cult plantation

8/8/2019 Cult Plantation

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Cult Plantation

By Judyth Vary Baker

We have to be well prepared, if we are to be accepted by them, Joe muttered, as he

put on some sunshade and got back onto the truck. The truck was very old the kind of vehicle

the Cult would not associate with the State but the sun came through the old windows with a

burning intensity that created a sunburn quickly on his exposed arm. It was necessary to wear

clothing similar to what Cult members wore, however, so that they would not be turned away at

the gates.

Joe was not his name and Jim was not his name, but they wanted to adopt names that

would seem natural to Cult members. Some people thought that the State should not allow

Cults to exist. There was always the potential that some harm could come to the State fromsome of the more activist Cult members. A decade earlier, some Cult members armed with

machine guns had stormed the State Capitols Records Building and had managed to destroy an

entire floor of genetic and birth records that had been accumulated about Cult members.

Unfortunately, they had been killed in the process, so it was impossible, even using advanced

brain probes, to get much information from their dead brains. The hatred, anger and angst that

remained traceable on the few memory patterns still remaining in the brains of the three

Cultists, however, resulted in extensive debates as to whether their massive plantations should

be raided and its members arrested or not. Those who supported the Cults were always under

suspicionincluding anthropologists.

The excuses the State used to allow these Plantations to remain untouched were both logical and

practical: the Cults grew organic foods, including some of the worlds best beefsteaks, and

because they lived very simple lives, they were no financial burden to the State. On the Black

Market, organic foods produced by Cult Plantations created so much income for certain

politicians involved in the illicit trade that it was impossible to close them down through usual

means. Social scientists also defended the Cult Plantations: this is what life would be like for the

whole planet if it hadnt been for the evolution of the State and its policies. Everyone would be

living like Cultistslives amazingly short, brutish and full of ignorance, if it were not for the

advancement of society.

The existence of Cult plantations also allowed certain intractable elements in society a safeoutlet to which they could fleeout of the fine, planned cities, into the vast wilderness, where

Cult Plantations awaited them. Some of these misfits would be accepted by Cultists. The rest

would be executed, saving the State the trouble of going through trials and expensive periods of

incarceration. The Cult Plantations acted as a kind of safety valve that collected terrorists,

dissidents and enemies of the State. If necessary, raids could reduce these populations.


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Traditionally, every five decades or so, Cult Plantations would be raided and the worst offenders

would be executed, but in recent times, such raids had ceased: it was too costly, and the price of

meat always an illegal item ---then went too high.

Theres some corruption in the State, no doubt about it, Joe said aloud, practicing his Old

Fashioned English on Jim. Jim needed practice in these primitive ways, so instead of sending

him a thought message, he nodded visibly and answered, Yeah, the very fact that we still eat

meat on the sly is indicative of the depths of corruption that still exist.

Better not use a fancy word --indicative is too fancy for a Cultist Joe warned him. You

have to dumb down the Old English, Jim.

Such as?

You should have said, The fact that we still have people eating meat is proof that we still have

corruption in the state, Joe said, slowly, so Jim could comprehend everything perfectly.Jim was getting an advanced degree in anthropology, and Joe was his supervisor. They were

both interested in Cult Plantation societies for not only professional reasons, but out of sheer

curiosity. 99.9% of the worlds population was now homogeneous and under the One World

system. Ancient treaties had set aside areas where wildlife and dissidents were allowed to exist

outside the One World system. Over time, across the expanses of these international Parks,

Cult Plantations grew up. Most of them had been founded by a coalition of several stubbornly

dissident religions Mormons, Seventh-Day Adventists, Amish, and some Islamic sub-cults.

Most Cult Plantations today represented a merging of these religions into an amalgamated belief

system that the State simply called Cultists.

Though the factions constantly squabbled, they all shared a common belief that God-Christ-

Allah was going to intervene and save them -- the Holy People -- from hell-fires that were

prophesied to consume unbelievers (the people of the State).

Three hundred years had passed since the Cult Plantations came into existence, and the Holy

People were still waiting for the return of Isha known as Jesus Christ or Yeshua in the

Plantation to which Joe and Jim were now headed.

The trip by truck was, itself, quite an expedition. They had to learn how to drive a vehicle, since

in the State all vehicles ran on programmed routes. Joe and Jim also had to learn to eat

primitive foods, such as meat, cheese, and breads made with yeast products. They had to

develop immunity from yeast infections, acquire enzymes to be able to process dairy productsand eggs, and learn how to chew and swallow weird food items such dry baked goods (cookies,

for example) without gagging.

For Jim, who was writing his dissertation on Human Freedom, this was a true adventure. Joe

was less excited; this was his fourth excursion into Cult Plantations. Considered a World Expert


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on Cults, though his name carried respect and prestige, a number of scientists considered Joe to

have picked up a few too many Cult habits. Consequently, Joe kept his acquired taste for illegal

beef to himself, sharing his obsession for this primitive food source with a few well-chosen

politicians who had consequently put off the usual raids for two decades now.With any luck, Joe said, we can convince The Powers That Be to leave these people alone for

another decade or so. Ive been arguing that we cant observe how natural processes among

humans evolve if we keep interfering from the outside by removing the most violent of these

people. Let them kill each other off---

Jim reeled with shock. He stared at the older man, whose strong hands on the steering wheel of

the ancient truck were full of veins and sunburned.

You would allow these people to kill each other off, in their petty wars? he pressed.

Joe licked his dry lips. The hot, desert air dried them immediately.

The state goes in there and eliminates 1% of the most violent of the Cultists every decade, he

said. Know how they do that?

No.Joe licked his lips again. Pass me some water, he said, and Ill tell you what they do.

Jim handed over the canteen, from which Joe took a swig, not even stopping the vehicle to do

so. Thats how skilled he was at driving the truck. Jim could see beads of sweat on Joes

forehead. and knew that he, too, was sweating. It was a phenomenon that produced a strange,

prickly feeling wherever the sweat glands opened up and burst forth with their products of

moisture, minerals and he shudderedbacteria. Bacteria would quickly begin to grow in

these cesspools of moisture all over his body, because he, just as Joe, was not grooming his body

with viruses and sound to eliminate attacking bacteria. The smell of groomed humans was

almost intolerable to Cultists, who preferred the odor of ungroomed humanscomplete with

sweat glands producing sweat and infected with ughbacteria.

Had they groomed themselves properly, they could never pass as dissidents fleeing the State.

And that could stop them from being allowed entry at the gates, because obviously, they were

not Tourists. The game was to pretend to be Tourists, but the fact that they were bringing

books-- desired form of contraband-- would be their entre to real life in the Cult Plantation.

Instead of being shepherded everywhere by Tour Guides, they hoped to be invited to live with

real families. Since Jim had never had any contact with any human social system that included

a family, he understood how important it was to success in this ploy. It was an essential part of

his research for his dissertation.

Okay, Joe said, taking a second swallow from the canteen, You wanted to know how whathappens in a raid. Heres what happens---

Do you have to say it all in Old English? Jim complained. Cant we just Empath? His very

lips were aching form having to pronounce words out loud.


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You have to talk out loud from now on, Joe insisted, or forget about having me for your

dissertation director. Ive been working with you young blokes for almost ninety years now, and

you young ones are the laziest batch of all!

Jim was unaccustomed to receiving insults, but even as he bristled within with resentment, he

realized that Joe was testing his ability to respond appropriately. Crude remarks such as these

were common among Cultists. Yes! That was what was going on! Joe was helping him to stretch

his tolerance level.

Ill say everything out loud, by God! he said, turning to spit out the open window as proof that

he was tough enough. His effort to throw spittle into the wind was successful: it was the first

time hed tried the trick.

Dont use the name of God around these characters, Joe instantly shot back. But-- good.

Youre responding as I had hoped you would. With emotions. Showing emotions are allowed onCult Plantations, for the most part.

Joe had given Jim some rare and important praise, but he didnt go on with the promised story

about the way raids were conducted, for just then, in the dust-hazed distance , far across what

had seemed an endless expanse of yellow and pink desert rocks and flat, planar vistas, they

suddenly saw a huddle of tall, white buildings, of ancient and classic design, appear seemingly

from nowhere.

Cult Plantation Jesus-Lovers-Four was directly ahead!

+++++++++++++++

The Plantations entire East Side was a tall, white concrete wall some fifteen meters high. The

Gate at the center of this five-kilometer-long barrier was a formidable object, composed of two

enormous doors made of heavy concrete and steel. A much smaller door opened to allow

smaller objects such as the truck to pass throughbut not without some haggling and

negotiations.

At the Gate, enough International Tourist Credits eventually passed hands to allow them entry

as Tourists. Tourists were those hardy souls who came for a vacation, wishing to have a truly

primitive experience among a truly primitive people. Those who pretended to be Tourists, but

were either scientists such as Joe and Jim, or dissidents who intended to stay, were carefullyscrutinized: some might be spies.

To stayor to seem as if you intended to staybesides bringing in the truck with its load of

gasoline, oil and spare parts---which would never leave the Cult Plantation ---one also had to

haul in enough contraband to assure eventual acceptance. Books from long-closed libraries


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microwave ovens that people used to have. It was a great hit with my friends, but of course, we

didnt tell anybody.

So, have you ever had a good beer? the cabbie asked. Joe understood that the cabbie must bean informant: alcoholic beverages were forbidden in Jesus-Lovers-Four.

Whats beer? he asked. The cabbie shrugged.

Some of the Tourists come here thinking we can get them some, he answered. At our most

secret ceremonies, we use wine.

Oh, really? Jim put in. What is wine?

Its made from the juice of smashed grapes. Yeast is added to it, the cabbie said. But most

people say Jesus just drank grape juice. Thats bullshit, the cabbie went on. They didnt haverefrigerators back then. Grape juice went bad fast. Of course Jesus had to drink grape juice

with alcohol in it. Thats what wine is.

So youre not a Jesus-Lovers-Four member? Joe asked, carefully. The cabbie shrugged again.

I am what I am. I wouldnt be driving a cab if my opinions were respected. the cabbie added, as

if he suddenly had a need to confide, Know what shunning is? It means they dont speak to

you, they dont have anything to do with you. Im shunned because I refused to attend their

stupid churches every Sabbath. They can all go to hell.

Joe and Jim exchanged a glance of surprise, but kept silent. So those refusing to attend church

services were punished byshunning. Jim said, aloud, Sorry youre being shunned. Shunning

seems to have been practiced across all recorded time. But at least you dont have Inquisitions,

Im told.

The cabbie made a face. Well, we used to have them.

So you dont have Inquisitions anymore? Joe asked. No more torture going on for religious

reasons ? Im surprised to hear that.

Nah, they quit doing it, the cabbie said. Otherwise, Id be first on the list to go, I think.

The cabbie honked his horn at a small, loose animal. Jim realized that he was looking at a

creature called a dog. The cabbie slowed down. They were approaching the second set of city

gates. You want to try some real wine? the cab driver offered, suddenly. I can get you some.


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No thanks, Joe said at once. We never drink alcohol.

It was such an obvious trap. Officially, alcohol was forbidden, and drinking alcohol on the Cult

Plantation was the number one reason you could get expelled before your official visa expired.The cabbie would have loved Joe or Jim to have said yes and then, no doubt, he and the cab

company could have extorted more International Credits from them as hush money. Joe had

warned Jim that cabs had recording devices.

The remainder of the short trip to the City continued in silence.

Clearly, the cabbie had failed in his attempt to get more money. Now they had entered the city

proper, where Jim was surprised to see that all the inner walls were a creamy yellow instead of

white. The walls were made of a kind of ceramic material that was shiny and smooth. He could

see no windows at alljust high, broad walls, stretching upward about a hundred meters. The

street through which the cab maneuvered was almost empty of vehicles, which was a good thing,since whenever another car or truck approached, there was barely room for one to squeeze by

the other. Overhead, sometimes a curved, white bridge joined the two walls of the opposing

buildings together. The road itself was a smooth, dusty yellow. It seemed to wind endlessly

between the two high, cream-colored walls. Not a single person could be seen. Not a single sign

could be seen. There were no dogs here, either.

There were several turn-offs, all guarded by high gates, but the cabbie kept driving.

Suddenly, they entered a kind of open plaza, where the full sunlight fell over several large, pure

white buildings. Jim could not suppress a gasp of amazement. An ancient Spanish-style

cathedral, covered with lewd, forbidden symbols such as crosses and the pictures of saints,

stood in the center of the plaza, surrounded by fountains, enormous buildings filled with

windows, open balconies and banks flowers. The plaza was festooned with garish signs painted

on banners proclaiming Tourist Havenwelcome! Two large Gates stood open, invitingly

decorated with designs that included stars, flowers, golden angels blowing trumpets, and hex

signs.

But upon passing through these gates, the same creamy yellow walls arose on both sides again.

Here there were more vehicles: after a few minutes, the cab stopped in front of a series of doors.

The doors all identicalall of them arched and without windows ---were numbered.

This is our Hotel, the cabbie explained, handing both Joe and Jim a key. Your host will meet

with you in a few hours and show you where the Tourist Cafeteria is located. You will have

feeding tubes available if you find the food too difficult to chew or swallow. He cabbie laughed.

Even though its baby food for us! As the cabbie helped Jim unload the boxes of books, he

added, meanwhile, feel free to move into your room and watch a TV presentation about Jesus.


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After all, this is Jesus-Lovers-Four Plantation. The commercials theyll show you after that

should answer any immediate questions about our Tours and Shopping Mall.

The cabbie stated that he was not allowed to see into the room prepared for the visitors. It wasagainst the law.

Theyre all supposed to be identical, he explained, but I think a good bribe procure better

rooms for some tourists, He said hopefully. The cabbie waited a pregnant moment, obviously

expecting that Joe and Jim would ask how to obtain a better room. It was the cab drivers

second attempt to trap them, Jim realized. When they didnt bite, the cabbie sighed, realizing

that these two Tourists could not be snookered. Remember, he added, no cameras are

allowed. If somebody tries to sell you a camera, I warn you, its against the law.

What are cameras? Jim asked.

Devices that create electronic images of what we see, Joe quickly explained. They confiscate

all such devices at the entrance. The ones that tourists used to have are now entirely obsolete,

but they used to exist up to a hundred years ago, before everyone obtained eidetic memory

implants.

Oh, Joe said.

You people sure are short, the cabbie said, as he unloaded the last of the books. And you are

never fat. You are always in perfect health. And you live what?three hundred years?

It costs less to feed us, because were so short, Joe explained. That way, we dont waste the

planets resources the way you do. Were not a financial liability to the State, since our caloric

needs are much less than yours. We probably live to be four hundred, now, he added, since the

latest advances that have extended how many years we have the strength to work.

I assure you, Jim put in, we do not feel superior to you, just because you only live a hundred

and fifty years or so.

The cabbie scowled, then stood with his hand out, waiting for a tip. Jim could not help staring

at a drawing on the mans hand. It was something called a tattoo. Then Joe realized the gaffe

theyd made and handed the frowning cabbie a few more International Units not enough of atip, however, to produce a thank-you.

Inflation, Joe observed, as the cabbie drove off. International Unit values here go up and

down. Seems he didnt get enough.

Fascinating! Jim exclaimed. So, did we bring enough Units?


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I think so, Joe said. If not, we can go to the bank and get some more.

Whats a bank?

Its where they keep stacks of Units, printed on paper. We can have some transferred in, if

necessary. They have it set up for Tourists because sometimes, since Units here are good only in

physical form, they can get lost or stolen.

True enough, Jim had never seen an actual Unit before this journey into the uncivilized

wilderness. A chip in his hand kept track of his credit balance. He read it daily to see how many

extra hours of work he had to put in to keep his credit balance above zero, if he happened to

indulge in a little extra rest. But nobody had hand or forehead chips in Jesus-Lovers-Four, Joe

explained. Of course, he used Empath Speech to talk about these things.

They consider our credit and tracking chips to be the Mark of the Beast, he concluded.

Oh, that 6-6-6 thing? Jim responded, in Empath.

Yes. Remember, though from now on, talk using your mouth. Dont use your Empath

implant. We want them to hear us talking like they do. That makes them think were possibly

planning on staying. It gives us credibility.

Okay.

Here, you can have Units stolen from you, Joe said aloud. Imagine that!

How do we use this key? They both stared at the yellow door, which had only a number 22

on its front. After awhile, they found a slot in the center of the door.

It must go into this slot, Joe told him, aloud. The last time I was here, I had to use a metal

thing. Whatever you do, dont lose your key! And remember, we lock this door whenever we

come or go.

Why?

Somebody could get inside and steal our things.

Amazing!

Yeah, Joe said. To think that such things as keys are used its mind-boggling!


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The key allowed the door to slide noiselessly open. Inside was a room with the same kind of

creamy yellow-white walls as on the outside. Overhead was a skylight that washed the room in

real, white light. Real light was something neither man had seen much of until they had crossed

The Line into primitive territory. They could see two strange-looking sleeping platforms withinthe room, which was enormous, considering how much actual room their bodies needed.

The State provided free housing for everyone: why did one have to pay for extra space that was

absolutely unnecessary to house a prone, sleeping body? These big rooms exacted precious

Units from their carefully-budgeted supply. But of course, this was vacation time!

Jim considered the vastness of the 3 x 3 meter room. Ten people could easily have been stacked

in here! Housing provided by the State was free, and was entirely private, if limited. It

consisted of a sturdy black sleeping cell stacked in a hive made of special glass products. One

placed ones body into the cell for several hours of energy replenishment. Within the black cell,

there was peace and quiet, with sleep immediately induced by a special gas. This deep,

refreshing sleep of several unbroken hours every few days would be ended only by the alarmswith which the State would reawaken the slumberer.

Jim hadnt had a decent three hours sleep since being forced to learn how to sleep on his own

the past six weeks. It took that long for him to learn how to sleep at all without ComaSweet.

This Cult Plantation sleeping cell was so big that a dozen individual cells could easily fit into the

space, which also had ceilings so high you could not touch them even by extending your arms

upward to their full length. The two sleep-platforms in this huge sleeping room were not

enclosed at all: they were open to the air, to dehydration, to insects, to fungusyou name it. Jim

shuddered at the thought of lying on organically-made, hand-woven materials composed of

allergy-stimulating fibers that he recognized, upon touching, as having been derived from

natural protein-rich substances such as linen, cotton, and wool.

He would soon find out if he was allergic to wool, and linen, and such!

There was a simple table made of genuine wood beside each sleep-platformerbed. Each

table had a lamp that light came from their centers on command---and there were two books

on each table, as well. Jim soon determined that the books were (1) The Holy Bible (both Old

and New Testaments) and The Revelations of the Two Prophets Who Shut Up the Heavens a

title with which he was totally unfamiliar.

On the creamy yellow, shiny walls were several objects which both Joe and Jim inspected.

They allow what are they called?---Pictures! Jim murmured. He was utterly surprised. I

thought they were more traditional than to allow pictures.


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Thats Joseph Smith, the founder of Mormonism, Joe explained. And that other picture is of

Jesus Christ, with children. The other thing hanging on the wall was a collection of dried

flowers and herbs caught up in a pink ribbon, with an Arabic verse about Mohammed as a

Prophet to be respected. The flowers carried a very pleasant scent such as Jim had neverexperienced. The entire room had a smell that was unexplainable. It was not exactly

unpleasant, but Jim was certain that it could not be exactly healthy, either. There was some kind

of oily odor hat he suspected came from biologically unclean human bodies. These sleep-

platforms were obviously used over and over again. He could also see dust particles swimming

in the beam of light that came pouring in through the skylight. Dustin the very airand his

lungs were breathing it in! Would he get an infection from it? He hoped not.

He looked again at the drawing of Christ, with the little humans called children. Children were

small adults who had yet to grow to their full stature. In the State, ordinary adults never saw

children. Children were raised by the State and released, when they came of age, into their

designated working units. Jim could remember nothing of his childhoodsuch memories wereblocked by the State. This way anyone: could be your father or your mother. Anybody could be

your brother or sister. You were all family!

Citizens of the State were born as blank slates upon which the State wrote everything needed to

make sure they would grow up to be kind, generous, thoughtful, responsible, non-violent,

passive adults whose contributions to society would be guaranteed to be worthwhile, according

to their talents and planned genetic heritage. Jim was mildly grateful that he had been created

to become an anthropologist. He might have been created to become an athlete, for example. If

hed been created as a race-runner, that might have meant having to live in a body with such

long legs that he would have been eight feet tall. People would have stared at him all his life. Or

he might have been created to be a miner, happily living without eyes all his life, deep inside the

earth. He liked having eyes: unlike most, his were also able to see color.

Jim noticed that Joe had picked up the Revelations book, which he was reviewing with a

critical eye. It hasnt rained, of course, for many years, Joe commented. Which is what this

book is about. According to this book, the State is full of sinners who will not experience rain, as

a sign from God about how evil they are. Not that we in the State care, he added, since we

simply pull fresh water from the sea, and use that. But out here, they still have weather,and

that includes the need for rain, for which they constantly pray, I hear. Its a big deal for them.

The groundwater, as you know, is contaminated due to the twenty-first centurys excesses, and it

costs them many Units to clean it up so it can be used on their fields and treesand to drink.

Jim had yet to see anybody eating, drinking, or praying. He was anxious to observe such rites

and rituals.

They now noticed that there were cubicles for their clothing, so they began to empty their

suitcases into the cubicles. The State provided clothing for its citizens, composed of artificial


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materials that were discarded every 100 hours for fresh, free replacements. Their present

clothing had been carefully selected to conform to styles and textures known to be acceptable in

the Cults Plantation. It was important that the main color was black.

Toilets were an additional problem: they would not have the usual plug-in evacuation

equipment. Therefore, they, along with other Tourists, had been instructed on how to manually

prepare their muscles and bladders in order to control evacuation. This took several weeks of

training. Only after they unpacked did they look for the toilets that took the place of the

Evacuation Tubes. They soon realized that their toilet facilities were shared with persons from

an adjoining room. How disgusting!

The toilet had instructions posted on the wall for the uninformed. The bathroom facilities also

included a large container, much like a Sleep Tube, called a bath tub. The Tourist was

supposed to submerge in a lot of water. Then the loose skin and dirt was washed off into the

bath water. The very thought of soaking in ones own filth was disgusting to Jim, but Joe said itwasnt all that bad, though the waste of water was absolutely appalling.

Besides, Joe went on, how do you get sweat off? They dont have Bio-Cleaning Stalls here.

Youll just have to think primitive and put up with using water to bathe. You dry off your skin

afterwards. With fabric. They dont have air dryers here. It wont harm you, unless you drink

the water, which has chlorine in it to kill germs, since they have to recycle this water over and

over. The water in the Cafeteria isnt much better.

Drinking and eating, after all, was one of those skills that involved being mentally and

physically flexible. Being anthropologists, it was easier for them because theyd practiced.

Joes smirk did not do much to help Jim get over his disgust at the unsanitary conditions. He

and Joe were both bald, since hair was prohibited in the States ( it made people look too

different from one another, when everyone was essentially equal) but here in the bathroom he

saw little bottles called shampoo that Joe explained were to be used all over the body, but

especially upon the head, to remove sweat and bacteria. Weve had our body hair genetically

removed, Joe reminded him, whereas these people are hairy all over their bodies He grinned.

Yes, they are covered with more or less visible hairlike apes. But that doesnt mean theyre

apes, despite what the State likes to tell us. They clearly can think, even though their memories

happen to be horrible, and their customs are often destructive and rather sickening.

Such as?

They have sex, and also give birth.

Jim already knew all about that. During his training as an anthropologist, he had been forced to

observe the sickening habits of animals on wildlife preserves, copulating and giving birth to their


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young. That humans on Cult Plantations did the same thing did not surprise him. He carefully

avoided thinking about how they might do such things with each other to produce offspring

directly from their very bodies. Repulsive as it was, he was rather pleased that the human race

had not lost its natural ability to reproduce. That was the anthropologist in him, appreciatingwhat primitive actually meant. He could see what most people could not. And Joe, of course,

could see and appreciate much more, with his superior experience.

So when is our guide coming? Jim asked.

They have a schedule here for us, Joe told him. The cabbie had given Joe a brochure. From

which he read:

Breakfast: try eating genuine eggs and ham at 8:00 AM. You will be picked up at the door at

7:30. You will join fellow Tourists at Resurrection Cafeteria, after which you will be introduced

to Genuine Families composed of mothers, fathers, grandparents, and real children. Choose the

family you like best to guide you for the next three days! Some lucky few will be able to live with

a family (cost is negotiable).

Think well get chosen? Jim asked.

Of course! Joe said, smiling. Thats another reason why we brought those books. He returned

to the brochure, reading aloud.

Eat genuine Plantation food, including Rump Roast, Trout, and Bacon (note: you must choose

to live with a Christian family to experience the sensation of Pork) and our specialty---you will

have an opportunity to taste real Sirloin Steak! Ice cream is a special concoction youll never

forget! Plant a tree and go swimming in a real pool! See live insects. Ride a horse out into

fields where foods are grown as they used to be grown for centuries! Visit a real live church and

hear a choir singing out loud. Enter a Mosque and kneel on a prayer rug! Be sure to try out

your vocal cords, and sing and pray out loud! If you are truly adventurous, take the missionary

lessons, get fellowshipped by Sincere Christians, and then get baptized by a certified Sincere

Minister! This outreach experience is available without extra charge. An experience youll

never forget!

This is all written down! Jim said, taking the brochure from Joe. Amazing! Who reads?

The brochure does have a Button, Joe explained, showing Jim a silver circle at the bottom of

the brochure. You can press the Button against your hand-chip and get all the information

sent directly. But I thought youd like to hear it in the original language.

Charmed, Jim said. Cant wait to see insects. And get baptized.

On the second page, here, it says you can also freely roam the streets by yourself. Walk without

a guide, go wherever you like -- into shops, stores, whatever. You can choose different

cafeterias. You can go into the shopping mall where you can choose to purchase items for your


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pleasure. I havent been into a Mall. They used to be off-limits to Tourists. Things have

loosened up a little since the last time I was here.

The brochure also showed some pictures of women wearing bonnets and clothing of blue, pink,yellow and brown. Most of them had white aprons. They had breasts that made their chests

bulge: perhaps the bulges were filled with milk? There were pictures of men in black, white and

brown wearing beards or mustaches, as well as hats, and black boots. The children wore

clothing of all sorts, with additional colors of red, green, and yellow. Some of the little girls had

tightly braided hair.

Tired, and suffering a bit from culture shock, both men tried out the sleep-platforms, which

were incredibly inefficient at keeping the spine straight. Jim was certain hed get scoliosis from

the curve of the soft mattress, but Joe assured him that a few weeks sleep on such sagging

surfaces would not create spinal maladjustments, even though there might be some pain

involved as the spine adjusted to the stresses. Almost overwhelmed by so many unusual sights,smells and sensations, they fell into deep sleeps without having to use a single ComaPill.

It had been quite an adventure.

Three extraordinary weeks had passed, during which time all the books had been distributed,

and friendships had developed between themselves and their families. Joe had selected a

charismatic Christian family that ran an Italian restaurant. Jim had chosen a more sedate

Muslim family that ran a jewelry store.

Jim had accumulated plenty of material with which to finish his dissertation.

As they entered the bus that would return them to civilization, both menas all the other

passengerswere quite silent. Good State citizens, after all, never spoke aloud.

But they had experienced, in that society where all the women dressed the same, where the men

all wore beards, where everyone made their own breadwhere one had to use real Units -- the

most eye-opening thoughts and sensations.

Joe and Jim hadat some great cost through bribery-- established a way to privatelycommunicate between them as they now rode through the vast stretch of desert and wilderness

back toward the State Line. In outer silence, instead of tuning in to State broadcasts, within

themselves, they were tuned in to each other quite a forbidden activity, in fact, since their

interactions were not preapproved and pre-scheduled---but they had decided to consider

together all they had seen and learned, upon leaving it all behind.


15/16

It will be impossible to return to the same Plantation, Jim threw the thought at Joe, and

received the following thoughts in return: It is against the law. But we have already decided to

plan a way to see another Cult Plantation within the next ten years. It will take that much

time to make all the proper political arrangements.

But I am determined to see more,Jim signaled back. Joe smiled at him : Jim indeed had

caught the bug.

You are now a trusted member of my inner team, Joe told him.

By means of their special implants, so that the State could not listen in on their thoughts,

they made their plans. When to meet. When to submit requests to meet with interested others.

How to keep their thoughts from being monitored too closely.

Yes, the present implants would have to be thrown away before they crossed the border, if they

wished to retain their identities, but they felt it was important to speak to each other just a little

while longer without being controlled by the State implants, as to what they could or could notbe allowed to say and think.

Did you remember how the cabbie said that they do not have Inquisitions anymore? Jim dared

say. After all, Inquisitions by the State assured that everyone worshipped the same Holy Leader

with the same pure thoughts. Torture was necessary to assure compliance by anyone refusing to

spend 20 hours a week in state church services.

All they did is shun him when he stopped attending services! Jim went on.I was horrified.

They allow apostates to exist in their midst. No wonder theyre so far behind us,

developmentally.

Joe considered Jims outburst against the heretic cabbie with some slight concern.

I think wed better be quiet now, but before we throw these things away, Joe said, tapping the

portable implant from behind his ear,I want you to know theres no risk of getting arrested if

we decide to keep them.

To Jims questioning look, he added, As anthropologists, looking into primitive ways of

human communication, I have applied for a special dispensation to keep these little gadgets. I

expect my request will be granted, unless the politics have changed since we left, and the

Grand inquisitor turns down my application.

Jim smiled to himself. Joe had invited him into his Inner Circle, and now he had been offered a

chance to keep a Private Empath portable implant! He had finally earned Joes total trust. It

made him proud.


16/16

He was certain that others on the bus ---filled with such silent, thoughtful Tourists-- were also

experiencing private thoughts. Perhaps a few of them also had private Empath portable

implants as well. Perhaps some of them were sharing thoughts with only one other person.

Thoughts that the State could not hear. As they approached The State Line, Jim could no longer

conceal his growing some excitement.

JIM: ===They wore different colorsnot just gray!===

JOE: ==Didnt I tell you? And the kids wear green, red and yellow as well!==

JIM: ==Amazing! And they all had hair! And those weird hairstyles they allowbraids, or

loose hair for the women, or rolled up .the men and women got to choose what they wanted

to do part of the time---they themselves make the choices! They have hours and hours of

freedom every day! They only have to work ten hours or so, instead of twenty-one!====

JOE:==Didnt I tell you?===

JIM: ===PrayingI almost came to believe there was something to it==

JOE:==Its just self-hypnosis, but it feels good. There, its not against the law to seek to feel

good.==-=

JIM:==Pictures on the walls! Photographs! Concerts! Choirs! Artists!==JOE:===I think artists should be able to create whatever they likea concept you have to

think about, Jim. And eating bulk food, instead of taking intravenous fluids, isnt necessarily

sinful. Its a cultural thing, in my opinion, not a sacrilege.===

JIM:==Well, I committed sacrilege. I felt a womans breasts===

JOE: ==You did? My God! Well, since they allow male and female to exist there, I suppose

that was possible. So, do you think you would want to be a male, or a female, 8WND2?===

JIM: ==A male. I felt something inside me, with the prostitute===

JOE:==I liked seeing the kids. They were cute. THEY not the Statecould decide for

themselves what they want to be in lifea farmer, an agronomist, a cab driver, a musician

whatever. Hey have the right to fail, you see. They are allowed to take chances.===

JIM:==But well have to throw these gadgets away, wont we, before we cross the Line?

JOE:==Maybe we should. I wouldnt want to be taken to MINDSWEEP just because the

political climate might have changed. But now you know what its like to live in a totally free

society.===

JIM:==The freedom! The freedom! How incredible!=====

What a shame, Jim thought, removing his illegal implant as the bus slowed down at the State

Line, that hed have to hand KLK4D AKA Joeover to the Thought Police, for Freedom of

Thought Violations.

He would regret the fact that hed never share another Cult Plantation experience with KLK4D.

It had been such an interesting dive into the filthy cloaca of the Cults -- quite an experience. Buthe, as a certified Spy, was aware that indeed the political climate had changed. He would surely

be well rewarded, of course, having been built to feel full satisfaction for what he was about to

do.

cult plantation

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