The President of the United States ordered all political
prisoners released immediately.
At eight thirty the morning of Friday, March 2, Elliot
Vreeland, his father, and Lorimer stood at a plate-glass
observation window at Metropolis Airport, New York, watching a
domestic-route jetliner taxiing into its berth.
The President's order had been delayed three days, awaiting
the resumption of traffic routing by former government personnel
who had formed the North American Air Controllers Syndicate.
A few minutes later, passengers began deplaning through a
portable tunnel. Among the passengers were Cathryn and Denise
Vreeland.
Son and father saw mother and sister at about the same time
they saw them also, and the two parties began rushing toward each
other, waving madly.
Hugging. Kissing. More hugging.
"Are you all right? Did they hurt you?"
"We're fine, just fine."
Everybody was just fine.
Elliot introduced Lorimer to his mother and sister. He had a
feeling that Lorimer and Denise would get along splendidly.
The five of them began walking through the long, fluorescent
tunnel to the parking lot, exchanging inforrnation and stories.
"No, they didn't hurt us at all," Mrs. Vreeland explained.
"We were given VIP treatment from the moment the FBI arrested
us . . ."
"It was so horrible when we heard about what happened
Tuesday," Denise said. "We'd all gotten very close, even just
being together a few days. I got a chance to know your friend
Phillip, and there was this one girl my own age, Barbara . . ."
"I had a pretty bad time of it right after the press
conference," Lorimer told Mrs. vreeland in answer to her
question. "Dr. Taylor put me on sedatives until Wednesday
night . . ."
The family emerged from the passenger terminal and walked to
Dr. Vreeland's rented car.
". . . have engaged me as a liaison between the Cadre and
EUCOMTO," Dr. Vreeland said, as they drove back to Manhattan.
"EUCOMTO announced recognition of the Cadre as the 'legitimate
government of the United States,' and Dr. Rampart refused the
status. We'd set it up in advance, of course, as a publicity
device . . ."
"Lor and I signed a lease on our apartment until school is
out," Elliot told his mother. "Dr. Fischer wants Lor to get her
bachelor's before she signs on with IntellSec, and if there's a
college that's put a pre-law program back together by September,
then I . . ."
". . . UPI outbid the other news services for my sketches of
the prison," Cathryn Vreeland said.
". . . the police and firefighters unions ordered their
members to remain on the job after the arson at Rockefeller
Center," Dr. Vreeland explained. "NoState Insurance is working
out the retainer so it can start offering its general protection
policies . . ."
They drove past Pennsylvania Station.
On a tall flagpole, two banners flew at half staff,
commemorating the dead of Utopia. Elliot pointed them out as they
passed.
Each had a revolutionary tradition. Throughout their
histories, both had been misunderstood, misrepresented and
betrayed.
The black flag was raised again this day.
Once more flew the revolutionary "Dont Tread on Me" flag.
A yellow taxi passed Dr. Vreeland, the tzigane honking his
horn and swearing.
Things were looking up for a change.
On Monday, Elliot turned in his thousand words to Mr.
Harper, detailing why the capitalist system had, after all, been
self-destructing.