The Face of Freedom. Benjamin Vance

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СКАЧАТЬ zero and he would be killed, discredited, and mocked as a fool. When one aspires to higher goals and contemplates failure, why is it the acceptance of friends and relatives becomes so important? He didn’t have many of those left, but he didn’t want them to be embarrassed if he screwed up. He sat down on a rock, just to meditate.

      He awoke to the “jerk, jerk, jerk” of a jay bird. It was morning and he’d slumped to the ground and slept. He was cold. He was bone cold! He grunted to his feet and started to stretch a bit---cracks and pops. He sounded like breakfast cereal. He grinned a bit. It almost hurt his face. He hadn’t used his grin muscles much since Linda left. It felt kind of good. As he began to warm up he started his burner, heated some water and had oatmeal. He finished his breakfast, packed and consulted his GPS. He had fifty miles to go before he got to the latitude and longitude coordinates the cousin had given him.

      3.

      Twenty four hundred miles away in an air conditioned office of the White House, President Charles Able loosened his purple silk tie, plopped down in a light brown leather easy chair and conferred with his Director of Homeland Security; Stephen Northfield, and his old friend and partner in crime Albert Swain, who was, and always would be his Security Advisor.

      “Steve, I really don’t like what I’m hearing from the second amendment freaks out west. It’s bad enough that some of the western states are passing laws of their own on immigration, gun rights, search and seizure, and separation of church and state. Now the governor of Montana, old ‘Holifattin’ or whatever his name is, is claiming the National Guard in Montana is under the sole direction of the State. I never heard such a crock of shit! ’You have any Intel on the situation?”

      “Mr. President”…

      “Damn it Steve, I told you to call me Chuck.”

      “Mr. President”…

      “Shit … you tickle me Stephen! Okay, okay go ahead ... go ahead! No friends in this job I guess!”

      With a smile Steve said, “Mr. President, we have information and we have names and locations. There are many groups in the Western U. S. that consider themselves patriots and call themselves ‘Minute Men’. We think most are a bunch of bigots and wannabees. Ill equipped and even less trained, they pose more of a danger to themselves and each other, than to our government. Still, the groups in Utah, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho seem to be developing some new semblance of cohesiveness. We’re getting feedback that one of the leaders is attempting to unify the groups to gain political power.”

      The President asked, “Any idea who he is and if we can put a gag in his mouth?”

      “We’re trying to get that information as we speak sir. However Governor Olefin, being a moderate Republican is not cooperating well with our folks. Also, it seems the Montana Representative is partial to the ’Minute Man’ crap.”

      “You mean Jake Melbourne?”

      “Yes; Jake Melbourne sir! He’s chairman of the ‘Ways and Means Committee’ and is the only representative for Montana.”

      “Holy shit; I know that! I mean I didn’t know he was behind Holifattin and partial to the second amendment cause. Did you know that Al?”

      “Yes sir. He’s quite a boy. ‘Been elected a helluva lot of times and Montanans; I don’t care whether they’re D’s or R’s or independents, they love old Jake Melbourne. He’s a rancher and talks their language. He’s put more money into Montana infrastructure than any other man in history, he’s developed jobs, state healthcare plans, and education in Montana and he has no reason to stop any time soon. Steve’s more conversant on the security aspects of the situation, but one needs to tiptoe around old Jake. He’s a trip. Also, I know he and Governor Olefin are close. Now Senator Ashley King is one of ours, but one never knows how Senator Nash Livingston will bend since he’s an independent.”

      Charles Able was lost in thought for a moment, then addressed Steven Northfield, “What would it take to find out what’s going on out there, if anything, and if we have anything to worry about? ‘Seems like a hard nut to crack with so much political bullshit around. Is there anything you can do Steve?”

      “Well, we have a lot of resources Mr. President. I’m sure we can come up with something.”

      “Thanks, I appreciate it. I want you to get the FBI involved too. They have a great terrorist department and a lot of assets. While you’re at it Steve, can you get me a background on National Guard issues? Check with the attorney general’s office and see if they have a National Guard Guru. They can take the action if you think it’s necessary. Maybe it’s in their bailiwick anyway.”

      “Certainly, Mr. President. Is that all?”

      “Sure Steve, I have another meeting in about ten minutes with some Girl Scout tree huggers. Guess we better get busy. Al, will you stay for a minute?”

      Once the Director of Homeland Security had gone, the two old college buddies could relax a bit. The President began by asking, “How are Pam and the boys?”

      “Oh, the boys are trying to give their mother fits, but she’s too strong for them. All they want is more stuff. When they were little it was cute. Now that they’re grown it’s almost sick. They think they have to have everything the rich kids have.”

      Charles Able guffawed at that statement and slapped his chair arm, “You are so full of it Al, always wanting to play the pauper, when I know yours is one of the wealthiest families in Virginia. We just don’t have time to see each other enough anymore do we?”

      “No sir Chuck, it seems like we hardly ever see each other, even in this capacity. Pam says she misses you and Sue. Maybe next time you go to Maryland we can go.”

      “Hope so. Tell me something. What do you think of Steve, now that he’s had over a year to settle in?”

      “Well … I think he’s a very intelligent man, and one I would probably have picked for the job. He’s a great family man; you had that checked back to his Mayflower roots. He’s a patriot, I think. That may be his weak point you know. He may let his patriotism cloud his common sense and the best interests of your administration. I just get that feeling sometimes.”

      “You’re right on the money as usual! He is the right man for the job. Shit, you know; you helped me pick ‘im. I just feel a bit uncomfortable around him at times. His family is nice even if he does have a son in Berkley”, he grinned.

      “Yeah, well we can’t all be ‘Haaavuurd’ grads can we?”

      “Some days I wish we were back there Al. We had a great time getting here, even though sometimes I wonder how anyone can run this freaking country.”

      “Well, if anyone has the power, you do Mr. President.”

      “Thanks Al, see you around the mall. Tell Pam I said hi.”

      As he opened the door to leave, “Thank you Mr. President. I’ll contact Roland Franks and I’ll keep track of that other subject as well.”

      Charles Able relaxed a little with that declaration. Having Al Swain ‘handle’ СКАЧАТЬ