“Look at China. A nation of rules, strong laws, and yes, the death penalty is not an unknown term there. The death penalty for child abuse, for acts of terrorism, and for treason. That’s right. Give me strength, for I am working on making my country into one for the native-born descendants of greater England once again. I’m angry. This is my country. Listen up, you idiots disrespectfully urinating on the very foundations of our history! That you flood with false ideas and filthy fantasies. Without any regard for the accomplishments of our people.

“Time for a new start!”

Which is also what

PETER

Thought,

When the children had arrived three weeks before,

After an unsettling voyage during which there’d been many fires to look at. Tent camps on the wastelands of abandoned industrial sites, on dead acreage.

Did I really think “new start,” Peter had thought, this stupid esoteric nothing phrase that people use in order to pretend they have things in hand? As if they’re not just sheep who are only superior to their four-legged comrades because of their gripping tools.