“Yeah. What happened with you? Where’s Ann?” Tim didn’t wait for an answer to the first question. “Miser said he was going to grab her back.”
“He was just blowing smoke, she’s just fine.”
“They don’t have her?”
“No, they thought they had an angle, but it didn’t go anywhere.”
“What happened, they piled in here looking to take over.”
“It was a rouge operation. They didn’t have the backing they assumed they had,” Ed answered.
“Rouge operation, huh?” Tim chuckled accusingly. “They brought a nuclear-bunker-buster with them,”
“We need to talk about that, but not over the phone, okay?”
“Still, it seems like they would need some fairly important backing to bring that along.”
“Not really, it was a tactical weapon.”
“A bomb is a bomb, Ed,” Tim declared.
“I’ll explain when I see you. You should have no further trouble, for now.”
“They’re not giving up are they?”
“No, but for the moment it’s a stable situation, and I’m on my way. It’s going to take Randy and myself at least seven hours to get to you; can you hold down the fort that long?”
“It depends on who’s in charge out here. I put the General down and—”
“I heard,” Ed interrupted.
“I zapped that loud mouth Miser, and—”
“Tim, what did you have to do that for?” Ed interrupted again.
“I demanded to see you, and all I got was bullshit. You know the guy.”
“Yeah, yeah I do, but I hope the hospital holds him a little while longer, at least until we get there. He’s an awful powerful man,” Ed stated.
“Ah huh. Well, he looked like a hell of a big fool yesterday.”
“Yeah, well, you just tone down that huge ego of yours. I know what you can do, but you’re making it tough on some of the little people. I don’t want anyone getting hurt because you weren’t thinking. You’re the one that doesn’t want any trouble, so don’t start it rolling from your end.” Ed had just given him a lecture, Tim could tell by the tone of his voice.
“I’m sorry. I’ll keep my mouth shut and my hands in my pockets, until you get here, okay?”
“Okay. If any important brass show up before I do, you get the hell out of there and just wait. We had a meeting with the President and a policy has been implemented. I’ll fill you in when I get there. Just lay low, promise?”
“I can do that.”
“Good. You wouldn’t believe what I had to go through to get both those Lieutenants off the hook. Every time you show up, we have to promote everybody to keep them from the gallows.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, the first one, the guy I put in charge over Major Warren is now a Captain, but he’s still not comfortable, and thinking about the Peace Corps. I can’t blame him?”
“What about the one still here, Matusca? You heard what he did, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, he was another lucky break, so the President made him a Major. He now has command of the base there.”
“Does he know about this yet?”
“No, put him on the phone,” Ed instructed.
Tim smiled as he gave the phone to the Matusca. “It’s for you, get ready for a new life.”
Matusca listened on the phone for a while. “I can’t do that, they’ll hang me.”
“That was different,” he said, then listened again.
“That was different, I tell you,” he said into the phone after another moment.
“I know I did the right thing, shit, he’d lost it, and I had witnesses.” The Lieutenant listened again. “I can’t do that,” he whined.
“Are you fricken nuts man.” Matusca listened again.
“Oh sure, you tell me that on the phone, then I don’t see you again, and I spend the rest of my life in Leavenworth, and that’s the good news because they decided not to hang me.” He listened again.
“Right, and the bad news is they shoot me.” The Lieutenant looked at Tim and screwed out his tongue, crossed his eyes, and made the crazy gesture by circling his finger next to his temple.
“Hey, I don’t care who you say you are, I need to hear from somebody I recognize before I stick my butt on the line like that, understood?” He listened again.
“Good!” The Lieutenant listened.
“Oh, what are you worried about him for, you’ve seen what he can do?” Jeff announced.
“Yeah, yeah, I know, it’s a special situation,” Matusca said after listening again.
“Of course. Do you think I’m blind? Okay, okay, I’ll do what I can, but you get here fast because I still feel like a Lieutenant. As long as you understand that, okay, I will do my best. Yeah, I’ll believe him.”
“Hey Blake, what’s it like in the big city?” The phone had obviously been given to his friend the Sergeant.
“No shit! And you were just a lowly buck Sergeant.”
Jeff listened.
“They can do that?” Jeff questioned.
“That guy wasn’t kidding then, and you’re sure they’re telling the truth?” Jeff said after listening.
“Hey, how about that!” he said into the phone.
“Yeah, well it’s still not going to do me any good if big brass starts showing up,” Jeff said sounding worried.
“No shit, they can do that too, huh?” Jeff seemed surprised.
“I guess so, if that’s what they want me to do, and I’ve got the pull.” Jeff agreed.
“I guess so,” Jeff continued.
“Hey hurry back.” Jeff looked at Tim and gave him a surprised look, and shook his one hand with the fingers out, signaling, ‘like wow’.
“Yeah, put him on,” Jeff said.
“Thank you!” Matusca was back with Ed. “Hey, you just keep me from the gallows, and that is thanks enough,” said Matusca with a relieved look on his face.
“What the hell do they want from me?” Jeff said to Tim as he switched off the phone. “According to Blake and the Ed guy, I’m now a Major, and this has been deemed an outpost, and, I’m the new Post Commander. According to Ed, I am in charge here and no one can argue the point.” Jeff was shaking his head. “I wonder what they’ll think of next?” Major Jeff Matusca looked at Tim. “I wonder if they know what they’re doing?” he added with uncertainty.
“Congratulations Sir,” Tim announced. “I’m sorry to get you into this mess, but you’ve been a big help so far, and I appreciate it.”
“Listen kid, don’t get me wrong. I did what I had to, to keep the situation calm because I am responsible for those men there.” He gestured toward some soldiers. “I don’t know what’s going on, but I can see it is way out of my league. I’m so far out of my league right now, I’m not even going to worry about it. This Ed guy clams to be working directly for the President, so I don’t know? But, until he gets here, do me a favor; don’t cause any trouble. I would be completely happy if you just disappeared until your friends arrive. Can you do that?”
“Yup, that’s no problem.”
“Good, this Ed guy will contact me before he arrives. How can I get you when I need to?”
“Send your guys down into the canyon where you found me, and call my name.”
“Where in the canyon?”
“I’ll show them,” Tim said.
*
Tim went down into the pools with the two soldiers, Compton and Stanton, and directed them into the pool with the entrance. They were instructed to remain there until Ed arrived, and when they got the call from Matusca, they were simply to walk into the crack and call Tim’s name.
*
“Hey dude, what the hell is that supposed to do? You making me out for a chump?” Stanton asked.
“No, no I’m not,” Tim said as he activated the force field, and the rocks dissolved. Then Tim walked through the blue light into the base, leaving the two soldiers standing in the crack with absol
ute astonished looks on their faces. Now it wouldn’t make any difference if they knew where the opening was.
*
Tim returned to his apartment. He knew if the military came back it was going to be pivotal, and it was imperative that he and Ed talked about it in advance. He arranged to bring Ed and Randy into Timtown, transporting them to the Nowhere Place. There they would be completely alone, and Clank wouldn’t be able to listen.
“All your friends are very excited,” Et announced.
“Why’s that?” Tim asked
“They are looking forward to getting out.”
“Yeah, I can’t blame them. When is this happening?”
“Sometime tomorrow afternoon.”
“Get me to Margie, I smell a rat.”
*
Tim materialized in the forest, half a mile in.
Margie was sitting with her feet in the stream.
“Hey lady,” Tim called, hoping he wouldn’t startle her.
She turned. “Hey guy, finally decided to spend some time with a friend, huh?”
Tim couldn’t read anything in the tone of her voice because it sounded completely neutral.
“I’ve been awfully busy,” he offered as an excuse, walking up to her.
“I can see where us ‘mere mortals’ can take up too much of one’s time,” Margie said, still sitting.
Now Tim knew she wasn’t happy with him.
“I ah. . . I guess I have no excuse,” Tim admitted. “I know I’ve been bad, but don’t I get a hug.”
Margie kind of hesitated, but then stood up. She motioned for Tim to come over, and then she wrapped her arms around him.
Tim activated the molecular transfer and they both started to disappear together.
Margie let out a small shriek as she felt the transfer begin, but continued to hold Tim.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she giggled, as they both materialized in the Nowhere Place.” Margie looked around after releasing Tim. “Not much of a place you’ve got here. I thought you’d found something spectacular, and that’s why I didn’t see you too much, but this, golly, I must be really boring.”
“Don’t take it personal, but this isn’t where I come,” Tim explained.
“Good, I’d really be worried if it was, considering how much time you spend away.”
“Sorry about that, but it’s an unnerving time.”
“Like how, Junior?”
“Like, you’re all ready to go outside, and it might not be the best time to do it.”
“Hey look Tim, you’re what, sixteen?”
“Yeah.”
“And, I’m thirty-three.”
“So.”
“So, I don’t care how smart you think you are, or how concerned you may be, but I’m not going to appreciate you trying to make my decisions for me, and either are any of the other adults in here, make sense?”
“Even if I know things you—”
“There’s the problem, kid,” Margie interrupted, “if you know something, let us in on it.”
“I can’t without Art. . .Clank knowing. That’s why I brought you down here.”
“You mean Clank can’t hear us here?”
“Nope.”
“Good thinking. I appreciate you’re considering me. Does this mean you want to confide in an older woman, once again?”
“Yes, Margie, I need to know what you think.”
“Okay, explain it to me.”
“Well, you and the others are heading outside, and it’s likely other people will be there.”
“So what’s the problem?”
“I’m not too sure everybody is going to hit it off.”
“Come on Tim, give us more credit than that for gosh sakes. I was a professional woman, and Elaine—”
“Oh, I’m not worried about you guys,” Tim interrupted, “but some of the ones you will meet can be real jerks.”
“Jerks, as in?”
“Ever had to deal with a pompous General?”
“Yyeeaahh. . .” Margie was thinking, “They can be difficult. . .sometimes.”
“Well, one of them is kind of important, and he’s really pissed at me.”
“I suppose, Generals don’t generally deal with cocky kids too well.”
“Especially kids that kick them in the ass.”
“Tim, you didn’t?” Margie laughed.
“I did.”
“Son, you need a little lesson in diplomacy.”
“Yeah, I’ve been told exactly that already, but please Margie don’t get too anxious. Don’t go until I let you know it’s okay, okay?”
“No good sport, because I’m not the one in charge. The others are chomping at the bit.”
“But it might be dangerous?”
“To who?”
“To. . .” Tim hesitated. “Look, you guys are going outside and you don’t have anything to worry about because—”
“Because we can take care of ourselves, just like you can,” Margie smiled at the comment.
Shit, Clank has got himself an army.
Tim sighed. “Margie,” Tim continued, trying to plead his case, “the soldiers are going to see you, Elaine, a bunch of kids, with some old farts gathered in, and their natural inclination will to be corral you guys, and hustled you out of here.”
“We won’t go for that.”
“I know, that’s how the trouble’s going to start.”
“The soldiers won’t shot at women and kids.”
“Oh, they won’t start it, but Clank and the higher ups will, and after two women, some geriatrics, and a bunch of children scatter the Army, Clank will have what he wants,” Tim proclaimed.
“Does all this surprise you?” asked Margie.
“Timtown?”
“No silly, the way the adults act?”
“Are you categorizing me as out of the loop?”
“Pretty astute for a kid, Junior,” Margie reached over and tousled his hair, “but you are out of this loop, farther than you realize.”
“How so?” Tim was curious.
“You’re unique, you know, the first real Pharaoh in history, and in modern times yet.”
“Oh come on,” Tim objected, but he was actually wondering if he was thinking about her comment or trying to be modest.”
“Seriously, and it’s not a bad thing, really.”
“I don’t want to be a Pharaoh.”
“But you are!” Margie declared. “You have landed in a situation that gives you absolute power, without the threat of losing it.”
“Oh, Clank doesn’t see it that way,” Tim sounded miffed, “I have things to worry about.”
“I think you’re trying to do the right thing, and are confusing that issue with how secure your power is.”
“Think so?”
“Can Clank hurt you, or can he hurt us?”
“He can hurt you guys.”
“What about you?”
“Not me personally, but through you, yes.”
“There you go; it’s your sense of right and wrong that’s getting in your way.”
“But, I need to do the right thing because I don’t want to be one of those scummy bastards that prey on others.”
“It’s the way of the world, Junior, but just listen, regardless of what happens you are on the road to being a real leader, someone that can make a difference.”
“How so?” Tim asked, pleased that Margie though that much of him.
“Because, the best possible form of government is a benevolent dictator that cannot be toppled,” declared Margie.
“Go on,” Tim was listening intently.
“A person that covets absolute power always has to be watching his or her back because other people, friend and foe can’t be trusted. Thus, the person can’t concentrate on doing their thing because they have to spend too much time on self-preservation. In short, paranoia can get in the way of progress. Thus a secure leader is a happy leader, a happy leader is a competent leader.”
&
nbsp; “I’m impressed. How come you know so much?” Tim asked.
“I was in the politics business, I told you already.”
“You said something about being a spin doctor or something.”
“I was a political analyst, same thing. It was my job to make people look good.”
“I like your take on things, but what the hell do I do about the mess headed my way?”
“It’s simple, get rid of the Army,” Margie suggested.
*
It was afternoon when Tim reactivated the force field and walked out into the outside world. Ed Adams had contacted Captain Matusca, and he had in turn contacted Compton who had stood in the crack and asked for Tim. Compton felt rather foolish standing there calling for Tim, facing solid rocks, until the rocks began to shimmer and turned to blue haze. When Tim walked out of the blue light, Compton realized that he had just performed the most important duty of his entire military career, possibly his entire life. He stood there at rigid attention, saluted Tim, with a huge smile on his face.
“You swallow a canary or something?” Tim asked.
“No Sir, but I am happy to be of service, Sir,” Compton stated.
Tim looked Compton over as he walked by him on his way out of the pool. The soldier remained at attention, with the smile, watching the force field change from the beautiful blue light into the rock wall. When it was complete, Compton’s shoulders relaxed and he sighed.
*
Tim returned to the camp and found Major Matusca.
“You have some powerful friends,” he said to Tim.
“Why, did they make you a General, already?”
“No, but my command of this area is iron clad. I’m a goddamn dictator, at least until you’re done with this meeting. It’s a biggy,” Jeff whispered.
“They’re on the way, huh?”
“This is going to be a power lunch, no doubt about it.”
“I hope so.”
“Ed will be here in fifteen minutes, do you need anything?” Jeff asked.
“Nope, nothing besides that meeting.”
“Can I ask you how important this whole thing is, off the record?”
“Second Lewy to Major in what? Does that answer your question?”
“I realize that, but the President’s men, and you. I would have never in a million years have expected to be a part of anything this big.”
“I didn’t either. Six weeks ago, I was a sophomore in high school, right down there.” Tim pointed down the wash toward Mountain Cove.
“You’re not from in there then?” Matusca pointed toward the mountain.
“Nah, I’m really just a temp down there.”
“I hope I’ll get the whole story someday,” Matusca commented, “but I have work to do. Good luck, I hope it all works out,” he said as he turned from Tim.