This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. As fiction, the characters are not bound by the usual dictates of modern society. Unsafe sexual practices can be undertaken with impunity only in the world of fantasy. In reality, it is both your obligation and your right to play safely, sanely and healthily. I hope you enjoy my work, and if you have any comments, or ideas that may inspire new work, please feel free to contact me - all e-mails will be answered to the best of my ability.
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"I can only report to you what I have heard from the mouths of their leaders. They and the Oil Cartel will fight you anyway they can. They want us hooked on oil. They will use the money we pay them to buy up everything they can and then take over American industry. Their entry into the Stock Market is only the first step. They are now in the process of buying up the entertainment industry and the news media. They will then only permit what they want to be fed to the public. Little by little, then more and more, until they can take over as they will in Spain, France, Germany and England."
Chapter #41
The President sat back and blew smoke rings into the air.
"That bad? Come on Sergeant, are you sure you are not going off the deep end here?"
"Believe me, Sir, I wish I was." Joseph said. "I think what the Emir will say tomorrow may be toned down some, but be careful not to fall for the soft soap. He means to rule over a world Caliphate. And that includes the USA. Without the USA his takeover will fail. He and most of his henchmen not only think but also believe that the United States will fall and that it will be easy to bring this about in a very short time. He has studied history and he knows that our country ripe for a takeover and that, even if he should decide to just sit and do nothing at all but wait, it will soon fall apart. The American people, so he believes, are weak to the point of surrender. They have become fat and have no fight left in them. They have convinced themselves that there is 'no pure evil' left in the world. Nine eleven never happened. It could not have happened. The Arabs were not capable of planning and executing such a complicated act. It was a plot by the President to pay back his friends in the oil industry and the military-industrial complex for their support when he stole the election in 2000."
"Sergeant, is this what you believe?" He asked.
"It matters little, what I think or believe. However to tell the truth, if the terrorists had followed up on nine-eleven with more bombings and acts of wanton terror, we would have caved in long ago. I am really surprised that they didn't do that. Americans just do not have the stamina or guts to withstand that kind of thing. I think that in this respect we are no better than the Spanish are. One, two or three more bombings and we would have been on our knees."
"And what makes you think that they didn't try but that the FBI stopped them?" The President asked. "I am told that there were hundreds of cells that were uncovered and prevented from doing damage."
"Yes, we might have caught a few nuts." Joseph said. "But I do not think that they were connected in any way with the Caliphate or the Emirate. They were just some nuts or they were the ones that they let us catch. Besides what does it mean to them if they loose five hundred thousand or a million or two million men and children -- they will eulogize them and make heroes of them and then they will be replaced in the blink of an eye."
"So is there no solution?"
"I leave the politicians to look for solutions -- I am a soldier, but to try to answer your question- the only solution is to fight, fight and then fight some more." Joseph said. "Even if you choose not to fight now-someday you will have to fight because they will not let up. There has been evil in this world from day one and it remains our job to route it out and destroy it. We will just have to keep up the fight."
"Well Sergeant, you paint a very dark picture, but then I did ask for the truth."
"I wish I could bring you better news. There are times I wish I could live to see the day you would say to me that my services were no longer required. I really don't like what I have to do. God knows, I wish I could see the day when people like me could live normal lives... I wish I never went into that Mosque." Joseph said.
"Well, I'm glad you did..." The President said as he put out the cigar and got up, extended his hand and said, "Again, I want to thank you for your being there for us. I want you to continue your work even after you leave the Army. My door will always be open to you. Please continue your work and phone me at that special number anytime. Good luck."
"Thank you, Mr. President, and good luck at the U.N. tomorrow. Please be careful. There are a lot of nuts out here."
Later, in Bill's car going to Rich's apartment and after Joseph had told him about his meeting with the President, Bill asked, "Do you think he believed you?"
"I hope so, but most likely not. He is like most Americans, living with his head in the sand. And erroneously, they think that this situation is only a matter of education, the relief of poverty or perhaps a dozen other things, none of which has anything to do with the real situation. Like I tried to tell the President, our people cannot and will not face the fact that there has been evil in this world since day one and that it is man's job to fight it. Speaking of evil, get me home. I think it is my turn to do a little evil.
"What's the hurry? Rich won't be home for another hour."
"I know that, but I want to be prepared for him." Joseph said as the car moved down the highway and then turned into the Village. "Did I tell you that I asked Rich to marry me when I get out of the army?"
"No you didn't. What did he say?"
"He said yes, but he wants to wait six months, until the play is established and he can afford to take some time off. I think he is afraid that 'coming out' might hurt his career."
"I don't think so. A lot of show people are now admitting openly that they are gay and it doesn't seem to hurt them any." Bill said. "The world is changing. Anyway, I know I have changed and I know my bosses have also changed. I wish you luck and I hope you invite me to the wedding. Both my wife and I would be proud to be there. I think you might have competition there with Rich. She has fallen for him since she saw him on opening night."
"Well I'll just have to keep an eye on him then." Joseph laughed as they pulled up in front of the apartment and got out. "We haven't made plans yet, but I think we will be going to Canada and I will let you and the wife know when. If you are free at that time, you are most welcome to come along and 'stand up for us'. Good night, Bill thanks for the lift."
Joseph let himself into the darkened apartment and then decided to take a bath. He remembered the last time he had taken a bath in this place and while the tub filled, he went and got the scented candles and placed them around the tub. When the water was full he added some bubbles and then slipped into the tub and lay there with his head resting on the edge of the tub, relaxing and waiting. He didn't have to wait long as he heard the key turning in the door.
"Albert??? Is that you?" Rich called out.
"Nope! I'm just a soldier that was passing by, saw this nice inviting tub and thought I would like to take a bath and spend a twenty-four hour pass with you. Are you available?"
"Well I was expecting my lover. " Richard said as he walked into the bathroom and leaned over the tub and kissed Joseph on the lips. "However you might do!"
"Might?" Joseph said and he reached up and started to pull Richard into the tub.
"Hey, let me get myself undressed first."
"OK but you are a kill-joy!"