For Hayfield, the problem was only just beginning. When the Commandant’s wife went missing after having nightmares and yelling her first husband’s name in her sleep—the husband she wasn’t supposed to remember anymore—Hayfield knew it was only a matter of time before he’d be killed by government agents—probably by Jaydan Casimir. He knew Eugene Sulke was being hunted down and he knew how badly the government wanted this whole Brain Probe Project to be covered up. So Horace made the decision to flee.
The issue for Hayfield was how to get away. He was able to get a work visa in New America and he had an exit visa stamped on his passport. He tried to schedule a flight to New America only to be told all flights there were canceled. Then he tried to take a bus there, but all trips to New America had been canceled. It appeared that driving was the only way to get there. So he gathered his essentials, put his house up for sale, and took off in his two year old Mercedes for the New World.
He took Rte. 80 westward and moved up the coastal highway, which went into New America. About a mile from the border the highway closed at the last exit ramp just short of the border. All the side roads into the new state of North California were closed—sometimes only a block or so from the border.
“The border is sealed,” the guard said. “No one gets in or out on orders from the President.”
Hayfield spent about a month trying to find an access point. He rented a motorboat and tried to enter North California from the sea, only to be turned back by the Coast Guard. Then he heard about a small airport where a pilot had taken other people to Portland, Oregon. They paid a thousand dollar fee to the Piper Air Club, which provided tours of New America as seen from the air. Before the restrictions that began three years ago, they used to land businessmen there to conduct their trade.
When New America was accused of violating its agreement with the United States—though few people knew why—the government broke off trade relations. Sanctions continued to be added until the point was reached where all access to the new country was blocked. The mail service was not allowed to bring mail in or out, and Canada was promised sanctions against them if it did not cooperate with the U.S. Internet sites were blocked in and out of New America, and various other restrictions virtually sealed off the new country from the rest of the world.
New America found ways around the restrictions, such as using a network of other countries that could relay communications to people in the United States, and even a rudimentary underground trading system was set up; but the U.S. Government estimated that about ninety percent of communications with New America were successfully blocked.
This was the situation facing Horace Hayfield as he tried to escape from Old America. His contact at the Piper Air Club was Sadie Meriwether, who used to live in the state of North California. She tried to start an air show, but went to work for the Club when her business failed. In her mid-forties, she never married and became the featured pilot when it came to taking businessmen to various cities in New America. When the restrictions came, the Club revised their business plan. They began taking tourists on overland trips to New America. The government approved this so long as they didn’t land.
“Hello, Miss Meriwether,” Horace said.
“Sadie, please,” she said as they shook hands. Sadie had her own office. It was small, but comfortable.
Horace leaned across the desk, indicating he didn’t want to be overheard by anyone. “I understand you can land people in Portland.”
Sadie looked up, surprised. She had done so in the past for a hefty fee, but things were different now. “May I ask why you want to emigrate?”
“Let’s just say my life depends on it,” Horace said. “How much will it cost and when can we leave?”
Sadie didn’t answer at first. She stared at her desk and took a deep breath. “My fee is ten thousand dollars.”
Horace was surprised. “I was told it was about one thousand.”
“One thousand dollars is the fee for the tourist flight.”
“What if you didn’t land? What if I parachuted out of the plane?”
“That was done once before that I know of. The pilot came back without his passenger. Questions were asked. That pilot lost his license, paid a hefty fine, and served a short prison stretch.” Horace just looked on matter-of-factly.
“What other options do I have?”
“If I take you there, we’d land. Then I could never go back. I lose everything. I wouldn’t even consider it except that New America is a great place. I planned to go back there someday. Can you be ready in a week?”
“I’m ready right now.”
“I need a week to make my own plans. Meet me here this same time next Tuesday.”
“Okay.”
“I need the money tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes, tomorrow or there is no deal. You said you were ready right now, or did I misunderstand you?”
“Fine.”
Horace would have to sell his car. When the day of his departure arrived, Horace went to Sadie’s office, but she wasn’t there. He asked around and somebody mentioned that she was arrested. Oh my God, he thought, we were found out.
Just then a man walked up to him. “Mr. Hayfield?”
“Yes.”
The man showed Horace his badge and identified himself as Detective Ferris. “Mr. Hayfield, you’re under arrest for espionage.” Hayfield froze.
At the local precinct in Salinas, Detective Ferris tried to question Hayfield, but Horace was a savvy businessman who knew never to answer questions without his lawyer being present. A frustrated Ferris shoved the phone over to him and told him to call. Hayfield preferred his own mobile phone, which had his lawyer’s contact information. His lawyer promised him a reference to a local attorney, who then called Hayfield and promised he’d be there in the morning. Horace was taken to a cell and told he’d stay there until he was ready to talk to the detective.
The next morning a man identifying himself as Stuart Hessfield showed up and got Hayfield out on bail, but he would have to answer some questions. Stu promised he’d be there with him.
Detective Ferris interrogated Hayfield for several hours about why he was leaving Old America, what he was going to do in Portland, and when he was planning on returning. Hayfield answered all the questions truthfully and the district attorney was satisfied that he wasn’t a spy. Nevertheless, he was told not to make any more attempts to enter New America or he’d be re-arrested.
Hayfield was curious as to how he was suspected in the first place. Detective Ferris smiled and said he’d seen a lot of people try to sneak across the border over the past three years. “First they find the border is blocked, then they try to sneak across, by air, boat, or their feet. To do this, they have to sell their possessions that they couldn’t carry. We’ve alerted all the auto dealers and pawn shops in the area to call the police whenever a customer wants to dump their car instead of trading it in. That’s what happened with you. The dealer bought your car, called me, and figured you’d be let out within a few days. He has your car all set to resell it back to you for a nice tidy profit for himself.”
“But Sadie?”
“Same thing with her. When she tried to sell off everything we picked her up.”