THE RECRUIT
By; Gerald A. Polley
Chapter 16
Imal and Sabrina were picked up by a vehicle. They were dropped
off in town, walked for a little while, were picked up by another
vehicle then taken to one of the most expensive hotels. Security
didn't seem to be any heavier than normal, but Imal knew there was
plenty of fire power around, that if anybody tried to get in there,
with any intent of doing harm, they would not get very far! They
were escorted to a lavish suite. There was communications
equipment sat up and people were manning it. They all rose as
they entered. Sabrina bid them be at ease. The Lady, herself, was
in another large room talking to somebody on a headset. When she
was done an aide announced them. "Do come and sit down!"
the president invited. "I don't know what beverages you prefer
but I've got milk and cookies. Do you like Oreos?"
"Oreos?" Imal sighed, "I swear, do you people read our minds? My absolute favorite!"
The president laughed. They sat down and she insisted he tell her of his childhood. Imal did so.
"Such tragedies!" the president sighed when he finished. "I'm so
glad that The Republic sometimes ignores international law and simply
goes in and does what needs to be done, as you young people did
yesterday! I am privy to reports that other people don't
get. Our military is already working on devices to counter react
these bio tracking weapons. You, young man, always seem to be
very fortunate!"
"That's something that worries me!" Imal answered. "I'm afraid some time it will run out!"
The president looked at him, smiled, and remarked "Not a prayer!
I think, young man, you're going to be very much like someone I have
worked with for several years. Being in your presence is almost
like being in his presence."
"Oh, madame!" Imal managed, "Please, do not frighten me like that!"
The president smiled again. "I'm afraid I have an ulterior motive
for calling you here! When my cousin heard I was coming he
contacted me and asked me to bring somebody with me. Georgie?"
A door opened and the Death officer entered that Imal had had so much
contact with. With him was a young girl in a pretty little dress
carrying a small suitcase. The officer came to attention and
saluted in the American manner. The president smiled.
"Cut that out!" she managed. The officer spoke.
"Sir! This is my daughter, Mary. She's already lost her
mother, her brother, and, her sister! I'm afraid my family is
rather overburdened. If there's any possibility you could take
her in I'd very much appreciate it!"
Imal and his wife
looked at each other. "Well, what does she say?" he asked.
"Isn't there anybody that she'd rather go with? We never know
from one day to the next, where we're gonna be, what we're gonna be
doing. And people like to shoot at us! Life around us is
going to be dangerous. Surely, there's somebody in The States
that can take care of her!"
"Maybe!" the
little girl answered, "But I'm sure it would be nowhere as exciting as
being around you! I've already been told I have a most wondrous
sister and there's a man that takes care of her. That's going to
be kind of interesting! Father says you're top notch, the
very best of the very best. And the only one next to you is your
lady. I think I'd much rather learn to be a soldier around you
than anybody else."
"You plan on being a soldier?" Imal asked.
"My father is a soldier," the little girl answered looking up. "I
will spend the rest of my life trying to be as good as he is. I
hope you'll help me."
The Death officer stared
down at his daughter. "Why even fuss about it?" Sabrina managed
with a sigh. "It's what is supposed to be. I am sure she
will never ever be the slightest problem. If she is, it'll be
somebody else's fault!"
"Always is!" the president put in.
"Come over here!" Sabrina insisted, "Let's get acquainted."
Imal saw the Death officer put his hand to his side. He began to
get pale. He was aware the president saw it too. Imal
rose. "George!" he snapped, "Come over here. Let's sit
down, have a talk."
"I think I'll sit down," the
officer answered. "But I'd much rather have you sing. I'm
sure the president's only heard one person that compares." He
made it to a chair next to his daughter, who took his hand. "It's
all right," he whispered. His daughter returned his smile with a
bit of sadness.
Imal was still on his feet. The president remarked "Please?"
A young woman went to a keyboard that was set up nearby. "We
often enjoy some live music," the president remarked. Imal sighed.
"Do you know that one The First Speaker and his daughters just put out?" he asked.
"Certainly!" the keyboardist answered. She began to play.
When she came back around to the beginning Imal began to sing.
Do you have a story?
Something you can tell?
Do you have a story?
Of those who fell so well?
Who stood with us in battle
And bravely gave their all,
Do you have a story?
Something you can tell?
Do you have a story?
Something you can tell?
Could it be a daughter
That boldly walked through hell?
Could it be a son
That rose into the sky?
And defended us in battle
Til the moment that he died?
Have you got a story?
Something you can tell?
Did they hold the line
As others fell as well?
Come and tell their glory!
Come and tell it well!
Do you have a story?
Something you can tell?
The mothers weep of glory!
Their children did so well!
They stood for us in battle
Even though they fell!
They still stand beside us,
Each and every time!
Fighting 'gainst the Darkness
Standing in The Light!
Do you have a story?
Something you can tell?
That will fill us all with glory
For they did so well!
Yes, the sons and daughters
That stand beside us now,
That we can tell their glory
Forever be so proud!
Have you got a story?
Something you can tell?
Come and tell that story!
Come and tell it well!
Come now, tell it well!
When Imal finished everyone was applauding, but Imal looked to the
Death officer. His daughter was kissing his hand, holding it to
her face, and whispering "Good bye, daddy! Good bye!" Imal
went over, quickly examined the officer, then spoke to two of The
Secret Servicemen nearby.
"Could you take
him out?" he asked. Without hesitation they lifted the officer up
and carried him out. "You'll see him again!" Imal promised, as
the girl looked up at him. "You'll be at the services."
"I know," the girl answered. "Can we go home now? I'd
really like to lie down for awhile. I promised father I would not
cry, but I'm going to! I have to. And I'd feel better at
home."
Imal looked to the president. "I
thank you for your most gracious visit!" the president acknowledged. "I
see I'm going to have to stay awhile after tomorrow's unpleasantness."
They got back to their vehicle and barely had it pulled away than their
new daughter was burying herself in Imal's arms and sobbing
heavily. "Maybe you'd better take her," Imal commented.
His wife shook her head. "She's where she feels the safest," she
answered. "That's where she should be."
They got home. Mary was introduced. Tabitha looked at her and
then at Raphael. "Well," she managed, "She can share my
room. Raphael can have Roseanne's. But he still helps take
care of me."
"For a while," Mary insisted, "then
your sister's going to help. I've really got to lie down. I'm not
finished crying yet."
Raphael led her to the girls' room. "The car's waiting!" Imal snapped. "I'll be back tomorrow."
His wife nodded. The car dropped Imal off at the operations
building. Imal made his way through it and entered a room that
had a vending machine. He punched a number on the vending
machine, the door to the room locked, and its privacy screen
shut. Imal punched another number. The vending machine
swung away, revealing a door. Imal entered, there was a Damon at
the desk. "Good evening sir!" he snapped. "One
moment! An aide will take you to your quarters."
Imal waited. A young woman arrived. He was escorted to a
room. "Would you like some company?" the young woman asked.
"People on this assignment find it's kind of uncomfortable sleeping
alone."
Imal smiled. "No, thank you!" he answered, "But tempting, very tempting!"
The woman smiled and headed off. Imal got to sleep. He
didn't really have that much trouble.