A week after the Vermont Supreme Court had returned The Spiritists' property several dozen men gathered in a meeting room of The White House.
"Well, I guess everyone's here. This is the final session I intend to have dealing with that mess in Vemont. Mr. Director, what is your assessment?"
The director of The FBI took off his glasses and began to clean them with a tissue. "Mr. President," he began, "I could be no deeper concerned about any situation. The circumstances in Vermont have proven beyond a doubt, that The Spiritists are far more organized and confrontational than we had believed them capable of. The extremes they went to against the people there were beyond our belief. We did not think it possible they could have gathered and maintained such an operation. They have virtually crippled the state! They are being quite kind now, extending loans to the state government and industries that were hurt by the boycott. No interest loans, I might add. The Vermont economy will recover, but it will be very difficult for us in the future to get them to take any action whatsoever, against The Spiritists. It may be very difficult for us to get ANY state to take any action against them. And as the incoming president is MORE than a friend of theirs I think we're headed for some very dire times.
These people simply will not be rational. Compromise is an idea they have no conception of. Their way is to fight. It is inevitable , Mr. President, that sooner or later hostilities between them and the Christians will probably throw this country into civil war, and when it does their numbers will be so great that it is a very good possibility that they will win."
The director closed his file and sat back. "General Bishop?" the President asked.
"I can only concur with the director," the general of The Joint Chiefs answered, "not only did The National Guardsmen the final day of the demonstration refuse to take further action, but many of them never reported for duty during the whole crisis. As much as 50% claimed to be sick and incapable of reporting for duty. The commanding general of The Vermont National Guard is asking permission to begin court martial proceedings. He wishes to make an example of those who will not report to their duty."
The President shook his head. "No!" he snapped, "Absolutely, positively NOT! No such proceedings will be started during my administration! Court martialing national guardsmen is NOT going to be what I am remembered for. No. We'll leave it for the next administration."
"The next administration, Mr. President," the General snapped, "will probably give the damned traitors medals! We can't leave it for the next administration, sir! If The United States is to have a national guard it can depend on, action MUST be taken now!"
Still The President shook his head. "No!" he insisted, "Let future administration worry about it. How about The CIA? Do you have anything to add, director?"
"There's nothing much I can say, Mr. President," the CIA director answered. "Everyone in my service is simply waiting for the ax to fall, wondering how long they'll have a job once the new administration takes office."
"Probably not very long," The President answered. "Well, gentlemen, as it is obvious we are not going to take any action I see no need to detain you further. I want all this to be quietly forgotten about. I want it ALL to be a thing of the past. Anybody that's got a grievance with The Spiritists I think in a few years will have every opportunity to settle them. But I am content merely to fade into obscurity, having done my little tour of duty. If I do not get to see some of you again I think we did a good job, considering what we faced. And I thank you, I thank you all. Good day!"
"Thank you, Mr. President!" the commander of The Joint Chiefs snapped.
Yes, many in Washington were not plased with the way things had gone in Vermont, but there wasn't a damned thing they could do about it, not one damned thing!

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