'Light'. Your family really DOES like my work, General! The 'Light' is yours? I didn't know you were Spiritist!"
"I'm not, Mr. President," the General answered, "But you don't have to be to enjoy good literature."
The President smiled again. "I don't mean to be offensive, sir," the General remarked, "but seeing how you did the autographs, is it true, sir, you can barely write your own name, you have to dictate everything to others?"
The President laughed. "Not quite that bad, General," he answered, "but I am considered functionally illiterate."
"My God, sir!" the General continued, "May I say how much you have my admiration? With such a handicap,, and to accomplish what you have done..."
"I had a lot of help," The President put in. "But I think we'd better get rolling, General. We've got a lot to do."
"Yes, sir!" the General agreed, and quickly departed.
The secretary entered. "Ambassador Page is here," she announced.
"Send him in!" The President snapped. The Ambassador entered and shut the door.
"Heard the tape?" The President asked.
"Yes," the ambassador answered. "What do you want, Mr. President.?"
"I want The UN to order that Do be surrendered for an international tribunal to judge him for crimes against humanity. If his government will not surrender him I want the right to use military force to FORCE his government to surrender him. How long?"
"Probably two weeks," the ambassador answered. "China's going to want something to agree."
"Tell them if they agree," The President answered, "I won't cut our trade deals. Tell them if they don't I will. Even with the limited trade that we're giving them now, we're still over fifty per cent of their trade. They're not going to alienate us." The ambassador nodded. "That's all," The President answered. "Go. Get it done. Oh, Page, by the way.."
"Yes, Mr. President?" the ambassador asked.
"When I first started this job," The President continued, "I didn't like you. I considered you one of the most arrogant, snobbish, opinionated people I ever met. But I will say, sir, despite your faults you're a hell of an ambassador and I've come very much, to depend on your skills, and though we sometimes differ, I appreciate that you have used them so skillfuly for our causes."
The ambassador looked perplexed then nodded. "Thank you, Mr. President!" he finally managed. "To tell you truthfully, my opinion of you was not, in the beginning, very favorable, either. You have surprised me, sir. You have surprised me greatly, and I appreciate your kind words. It's going to be a struggle, Mr. President, but be assured I'll get you what you want."
The President nodded, then the ambassador hurried out. The President sat down, and for several moments stared at the top of his desk, then pressed his intercom. "Mary," he remarked, "get me The Commander And Chief Of The Marine Corps."
"Yes, sir!" the secretary snapped.
A few moments later The President's phone buzzed, and he picked it up. "General!" he snapped, "I want twenty-five marines here at The White House in short order. I want them fully equipped. even anti armor ordinance. I want fifty marines stationed at The Capital, similarly equipped. Keep them out of sight, but I want them able to move into key position on a moment's notice."
"Orders understood," the General answered. "They'll be on station within an hour, Mr. President."
"That's all!" The President snapped. "Thank you!" He hung up the phone, leaned back, and smiled. Now he could only wait.

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