Mom said. “As a community, we have a certain protocol that we’ve developed. We will open this discussion to a debate in a moment.” “A debate?” Hardaway asked. His face looked confused, mistrusting. “What is there to debate? You people have a duty to your country. You can’t tell any of these people here that they can’t leave and do their duty.” “Oh no, Colonel,” she said, “We aren’t going to debate whether or not anyone can go with you. Everyone here is free to leave if they please. They know it, even if you don’t. What we are going to debate is whether or not we agree with what you’ve just said. As a community.” “I don’t understand,” the Colonel said, looking more confused than ever. It looked like he thought there was some trick he hadn’t factored into his plan. He’d thought he would come to The Farm and give his speech and we’d all pack up and run for their base. He hadn’t factored in the part about how it had been twenty three years since there had been any real law and order, state or country boundaries, or any harassment from the bulls beyond dumb humans trying to attack them.
