VII: Incredible Treason explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Betrayal and Treason

  Boss Hart reveals that a traitor among the American gangs is leaking information to the Hans piecemeal, threatening the resistance effort.

• Social Reorganization and Collectivism

  The Americans reorganize into Zones with a national council; the narrator reflects on the boss system and the spirit of self-sacrifice that makes it work.

• Decline and Cyclical History

  The narrator worries that the post-Han era will see a return of greed, corruption, and a new cycle of decline.

• Technological Progress and Warfare

  The Hans develop new armor that resists rockets, forcing the Americans to adapt their tactics and organize a permanent field force.

Characters to notice

• Tony

  Marries Wilma, becomes a full member of the Wyoming Gang, and discusses the treason problem with Boss Hart.

• Wilma Deering

  Marries Tony and playfully contests who is Camp Boss of their new camp.

• Boss Hart

  Reestablishes the Wyoming Valley community, is made Superboss of the Mid-Atlantic Zone, and reveals evidence of a traitor leaking information to the Hans.

• The Hans

  Develop new armor that resists rockets, continue reprisal expeditions, and receive piecemeal information from a traitor.

• The Sinsings

  Mentioned as a possible traitor gang, but not confirmed in this chapter.

• Pineys

  Mentioned as a possible traitor gang, but Hart dismisses them due to lack of intelligence.

• Bad Bloods

  Mentioned as a possible traitor gang among the Americans.

• Americans

  Organize on a national basis with Zones; the narrator reflects on their social system and potential decline.

Key passages

• “The first move is to develop sectional organization by Zones. I have been made Superboss of the Mid-Atlantic Zone.”

  Hart announces that the American gangs are organizing into Zones and that he has been appointed Superboss of the Mid-Atlantic Zone.

  Hart explains the new national strategy to Tony.

• “Amazing and impossible as it seems, there is a group, or perhaps an entire gang, somewhere among us, that is betraying us to the Hans.”

  Hart reveals that a traitorous group is leaking information to the Hans.

  Hart discusses the evidence of treason with Tony.

• “I have a little heresy about all this, however. My associates regard the thought with as much horror as many worthy people of the 20th century felt in regard to any heretical suggestion that the original outline of government as laid down in the First Constitution did not apply as well to 20th century conditions as to those of the early 19th.”

  The narrator admits he holds a heretical view that the current social system may be declining, similar to how 20th-century people resisted changing their interpretation of the Constitution.

  The narrator reflects on the cyclical nature of history and the potential for moral decay.

• “The eternal cycle seems to be at work. I fear that slowly, though surely, private wealth is reappearing, codes of inflexibility are developing; they will be followed by corruption, degradation; and in the end some cataclysmic event will end this era and usher in a new one.”

  The narrator fears that greed and corruption are returning, leading to a future cataclysm that will start a new historical cycle.

  The narrator's pessimistic view of the future of American society.