Nandita To Nandini
- 3 years ago
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It was after midnight before Jason finally collapsed across the bed in Newt’s guest bedroom. He was bone tired, but it had been a very successful evening. They’d finished the five paragraphs that were to be inserted - three in one section and two in another. There were several pages in between, but the wording linked them together as one, and the whole was definitely greater than the sum of the parts. The three men involved in the wording were convinced that a favorable ruling would be a ‘slam-dunk’ when it reached the courts.
Unfortunately, Andy’s absence and the strange location overcame his tiredness, preventing Jason from having a very restful night’s sleep. Thus, even after two cups of strong coffee with his breakfast, by the time he arrived at the Senate Office Building, he knew he would have to take a ‘white’ to stay alert. Of course, this was something he was used to, as Special Ops forces in the field tended to take Provigil like candy.
He reached his office before his staff and changed into his spare suit. Later in the morning he’d send the one he’d been wearing out to be cleaned and pressed. At least he was now presentable, but he’d have given anything to be able to wear some comfortable jeans, a chambray shirt, and his moccasins. Instead, he had to meet with Joe Bliden as early as possible; the information to Lindsey had been sent to a special private email account last evening. He’d received an acknowledgment from the Senator before he went to bed.
“Madeline,” Jason said into his office’s intercom.
His secretary immediately picked up the phone, and responded, “Good Morning, Senator. How are you doing this morning?”
“I didn’t sleep very well, so I’m dragging. Do you have any coffee made yet?”
“Yes, Sir, would you like me to bring you a cup?”
“That’s OK, I can get my own. I do need you to see if you can find Senator Bliden and see when would be a convenient time to meet with him. Also, I have the suit I wore yesterday. Do you think you could get a cleaner to send someone for it? I need to have it cleaned and pressed sometime today.”
“There’s a service downstairs that takes care of that. I’ll give them a call, along with Senator Bliden.”
“Thanks, Madeline. I’ll be out for the coffee in a few moments.”
Jason turned on his computer and headed for the coffee while it was booting up. Exiting his private office, Jason headed for the coffee machine. Someone had brought in some fresh croissants and he grabbed a couple with a napkin. He also picked up a couple of packets of strawberry jam and a plastic knife. Even though he’d already eaten he was confident he’d need the energy before the morning was out.
He was headed back to his office when Madeline said, “Senator Bliden asked you to meet him in David Rockefeller’s office in ten to fifteen minutes. That’s five offices down the hall on the left side.”
“I can handle that.”
“I thought you could,” she responded. “After all, navigating through this must be so much easier than the jungles of Central and South America,” she added teasingly.
Deciding she wasn’t flirting he motioned her to join him at his desk while he ate one of the pastries. As she sat in the chair in front of the desk Jason asked, “What brought that up?”
“It seems there was a movie on one of the cable channels last night called ‘The Sniper.’ After picking up on what your friend Consuela said yesterday I decided to watch it.”
“And your reaction?” he asked cautiously.
“It was bloodier than I’m used to, but the details were fascinating. Is it really like that?”
“Why ask me?”
“While you were busy yesterday I did some research on my boss. It seems he has quite a reputation among the Special Forces. I have to say I’m impressed.”
“Impressed?”
“Boss, it might not show in my accent, but I was born in the south, with pickup trucks, deer rifles and even some moonshine whiskey, so I’m really not turned off by the idea of shooting someone. In contrast, I find acting a little ditzy - along with seeming to agree with all the liberal ideology concerning gun control, war and peace, and a woman’s right to an abortion - is a very effective means to fit in with the rest of the women around this town, and especially in this building. On weekends I often go over to a pistol range in Virginia to work off some frustration.”
“Then to answer your question, sometimes it happens that way, but a movie is too time-compressed. In reality, a sniper might have to stay hidden for days waiting for the right shot. There’s a scene in one of the Clancy movies where a young Hispanic soldier is training to be a sniper. They did a very good job on that one, as he was totally surrounded by the men used in the exercise, yet they couldn’t find him, or even see him move.”
“I’ll have to check it out. Now, where are those clothes for the cleaners?”
“They’re in a plastic bag in my washroom.”
“Then don’t worry about them, as I’ll make sure they get to and from the cleaners. You just take care of your meetings, today. Your agenda is about as full as it can possibly be.”
“True. By the way, do you have the number for my daughter in Phoenix?”
“Yes, Sir, your wife gave me a whole list before she left.”
“Good. Later on this morning see if you can find where to send some roses to my wife.”
“Red, yellow, or white?”
“Actually, she’s partial to the ones that are an orangey yellow with the petal tips looking almost like flames. If they’re not available, then we probably can’t go wrong with red.”
“Consider it done. Any note?”
“I love her; I miss her, and I’m proud of her and my son.”
Madeline wiped a small tear from her eye, and responded, “Good job, Boss. I know that will mean a lot to her at the moment. I’m guessing that she’s going to be stuck in Phoenix until after the baby is born.”
“Yes, but I don’t want it to be public knowledge. At the moment the last thing I need is the hint of a scandal, so the fewer sharks swimming in the water, the better. That reminds me. I need to get a car and driver for the evenings and mornings for a while, as I’ll be staying in town most nights until the recess. By the way, I liked the casual way you said ‘boss.’ When we’re not in a formal setting, or one where it wouldn’t be appropriate, you can call me Jason, or ‘boss, ‘ if you prefer.”
“Thanks, Boss, I’ll do that, as well as make sure Andrea receives her roses. Now, you need to get out of here, or you’re going to be late.”
“Yes, Ma’am,” Jason sheepishly replied as he headed out the door. Moments later, Jason entered the office of the junior Senator from West Virginia.
“Good Morning, Senator,” greeted the woman at the first desk. “They’re waiting on you in David’s office. Would you like some coffee?”
“Yes, thank you, just black, please.”
“Not a problem, Sir, just go on in. I’ll bring your coffee to you.”
Jason nodded an acknowledgment and entered the inner office area. Inside there were a total of three Senators and two Congressmen sitting around a small conference table. From the way the office was arranged it must have been brought in just for this meeting. Senator Bliden quickly greeted Jason and led him to the remaining chair. “Jason,” he asked, “do you know everyone here?”
“Yes. Some, I’ve known for years.”
“Good. Now, I’ve been explaining about your warning. I’m hoping this will be a good brainstorming session to try to find a solution.”
“That sounds good,” replied a slightly anxious Jason. This wasn’t how he wanted this to come down. For the next forty-five minutes, several different ideas were brought up, but the others in the group quickly pointed out weaknesses. By the time Jason started on his second cup of coffee the group was rapidly becoming discouraged. Finally, Jason saw the timing was right and said, “I know we’re all getting tired and a little frustrated. I’ve an idea, but I waited to bring it to the table until all other options had been shot down.”
One of the Congressmen replied, “Jason, I just hope you’ve something workable.”
“I think it might be, but I need to preface it with a few items so there’s no misconception. First, what I’m proposing could have an impact upon my tribe, but there’s no way I will profit from it, personally. For that reason I’d prefer my name not be linked to this in any manner, as someone in the future could try to make that claim. At that point, guilty or not, it could taint our efforts.”
Joe Bliden responded, “Jason, that disclaimer was handled well. I can see the wisdom in it. I just hope your idea has the same wisdom.” The others around the table all added their agreement.
When they were finished Jason began, “I saw the solution in two related parts. The first part was to insert wording into a bill that was going to pass with little additional reading or argument. What I had in mind was the spending bill for the Department of the Interior. The final version should be going to the press by noon, today. The second part is to utilize the courts to solidify it into law.”
“I can see potential here,” remarked the most senior of the Congressmen. “What did you have in mind?”
Jason handed him a sheet, and said, “Here is page three eighty-seven, with the two added paragraphs shown in italics.”
The Congressman read the paragraphs and their immediate context. When he finished he nodded and passed it to the person sitting at his right. When each person finished reading he nodded as a sign of a favorable opinion as he passed it to the next person at the table. When the sheet had traveled full circle, the West Virginian asked, “Jason, I noticed you included land leases in this. Did you have a reason?”
“Yes, and that’s both part of my original disclaimer and part of my opinion the court will rule favorably on it. You see, I happen to know there’s some land adjacent to the reservation that’s about to have the lease terminated and the property re-leased to another company. I think it will be a perfect court case to obtain a favorable ruling”
“Can you elaborate?” asked the senior Congressman.
“The land, which had been devastated by a fire, was leased to the tribe about forty years ago. The lease explicitly calls for the tribe to reforest the lands as well as provide maintenance of the trees and the property. There’s an annual lease payment, which has been faithfully paid, along with a final payment based on a percentage of the net income generated when the trees are harvested by the tribe. At that point the grant section is supposed to kick in and designates the land be added to the reservation, as long as the tribe replants the trees a second time.”
“That sounds like a fair agreement,” said this same Congressman.
“It is, but now the trees are ready to be harvested this administration plans to cancel the lease with my people and turn it over to a major Republican supporter who’ll reap the benefit of our labor.”
The man replied, “I can see where this little addition could be used to block such activity, and you’re right, this would be an ideal test case. Gentleman, I propose Jason’s idea be implemented as quickly as possible.”
“This might not be a formal meeting, but I’ll second that motion,” added the West Virginian.
“Any opposed? Questions? Objections?” asked Joe Bliden. When no one responded, Joe asked, “Then, what’s the best way for us to proceed from here?”
“I’m on the conference committee,” answered the Congressman from Minnesota. “I can get it inserted within the hour.”
“Then let’s be sure to show our appreciation to Jason for his hard work,” directed Senator Bliden.
“Actually,” remarked Jason, “as I said earlier, the wisest thing we can do is remove me from this meeting, and especially my involvement in the wording of the insert. Though I don’t personally gain from this, I don’t think the media would make that distinction, and they could twist good intentions into seemingly ugly greed.”
The old congressman shook his head as he replied, “As much as I hate to admit it, he’s absolutely correct in his evaluation of how this would be attacked in the media. At the same time, it’s so unusual to see this kind of pulling together by those of different ideology I want to shout it from the dome above us. Jason, you may not get the acknowledgment you so richly deserve, but I personally promise we won’t forget it.”
“I agree,” added the junior Senator from West Virginia. “Most of us have to fight to receive positive media attention and here is a significant act of bipartisanship we have to keep hidden. It just doesn’t seem fair.”
Jason had to work hard to suppress a grin when he replied, “I’m humbled by your compliments. May I suggest once the existence of this action is known the official version should be the wording was inserted by my colleague from Delaware? It might bring harsh reaction from some of the conservative Republicans, but your fellow Democrats and the general public will likely praise you. Who knows, it might help propel you into the White House.”
With that Jason excused himself and quickly returned to his office. He barely got the door closed behind him before he burst into laughter. Who said politics was hard? Jason thought to himself. You stroke their egos, throw in a little misdirection, and it’s like taking candy from babies. Of course, that group will probably be pissed when they learn the full implication of all this, but that won’t be for a while. We’ve too many other actions that need to precede the revelation of the grant from Lincoln. Hopefully, Hawk has formulated a plan and has started its implementation.
Over breakfast Hawk began to map out his day with his two administrators, Maria and Brenda. During the night some ideas had started to take shape, so he needed to meet with several people. These meetings needed to start shortly after they arrived at the office, and several of them had to occur in a specific order. It’d be his wives’ job to set up the different meetings and to also help keep the flow of personnel moving efficiently. After covering the basic points Brenda suggested, “Hawk, why don’t Maria and I alternate attending the meetings to take notes, etcetera? That way both of us stay involved without getting bored or too tired. We can bring each other up to date later this evening.”
“That will work for me.”
Maria added, “Since Mark Grey Fox is the first person on your list I’ll call him on his cell phone and let him know of the meeting.”
“Good idea, sweetheart. How many cars are we taking this morning?”
“I’ll need mine,” responded Brenda. “I’m going with our two pilots to look at an airplane right after lunch. We’ll probably take the prospective aircraft on a short trip, so I don’t know, for sure, when I’ll be home.”
Maria added, “I’ve got something I need to do with Andy in the late afternoon. I should be home for dinner, but we’ll probably be eating an hour later than normal.”
“Then, I’ll take my pickup, as I may also work later than usual,” said Hawk. “We can work out the details later, but I suggest one of us bring home some ‘take out.’“
“Good idea,” his two wives said in unison. Thus, a few minutes later, the three vehicles left the ranch, and within ten minutes Hawk was walking into his office arm-in-arm with both his women. Life was definitely good.
Deke Templeton was carrying his coat, a mug of coffee, and eating a toasted bagel with cream cheese while he quickly walked toward his car parked in the driveway. The TV had said it was going to be another scorcher, and with the temperature already in the high eighties, he didn’t doubt it one bit. As he opened his car door a flash of color in the side mirror caught his attention. He laid his coat across the back of the passenger seat, placed his mug into the cup holder, and walked to the rear of the car. A child’s bike he didn’t recognize was lying sprawled across the driveway.
He moved it to the side but its presence puzzled him. He and Tracy had been gone to a play the evening before, and it hadn’t been there when they arrived home, sometime shortly after 11:00 p.m. Also, it looked like it had been just dropped by some child in a hurry, but it was too early for most children to be out playing. And, why was it in his driveway; his kids were still asleep? Just after turning east on West Elliot, Deke suddenly shuddered. Acting on the fear and suspicion he’d just felt, he pulled out his cell phone and hit a preset number.
“O’Hara,” proclaimed the one who answered.
“Captain, this is Deke Templeton. Do you have a missing child out near Stroud Park?”
“Let me check.” A couple minutes later, Captain O’Hara returned to the call and answered, “Yep. An eight year old girl and her bike are missing from a house on East Chilton. Mother found them both gone about forty-five minutes ago. Deke, what made you call and ask?”
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Let me say right up front that Gunther was definitely not a young man.I knew he had been around the Santa operation at the North Pole long before I arrived with my bright ideas for cost reduction. I was called in to promote increased toy production by the easily distracted Elves. Those little imps preferred being silly rather than busy little workers focused on their quotas like dedicated employees. As a small-sized human male, I was able to relate easily to the female Elves because they liked...
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Back in Phoenix Consuela’s cell phone began ringing. While she answered it the other three historians continued to box up the different papers, which were to be taken to an archive vault in the basement of the history building at the University. “Hello.” “I’m trying to reach Consuela Kennedy. Are you her?” “Yes, I am,” she responded. “Good. Doctor Kennedy, my name is Malcolm Leven, and I’m working with a Mister Daniel Cashman concerning a movie. Are you familiar with what I’m talking...
“Yes, it’s time to create some corporate structure, including impressive offices for the executives.” “Dan, I thought the intention was for me to remain hidden.” “You will, but, at least for a while, it’ll be ‘hiding in plain sight.’ As soon as we can find a better spokesman then you can move more into the shadows.” “Why not have you in this position?” “Because, Hawk, ‘your’ people, as well as the world, need to see a Native American as the head of the company, or at least as the CFO of...
“What do you mean?” asked Brenda. “That another woman would come and steal his heart.” “And what if she wants to share, like we do?” “Bren, I could probably live with that if she was as good a person as you. Unfortunately, they don’t look like two people who’ve just met.” “You might be right, sister, but let’s not hang either of them without a trial.” With that Brenda grabbed Maria by the arm and approached Hawk and the beautiful blonde, who were still softly talking to each other. While...
Maria responded from the rear of the airplane, “I like those ideas, but I can see one problem right off the bat.” “What’s that, Chipmunk?” “We, as a people, are too small and too fragmented a group to be able to accomplish something like that. Our company might give them jobs, and even some hope, but getting a group of Apaches to work together is like trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube, or herding rabbits.” Dan responded, “Jason seems to do well with it.” “Dan, Grandfather...
The ships turning out to sea took Ishmael completely by surprise. He watched and wondered for a moment or two about what was happening out there. The plan had been for the small armada to sail into the cove and to overwhelm any vessel at anchor there. Something must have happened. Unfortunately Ishmael was too far from the ships to see what it might be. Even if he had possessed a spy-glass like that of his young master he wouldn't have been able to make out the signals being passed between...
"What is wrong?" Bartholomew asked the moment Pedro stepped onto the main deck of the Hawk. It was later in the morning and the Hawk was now riding at anchor below the walls of Ceuta. Bartholomew had stood at the railing of the ship as his captain had returned. He had seen the stern look upon Pedro's face long before the young man had scrambled up the rope ladder hanging at the side of the craft and he had known instantly that not everything had gone as planned. "Prepare for sea," Pedro...
“Great,” Hawk responded to Sean Sullivan’s enthusiastic desire to take on the government, “because your demonstration and Marsha’s new computer have given me several important ideas. To develop them further I need some input from you.” “Ask away. I guess I just moved my status from employee to fellow conspirator.” “Yes, you did. But before you get the wrong idea, I don’t plan on destroying the US Government, or attacking this country or its people. I just want to shake things up and restore...
As the roof of the back part of the prison room began to fall Jason ran toward the main tunnel. He grabbed Hawk by the back of his shirt, dragging him along the floor until they were completely out of the room. The air was filled with dust, and without their surgical masks it would’ve been hard to breathe. A stunned Hawk said, “Whew! That was close.” Helping Hawk stand, Jason asked, “Are you OK?” “Other than a sore and bruised butt, I think I’m fine. Thanks for dragging my ass out of there....
That evening, no one in the family rested very well. Brenda and Maria were exhausted, and after a thirty-minute conversation with Hawk they lounged in the Jacuzzi for a few minutes before heading to bed. Unfortunately, they hadn’t sufficient time to unwind, and, while their bodies were ready for sleep, their minds weren’t. Jason and Andy sat on the cabin’s front porch and just held each other until the wee hours of the morning. Regrettably, while their bodies were in close contact their...
"So there she is," Bartholomew muttered in a tired voice. "We're finally here." The older man was standing in the bow of the Hawk gazing out at the vista that lay before him. Pedro stood beside him doing basically the same. It was the first time in weeks that either man had stood together side-by-side to share a word or even a thought. Bartholomew had in fact just rowed over from the Virago and this was the first time in over two weeks that he had stood upon the deck of the Hawk. "We...
"Where is he?" Ishmael was standing in the open doorway of Dom Pedro's study. The man looked both tired and anxious. Sweat glistened on his swarthy skin and his breath was heavy from exertion. It was obvious that he had been hurrying about. "As far as I know, Dom Pedro is somewhere about the factory," Ibrahim stated in a startled voice taken by surprise by the abruptness in Ishmael's question. As the old teacher replied, he looked up from the book he had been reading. His eyes...
As Hawk would say later, “The rest of the afternoon went surprisingly easy. Well, I guess when you’re moving almost eight tons of gold, easy is a relative term.” Zed returned with the lumber and stuff, and the frame was quickly built as Dan had envisioned it. While Dan and the women helped with the frame Jason found the easiest way to get to the canyon and the slope of the wall was ideal for what they planned to do. The other men took the hand truck into the mine and started moving the items...
The Hawk sailed at dawn four days later. Aboard it was a full complement of the crew plus the raiding party. That number included Rashid, As-wad, and Ishmael. With them were a dozen handpicked soldiers from the factory all of whom were trained in the use of the bow. Behind them they left Ibrahim. He and Omar would run the factory and see to the day-to-day affairs of the Portuguese trading post while the captain of the Bella Rosa would command the trading fleet and the garrison. He would...
Hawk terminated the call and joined Bill and Gunnery Sergeant Kellogg. After a questioning look by Hawk, Bill said, “I called Brenda. They’re sending out two vehicles; one for us and one to carry Sergeant Kellogg back to Coronado Island.” “Excellent!” proclaimed Hawk. Then, turning to the sergeant Hawk said, “Gunny, I want to thank you for coming with me as security. I know we’re both grateful nothing happened that required your services, but it helped knowing you were there.” “Sir, I was...
Once Jason was settled into his regular room there began a steady stream of visitors. Hawk, Maria, and Brenda were the first to arrive, followed quickly by Beth, Zed, Deke, and Elizabeth. In fact, this entire group was still there when Senator McCray arrived. When he was introduced to everyone he was surprised at Deke’s presence. “Deke Templeton! What are you doing here?” Deke answered, “Senator, Beth, Zed, and Elizabeth have been my closest friends since before college, and Brenda is Beth’s...
A moment later Brian said, “I just talked to one of the drivers at the airport. Everything was handed over to the pilot, who said, and I quote, ‘get your ass back there as soon as possible.’“ Mike turned to Larry Reid, and said, “How about driving me back to the airport, as well as bringing my truck back to the Reservation?” “Sure, I can do that, but what about papers on your truck at the border?” “I’ll write out something that should suffice, but I’ll also notify Jason’s contact to pass...
Marsha led Dan Cashman to her research lab and demonstrated her new computer’s capability. He didn’t have any idea what Hawk was contemplating, but he knew once this system hit the market it should sell like hotcakes - especially in the corporate and government markets. Still standing in front of the prototype Dan pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. The direct line he had programmed into his phone rang at the desk of the secretary of his counterpart with their computer company...
"Another of my noblemen is dead," King Manuel murmured almost to himself, "and we are no closer to finding that mad man than we were two days ago. What are we to do?" It was early morning and the King of Portugal had been woken by his chamberlain well before the rest of the palace had begun to stir. The king looked tired and exhausted. He stood in his nightshirt and looked out the window of his chamber onto the grounds below it while his chamberlain reported the latest news in the search...
After Hawk’s agreement to become the ‘renegade leader’ of the Apache Rebellion Jason sighed in relief. “Hawk, I’m delighted you agreed to go along with me on this. I think you can make it work, and it goes hand-in-hand with your need to stay in the shadows.” “I’m glad you’re confident in my abilities Jason, but I’m not a leader. That’s why Dan and I have always worked so well together. I’d come up with an idea, and we’d go back and forth until it became something useful. At that point he...
"Whose ship is that?" Pedro was standing by the gangway of the Hawk, watching as the men working on the jetty at Eko hurried to tie off his ship. It was a week later and Pedro's force had finally returned home. It had been a long, hard trip for everyone involved. They had been forced to nursemaid the galley barge up the coast the whole time, restricting their progress to the speed of the oarsmen working it. Their trip had taken even longer since Pedro had been forced to put a prize crew...
In the middle of the party, a loud cry went up and we were under attack. All the chieftains ran back toward their tribes. Wolfgard and I raced back toward our tribe. The only weapons we had on us were our knives. We came upon a couple of raiders attacking some women folk of another tribe. We made quick work of them as we slit their throats. We got back to our tribe and I was so proud. War Hawk had the bows out and the hunters in formation with their helpers behind them handing out arrows. I...
The next day it was first announced the Vice President would survive his heart attack. A short time later the President added his running mate was going to retire. It seemed even the man’s most staunch supporters were fleeing like rats from a sinking ship. During all this it was revealed the electronics in the VP’s pacemaker were totally fried. One commentator had a scientist from MIT explain that there was too much physical damage for it to have been the result of EMP (electromagnetic...
“Yeah, Eduardo Vasquez is offering a hundred thousand for the man’s head, though, from what I’ve heard about the operation, Eddie boy may have bitten off a lot more than he can chew. Now, why were you asking?” “Just curious. Now, how about meeting me for a beer at Bennie’s Bar. I think I’ve got some security work for you, but I don’t want to discuss it over the phone.” “Then, meet me at Bennie’s in thirty minutes.” “Thirty minutes,” Ken replied, “and bring a bug detector.” Ken dropped off...
Chapter 4 “Good evening, Mr. Hawk,” a tall, handsome man said as they entered. “I see that you’ve brought a beautiful woman to dress up my shabby restaurant.”Reaching his hand out, Tommy said, “That’s exactly what I’m doing, Dominic. This place needs a little help, and I think when the word gets out that Elizabeth eats here, your business will improve.”“No doubt,” the man replied as he unashamedly checked her out. “Let me assume that with someone so lovely, you’ll not be sitting at the bar....
AnalIt’d been after 10:00 p.m. the previous evening when Prince Rashid finally returned to his embassy, but it was after midnight before Jason, Genna, Thad, and Joel had gone to bed. Those discussions had been very productive, though, for it looked like things would run smoothly, even for such a thrown together group of mismatched people. One of the first things that had come out was both of the Battens were thoroughly familiar with guns, both long and short. Though they hadn’t had the kind of...
The knock on the door to the conference room brought an end to the euphoric excitement that bonded the three lawyers together. Dennis went to the door and ushered in the young Indian woman. The three of them were rather surprised at the bruises and swelling on her face, feeling that beneath her injuries was a beautiful face to go with the attractive, slender body, the long dark hair and the soft brown eyes. Dennis introduced her to the other two, and then waited for her to talk. “Gentleman,”...
Hawk’s morning began with an early flight to the proposed area where the power and desalinization plants were to be built. As they flew along the coast Hawk could see one of the reasons for this location was it was the closest spot to deep water. However, Hawk was concerned about its isolated location and its proximity to other countries. He was also alarmed about its vulnerability to an attack by Iran. Back at the palace the two men discussed some of these concerns, as well as the...
It was a night like any other winter night in the City of Brockton. The snow was falling gently, the wind was light almost non-existent as two vigilantes keep a silent watch together over their fair city. Brockton used to be a nice city, it was once the ‘Shoe Capitol of the World’. The City of Champions, as its downtrodden citizens called it. Brockton was the birthplace of boxing champions Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler. It seemed to everyone living in the towns adjacent to Brockton that...