Seeds of the Bitter Harvest. John Sheppard

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СКАЧАТЬ for Jeremy to concentrate on his normal duties the rest of the day. He had never received such a summons during his entire military career. What could the country’s top military commander want to talk to him about? He wasn’t on the General’s personal staff besides, why the secrecy?

      Around 1800 hours he returned to his room in the OQ (Officers’ Quarters). Normally he would work much later into the evening, but he wanted to take a shower and change clothes before meeting with the General. Since the briefing, he wondered if he should wear his uniform. After all, he was meeting the General, but to arrive in uniform after duty-hours in the O Club might attract attention. Yet, they were at war. Would a uniform be better? Before he could give the matter any additional thought, he saw something on his pillow. It was a plain, white sheet of paper, lying open, with a hand written message, which read; ‘Civvies’; more military short-hand; this time it meant civilian clothes. Someone is taking care of every detail, and they seem to think I might be being watched; thought Jeremy.

      It was now the Major’s turn to play the part. He didn’t want anyone to think he was doing anything more important than having some drinks, and relaxing for a change. Jeremy determined to be a minute or two late. He casually walked in the general direction of the O Club, stopping to engage in a couple of conversations with others he met on the way. What bothered him was that he had been given no other instructions but to be at the Club. Would the General be there in plain sight? Was he to ask for the General? What?

      Loud music assaulted his ears as he entered the club, and it took time for his eyes to adjust to the subdued lighting. Before Jeremy got five steps inside, a voice called out in a friendly tone.

      “Thought you’d never get here, Trent…. beers are getting warm.” It was a Second Lieutenant, the one who had passed him the note earlier in the day. Jeremy didn’t even know the guy beyond seeing him at the briefings. Yet, he was acting like they were old college buddies hanging out for a casual evening.

      The Lieutenant motioned him over to a small table in a very dark corner of the O Club. Several beers were already lined-up on the table, and there were only two seats. Wouldn’t the General be joining them? Jeremy pondered.

      Jeremy decided it was best to go along with whatever was happening; giving the Lieutenant a huge grin and a slap on the back as he slid into the one remaining chair. The Lieutenant returned the grin, and quickly gulped down almost half of one of his beers. Jeremy followed suit.

      The Lieutenant leaned in towards Jeremy as if he was sharing a secret, looking him squarely in the eyes.”Good job, Major. But, don’t get plastered. You still have to meet the Man, and he needs you sober. Finish one beer, start the second, make it all very natural, then go to the Head. You’ll be given directions from there.”

      The two men broke out into laughter like they had just shared a story of a college fraternity prank or an off-colored joke. Jeremy took his time to finish what remained of his first beer as the two men shared stories and some genuine laughs. As he started the second beer, the Lieutenant leaned over again and whispered.”Okay, take a couple more gulps, and go relieve yourself. You won’t be returning to the table. I’ll wait to see if you’re being followed or watched, then I’ll slip out myself.”

      Ten or fifteen minutes later, Jeremy headed to the restroom, known by most military as the ‘Head’. It was down a darkened hallway which also led to the O Club’s kitchen. Another man was right on his heels as he opened the restroom door. Before he could say anything, the man gave him a gentle shove. Jeremy was ready to deck the guy, but instead the other man quickly checked the room and said; “Do your business, then head out the back, through the kitchen. A jeep and driver will be waiting for you.”

      The jeep and driver were there, just as the man had told him. Without saying a word to Jeremy, the driver started the jeep and took him on a long serpentine drive through the base. They reached the heavily guarded entrance to the ammo dump at the far western end of the base. The driver flashed his bright lights at the guards three times in quick succession, then twice for a longer period of time. The jeep was waved through the gate without stopping for an ID check.

      Finally, the driver pulled up to an isolated single story, whitewashed,cement block building, with only one light on, over an entrance door.”Sir”, the driver said, without making eye-contact, “enter there”, pointing to the door. Jeremy got out of the jeep; and the driver sped away.

      Rather dumbfounded by it all, Jeremy reached for the doorknob, gave it a twist, open the door, and stepped into what he supposed was a dark room.

      “Close the door”, came a whisper from the darkness, and Jeremy did as he was told.

      Once the door was closed, a bright light flickered to life, and he could see the General seated at a table. Jeremy’s first reaction was to make his back ramrod straight, and snap a salute.

      “At easy, Major, please take a seat.” said, the General in a quiet tone of voice.

      Jeremy move to the seat, and sat down. As he seated himself, he noticed the room was bare, with the exception of the table and two chairs. The only window was covered in a heavy blackout material. Behind Ashton was a single door, which was closed.

      The General looked at Jeremy intently for several seconds, as if sizing up a challenger. Without any advanced small talk, or even a greeting, General Ashton said:

      “We have confirmed reports that chaos has broken out within the entire realm of the Enemy. As first reported, their ‘Divine Leader’ died within weeks after they captured our Capital. He was young and left no apparent heir. We have known that their military leadership was deeply divided since the start of the war. Some didn’t want the war at all; others have been appalled by the brutality unleashed against our civilian population.”

      Jeremy could sense his pulse starting to race, as did his thoughts: Where was the General headed with this? Why was he being told? Could there really be hope that the course of the war was changing in their favor?

      Ashton continued speaking, but rose and began to pace as he talked:

      “There are reports that the Enemy is in a state of civil war. There are at least three, maybe four political/military alliances that have formed, each vying for power. Our sources say that each faction is pouring men and arms into their capital, there could be only a small army of occupation left on this side of the mountains.”

      “Why wasn’t this information shared at the briefing, Sir?”

      The General glared at Jeremy for a moment, then, relaxed a bit. He explained it was for the same reason that all the elaborate planning had been necessary for their meeting this evening. He was concerned about traitors within their ranks. If word got back to the Enemy, they might shore-up their defenses of the fallen Capital.

      “Before we commit troops to retake our Capital, we need to confirm that it is lightly defended, and that’s where you come in…. . I’m ordering you to take a team with you back into the Capital to do recon for me.”

      Jeremy wanted to interrupt and let it be known he would volunteer, but decided against it. The General didn’t seem to be looking for conversation. It was at that point that Ashton perceived Jeremy’s thoughts. He stated that he knew Jeremy was a man with a family, and being given an order took all the emotion out of the process. There was, according to the General, less than a 50/50 chance they would return alive from the mission.

      General Ashton unfolded a map and placed it on the table. He told Jeremy that they would leave in two weeks, maybe three, secretly boarding a ship in the port. Once the ship was out to sea a couple of miles, it would turn north up the coast for about twenty СКАЧАТЬ