Page 64 of Haze of Obedience
"Who are they?"
"Who aren't they?"
He tilts my chin up. "I need you to explain what you mean."
I close my eyes. "Heads of nations. People in political power. Leaders of the free world."
"Which ones?"
I sarcastically laugh. "All of them."
"I don't understand."
I've already told him too much and shouldn't tell him any more, but it's like the small confession I made is a shot of truth serum.
"The Global Leaders rule the world and every major industry. They do what they want, to who they want, and they take more and more power from the people."
"Like a secret society?"
"I guess you can call it that."
"You said the leaders of the free world. Are you talking about the Mexican President?"
I scoff. "Yeah, but yours too."
His eyes widen.
"How..."
"It's all behind closed doors. Meetings. Parties. Real conspiracies."
"Conspiracies to do what?"
"To rule without opposition and be so powerful anything they want they get."
"But there are checks and balances in free countries, so that doesn't happen."
"Not when you own the drug and media industry."
"What are you talking about?"
"They steer the drug trade with the War on Drugs. I don't understand it all, but they deal with the heads of all the cartels. I...I was too high most of the conversations."
Dirks scrunches his face. "The War on Drugs is meant to stomp out illegal substances."
"No, it's not. It's a cover-up to give the government more access to military power, take people's property, and incarcerate anyone they want without question."
Silence.
"You don't believe me?"
"I'm trying to comprehend this."
A loud boom rattles the vehicle, and the sky lights up.
"The Global Leaders determine the supply of addiction and information people receive—two of the most potent drivers of money and power. And it isn't only the news. Pop culture is a tool used for political control. They censor messages they don't want the public to hear or songs that might cause someone to stand back and think. Fake narratives and situations look real. Soon, they will dominate every single aspect worldwide. I would never have become famous across Latin America if I didn't move managers. I'm only at the top of the charts because they put me there."
"No. You have talent. You belong there," he insists.
