Chapter Eleven
"Will We Work Together Again?"
The trip back to the base was quiet. The General dozed most of
the time. When they arrived there was a lot of congratulating and
a few toasts with beer and soda. Finally the rest of their party
arrived, and they all boarded the Leer for the trip back east.
The General started dozing again. They were perhaps an hour into
the flight when the Lieutenant came back from up front.
"General," he said, "General!" The General
sat up, looked at him, and the Lieutenant continued. "We
just received a message of thanks from the President. Also, a
request from him that you meet to discuss your
'differences.'"
"Send the President my regards," the General answered,
"on behalf of my men. I'm sure they will be well rewarded in
whatever ways possible for the efforts they have put forward. As
for meeting with the President, my conditions for that happening
have not changed, and will not change."
"The President's done so much good," the Lieutenant put
in, "can't one mistake or two be forgiven?"
"Good," the General told him, "based on a
foundation of lies and betrayal will not last. It will eventually
crumble. I can't deal with men who do not hold their honor
sacred, who do not put their people first in all things. Men who
are willing to sacrifice the rights of some individuals to keep
the support of others are not the kind of men I associate with.
Now if you will excuse me, Lieutenant, I could use some more
sleep."
The Lieutenant nodded, and sadly walked away.
"Pretty hard on him, weren't you, sir?" Donald put in.
"Not on him," the General answered, "he's a good
man. It's his boss I have problems with."
Donald asked no more but let the General sleep. They landed at
the small airport and the General changed from his uniform on the
drive home. "It's a shame," Donald complained, as they
were driving along, "no one will ever know what you did. You
should get a medal, world acclaim. Instead, you'll go back to
work like nothing happened!"
The General smiled at him. "A true man," he said,
"does not do anything for reward or fame, only because he is
there at the time and does the best he can do. Don't look upon me
as a hero, Donald. I'm not. Most of the time I'm at an advantage
over my foes. I can use my immortality in ways they can't. The
fearless can't be brave because they have nothing to fear. That
gives me a tremendous edge against my adversaries."
"You had no edge last night, sir," Donald interrupted.
"If all life on Earth had been destroyed I don't think it
would have done you much good, would it?"
"No," the General answered, "it would have
certainly made a mess of our efforts. THAT I have to agree
to."
The General sat silent for several minutes, then Donald spoke
again. "Will we ever work together again, sir?"
"I don't know," the General answered, "but if
something ever comes up I wouldn't mind. There's some men I fit
with, who have the same vibrations I do. You and the Lieutenant
are men like that. You still have the spark of hope in you. You
still believe your efforts are accomplishing something. You still
believe in the system and it can be made to work. As long as men
like you exist, Donald, as long as the hope is there, there's
always a chance we can work together again.
This can be a great world, Donald. It can rise above bigotry and
hate, greed and injustice. It can produce a race that can become
one with the peace loving souls again."
They had reached the Reverend's house, and he climbed out of the
car, his uniform laying on the seat.
"Have them take care of that," he told Donald,
"some day there may be a man in Washington that I can wear
that for in public."
Donald watched the man enter his yard and be gloriously welcomed
by his dogs. As they drove off Donald neatly folded the uniform
and held it in his lap.
"I pray to God, sir," he said to no one in particular,
"that that day comes. "I pray to God it does."
THE END
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