3
During that last transition, a good majority of the men remained in Room 2. Then the doors
were locked again. Jean Chamberlain grimaced, realizing that Luke and Lucille had filed into
Room 3 with everyone else. An even bigger problem was that there were still too many women.
“Where are you taking us if we decide to go along with this plan?” Lucille demanded.
If? Her sister had emphasized that one word—a word strong enough to derail even the best
plans.
Jean replied, “The location will not be disclosed until we can ensure the integrity and loyalty
of the people who have committed to the project.”
Lucille placed a hand on her shapely hips, garnering admiring looks from the few remaining
men, before she bared her teeth at Gabriel. “So you just expect us to leave our homes, our jobs,
everything? Just to follow you to God knows where, when we know absolutely nothing?”
Jean stepped into Lucille’s path. “Most here know what my husband has accomplished.
In fact, all of the men who came with him today are wealthy in their own right, a sure sign
that the concept behind Gabriel’s plan is working. It is his desire that everyone has the same
opportunities.”
“So why not just tell us now? Why not teach us here?” Lucille demanded, with a quick glance
in Gabriel’s direction before focusing on her sister once again. “Why all this”—she crooked her
fingers like quote marks—‘secrecy’?”
“Because it’s necessary.” Jean scanned the crowd, answering the question that now reflected
in their eyes. “When people know too much, they talk too much. Our leaders were killed before
they accomplished what they set out to do. The tragedies that befell Marcus Garvey and Nat
Turner will not befall my husband.”
She threw an icy glare at Lucille as she circled her, like a hunter honing in on her prey. “There’s
no reason for you to stay,” she said with as much hardness as she could muster. “Actually, I’d
prefer it if you didn’t.” Jean looked at everyone; all eyes were fixated on the two sisters. “He
isn’t begging you. He isn’t forcing you. You’re here because you sense there’s something right
about what Gabriel wants for you.”
Before Lucille had let loose, the women had seemed more than ready to go into that anteroom
and board the buses. Now Jean could see that doubt had crept in and unraveled most of their
hard work.
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