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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