The Dirties

THE CORPORATE TIT TURNED AWAY FROM THE MASSES, THEN DISAPPEARED. WITH THE DEMISE OF THE MIDDLE CLASS, CHAOS SPREAD QUICKLY, POVERTY AND DISEASE GREW. ANGER ERUPTED. ANOTHER BARRIER WAS REQUIRED. THE REDDING WALL RISES THREE HUNDRED FEET FROM THE GROUND. THE BARRICADE USES THE REMAINS OF THE CONSUMER CIVILIZATION TO PROTECT THOSE THAT BROUGHT DOWN CIVILIZED SOCIETY. AN ODOR OF FILTH RADIATES FROM THE WALL, A GHOSTLY EXTENSION OF ITS IMMENSE CORE. WITH A BASE AS WIDE AS IT IS TALL, THE PYRAMID-SHAPED WALL WEARS A FLAT TOP OF WEAPONS AND PROTRUDING PERCHES FOR ARMAMENTS, SURVEILLANCE, AND ASSAULT COUNTER MEASURES--AS WELL AS AIR CONDITIONED BLACK GLASS SPORT COURTS, SWIMMING POOLS, AND BICYCLE TRAILS RUNNING ALONG THE PEAK. THE PERCHES RUN THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE WALL'S PEAK FROM THE PACIFIC OCEAN TO THE SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS. THE RECTANGULAR-SNOUTS OF THE GUARD TOWERS AND THEIR MACHINE GUNS, FLAME THROWERS AND GATLING GUNS COULD PROBABLY HAVE GUARDED HELL FROM GOD'S AVENGING ANGELS. AND THE DIRTIES NEVER STOP TRYING. NOT SURPRISINGLY, THE REDDING WALL HAS BECOME A LENS, A FOCUS OF ANGER FOR BILLIONS OF PEOPLE AROUND THE PLANET. MILLIONS ARRIVE ON THE AMERICAN SHORES EVERY MONTH IN AN IRONIC PARODY OF THE AMERICAN DREAM OF CENTURIES PAST. THEY COME NOT TO ENJOY THE GIFT OF WEALTH, BUT TO DESTROY IT. EVERYONE WANTS TO ANNIHILATE THE MADNESS THAT HAS TAKEN OVER A GREAT DREAM OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN DIGNITY. AFTER TEN YEARS, THE REDDING WALL STANDS AS A TRIBUTE TO TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING. BUT LIKE AN OLD HEADSTONE, IT IS SCARED BY TIME. ANOTHER WALL IS UNDER DEVELOPMENT.