Welcome to this week’s Tuesday Tales. The situation is ramping up. Time to meet the enemy. Our word is BROWN. I’m continuing where I left off last week with And Justice for All.
Harry wasn’t sure he’d followed all of that since she’d spoken rapidly, but the few points he did grasp were significant. He followed her over to her elaborate computer station with its four screens, each one on a different site or program.
The image on the main screen was now that of a man in desert camo fatigues, holding an Uzi, his face covered by a brown balaclava and sunglasses. At least half a dozen similarly clad men stood behind him. Cowards, like the KKK of old, they hid their faces from the world while they spewed hatred, racism, misogyny, and anarchy. He’d seen a few of these groups over the years, and never once had it been good.
“Another Jihadist site? So who do these guys hate? You said he was killed outside a restaurant favored by Muslims?”
“Not Jihadist. Worse.” Lacey clicked on the arrow. The screen changed. “Essentially, this site caters to Christian, English-speaking, pure-white males, and encourages violence against everyone else, especially women, what they consider the impure races, and those who defy what they accept as the right way to love.”
Words written in bold, red letters appeared on the screen. It was a call to arms, a declaration of war against anyone and anything they didn’t approve of or respect.
Harry stared at them. He read through some mumbo-jumbo meant as a preamble and the paragraphs that followed. Was there anyone these guys didn’t hate? Women, people of color, non-Christians, the LGBTQ+, immigrants regardless of their country, origins, or abilities, and at the top of the list, were police officers and those who enforced what they saw as illegal laws.
“Is this for real?”
Lacey nodded.
“Unfortunately, and that makes them very dangerous. Like the Kamikaze pilots during the war and the people who blow themselves up to make a point, there’s no reasoning with them.”
Harry ran his hand through his hair. He would find time to get a haircut if it killed him.
“They’re crazy. At least half of what’s written here is bull crap. While that might sound intelligent to someone who doesn’t know any better, everything here is a blatant lie.”
“Well, from what I can see, the site gets thousands of hits every day.”
“Thousands? You’ve got to be kidding me!”
If thousands believed this and openly followed the nonsense, how many others were hiding in the weeds, ready to join the cause?
Don’t forget to check out the other Tuesday Tales.
Living the Dream 
This is a scary idea! You build the suspense over and over again, cranking it up. I’m feeling it in my gut. So many similarities to today’s world. Great job on the story, you have me waiting with baited breath for the next installment!
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You are fantastic at revving up the tension! The line about the haircut reminds me of my son. Love how you interwove a little life annoyance in with the big stuff.
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Other people’s beliefs can be terrifying..
Balaclavas ? In some context, maybe simply a UK experience, extremely neatly dressed and extremely angry middle aged men ( hair always neatly trimmed) express beliefs I find horrific.
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When the pandemic raged, peaople wore masks to protect themselves. Now, more often then not, they do it to hide their identity like the American ICE agents rounding up innocent people. People who feel the need to hide their faces always make me nervous.
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WOW!! And what’s even scarier is that while your book is fictional, this scene here could be taken from any real-life moment in today’s world.
Great scene, Susanne – you’re keeping us all tense and worked up here.
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Maybe it’ll even get banned for being too realistic. LOL
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