◆ SpookStack

1 on | ; t ' "What ery y pleowed dhl was the decyy intr, Rally “snd an idlewut (He tian a) the new iwank ‘Ihey plant it ina doy Angeles " gpartinent and tip of the police in un ancaymous call, While the government masshaliod its forces in Southera California, the acw team would pick up the fugitives and ferry them to a new hidvout, The Seotts and the fugitives prepaced for their depariure, “wiping away fingerprinis from the farmbouse and tidying up other details. Buoycd by the * fine. new plans, the Hoarrises deciled to cisk sending a letter to Bill's metber, who Rad continued to defend her son despite his ju- volvement with the SLA.* ” A ptecedure had ta be fol- jlow.d in senting a letier, A carbon copy bad to be lyped and then photographed to fuze the typing and prevent the (s1- der froma being teaved to a type- wiiter. The photocopy would be maiktd ta a fagnd who would forward it in a separate envelope to change the post mark, Emily drove to Scranton for the acarest self-service phoies copier. She iaserex three dimes and hustied back to the car. There she made a quick check to Sze thal each page was read- able. The phatetepics were She uoubleshecacd ihe originals—tihe fest page of the original w2s nai Sae'd lett it iv the photocopier, And it was signed Texo aad Yotanda. A gold-plated clus to whoever discovered jt. “What am | going to de? Ive fucked il— totally fucked iz!" Her head swimrainu, Emily slarted to drive away. No. She'd iry to retrieve the pare, Slowly the walked back. Sic chaared her mind agsin. Being on foot was too tishy. The police nighl Wready have been alerted, She returned to her car and circled the dluck, pesring through the store window cach time anound. Tears sireaned down her checks. She fut io co back insile, Ft was the only way tu know for sure. Furtively she moved to the Nergx machine ond lifted the cover, Nothing. She giaaved al the clerk, Me was busy with 2 customer. She rummaged through the waste- basket. Still nothing. Summoning der remaining sitengli she epprovched th: elork aed asked if Le‘d fund the missing page. “Sorry,” he smiled. Enily foushs back the panic aurging through her, She contdn’s wan the others bee cae there was no gianni at the farmhemne. Shy reluragd te the Garand raced back to die faqutiae aait read. She started evyiteg: agnin as she arrived and explained what had happrinal. Fall way doris, Kicking a clair ated Miavuting. | “they could you dot } Tit screamed, “What a . Miura stargich tnvistas “Ditguk we should alt get Gf bere,“ sold Micki “We ¢ get a motel someshire “Pra sores.” Bisily kepi ber head down, "Yelling woa't ticlp now, J fel bad trough abou i” Pally intervened, “Don't blame Yolanda. She's the one who's bece going to town all semarer. She's the one: who's taken ali Whe risks.” JL was a new rote for Patty: coolness under pressure, Hut nobely nasiced. There was an hour of hysteria before ihe others calmed down. Thev decided their best stratcey was 10 stay pul. There wos aroce dancer on- a road swatining with cops, Whe Seons and ihe sugisives spent the right in sullea, nev- yous silence. Dy morning thete was stil! no mention of Dill's reUer EAS Bidio. UF the aise: ing page had been dhsovered, it snust have been discarded zs a joke. In the eau, the police apparently never Jearned of Emily's absent-minded mistake, The six farmhouse residents vere now anxious 10 leave Pennsylvania behind. The Scotts packed the wan these just Bought, closed down theic New York spucument and wajicdl fpr ic now team Lo ar- rive Jor the fugitives. ©. Seplesber 1st came and went, The witdia repeated no word thar Pain Hearst par. aphernatin had bren found in Los Angeles. The SLA mem bers besen to worry. Bill crave fo a pay phone and cativd ins West Coast, “There's been a hangup,” he was jold, “Give us a few more days.” . The delay meant that the Scotts had to extend die farar house rent fer anather month, Jn all, the Seorts calculaied, the SLA had row cest them alinast lal? the SSO.) thzy‘d Fescived in setiizmient from Obenin, . Jack's putionce was alo an end. He said tis poodbyes ant Dew to Fordasd. Micki plumed to follaw in the van, Pro bs. ketball camp opened ina month and Jack waned to spend Septeroher with Waltaa and be wanted to hezin work on his autabisgranhy, Ub was Time 19 reserz his own garcer, oA Week passed. The fugitives were SiH oat the Sura. ‘The Harrises ant Patty were hopin- Ning O9 qwarrel, Unvir worry spillius: oud baie petty di-pates, . my Wael Trem tie pew Weal Was Mee proctastiteution, The deeuy ‘nj -sration inesplius: bly baal begue coiled of. “De you think thes) gver show up?" Micki asked the flarrises. Eeily shrueeesd, Mill stored tao gay “ad course” bug then pause and didin’d aiecwes. the others, She had maturcd Abia Pally was more paticnt than Miceably aver the sanwues. - WwW deanped “pig™ from heer ‘Vaily vocubtlary. She had sacas lung, hours reading history . books, especialy on ihe carly re days of the labor movement in * the U.S, She wax quiet; she > stupped R-ing the Alew Park Times; she scenwd to be pre. a paring for a Jonge here tife ing? |! the undergreund, +." eb Each day Patty practiced TS D walking With a pillow steffed é unter her dress. She was dis guised as a pregnant teens gees with Freckles, Throughowe ihe--, sumaser the fugitives had stud-i: ied the art of disguise, rerding ; hocks on techniques for dyeing * and styliog hair, allecting lisps — and limps, attaching artificial” © moles, scars and tatoos, wear-. ing reversible clothes. Within i, minutes they could switch Irena “é the binpic mode inia the young = a peofessionat, from soedy bun ne to feughtesk hilthily, fee Bua the prep aeiion seemed x beside ih: point-~theie V'esi- Coast fricads were having sec- i ood thoughts. Finally. Bill ta-: sisted that the new tgam level & with hita about ts nroablens, - Reiuctanily they explained | the, hitch: Paty Bleacsi, Bill was unablz to convince Hist Paiy's sispuire would be Sevend suspicion. ~ Woeady the Harrisss were +>; chav, Put ths sew tem did neato ‘annt the Nowancek caver 2 w obs in Wwe car when enizred the territecivs of high way pitirounca, toll aitendants, ” mole Mundagels, Pts Ktation Perators sud restauranr cah- ins who guts a crash country amomabile” trip. ff Pany could get to the West Coast by herself, they told Rill, ~ tney would provide hee a hid- ing place, but she was on. cher 5 own until tren, te Jeck so was getting age .+ Haied, Ute wanted Nicki to - meet Watton bofare the basket. all scasen opencd. Rui she | couldn't leave yntil the _fugi-, tives were cons. . Then came a phone ¢all.. from Peanssivaoia my Oregen, “We nevd yuur hetp again.” Laks vewe senled urgent. “There's no oiker way we can do it, We neeal you te atrive a’ feieml access county. No one, ese will ato it.” UE Mu tty Were ever to lease the farm, & wecea, Rick wount have ro drive tar ble: Inosituteal, : ‘ Thy tists were invateutabte, And dis fest ip with Patty was adn meniuary, | Hut laity diel chanted avec Ure susan. Ales artidote, cout Plaine gral tervea ciensy poh s: ivses afEscsen ts, aest ali Land | fag half pking enthusiesdn ad al. dated il Prat Jack aatinieed, WE: callest Inea, “Okay, Wit Arise your (evesl.* ‘ - “Thave days bait Jack, Paaty. aant psieway sat Dt etetan Site aie ae