Chapter 20
July
It seemed to most that Ohio never really had much of a spring. You go from winter right into the hot, humid summer. But the hot weather was good for making the garden grow like a jungle.
The bean fields that the majority worked on were doing better than the previous year, which was the initial manual labor year.
Those who tried to develop corn from the progeny of the hybrid seed had struggled the previous year. The hope was that the plants would be less of an unproductive mongrel than the previous year.
The overall wretched crop production caused a famine that was felt worldwide, since there was no exporting at all. Now the historically productive "corn belt" was keeping all that they produced. So the shortages were far worse elsewhere.
In Ayanna's eyes, the world was starting to fall into order. If anything, her new name was almost as if she was coming out with the new and improved version of herself. So instead of keeping it a secret , revealing her name was actually a kind of a reset to her reputation.
Ayanna had school, Academy, and her books. Phil gave her back her literary masterpiece, which was like her own twisted security blanket. She was reading The Art of War. "If you know your enemy and you know yourself you need not fear the results of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself you will succumb in every battle."
Ayanna found Phil in the radio room. "Phil, we got three main enemies, right?"
"Yea. Gofinns, Axis, and Hexmen."
"Well we know a lot about the Gofinns and Axis, because we have spied on them. But what do we know about the Hexmen?"
"Not enough really. We don't know what they will do next. I think you are right, I better talk this over with Jayden."
"Hey! Why can't I talk it over too?!"
Phil started squirming. "Okay, let me think this over for a day and I'll get back with you."
"Phil. . ."
"No, I promise. We won't have another 'arrow in the back' outcome, so don't do anything stupid, or rash. I'll think of something."
The next day Phil woke up Ayanna, "Come on. We got something important to do.
"What?"
"We gotta go work on the farm."
"The farm?"
"Yea, hush now and get ready."
"Nobody ever listens to me," Ayanna said.
They walked out heading north from Crawfordton. There was a farm that was just past Fort Wicox.
Angela saw a man out in a field at the farm. The guy looked familiar. He had kind of an unusual shape.
Phil said, "See that farmhouse?"
"Okay."
"Go in that door right there."
"Why?"
"Do it."
Ayanna approached the house, looking around. The man out in the field did not look at her at all. She looked back at Phil who was walking back to town. All of this gave her an uneasy feeling.
She went up the steps to the door, which was the back door of the house. She opened the door. At the kitchen table she saw a familiar face, Elijah Williams, who was sitting at the table staring at her. In front of him was a chessboard.
"Have a seat, Ayanna."
He knew her name. Not really a big surprise, but noteworthy, she thought. She sat down.
"It's your move."
"Is this some kind of test?" Ayanna asked, making a move.
"Would it be okay if I ask the questions, Ayanna?" Elijah moved.
"All right." She studied the board a bit and made a move.
"I know all about you."
"You do?"
"I think we are wasting your abilities. Would you agree?"
"Yes."
"But you are just a kid." Elijah said.
She looked up from the board at him in the eyes. Waiting on a negative comment.
Elijah continued, "We are in no position to waste any human assets, but you being a kid; most men, especially Guard or Confederation officers would never allow themselves to be advised by a kid; especially a girl."
"Yea, I definitely get that."
"I am different than them," Elijah said. "Right is right no matter who it comes from. So, I want to make you an offer."
"You do?"
"I want you to join my team."
"What? You want me to be a spy?" Ayanna knew Elijah was in charge of spying. "I want to be a field marshal or general."
"You would be more than perfect as a spy. No one thinks a pretty little girl will be a spy. You can always be a general later."
"I'm not so pretty." She held up her ratty, uncombed long hair.
"You would have to let Amy fix you up if you want to work for me."
"So you want me to be a spy?"
"Maybe. But before you can do it, I need you to do some things."
"Like what?"
"You have to quit the Academy, and you have to start acting more 'girly'. I'm serious about that, it is critical."
"Hey! Did Amy put you up to this?!"
"I know how it sounds, it is not a trick. Look at this chessboard. Aren't you trying to get me to move my bishop over here? I won't because I know your rook is over here. What I want you to do, aside from this game, is to hide your own personal rook so no one can see it. If you think about it, it all works out."
Ayanna said, "It says in the Art of War, 'Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.'"
"You got it." Elijah realized that Ayanna was a sharp as everyone had said.
"Ayanna asked, "Suppose I do what you say, then what?"
"We give you a job here on the farm, which you come to every day after school. You might work outside a little, but most of the time you will be getting training, but also we talk intel and give our info to Jayden. Phil tells me you are really good at keeping a secret, which is for your own protection, and the team's safety as well. Secrecy is an absolute must. No exceptions."
Ayanna said. "Sometimes you look at the chessboard and you have to make an obvious choice." She laid down her king. "You got a deal, Elijah."
"Good, let's see how it goes. I want you to start effective now."
"All right."
Ayanna got back to the house. She saw Phil outside hauling some water from the rain water cistern to the garden. "How was work?" he asked, indicating that he was not going to be discussing any "farm" business.
"Good Phil. I love it."
"I really happy for you."
"Thanks Phil."
Ayanna went inside to Amy, who was trying to clean the floor with a brush and water.
"Hi Amy."
"Hi."
"Can you do my hair?"
"Absolutely! I thought you would never ask! Want to do it now?"
"Okay."
"Sit right here and I'll get my supplies."
Amy got a brush and was trying to undo the horrible ratty mess on top of Ayanna's head.
"Ow!"
"Sorry 'Yanna, but it is pretty messy."
"I know."
"Soooo. . ." Amy said, trying to concentrate on her work. "What made you want to get your hair fixed?"
"Umm. . .You know, people change."
"I think I'm going to trim it and pull it back a lot. Is it because of a boy, maybe?"
"No Amy!"
"Hold still now. I can't do a moving target."
"I'm not so sure I want to be in the Academy any more either."
"Really?"
" It's kind of boring. You know. . .all boy stuff."
"Yea, I knew a girl when I was little. She acted just like a boy, I guess because she had three brothers who picked on her. But then she grew up and had five kids. She really knew how to handle those kids. The one boy grew up to be a podiatrist."
"Podiatrist?"
"A Podiatrist is a foot doctor."
"They had doctors just for feet?"
"They had everything."
"There," Amy said, "that looks really nice. Go look in the mirror."
Ayanna went to the mirror. "Oh my gosh! That looks really like a girl. Hey, while you're at it, could you find me some girl clothes."
"I'll send Phil up in the attic. We might have some old clothes from our daughter up there."