THE RECRUIT
By; Gerald A. Polley
Chapter 18
The next three weeks The Iranians swore they had nothing to do with the
cardinal, whatsoever, that the attacks committed against them had been
unjustified. First two waves of missiles tried to attack them that were
shot down, then, three days of suicide aircraft, none of which made it
through the five mile no fly zone. Then, The Iranians got tired
of it, and somebody blew up the presidential palace. They got a
new president and he decided it was time to leave The Republic
alone. He sent all Russian forces home, and began cooperating
with The Republic. Everyone in The Arabian Peninsula breathed a
sigh of relief.
Imal had constant
visitors. One day a Chinese soldier who had seen The Lord Of
Light heal him appeared at his house, a young boy in tow, perhaps a
little older than Mary. "I would very much," the man remarked,
"like to be a part of your troops."
"I don't have
any troops!" Imal answered. "But I'm sure if you speak to
recruiting if at all possible they'll see what they can do. We
need trained soldiers. Here, I'll give you a note. How did
you leave your own service so quickly?" Imal asked.
"I just mentioned to my commander I'd like to join your forces," the
man answered. "I had transportation in three days! My
people want to help The Republic. The promises that have been
made to us are very great. And everything The First Speaker has
promised us is coming to pass. China has never been so
harmonious! Everybody has never gotten along so well.
Prosperity is everywhere! We believe in his magic!"
Imal smiled. The girls came home from school. Crystal was
visiting, as usual. She walked over to the young man and looked
at him. "Hey, Mary!" she remarked, "I think your husband's here!"
Mary came over and looked the young man up and down. "Well, he looks
promising!" she remarked. "What do you think, father?"
Imal stared at the two girls. "Let's wait a while, all right?" he
replied. "No rush on that, yet!"
The girls giggled and the boy looked at them mischievously, remarking to Crystal "What if it's you I want?"
Crystal smiled back. "I'm taken!" she answered. "Sorry!"
Everybody laughed again. A couple of days later Imal and his wife
got called to headquarters. "You do not know," the base commander
remarked, "how much we hate the idea but it's really time for you two
to move on. I've got a dozen places screaming for you! The
most important one, I believe, is Somalia. They've finally
decided that they're sick of the feuding, and know that they can't
solve their problems without someone to take care of the trash while
they're working them out. They're asking for a peace keeping
force. It's going to be a rough job, because there's still robber
gangs that have no allegiance to anyone or anything, and are making
life miserable for anybody trying to help over there."
He looked to Sabrina. "You would be in overall command," he
explained. He looked to Imal. "You would be in charge of the
capitol. I think you have the foundations of a fine unit.
This new Chinese officer would be excellent for your second in
command. They'd really like to have you. You're considered
a hero over there, and that might give you some influence. This
is an assignment we just can't order somebody to take. But we
would certainly appreciate it if you would."
"Well!" Imal remarked, "It will seem strange to set foot in the
homeland again. But the idea of helping really appeals to
me. I'd like to see them at peace with one another. I'm for
it!"
"That's all I needed to hear!"
Sabrina put in. "I guess I'm back in the field!" She put
her hand on her stomach. "Ow little guy! Take it easy! Boy,
this one's rambunctious!"
"Just like his father!"
the commander put in. "I cannot praise enough the job you have
done here," he told Sabrina. "The operation I took over was
superb. I think your organizational skills will be of great
advantage to these people. Well, here's your orders. You've
got a week to get to the coast, pick up your ship, and get going."
Imal and his wife left. That week seemed to go all too fast! But
finally they were on a ship, and a short time later getting on a ferry
and heading for shore. Everybody was gathered behind him,
Raphael, Roseanne, Damon Boone, their new Chinese friends, all the
children, other officers and men they had picked up. Their
belongings were loaded on a truck. The ferry docked, and the rest
of the passengers got off. Somali soldiers approached, carrying a
Republic flag and a Somali flag.
"Sir! Madame!" the officer with them asked, "Would you be so kind
as to carry these while you walk up to your headquarters? It is
not that far."
Sabrina reached out and took the
Republic flag, Imal took the Somali flag. Somewhere somebody
started playing "The Battle Hymn Of The Republic," which was also now
called "The Spiritist Anthem." Imal and his wife started off,
their troops and families behind them. Somali troops formed ranks
on either side of them. As they made their way through the streets
crowds cheered and waved Republic and Somali flags, as the band
followed them.
Sabrina looked to Imal. "Quite a way to come home, isn't it?" she asked.
"Yes!" Imal answered. "Quite a way to come home! It's been
quite a journey, and I wonder what will happen here."
"Knowing you," his wife answered, "quite a bit!"
They reached their headquarters and put their flags in holders by its
door. Yes, Imal thought, yes, indeed! It was quite a way to
come home!
As he stood there he saw something,
the shadow of a winged being passed across the ground in front of
him. "Yeah," Imal muttered, "I've got a feeling we're gonna be
very busy, very, very busy!"