“But I think the real reason he made the tape was pure human jealousy. Waylen struggled in the trenches of the revolution for over forty years, and at the end he really had nothing to show for it. Tambor didn’t even give him credit for writing his book, and that book launched his entire career, all the way to the White House. You could almost say that Robert Waylen made Jamal Tambor, with that book and with his connections.”
“Like introducing him to Peter Kosimos when he was just a college student.”
“Exactly. Tambor would have been a nobody if it wasn’t for Robert Waylen. And what thanks did he get? I mean, can you imagine writing your greatest masterpiece, a critically acclaimed best-seller that sold millions of copies, and you didn’t even get one dollar from it? Not even a thank-you note from the man whose name was on the cover? Tambor is such a narcissist, I’m sure that it never even occurred to him to thank Waylen for writing his book for him, before he said it on that tape. Hell, Tambor probably believes he wrote it by now, even if all he did was scribble a rough-draft outline. That’s how narcissists are: they take credit for everything. And then to be brushed off like some crazy old crackpot…to be publicly rebuked…that had to hurt. That videotape was made during Tambor’s final visit to Waylen’s house. Maybe it was for insurance. Maybe it was for blackmail down the road, if he needed to use it. Maybe he just wanted to get Tambor on tape admitting that he didn’t write his own book, that Waylen did. For posterity, for the record. Even though he was a communist, Waylen was still a history teacher. Posterity would matter to him.”
“That makes sense,” said Ranya. “But you’re dodging my question. What really happened in his townhouse? Did Waylen have any help doing himself in? And how did the tape get out? Come on, Phil, you can tell me. You know I can keep a secret.”
“Let’s just wait on that one, okay? We have plenty of time. I need to save some good war stories for those long winter nights in front of your ridiculously huge fireplace. Just plant me in a rocking chair with some good sipping whisky in my hand, throw a horse blanket over my legs, and I’m liable to tell all kinds of stories.” Like what had happened to Bob Bullard. Phil didn’t want to bring him up yet and tear open that old wound in Ranya’s heart. Not now. Today was just too perfect to ruin with such ugly talk.
But someday she’d want to know that Brad had been revenged. He had injected far too much of the YP-12D into Bullard’s guts, and the rampant plague infection could not be reversed. Krantz had also gotten a needle before they had left for Camp David, in case they did not return from the mission. Bullard’s house at Fort Campbell had been burned down with their bubo-ridden bodies still chained in its basement, to prevent the spread of the deadly germs. It was just another “accidental” fire. Phil Carson was losing track of them all.
Ranya asked, “You promise you’ll tell me what really happened someday?”
“Of course I promise. I’m planning on it. Brian’s going to hear all manner of outrageous tall tales when his uncle Phil comes to visit. But I’m going to spread ’em out. Take my time. I don’t want to wear out my welcome too soon.”
“Phil, you know you’ll never wear out your welcome,” said Ranya, slipping her arm around his waist as they gazed together up the Wind River Canyon.
“I hope not.”
“We have years.”
“That we do,” said Phil Carson. “We have years. We have forever.”
United States Constitution
Article 1 Section 3:
The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. When sitting for that purpose, they shall be on oath or affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of the members present.
Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall nonetheless be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and punishment, according to law.
Article 2 Section 4:
The president, vice-president and all civil officers of the United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for, and conviction of, treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.
Article 3 Section 3:
Treason against the United States shall consist only in levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in open court.
The Congress shall have the power to declare the punishment of treason, but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood, or forfeiture except during the life of the person attained.
Article 5:
The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or on the application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress.
Matthew Bracken was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1957, and graduated from the University of Virginia and UDT/SEAL training in 1979. He is married, has two children and lives in Florida. Since completing the Enemies trilogy, Matt has written Castigo Cay, his first Dan Kilmer novel, about a former Marine sniper trying to live as a free man in an unfree world.
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Table of Contents
copyright
dedication
Acknowledgements:
Also by Matthew Bracken:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
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13
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19
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26
27
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32
Epilogue
United States Constitution
about the author
Foreign Enemies and Traitors Page 83