Wonderful Land
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Description
Book Introduction
In 2036, the United States splits into two countries. - Amazon France Bestseller! - A story of America's future that is so realistic it's almost like a nightmare! - In a country divided by differences in ideology and values, can their ideals and expectations become reality? Douglas Kennedy, author of The Big Picture, which was a bestseller for 200 weeks in 2010, has published his new novel, Wonderful Land, due in 2024. Douglas Kennedy is actively engaged in creative work based on his rich experience accumulated through traveling to over sixty countries. His novels captivate readers with their dense and vivid descriptions, intelligent and insightful stories, fast-paced plot development, and unexpected twists and turns, making it impossible to put them down. There are currently a total of 17 of his novels published in Korea. Every time a new novel is published, it receives significant attention, and all of its works have established themselves as steady sellers that are consistently loved. In particular, “Big Picture,” “Moment,” and “Temptation” have been bestsellers and steady sellers and have been chosen by readers for a long time. Recently, he has continued his new endeavors by publishing the "Aurora" series. He is more active in creative activities in Europe than in his home country, the United States, and was awarded the Order of Cultural Merit in France in 2006. 《The Big Picture》, 《Dead Heart》, and 《The Woman in the Fifth Arrondissement》 were made into films. Its popularity in Korea is so high that it has ranked 7th in total domestic sales over the past 10 years (Kyobo Book Centre statistics, 2019). "Wonderful Land" is a novel about a fierce espionage war unfolding in a divided United States in 2036. The United States, the most powerful country in the world to the point of being called the Earth's defense force, a country that pursued a government of the people, by the people, and for the people as seen in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and brought democracy to fruition, a country that enjoyed its heyday as the wealthiest country in the world after leading it to victory in two world wars, was unable to overcome the extreme internal conflict that had continued for decades and split into two countries. Of course, it's just a novel, but considering the various conflicts that have occurred, with both sides sharply opposing each other and raising their voices on every issue rather than reaching an agreement by giving in to each other, the idea of the United States being divided into two countries seems like a plausible hypothesis. Just looking at the U.S. presidential elections held every four years, it is no exaggeration to say that the United States is already in serious conflict over difficult issues, to the point where it is no exaggeration to say that the two countries are already in serious conflict. The values, ideologies, and policies pursued by the Democratic and Republican parties differ greatly from one another, making it difficult to find common ground. Both the Democratic and Republican parties strive to realize the ideals and goals pursued by their supporters without any compromise, and do not listen to the voices of the other party. The winner-take-all system, where the winner of the presidential election monopolizes all power, has actually hindered the consistent implementation of policies. The Trump administration was welcomed by its supporters for its autocratic approach and refusal to sit down at the negotiating table with the opposition party. The politics of extreme confrontation, overlapping with racial, religious, gender, labor-management conflicts, unemployment, and immigration issues that hinder the unity of American society, is leading to an uncompromising confrontation in which the two sides regard each other as enemies or targets of development rather than recognizing each other as partners. Due to the nature of American society, where people of various races live together, deep-rooted conflicts never found a solution and continued to clash, ultimately leading to the separation of the two countries in 2036. The Federal Republic, which guarantees broad freedom to its citizens and holds welfare and the pursuit of happiness as its highest values, secedes from the United States and establishes an independent country. The Republic League, which advocates a Puritanical theocracy, returns to being a fundamentalist Christian state where those who commit blasphemy or undergo abortions can be burned at the stake. The ideology and values of the Federal Republic are based on the Democratic Party, and the Federation of the Republics can be seen as the successor to the Republican Party. The separation of America begins in earnest. The Republic Federation announces emergency measures, sealing its borders and forcing its citizens to remain in their homes for the time being. Arizona chooses the Republic Confederacy. New Mexico and Colorado, which chose the Federal Republic, were isolated, surrounded by the Confederacy. Michigan and Illinois joined the Federal Republic, while Wisconsin, sandwiched between them, chose the Republican Confederation. Minnesota holds a referendum to decide whether to divide the state in half. The border areas of North and South Dakota have a large number of supporters of the Confederacy, and most residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul are supporters of the Federal Republic. The Republican Confederacy claims half of Minnesota as its territory because half of the state's residents voted against secession. The Federal Republic counters that the state cannot be divided exactly in half because the population is concentrated in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and nearby Rochester. The Twelve Apostles, who lead the Republic Federation, accept the Federal Republic's proposal, fearing that a cutoff in oil and energy supplies would result in catastrophic economic losses. The Confederate States of America claimed territory west of the Mississippi River. With 98 percent of residents west of Minneapolis in favor of secession, the Federal Republic is determined to preserve that area. As a result, Minneapolis and St. Paul remain neutral. The neutral zone has become a jungle where a fierce game for survival unfolds, with espionage, surveillance, and high-tech sabotage running rampant. The Federal Republic and the Confederation of Republics define each other as enemies and build a wall in the neutral zone to create a border. Just like Germany before unification, the League of Republics mercilessly shoots and kills anyone who attempts to cross the border into the Federal Republic without permission. Both countries use the neutral zone as a propaganda stage to promote the superiority of their respective systems. |
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Instead of fireworks, a cremation ceremony was held on Independence Day.
In a country that was once the same but is now divided, my friend was publicly burned to death.
The name of my friend who was burned at the stake was Maxim Lefkowitz.
Maxim was an informant who helped us with our work.
At my workplace, friendships between colleagues are against professional ethics, but I was close with Maxim.
Maxim was burned at the stake because he publicly spoke blasphemously of Jesus.
Maxim was talking loudly.
“What if Jesus had defecated while he was on the cross?” he continued, as if it were a given that Jesus had defecated on the cross.
“I don’t know, but I wonder if the Roman general who took off Jesus’ dirty diaper developed fecal phobia, feeling sexual desire after seeing feces.”
It was never my favorite style of humor.
In fact, Maxim's vulgar satire was absurd, but at least in the Federal Republic where I live, one is not burned at the stake for saying such things.
On the other hand, in the Republic Federation, anyone who makes a statement bordering on blasphemy is punished without mercy.
Moreover, there are several other decisive reasons why Maxim had to be arrested by the Republic Alliance.
Maxim is a transgender man who was born male but became female after undergoing sex reassignment surgery. He is Jewish and from New York.
I watched Maxim being dragged to the stake on the large screen, and I felt a sense of unease that was too much to describe.
I was so heartbroken that I felt like the ground was going to cave in, but I absolutely could not let my feelings show.
I was watching a medieval execution with several superiors.
On one wall of the conference room, a screen was broadcasting live footage of Maxim's cremation.
--- pp.7~8
“I hinted at it before, but now it’s definitely decided.
You have to go to the neutral zone.
“I was given the mission of ‘Takedown’.”
In wrestling, a takedown is a technique for knocking down an opponent, but in intelligence agencies, it is used as a term meaning 'assassination'.
Chief Bramer continued speaking.
“If we can’t successfully take them down in the neutral zone, they are a target that must be eliminated, even if it means infiltrating the Republic Federation.
“It means that she is a woman of that much importance and value.”
“It’s even more interesting because you’re a woman,” I continued cautiously.
“Are you a famous person?”
“No, it’s the exact opposite.
She is a woman who has kept her identity completely hidden.
“While they may not specialize in murder or destruction, they would pose a significant threat if they were to infiltrate our Federal Republic.”
“Are you an agent of the Republic Federation Police Department?”
“Yeah, that’s right.
I'm an agent of the Republic Federation Police Department.
Takedowns aren't all you have to do.
Before that, we need to get as much information out of that woman as possible.
“Do you understand what I mean?”
I nodded.
The idea was that once the target's identity was secured, information had to be extracted through torture.
All intelligence agents are trained in torture techniques.
“Deputy Bramer said, pouring the rest of the wine into the bottle.
“After your two-day vacation, you will receive a coded document and receive an operational briefing.
Before that, I have something to tell you in advance.
After hearing my story, your attitude toward this operation might change.”
Again, silence fell, and the only sound was the sound of Chief Bramer sipping wine.
“The target is your family.”
"Family? Are you saying he was formerly an agent of our intelligence agency?"
Chief Bramer said.
“I mean, your personal family, not the intelligence agency family.”
I was surprised.
"Where do I have family? I'm an only child, my parents are both deceased, and I don't have any uncles, aunts, or maternal aunts."
Chief Bramer said.
“You had a blood relative you didn’t know about.”
“Blood relatives?”
“Your half-sister.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Humans make many mistakes in life.
There are so many things that are really ridiculous.
Your father was no exception.
Let me say this again: you have a half-sister.
Besides, they are our enemies.
“Agent of the Republic Federation Police Department.”
--- pp.40~42
The Republic of the United States chose Atlanta, Georgia, as its capital.
'The Confederate States of America chose Atlanta, a symbol of the new South, as its capital rather than a traditional southern center.'
The separation of the United States began in earnest.
The Republic of the United Republic has declared emergency measures, closing its borders and forcing its citizens to remain in their homes for the time being.
Arizona chose the Republic Confederacy.
New Mexico and Colorado, which chose the Federal Republic, were isolated, surrounded by the Confederacy.
Michigan and Illinois joined the Confederacy, while Wisconsin, sandwiched between them, chose the Confederacy.
Minnesota held a referendum to decide whether to divide the state in half.
The border areas of North and South Dakota had a large number of supporters of the Confederacy, while the residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul were largely supporters of the Federal Republic.
The Republican League claimed that half of the state belonged to them because half of the residents of Minnesota had voted against secession.
The Federal Republic countered that the state could not be divided exactly in half because the population was concentrated in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and nearby Rochester.
The Twelve Apostles, who led the Republic Federation, recognized that if the oil and energy supplies were cut off, they would suffer catastrophic economic losses and accepted the Federal Republic's proposal.
As a result, Minnesota was divided.
The Confederate States of America threatened to claim the land west of the Mississippi River as their own.
If that happened, the Guthrie Theater, the Walker Art Museum, the Warehouse District, and the Minnesota Orchestra Concert Hall would have gone to the League of the Republic.
With 98 percent of the residents of west Minneapolis in favor of secession, the Federal Republic was determined to keep the area.
In Minneapolis, whoever controlled the river controlled the city.
Chadwick threatened to control trade unless the Confederate States of America ceded the Mississippi River and five roads west of Minneapolis.
As a result, Minneapolis and St. Paul remained neutral.
The neutral zone has become a jungle where a fierce game for survival unfolds, with espionage, surveillance, and high-tech sabotage running rampant.
As evidenced by the Republic Alliance's kidnapping and burning of my informant, Maxim, in the Neutral Zone, the Neutral Zone has become a place of terror, with frequent kidnappings and assassinations.
From now on, the place I will go is the neutral zone.
I said to the chip in my head.
“Confirm to Agent Savage and Agent Laprell that the strategy meeting will be held in 30 minutes.”
I started reading the operation file again.
It contained the story of Caitlin Stengle's life and the mirror world into which I would soon fall.
Am I Alice in Wonderland? Or am I the Mad Hatter, with a target to shoot?
--- pp.102~104
Agent Cameron said without exaggeration.
“My nose surgery went well and my hairstyle is nice too.
Judging by the way she bites her nails, she's definitely a neurotic woman.
The clothing style is also perfect.
“Now, shall we take a look at the glasses that were fitted for Agent Stengle?”
I was about to ask the stylist's name, but then I decided against it.
The stylist didn't tell me my name, and Agent Cameron skipped over me.
If the information agency's security policy requires me to not know the stylist's identity, then I must accept it.
There is no need to ask why you should not know.
Information Agency regulations must be followed unconditionally.
The stylist handed me a pair of dark brown horn-rimmed glasses.
I put on my glasses, checked my reflection in the mirror, and then turned to face the screen where Agent Cameron was looking.
Agent Cameron looked at me and said.
“It’s perfect.
It really gives off a bookworm goth vibe.
“Is Agent Stengel satisfied?”
I turned around and looked in the mirror.
Now I was Edna Musgrave, not Sam Stengle.
Even within the intelligence agency, no one recognized me.
I'll spend the night in the hospital, and tomorrow morning I have to take a taxi to JFK Airport and catch a flight to Neutral Zone.
Because I have to be Edna Musgrave for a while.
I spoke in a rapid tone, one of Edna's characteristics.
“That’s good.”
“That’s Edna’s way of speaking.
“Are you ready for your final cosmetic procedure?”
"yes."
“The plastic surgeon will be waiting for you,” I said as the stylist nodded and started to walk out.
"Thank you.
“You did a great job.”
As soon as the stylist left, a doctor in a white coat came in.
The doctor, carrying a black bag, asked me to sit on the examination chair.
The doctor adjusted the chair so that I was in a reclined position.
He used a portable MRI machine to locate the chip on my left temple, then placed an anesthetic bandage on the opposite spot on my right temple.
Within 15 seconds I was under anesthesia.
The doctor told me to stay still and not move.
I felt a chip go into my right temple.
Now I have two chips implanted in my body.
--- pp.130~132
Entering the neutral zone of Skid Row in the Federal Republic, you might consider it the edge of the city.
Dubbed the "Skid Row of Neutral Zone," this area is lined with pubs, heavy metal rock clubs, LGBTQ+ bars, sex shops, atheist bookstores, strip clubs, marijuana shops, jazz clubs, abortion clinics, and brothels.
Opposition figures in the Federal Republic denounce it as "an example of a dictatorship that gives its elites the illusion of cultural freedom."
The United Republic has been reporting on the Skid Row in the Neutral Zone for the past few years, accusing the Federal Republic of having "microchips implanted in every citizen, subjecting them to endless surveillance and depriving them of privacy."
They also fiercely attack the Neutral Zone's Skid Row as a 'shameless display of the evil moral decay of the Federal Republic's totalitarianism.
I know all too well how the Republic oppresses sexual minorities and sex workers.
I support the decision of the Federal Republic government to create a skid row in the neutral zone of the Federation of Republics, a gathering place for hypocrites who pretend to be devout Christians.
The Chadwick administration's Cultural Affairs Commission created a neutral Skid Row, a delicate blend of the Bowery of New York's poorer days and the East Village of the Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe eras.
It was truly a spectacular sight to see the New York I had seen in photographs 85 years ago unfolding in reality on Skid Row in the Neutral Zone.
The Federal Republic government spread the word that it would provide rent and living expenses to anyone who wanted to come to Skid Row and live as a bohemian.
He said that he especially welcomes unusual people.
As a result, the transgender community in Skid Row has become very active.
While prostitution was legalized in the Federal Republic, Skid Row went a step further, with brothels catering to all sexual preferences.
There are places where you can listen to serious jazz and quiet rock music, and even hospitals where you can get abortions for free.
Chief Bramer and Agent Cameron warned me against getting caught up in Skid Row's decadent culture.
When I told them that my love life was boringly limited, they said in unison:
“Even the most puritanical and emotionally restrained person in the world would just fall apart if he went to Skid Row.
It's a very addictive place.
“You might want to consider my words a formal warning.”
--- pp.179~180
Agent Laprell did not answer and continued running.
I followed him, shouting at him to stop.
The underground base was equipped with soundproofing equipment, so no one could hear my voice.
If Agent Savage or the surveillance system algorithm had spotted Caitlin and alerted Agent Laprell, this could have been a golden opportunity to successfully complete the operation.
A golden opportunity to eliminate Caitlyn.
I continued to chase Agent Laprell as he ran down the hallway and up the stairs.
Agent Laprell crossed the stage where Leon and the quartet were playing.
Leon's eyes widened as Agent Laprell dashed through the crowded bar, and he stood up.
"no!"
Leon shouted over the music and motioned for the doorman to hold Agent Laprell back from leaving.
Leon shouted at me too.
“It’s a trap!”
Agent LaPrell, a former star linebacker on the college football team, shoved a doorman to the ground, pulled out a gun, and ran into the street.
Just then, the sound of automatic rifles firing continued like waves.
The sound of automatic rifles continued as I walked to the door of the jazz bar.
Agent Laprell's body was riddled with countless automatic rifle bullets.
Agent Laprell's body, already on the ground, bounced up like a spring with each bullet.
I drew my gun and tried to run outside, but I stopped dead in my tracks.
The moment I stepped outside, it was obvious I would be greeted with a hail of bullets.
At that moment I saw a woman shooting an automatic rifle.
The woman stood at the border point where the Federal Republic employees working at the visa office could get as close as possible.
The woman who was still shooting at Agent Laprell looked up at me, turned her gun, and fired at the jazz bar window.
The woman smiled brightly at me.
Just then, the doorman who had been pushed down by Agent Laprell stood up and pushed me in with all his might.
The doorman caught me just before I fell to the floor as I was about to fall into the jazz bar.
Leon continued playing the piano even as he watched the horrifying scene unfold outside the door.
The band's singer also continued to be absorbed in singing.
Everyone in the jazz bar was looking only at the stage.
No one turned their head to see what was going on.
Everyone who had a residence permit in the neutral zone knew.
When something terrible happens, it's better to act as if nothing happened.
As if I saw nothing and heard nothing.
--- pp.215~217
In the Republic Federation, you have to choose your clothes carefully.
It shouldn't look too stiff, nor should it be overly trendy.
Women in the Republic Federation are not allowed to wear skirts that rise above the knees.
There is no dress code imposed on the general public.
However, those in high positions in the public service of the Republic Federation must wear a certain uniform.
Gray suit, white shirt, black tie.
Men wear black shoes with laces, women wear black shoes with low heels.
Marriage must be with a partner approved by a matchmaking agency.
If a female civil servant wants a child, she cannot hold a job until the child turns sixteen.
Among the Republic Federation officials, the police department's secret agents dress more freely.
Secret police agents prefer to wear comfortable clothes because they have to live among the general public.
The black pantsuit Caitlin was wearing when she fired her automatic rifle at Agent LaPrell was also part of her casual attire of choice.
The intelligence agency has a picture of Caitlin.
In Nashville, he was dressed in a denim jacket, denim shirt, and cowboy hat.
In North Carolina's Outer Banks, men's button-down shirts and shorts were popular.
In the apartment in the neutral zone, I mainly wore black jeans and a leather jacket.
It was no different from what I would wear on a day off in New York.
For people in the neutral zone, all black seemed too metropolitan.
Anyway, this is the old Midwest.
I went shopping for clothes because it was best not to look even a little suspicious while I was in the Republic Federation.
I bought a tartan wool skirt in hues of dark green and blue, a dark gray wool turtleneck sweater, black tights, conservatively designed winter boots that reached down to the calf, and a thick, double-breasted black wool overcoat.
It was a dress that took Edna's taste into consideration.
Agent Savage wanted to see if the new outfit he bought was suitable, so I showed it to him over a video call and he said it was fine.
“It’s an excellent choice.
If it were Edna, she would dress like a model student so that people in the neutral zone wouldn't look at her strangely.
If you dress like that, the people of the Republic Federation won't suspect anything.
Please meet the medical team at 5pm tomorrow.
Then come down to the underground base and have a drink.
“After the final briefing, report to New York… … .”
In a country that was once the same but is now divided, my friend was publicly burned to death.
The name of my friend who was burned at the stake was Maxim Lefkowitz.
Maxim was an informant who helped us with our work.
At my workplace, friendships between colleagues are against professional ethics, but I was close with Maxim.
Maxim was burned at the stake because he publicly spoke blasphemously of Jesus.
Maxim was talking loudly.
“What if Jesus had defecated while he was on the cross?” he continued, as if it were a given that Jesus had defecated on the cross.
“I don’t know, but I wonder if the Roman general who took off Jesus’ dirty diaper developed fecal phobia, feeling sexual desire after seeing feces.”
It was never my favorite style of humor.
In fact, Maxim's vulgar satire was absurd, but at least in the Federal Republic where I live, one is not burned at the stake for saying such things.
On the other hand, in the Republic Federation, anyone who makes a statement bordering on blasphemy is punished without mercy.
Moreover, there are several other decisive reasons why Maxim had to be arrested by the Republic Alliance.
Maxim is a transgender man who was born male but became female after undergoing sex reassignment surgery. He is Jewish and from New York.
I watched Maxim being dragged to the stake on the large screen, and I felt a sense of unease that was too much to describe.
I was so heartbroken that I felt like the ground was going to cave in, but I absolutely could not let my feelings show.
I was watching a medieval execution with several superiors.
On one wall of the conference room, a screen was broadcasting live footage of Maxim's cremation.
--- pp.7~8
“I hinted at it before, but now it’s definitely decided.
You have to go to the neutral zone.
“I was given the mission of ‘Takedown’.”
In wrestling, a takedown is a technique for knocking down an opponent, but in intelligence agencies, it is used as a term meaning 'assassination'.
Chief Bramer continued speaking.
“If we can’t successfully take them down in the neutral zone, they are a target that must be eliminated, even if it means infiltrating the Republic Federation.
“It means that she is a woman of that much importance and value.”
“It’s even more interesting because you’re a woman,” I continued cautiously.
“Are you a famous person?”
“No, it’s the exact opposite.
She is a woman who has kept her identity completely hidden.
“While they may not specialize in murder or destruction, they would pose a significant threat if they were to infiltrate our Federal Republic.”
“Are you an agent of the Republic Federation Police Department?”
“Yeah, that’s right.
I'm an agent of the Republic Federation Police Department.
Takedowns aren't all you have to do.
Before that, we need to get as much information out of that woman as possible.
“Do you understand what I mean?”
I nodded.
The idea was that once the target's identity was secured, information had to be extracted through torture.
All intelligence agents are trained in torture techniques.
“Deputy Bramer said, pouring the rest of the wine into the bottle.
“After your two-day vacation, you will receive a coded document and receive an operational briefing.
Before that, I have something to tell you in advance.
After hearing my story, your attitude toward this operation might change.”
Again, silence fell, and the only sound was the sound of Chief Bramer sipping wine.
“The target is your family.”
"Family? Are you saying he was formerly an agent of our intelligence agency?"
Chief Bramer said.
“I mean, your personal family, not the intelligence agency family.”
I was surprised.
"Where do I have family? I'm an only child, my parents are both deceased, and I don't have any uncles, aunts, or maternal aunts."
Chief Bramer said.
“You had a blood relative you didn’t know about.”
“Blood relatives?”
“Your half-sister.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Humans make many mistakes in life.
There are so many things that are really ridiculous.
Your father was no exception.
Let me say this again: you have a half-sister.
Besides, they are our enemies.
“Agent of the Republic Federation Police Department.”
--- pp.40~42
The Republic of the United States chose Atlanta, Georgia, as its capital.
'The Confederate States of America chose Atlanta, a symbol of the new South, as its capital rather than a traditional southern center.'
The separation of the United States began in earnest.
The Republic of the United Republic has declared emergency measures, closing its borders and forcing its citizens to remain in their homes for the time being.
Arizona chose the Republic Confederacy.
New Mexico and Colorado, which chose the Federal Republic, were isolated, surrounded by the Confederacy.
Michigan and Illinois joined the Confederacy, while Wisconsin, sandwiched between them, chose the Confederacy.
Minnesota held a referendum to decide whether to divide the state in half.
The border areas of North and South Dakota had a large number of supporters of the Confederacy, while the residents of Minneapolis and St. Paul were largely supporters of the Federal Republic.
The Republican League claimed that half of the state belonged to them because half of the residents of Minnesota had voted against secession.
The Federal Republic countered that the state could not be divided exactly in half because the population was concentrated in Minneapolis, St. Paul, and nearby Rochester.
The Twelve Apostles, who led the Republic Federation, recognized that if the oil and energy supplies were cut off, they would suffer catastrophic economic losses and accepted the Federal Republic's proposal.
As a result, Minnesota was divided.
The Confederate States of America threatened to claim the land west of the Mississippi River as their own.
If that happened, the Guthrie Theater, the Walker Art Museum, the Warehouse District, and the Minnesota Orchestra Concert Hall would have gone to the League of the Republic.
With 98 percent of the residents of west Minneapolis in favor of secession, the Federal Republic was determined to keep the area.
In Minneapolis, whoever controlled the river controlled the city.
Chadwick threatened to control trade unless the Confederate States of America ceded the Mississippi River and five roads west of Minneapolis.
As a result, Minneapolis and St. Paul remained neutral.
The neutral zone has become a jungle where a fierce game for survival unfolds, with espionage, surveillance, and high-tech sabotage running rampant.
As evidenced by the Republic Alliance's kidnapping and burning of my informant, Maxim, in the Neutral Zone, the Neutral Zone has become a place of terror, with frequent kidnappings and assassinations.
From now on, the place I will go is the neutral zone.
I said to the chip in my head.
“Confirm to Agent Savage and Agent Laprell that the strategy meeting will be held in 30 minutes.”
I started reading the operation file again.
It contained the story of Caitlin Stengle's life and the mirror world into which I would soon fall.
Am I Alice in Wonderland? Or am I the Mad Hatter, with a target to shoot?
--- pp.102~104
Agent Cameron said without exaggeration.
“My nose surgery went well and my hairstyle is nice too.
Judging by the way she bites her nails, she's definitely a neurotic woman.
The clothing style is also perfect.
“Now, shall we take a look at the glasses that were fitted for Agent Stengle?”
I was about to ask the stylist's name, but then I decided against it.
The stylist didn't tell me my name, and Agent Cameron skipped over me.
If the information agency's security policy requires me to not know the stylist's identity, then I must accept it.
There is no need to ask why you should not know.
Information Agency regulations must be followed unconditionally.
The stylist handed me a pair of dark brown horn-rimmed glasses.
I put on my glasses, checked my reflection in the mirror, and then turned to face the screen where Agent Cameron was looking.
Agent Cameron looked at me and said.
“It’s perfect.
It really gives off a bookworm goth vibe.
“Is Agent Stengel satisfied?”
I turned around and looked in the mirror.
Now I was Edna Musgrave, not Sam Stengle.
Even within the intelligence agency, no one recognized me.
I'll spend the night in the hospital, and tomorrow morning I have to take a taxi to JFK Airport and catch a flight to Neutral Zone.
Because I have to be Edna Musgrave for a while.
I spoke in a rapid tone, one of Edna's characteristics.
“That’s good.”
“That’s Edna’s way of speaking.
“Are you ready for your final cosmetic procedure?”
"yes."
“The plastic surgeon will be waiting for you,” I said as the stylist nodded and started to walk out.
"Thank you.
“You did a great job.”
As soon as the stylist left, a doctor in a white coat came in.
The doctor, carrying a black bag, asked me to sit on the examination chair.
The doctor adjusted the chair so that I was in a reclined position.
He used a portable MRI machine to locate the chip on my left temple, then placed an anesthetic bandage on the opposite spot on my right temple.
Within 15 seconds I was under anesthesia.
The doctor told me to stay still and not move.
I felt a chip go into my right temple.
Now I have two chips implanted in my body.
--- pp.130~132
Entering the neutral zone of Skid Row in the Federal Republic, you might consider it the edge of the city.
Dubbed the "Skid Row of Neutral Zone," this area is lined with pubs, heavy metal rock clubs, LGBTQ+ bars, sex shops, atheist bookstores, strip clubs, marijuana shops, jazz clubs, abortion clinics, and brothels.
Opposition figures in the Federal Republic denounce it as "an example of a dictatorship that gives its elites the illusion of cultural freedom."
The United Republic has been reporting on the Skid Row in the Neutral Zone for the past few years, accusing the Federal Republic of having "microchips implanted in every citizen, subjecting them to endless surveillance and depriving them of privacy."
They also fiercely attack the Neutral Zone's Skid Row as a 'shameless display of the evil moral decay of the Federal Republic's totalitarianism.
I know all too well how the Republic oppresses sexual minorities and sex workers.
I support the decision of the Federal Republic government to create a skid row in the neutral zone of the Federation of Republics, a gathering place for hypocrites who pretend to be devout Christians.
The Chadwick administration's Cultural Affairs Commission created a neutral Skid Row, a delicate blend of the Bowery of New York's poorer days and the East Village of the Patti Smith and Robert Mapplethorpe eras.
It was truly a spectacular sight to see the New York I had seen in photographs 85 years ago unfolding in reality on Skid Row in the Neutral Zone.
The Federal Republic government spread the word that it would provide rent and living expenses to anyone who wanted to come to Skid Row and live as a bohemian.
He said that he especially welcomes unusual people.
As a result, the transgender community in Skid Row has become very active.
While prostitution was legalized in the Federal Republic, Skid Row went a step further, with brothels catering to all sexual preferences.
There are places where you can listen to serious jazz and quiet rock music, and even hospitals where you can get abortions for free.
Chief Bramer and Agent Cameron warned me against getting caught up in Skid Row's decadent culture.
When I told them that my love life was boringly limited, they said in unison:
“Even the most puritanical and emotionally restrained person in the world would just fall apart if he went to Skid Row.
It's a very addictive place.
“You might want to consider my words a formal warning.”
--- pp.179~180
Agent Laprell did not answer and continued running.
I followed him, shouting at him to stop.
The underground base was equipped with soundproofing equipment, so no one could hear my voice.
If Agent Savage or the surveillance system algorithm had spotted Caitlin and alerted Agent Laprell, this could have been a golden opportunity to successfully complete the operation.
A golden opportunity to eliminate Caitlyn.
I continued to chase Agent Laprell as he ran down the hallway and up the stairs.
Agent Laprell crossed the stage where Leon and the quartet were playing.
Leon's eyes widened as Agent Laprell dashed through the crowded bar, and he stood up.
"no!"
Leon shouted over the music and motioned for the doorman to hold Agent Laprell back from leaving.
Leon shouted at me too.
“It’s a trap!”
Agent LaPrell, a former star linebacker on the college football team, shoved a doorman to the ground, pulled out a gun, and ran into the street.
Just then, the sound of automatic rifles firing continued like waves.
The sound of automatic rifles continued as I walked to the door of the jazz bar.
Agent Laprell's body was riddled with countless automatic rifle bullets.
Agent Laprell's body, already on the ground, bounced up like a spring with each bullet.
I drew my gun and tried to run outside, but I stopped dead in my tracks.
The moment I stepped outside, it was obvious I would be greeted with a hail of bullets.
At that moment I saw a woman shooting an automatic rifle.
The woman stood at the border point where the Federal Republic employees working at the visa office could get as close as possible.
The woman who was still shooting at Agent Laprell looked up at me, turned her gun, and fired at the jazz bar window.
The woman smiled brightly at me.
Just then, the doorman who had been pushed down by Agent Laprell stood up and pushed me in with all his might.
The doorman caught me just before I fell to the floor as I was about to fall into the jazz bar.
Leon continued playing the piano even as he watched the horrifying scene unfold outside the door.
The band's singer also continued to be absorbed in singing.
Everyone in the jazz bar was looking only at the stage.
No one turned their head to see what was going on.
Everyone who had a residence permit in the neutral zone knew.
When something terrible happens, it's better to act as if nothing happened.
As if I saw nothing and heard nothing.
--- pp.215~217
In the Republic Federation, you have to choose your clothes carefully.
It shouldn't look too stiff, nor should it be overly trendy.
Women in the Republic Federation are not allowed to wear skirts that rise above the knees.
There is no dress code imposed on the general public.
However, those in high positions in the public service of the Republic Federation must wear a certain uniform.
Gray suit, white shirt, black tie.
Men wear black shoes with laces, women wear black shoes with low heels.
Marriage must be with a partner approved by a matchmaking agency.
If a female civil servant wants a child, she cannot hold a job until the child turns sixteen.
Among the Republic Federation officials, the police department's secret agents dress more freely.
Secret police agents prefer to wear comfortable clothes because they have to live among the general public.
The black pantsuit Caitlin was wearing when she fired her automatic rifle at Agent LaPrell was also part of her casual attire of choice.
The intelligence agency has a picture of Caitlin.
In Nashville, he was dressed in a denim jacket, denim shirt, and cowboy hat.
In North Carolina's Outer Banks, men's button-down shirts and shorts were popular.
In the apartment in the neutral zone, I mainly wore black jeans and a leather jacket.
It was no different from what I would wear on a day off in New York.
For people in the neutral zone, all black seemed too metropolitan.
Anyway, this is the old Midwest.
I went shopping for clothes because it was best not to look even a little suspicious while I was in the Republic Federation.
I bought a tartan wool skirt in hues of dark green and blue, a dark gray wool turtleneck sweater, black tights, conservatively designed winter boots that reached down to the calf, and a thick, double-breasted black wool overcoat.
It was a dress that took Edna's taste into consideration.
Agent Savage wanted to see if the new outfit he bought was suitable, so I showed it to him over a video call and he said it was fine.
“It’s an excellent choice.
If it were Edna, she would dress like a model student so that people in the neutral zone wouldn't look at her strangely.
If you dress like that, the people of the Republic Federation won't suspect anything.
Please meet the medical team at 5pm tomorrow.
Then come down to the underground base and have a drink.
“After the final briefing, report to New York… … .”
--- pp.313~315
Publisher's Review
No country perfectly satisfies the wishes and expectations of all its members.
Deployed into the neutral zone, Federal Republic and Republic Alliance intelligence agents engage in a fiery espionage war, utilizing cutting-edge technology to subdue their opponents.
The novel's narrator is Sam Stengle, a veteran agent of the Federal Republic's intelligence agency.
Caitlin Stengle of the Republic Police Department is a half-sister with the same father, although their mothers are different.
Sam Stengle and Caitlin Stengle are now intelligence agents in countries that are now hostile to each other, having chosen different countries when the United States split.
The two sisters are thrown into the neutral zone to fight a battle on the edge of a cliff where they must eliminate their opponent.
Sam Stengle, a veteran agent of the Federal Republic Intelligence Service, is assigned to eliminate Agent Caitlin Stengle, who is working as an intelligence agent for the Confederate Police Department.
Caitlin Stengle is the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Maxim, a Federal Republic agent operating in the Neutral Zone, and the trial of Maxim for blasphemy against the Alliance Republic, resulting in his death by burning at the stake.
Maxim was a key informant for Agent Sam Stengle and a friend with whom he would occasionally reminisce.
Sam and Caitlin Stengle, half-sisters who have never met before, use every ability and means at their disposal to eliminate each other.
Although the two countries' methods are quite different, Sam and Caitlin Stengle use advanced disguise to change their faces so that no one can recognize them.
The espionage war waged by the Stengel sisters in the neutral zone is so fierce that it is reminiscent of the fierce spy war that took place in Berlin, Germany before reunification.
Now that the people of the two countries had the government they wanted, would they be able to lead satisfying lives? The Federal Republic, having institutionally resolved the major causes of national division—religious conflict, racial issues, gender conflict, labor-management issues, unemployment, and immigration—would it have realized a "wonderful land" where citizens' freedom, human rights, welfare, and happiness were guaranteed? Now that the United States has freely permitted same-sex marriage and abortion, difficult issues that have rarely been agreed upon in American society, and has eliminated discrimination against minorities like gender and transgender people, would all its members be able to live satisfying lives? Would the people of the two countries feel satisfied that they have achieved Thomas More's "utopia" in reality?
The result can only be negative.
Many problems still remain, and the citizens of the Republic are oppressed by their freedoms, subject to state surveillance, deprived of religious freedom, and burned at the stake for blasphemy if they deny or insult God.
The Federal Republic has also become a country where all citizens are monitored by information chips implanted in their bodies to ensure smooth administration and a transparent society.
Does a perfect nation, free from all discontent and conflict, truly exist in this world? The Federal Republic, founded on freedom and respect for human rights, values the pursuit of happiness for its members as its highest value, and aims to build a nation where all citizens can prosper equally, has truly achieved its original goal? What kind of evaluations does the Federation of Republics, which has reverted to a Christian fundamentalist state, receive from its members?
Agents Sam and Caitlin Stengle, half-sisters fighting for two nations, find room for reconciliation through dialogue even as they engage in a fierce battle to subdue each other.
In this novel, Douglas Kennedy argues that while establishing systems and policies is important as a prerequisite for achieving happiness for all members, a more fundamental issue is for members of society to deeply understand each other through close communication.
This novel reminds us that there is a way to achieve harmony without resorting to the extreme choice of separation, through the figure of half-sisters who, even in a life-or-death situation, open up a dialogue and take a step toward each other.
There is no country that satisfies the ideals and values of all its members.
No matter how perfect the laws and systems are, the happiness of all members is not automatically guaranteed.
Human life is influenced by a variety of unforeseen circumstances and complex factors, so we cannot expect a perfectly prepared life scenario.
There are no laws, systems, or policies that can fundamentally resolve deep-rooted conflicts and confrontations.
The fact that the biochips implanted into the bodies of the citizens by the Federal Republic government in this novel to guarantee their freedom, convenience, and safety are actually used as a means to suppress individual freedom is a paradox of the human-made system.
On the other hand, the blasphemy law and burning at the stake, which were introduced by the Republican League to realize Puritan ideals, were nothing less than a return to the Middle Ages.
There is no perfect country in this world.
No country in this world can guarantee the happiness of all its members.
Even though it is a novel, the idea that America will be divided into two countries is chilling.
This novel has great implications for us, who have become so entrenched in our division.
Even in our country, the only divided nation on earth, there are many conflicting factors that hinder national unity.
Agents Sam Stengle and Caitlin Stengle initially assert the superiority of their respective countries' systems, but gradually come to understand each other and find common ground, giving us a glimpse into the values we should pursue.
Even in moments of fierce confrontation where their lives are at stake, they gradually regain trust by broadening their understanding of each other.
To overcome serious conflicts and confrontations, whether between nations or individuals, we must first abandon our preconceived notions about the other party and strive to reduce the differences in our positions through dialogue and communication.
The history of mankind has been a cycle of conflict and confrontation, miraculous reconciliation, and then division for unclear reasons.
In this novel, Douglas Kennedy emphasizes that since there are no right answers to life, we must not let down our guard, give up, or complain, but rather live diligently and always with hope as we live the days given to us.
This is because we believe that happiness is not achieved through religion, ideology, laws and systems, or government policies, but through the process of each of us communicating and understanding one another and reducing our differences.
After all, the system is merely a subsidiary product derived from the continuous history of mankind, and cannot be the essence in itself.
Deployed into the neutral zone, Federal Republic and Republic Alliance intelligence agents engage in a fiery espionage war, utilizing cutting-edge technology to subdue their opponents.
The novel's narrator is Sam Stengle, a veteran agent of the Federal Republic's intelligence agency.
Caitlin Stengle of the Republic Police Department is a half-sister with the same father, although their mothers are different.
Sam Stengle and Caitlin Stengle are now intelligence agents in countries that are now hostile to each other, having chosen different countries when the United States split.
The two sisters are thrown into the neutral zone to fight a battle on the edge of a cliff where they must eliminate their opponent.
Sam Stengle, a veteran agent of the Federal Republic Intelligence Service, is assigned to eliminate Agent Caitlin Stengle, who is working as an intelligence agent for the Confederate Police Department.
Caitlin Stengle is the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Maxim, a Federal Republic agent operating in the Neutral Zone, and the trial of Maxim for blasphemy against the Alliance Republic, resulting in his death by burning at the stake.
Maxim was a key informant for Agent Sam Stengle and a friend with whom he would occasionally reminisce.
Sam and Caitlin Stengle, half-sisters who have never met before, use every ability and means at their disposal to eliminate each other.
Although the two countries' methods are quite different, Sam and Caitlin Stengle use advanced disguise to change their faces so that no one can recognize them.
The espionage war waged by the Stengel sisters in the neutral zone is so fierce that it is reminiscent of the fierce spy war that took place in Berlin, Germany before reunification.
Now that the people of the two countries had the government they wanted, would they be able to lead satisfying lives? The Federal Republic, having institutionally resolved the major causes of national division—religious conflict, racial issues, gender conflict, labor-management issues, unemployment, and immigration—would it have realized a "wonderful land" where citizens' freedom, human rights, welfare, and happiness were guaranteed? Now that the United States has freely permitted same-sex marriage and abortion, difficult issues that have rarely been agreed upon in American society, and has eliminated discrimination against minorities like gender and transgender people, would all its members be able to live satisfying lives? Would the people of the two countries feel satisfied that they have achieved Thomas More's "utopia" in reality?
The result can only be negative.
Many problems still remain, and the citizens of the Republic are oppressed by their freedoms, subject to state surveillance, deprived of religious freedom, and burned at the stake for blasphemy if they deny or insult God.
The Federal Republic has also become a country where all citizens are monitored by information chips implanted in their bodies to ensure smooth administration and a transparent society.
Does a perfect nation, free from all discontent and conflict, truly exist in this world? The Federal Republic, founded on freedom and respect for human rights, values the pursuit of happiness for its members as its highest value, and aims to build a nation where all citizens can prosper equally, has truly achieved its original goal? What kind of evaluations does the Federation of Republics, which has reverted to a Christian fundamentalist state, receive from its members?
Agents Sam and Caitlin Stengle, half-sisters fighting for two nations, find room for reconciliation through dialogue even as they engage in a fierce battle to subdue each other.
In this novel, Douglas Kennedy argues that while establishing systems and policies is important as a prerequisite for achieving happiness for all members, a more fundamental issue is for members of society to deeply understand each other through close communication.
This novel reminds us that there is a way to achieve harmony without resorting to the extreme choice of separation, through the figure of half-sisters who, even in a life-or-death situation, open up a dialogue and take a step toward each other.
There is no country that satisfies the ideals and values of all its members.
No matter how perfect the laws and systems are, the happiness of all members is not automatically guaranteed.
Human life is influenced by a variety of unforeseen circumstances and complex factors, so we cannot expect a perfectly prepared life scenario.
There are no laws, systems, or policies that can fundamentally resolve deep-rooted conflicts and confrontations.
The fact that the biochips implanted into the bodies of the citizens by the Federal Republic government in this novel to guarantee their freedom, convenience, and safety are actually used as a means to suppress individual freedom is a paradox of the human-made system.
On the other hand, the blasphemy law and burning at the stake, which were introduced by the Republican League to realize Puritan ideals, were nothing less than a return to the Middle Ages.
There is no perfect country in this world.
No country in this world can guarantee the happiness of all its members.
Even though it is a novel, the idea that America will be divided into two countries is chilling.
This novel has great implications for us, who have become so entrenched in our division.
Even in our country, the only divided nation on earth, there are many conflicting factors that hinder national unity.
Agents Sam Stengle and Caitlin Stengle initially assert the superiority of their respective countries' systems, but gradually come to understand each other and find common ground, giving us a glimpse into the values we should pursue.
Even in moments of fierce confrontation where their lives are at stake, they gradually regain trust by broadening their understanding of each other.
To overcome serious conflicts and confrontations, whether between nations or individuals, we must first abandon our preconceived notions about the other party and strive to reduce the differences in our positions through dialogue and communication.
The history of mankind has been a cycle of conflict and confrontation, miraculous reconciliation, and then division for unclear reasons.
In this novel, Douglas Kennedy emphasizes that since there are no right answers to life, we must not let down our guard, give up, or complain, but rather live diligently and always with hope as we live the days given to us.
This is because we believe that happiness is not achieved through religion, ideology, laws and systems, or government policies, but through the process of each of us communicating and understanding one another and reducing our differences.
After all, the system is merely a subsidiary product derived from the continuous history of mankind, and cannot be the essence in itself.
GOODS SPECIFICS
- Date of issue: October 15, 2024
- Page count, weight, size: 520 pages | 486g | 137*197*25mm
- ISBN13: 9788984374928
- ISBN10: 898437492X
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