction came from the recruitment and training of his three regional directors. This was a decision he had been loath to make. One he had tried to avoid. Finding such avid and committed people had been hard. Learning to trust them had been harder. Training them, revealing his secrets, handing over life and death information on the resistance groups had been hardest of all. But it was done. The work of the resistance was now in their hands.
His fear arose from the risk. No matter how careful he was at selecting his three recruits, just one of them could destroy much of what he had built. He’d always thought of himself as trusting, but he’d never had to risk his life, never mind other people’s, on someone else’s discretion.
His loss was the most poignant. He rebelled at the thought of giving up even part of his participation and the gratification that he was responsible for the mounting Peak body count. But while his gut screamed at him that it was too risky to entrust this struggle to others, his mind whispered that it was too important to depend on just one person.
So he came to accept the reality that he needed to involve other people. How many? The more there were, the less likely the NPF would find them all, especially since they didn’t know one another. On the other hand, they knew of him. The risk that one of them would betray him grew with each new person. He’d decided on three directors. He’d chosen well. He hoped he’d chosen well.
He poured himself a drink and willed himself to relax. He’d done all he could. He would continue to handle the western provinces where his heart was, but the rest of the country was in the hands of Alice, William, and Terry. He feared for their lives as he feared for his and for those of his friends in Wishbone and the thousands of resistance fighters he’d never meet. But fear was part of his life now. It was a motivator prodding him to think of everything that might go wrong, and it was a judge, ensuring he’d done all he could to prevent it.
This was a long-term battle. Was he becoming confident they would win? No, but he knew it was one they couldn’t bear losing.
Epilogue
Ross Candale and Ellen Sangster, their hair graying, their faces showing the lines of age, the weight of responsibility, sat across from Darius Abbott. His eyes were moist. “I’m honoured. I don’t know what to say.”
Sangster said, “How about yes?”
“It’s a big job.”
“It’s massive, but I can’t think of anyone more qualified than you to take it on.”
Darius said, “I can. I owe my life to him. The lives of my family, Ilona, Helena, and Jacob.”
“That’s true of everyone here in Wishbone and in the other communities we’ve established. But I think Todd would have endorsed you as the person we want running the transition. The work you’ve done here on constitutional law and parliamentary structure is astonishing. You’re the natural choice.”
“I wish he could have seen this day.”
“We all do. But it was inevitable he’d be found out.”
“Do we know who betrayed him?”
“No, and we probably never will.”
“Too bad. No chance for retribution.”
“No, but I think we’d all rather focus on the possibilities of the future than the horrors of the past.”
Darius took a deep breath. “Me. Interim leader of a rejuvenated Canada. It’s scary. It’s one thing to prepare a transition plan, another to have to put it into action. So many things can go wrong.”
Candale grinned. “That’s why we chose you. It’s your plan. If it doesn’t work out, we know who to blame.”
Darius laughed. “Be careful. My years of studying parliamentary procedures have taught me how to duck and weave.”
“Now don’t start talking like a politician.”
“Ross, that’s not something you ever have to worry about. Ellen, when do we leave?”
“Tomorrow. The resistance in Ottawa has captured NPF headquarters and the Parliament Buildings and taken the leaders into custody. They’re sending a government plane. Tomorrow, we fly to Ottawa. The next day, we’ll make the announcement over the government news channel.”
“Then comes the hard part.”
“Then comes the hard part.”
Index of Events
Events Leading to the Collapse
| Event | Chapter(s) |
|---|---|
| Economy slows. Layoffs | 4, 6 |
| Coanth blockade of Central Railway | 4, 6, 8, 10 |
| Todd Baxter loses his job | 6 |
| Baxter gets job in systems maintenance | 8 |
| Supreme Court decision on Indigenous rights | 8 |
| Sabotage of Pacific West pipeline project | 8 |
| Vivace Petroleum withdrawal from Alberta | 10, 14, 16, 22 |
| First counter-protests | 12 |
| Sabotage of Arjen River pipeline | 12 |
| Sumac First Nation blockade of forest operations | 14 |
| Todd Baxter recruited for NPF | 16, 18 |
| K’tach blockade of mine and counter-protest | 18 |
| Counter-protests turn violent | 20 |
| NPF names Baxter and friends as subversives | 22 |
| Mob attack on Vivace Petroleum | 22 |
| Declaration of the Insurrection Control Act | 26 |
| First confrontation with NPF | 28 |
| Insurrection Control Act may become permanent | 30 |
| Fuel shortages | 32 |
| Establishment of interrogation centres | 32 |
| The economy falters | 35 |
| Environmental plan for economic destruction | 37 |
Darius and the Resistance
| Event | Chapter(s) |
|---|---|
| Darius destroys Peak compound | 1, 3 |
| What the Collapse cost | 5 |
| Darius learns survival | 7 |
| Looting mob attacks | 7 |
| How the village developed | 9 |
| Darius joins the resistance | 11 |
| The Peaks destroy the villages | 13 |
| Darius starts the journey to the West Coast | 15 |
| Darius discovers a house in the wilderness | 17 |
| Darius rescues Ilona from the Peaks | 19 |
| Sign language and emerging love | 21 |
| Ilona’s life | 23 |
| Peaks discover the house | 25 |
| Arrive at the West Coast. Join the local resistance | 27 |
| Ilona gives birth | 29 |
| Why the Peaks are violent | 31 |
| Resistance destroys Peak train | 33 |
| Wishbone is established | 30, 34 |
| Two visions for Wishbone | 36 |
| The resistance plan | 38, 39, 40 |