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MISS GOHRMAN'S TRIPBy Joshua AllenAn Apache attack cruiser boomed in low and swept dirt andgravel from the rooftops, sending it flying directly intoColleen Gohrman's face and into the deep recesses of her walkingjacket. Mrs. O'Baily was passing by and offered a hand toColleen, who had been blown clean over by the wind. The pulsingboom of its jets faded out as the Apache thumped its way towardthe other side of town. It was gone for now, but it would beback.
 
"I honestly think they're blowing this whole thing way outof proportion." Mrs. O'Baily. She had her opinions oneverything. She was from that old stock of mistrustful people.She didn't trust the government, she didn't trust the military,she didn't trust the media--but her real archenemy was the Foodand Drug Administration and what she called their evil twin, theUnited States Department of Agriculture. To Mrs. O'Baily, thesetwo organizations (or one large organization, as she believed)were trying to kill her."Mrs. O'Baily, I don't know how you can say such a thing. Imean, honestly, we were directly threatened--and on NationalTelevision."Mrs. O'Baily scoffed. "Television is for those withoutimagination. What can't they fake these days? More than likely,they just wanted an excuse to do some training exercises andorchestrated the whole thing.""Mrs. O'Baily, really. Is that any way to talk at a timelike this?""Oh, now more than ever, Miss Gohrman--""'Mrs.,'" Colleen mumbled."--right now we're like sheep and we're willing to buywhatever it is they want to sell. Glaciers and aliens and Cabalseverywhere. We're more vulnerable than ever."
 
"Well, I refuse to be so
cynical
Mrs. O'Baily. I mean,honestly, some people genuinely want to help.""Sure they do. I'm sorry
Miss
Gohrman but that's the wayhumans work. We want to impose our 'selves' into everything."She paused as a big green carrier zoomed past them on thestreet. She resumed, only quieter. "Governments are nodifferent.""But there's accountability with the government. We canvote out those in power. Honestly!""Not if we're too scared to do anything to upset the statusquo. Miss Gohrman, really. Don't be so naive."Colleen shook her head and picked her bags of groceries offthe street, brushed the gravel off her jacket, and crossed thestreet. Mrs. O'Baily stayed standing in front of the grocerystore, her groceries sitting upright on the ground in a lineararrangement. Mrs. 0'Baily seemed to be staring distantly at thesky, waiting for the Apache to return.Colleen wondered what could have happened to a person tomake them so distrustful. She shuddered to think. A few blocksdown the road, she stopped to rest her hands. She rubbed themtogether, trying to alleviate the pain from the plastic bagscutting into her joints, flaring her arthritis. The Apacheroared back into view, swooping down over the buildings to herright. She looked up at the wrong time and got a face full of
of 00

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