enemy is The Oneness, and we are at peace with
them now. I have corresponded with their Priest of Priests many times,
and he is as sincere as I in his desire to keep the peace. The Army is
just for show, just so we appear strong. We really could let many of
the regulars go.
25 And we no longer need The Secret Service either, spying on The
Oneness. It's a waste of time. Yes! Yes! Those are good ideas, too.
We'll cut back on the regulars by one-fourth in the desert fortress and
all the garrisons. There'll be plenty of work, and you'll have those
rifles to pass on to the militia!"
26 Bold Fox didn't like anything he heard. It was all madness. Trusting
Fox was leaving the entire Land almost defenseless! But he was helpless
to stop the wave of excitement over the railroad. But he did
what he could.
27 He persuaded ten agents of The Secret Service to remain in The Land
of The Oneness supporting themselves with their false identities, and
to keep supplying him with information.
28 He encouraged the militia to buy their own new rifles, and for those
leaving the Regulars to move south and find work, so they could be
mobilized if danger came.
29 About the cannon he could do little. The few new twenty-pounders he
was receiving he held in reserve. His oldest cannon he sent to the
desert outpost where their lack of accuracy would not matter as much.
His better guns he kept with his Mobile Forces. But still, everyday, he
saw the situation grow worse.
30 As the railroad reached village after village and trains began to
fly back and fourth, the excitement to build more of them grew. By the