He reached down, yanked the man up, dragged him to a chair and threw him in it. "I would like nothing better," he remarked, "than to beat the information I want out of you. But fortunately I have much better ways. Within twenty-four hours I can have a team of expert interrogators here. They have machines that can determine if you are telling the truth. They have drugs that can reveal if you're lying or not. Within two or three days we'll know more about you than you, yourself may realize! But in the process there may not be much of you left.
As much as it grieves me, I want your associates as much as I want you. If you cooperate we can send you to a nice, safe place where you can probably live out your life quite comfortably, if you behave yourself. If you don't cooperate I will have the most distinct pleasure of watching them strap you down on the slicer and separating your useless head from your worthless body. The choice is yours. I want names, addresses! Come on, start talking!"
"I don't know anything!" the man answered, "I swear! I was just boasting, just showing off, trying to impress the others. It's all a big mistake. I smuggle a few goods, make a few dollars, that's all...I swear! Those in the area that want to make a few dollars doon't like The Spir, so I took advantage of what had happened. I swear, that's all!"
Samuel shook his head. "You're a very poor liar," he remarked, "and a considerable fool! I gave you your chance. You're going to wish you'd taken it."
He opened the office door. "Get this out of here!" he snapped. "Put it in our stockade. Call the capitol. Tell them we have an important prisoner and need the interrogation team as quickly as possible."
The prisoner was unceremoniously dragged out. The interrogation team arrived within twelve hours. Four days later its commander reported to Samuel. "He fought every inch of the way, sir, even the truth drug, but we finally got through. Apparently, him and his associates are working for some Americans that arrived here some months before you did, natives that apparently have grievances with you."
"Natives?" Samuel asked.
"That's what the man kept saying," the officer explained, "'I work for the Indians, the Americans, the ones The Spir drove from their homes who killed their children. The red man."
"The Redmans!" Samuel cried. "It's not Native Americans, it's a family called The Redmans. What in the hell are they doing in Africa?"
"Apparently," the interrogator explained, "they came here with a Christian religious leader and are growing questionable crops to support his work. They have allied themselves with the Christians in southern Chad, and apparently are bringing in their followers and arming both them and the natives! They apparently plan to start up trouble again, between The Christians and The Muslims. They also are gaining support in the Christian communities throughout the area.
Once he started talking he knew far more than he thought he did. This is, indeed, sir, a valuable prisoner. With this information we should be able to do this organization some considerable harm."
There was a rap on the door. "Come in!" Samuel snapped.
The clerk entered handing Samuel a note and retreated. Samuel read the note. "The other three came back," he remarked. "One of them decided not to be taken prisoner, but the other two are in custody. It looks like you've got more work! They'll be here in about six hours."
The interrogator nodded. "In the meantime," Samuel continued, "we'll go to work on the information you've already obtained."
In a few weeks they devastated the smuggling network! The information they gave the governments of the surrounding counties brought swift and sure action. The last thing ANYBODY wanted was another religious war!
The smuggling didn't stop completely, but it certainly slowed down. The trials were a formality, the executions swift and public. Samuel didn't exactly like the cheering when the mens' severed heads were displayed to the crowd, but he knew he had closure. His son's murderers had been brought to justice.
He found the four candidates for Major David's position were so equal that HE could not decide either, so he suggested a drawing of lots, which everyone agreed to. Captain Joseph won, and stayed to begin taking on his duties. Major David slipped away from them slowly, his final breath was a relief to all, his funeral a state occasion.
Things settled down and Samuel went to work on a special project. One day he called Major Joseph into his office to let him know about it.

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