Orchid Blues (Holly Barker 2)

"Is it all as mind-numbing as this?" Harry asked after a few minutes had passed.

"I'm afraid so. It's straight indoctrination, although I think he's preaching to the converted."

The recording finished, and Eddie replaced the two memory sticks with fresh ones, then replaced the heel. "There you go."

"You got anything else for me?" Ham asked.

"Be careful using that recorder. Save it for when you're alone with John."

"Okay," Ham said. He took the altered smoke detector back from Eddie and left.

When Ham had left. Harry said, "Holly, your old man is one standup guy."

"Yeah, I know," Holly said. "That's what I'm most afraid of."

42

Today's lesson was about loyalty, and Ham struggled to look interested. He was astonished that John had the wind to keep at this stuff, and he prayed for it to be over soon. His prayers were not answered until lunchtime.

"That's it, gentlemen," John said. "I think you understand what you're a part of now. Any questions?"

A man raised his hand. "Just one thing I don't understand," he said.

"What's that?"

"Do we have a name?"

Ham could have kissed him.

"Before I can tell you that," John said, "there's an oath to take. Are you ready to take it?"

There was a murmur of assent.

John turned a page of his drawing pad, and in neat block capitals was written: "I pledge that I accept the principles of The Elect wholeheartedly and without mental reservation. I pledge to advance the cause of white Christians with all the energy I possess. I vow to accept the orders of my superiors without question and to carry them out at the c

ost, if necessary, of my blood or my very life. If I should break these vows I understand that I am subject to swift punishment by death at the hands of my superiors. I swear all this by my sacred honor and by Almighty God."

"Read that and think about what it means for a few minutes," John said. He left the room and closed the door behind him.

There was perfect silence in the room. The group stared at the oath, and when Ham chanced a glance at his companions he saw tears on the cheeks of some of them.

Five minutes passed before John returned to the room. "Are you ready to take the oath?" he asked.

A chorus of affirmation rang out.

"Then repeat after me," he said, then began reading.

The group followed him, speaking every word.

When they had finished, John took his felt marker and underlined "The Elect."

"That is our name," he said. "We never speak it but to a man we know to be one of our number." He ripped the pages from the drawing pad, flicked a lighter and set fire to them, dropping the flaming paper into a metal wastebasket. "I welcome you all," John said, and began shaking their hands.

Suddenly, from over their heads, a loud beeping began. Everyone looked up. The smoke detector on the ceiling had gone off.

John led the laughing. "Ham, you know about these things. Can you turn it off?"

"Sure," Ham replied. He dragged a chair over and tugged at the alarm. It came away in his hand, stuck to the ceiling only by tape. "Give me a minute, and I'll get it reset," he said.