To Kill a President

by By Marc james

  “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to teardown, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather them. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to seek, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to be silent, and a time to speak. A time to love, and a time to hate. A time of war, and a time of peace.”

  Clint had been mouthing along with the Archbishop’s words, a single tear now ran down his face. The Archbishop then read President Kennedy’s inaugural address. Clint thought back to that night in 1961.

  “We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom—symbolizing an end, as well as a beginning—signifying renewal, as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago.

  The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe—the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.

  We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans—born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage—and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this Nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

  Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

  This much we pledge—and more.

  To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do—for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

  To those new States whom we welcome to the ranks of the free, we pledge our word that one form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our view. But we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom—and to remember that, in the past, those who foolishly sought power by riding the back of the tiger ended up inside.

  To those peoples in the huts and villages across the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we pledge our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required—not because the Communists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.

  To our sister republics south of our border, we offer a special pledge—to convert our good words into good deeds—in a new alliance for progress—to assist free men and free governments in casting off the chains of poverty. But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let all our neighbours know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression or subversion anywhere in the Americas. And let every other power know that this Hemisphere intends to remain the master of its own house.

  To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support—to prevent it from becoming merely a forum for invective—to strengthen its shield of the new and the weak—and to enlarge the area in which its writ may run.

  Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our adversary, we offer not a pledge but a request: that both sides begin anew the quest for peace, before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction.

  We dare not tempt them with weakness. For only when our arms are sufficient beyond doubt can we be certain beyond doubt that they will never be employed.

  But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course—both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war.

  So let us begin anew—remembering on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate.

  Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belabouring those problems which divide us.

  Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control of arms—and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute control of all nations.

  Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.

  Let both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah—to "undo the heavy burdens ... and to let the oppressed go free."

  And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion, let both sides join in creating a new endeavour, not a new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.

  All this will not be finished in the first 100 days. Nor will it be finished in the first 1,000 days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.

  In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

  Now the trumpet summons us again—not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; not as a call to battle, though embattled we are—but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation"—a struggle against the common enemies of man: tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

  Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance, North and South, East and West, that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind? Will you join in that historic effort?

  In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its hour of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility—I welcome it. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it—and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.

  And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

  My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

  Finally, whether you are citizens of America or citizens of the world, ask of us the same high standards of strength and sacrifice which we ask of you. With a good conscience our only sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds, let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.”

  As the Bishop finished speaking there was a yell from the back of the ambulance.

  “Come on James you’ll be fin
e.”

  “What’s wrong with him?” Jane screeched. As she looked back his body was shaking.

  “His temperature is a little high, it is perfectly normal, he is having a seizure. It looks worse than it is.” The doctor replied as she turned him onto his side.

  Chapter 95

  As Faraday sat at the desk he was writing. He had been writing for a long time, his hand began to shake and he lost his focus. What was I writing about? He wondered. As he looked around the Oval Office he began to wonder how it was that he had arrived here. He sat behind the desk looking towards the door. Am I the President? The door opened and two men entered the room the first man was Jack Kennedy, he was followed by Abraham Lincoln.

  They approached the desk and both took their seats facing Faraday.

  “What’s going on?” Faraday asked.

  “You summoned us.” Lincoln replied.

  “I did?”

  Both men nodded.

  “Am I dead now?”

  “Not yet.” Kennedy replied.

  “Am I going to die?”

  “Everybody dies James. It is just a matter of when.” Lincoln replied.

  Faraday nodded his understanding. He glanced to his left and saw the hourglass, the top bulb was now empty. “Have we run out of time?”

  Kennedy looked unsure, he turned towards Lincoln who shook his head. “I don’t know James.”

  “Are my friends okay?”

  Both men shook their heads.

  Faraday suddenly felt a shooting pain in his stomach and he let out a groan. “I don’t think I’ve got long left.” He said.

  “It can be very disconcerting.” Lincoln acknowledged.

  “Will I see Jane again?”

  “Of course you will, one day.” Kennedy answered.

  “I can’t believe I’m going to die because I tried to save some cop I don’t even know.” Faraday looked down glumly. His eyes caught the piece of paper he had spent hours writing on. It only said one word. “War”. He looked up confused at both men, it was Lincoln that spoke first.

  “If you could go back to that day on the Loch. The day when you followed the light would you follow it now?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Well if you could change things so that you never came back here would you?”

  Faraday considered this for a moment. “No I wouldn’t.”

  “Why not?” Kennedy asked.

  “Because if I’d never come back here then I would have lost Jane. I would never have known that she survived. I would give my life a hundred times over to spend a minute in her company.”

  Both men smiled. “Would you like to know a secret James?” Lincoln asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Jane didn’t survive.”

  “What?” Faraday asked panicking.

  “What he means is that last time, the first time you came back in time Jane died.” Kennedy clarified.

  “How?”

  “Well if you hadn’t had the eagle head with you then David would have attacked you. It was because you had the eagle that Bobby told David not to attack you. You were led straight into her room and when she was sick David turned her onto her side. If he had been attacking you she would have choked.” Lincoln answered.

  “You are a hero James.” Kennedy said.

  “Does that make you feel better about the choices you have made?” Lincoln asked.

  Faraday smiled. “Yes I suppose it does.”

  “So what would you have done differently?” Lincoln asked.

  Faraday thought for a moment. “Well I wouldn’t have lost my eye or been shot.”

  “But don’t you remember how those things happened? You were trying to save your friends and a police officer.” Kennedy said.

  “I should have shot Billy when I had the chance.”

  “And yet you gave him the chance to live instead of taking your revenge. I always say if you look for the bad in people you will surely find it, but I can’t find any bad in you. Everything you have done has been out of love and compassion for your fellow man. Your friends have tried to do the right thing as you have, but they all took a life.”

  “Even Jane?”

  “Yes. They were all doing the right thing, but only you did it in a peaceful way. Which is the right way James, mankind must put an end to war or war will put an end to mankind.” Kennedy replied.

  “Is this real? Are you really here?”

  “We are as real as you perceive us to be James.” Lincoln answered.

  “So I’m dreaming?”

  “Do you perceive democracy to be real James?”

  “Yes.”

  “And yet we do not live in a democracy. America is the land of the free but the only people that are free are the people that control the country. The men that think power, money and war are measures of success. These people do not believe in freedom in equal rights in love. They don’t care about the very people that they are supposed to be representing. They are simply doing what the rich want them to do. The rich get richer and the poor get sent to war.” Kennedy said.

  “So what do we do now?”

  “You need to stop them James. Napoleon once said that history is written by the winners. That means that history has not been written yet James because you have not lost yet.” Lincoln said.

  “But I think I’m dying, what can I do?”

  “You are stronger than you know James, your friends cannot do this without you. The world will remain corrupt and unjust if you don’t stop it. The people that control the world will continue to do so if you can’t stop them, the people that stand up to them will continue to be silenced if you can’t stop them. The media will continue to report what they are instructed to report by the people in power. Elected officials will not be able to change anything of significance while they have no power. People that see this is the case and speak out will be ignored and marginalised by others calling them conspiracy theorists, there is a conspiracy and it can be stopped. Give them back the power James. Bring back democracy!” Kennedy said.

  As Jack Kennedy finished talking he stood up and walked over to the hourglass he picked it up and looked at Faraday.

  “It’s time to go back now James.”

  Chapter 96

  When Clint checked his watch it was 03:00 they would be there in the morning. Faraday had stopped shaking and Jane had gone into the back beside him and the two doctors. Nancy had fallen asleep on Clint’s shoulder. Clint was beginning to feel tired now but he couldn’t rest, not yet anyway.

  Jane was sitting staring at Faraday wishing that he would come back to her. She just wanted to kiss him, to talk to him. She wanted him to tell her everything would be alright. She didn’t want to have to be strong anymore. She took out her gun and examined it. The doctors sitting beside her looked suddenly worried.

  “You’d be better putting that away.”

  “Its fine, I’m just looking at it.” She replied.

  Sandy was beginning to tire behind the wheel, it had been a long drive. As he looked in the wing mirror he saw that they were being pulled over. He had probably been all over the road, he was sure he had fallen asleep at some stage. He pulled over to the side of the road and watched as the officer walked towards him. He looked to be in a foul mood.

  “What are you doing Sandy?” Clint asked.

  “We’ve been pulled over.” He replied sleepily.

  “This is an ambulance we can’t get pulled over.” Clint advised.

  “He’s almost here now it won’t take a minute.”

  “Just drive Sandy.”

  “I can’t they’ll just follow us.”

  The officer knocked on the window. Sandy lowered it. “Is there a problem officer?”

  “Could you step out of the vehicle sir?” Sandy went to get out when Clint shouted.

  “No, this is an ambulance and I am a Secret Service agent. You cannot pull us over.”

  “I think you’ll find that I can. Please step out of the vehicle s
ir.”

  Sandy did as he was told. As he stepped out he saw that the officer was joined by two other police men that were not in uniform. There was nothing around for miles in any direction.

  “You were all over the road there.” The officer stated.

  “Yes sorry it’s been a long drive it won’t happen again.

  “A long drive? Where did you begin your journey?”

  “Dallas.” Sandy replied.

  “That’s a long way for an ambulance?”

  “Yes just transferring a patient.”

  “How many people are in the ambulance?”

  “Six including me plus the patient.”

  “And you’ve been driving all the way from Dallas?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Strange.” The officer commented.

  “Why’s that?” Sandy asked.

  “Because I’ve been driving since Dallas too.”

  Sandy was suddenly worried. “Who are you people?”

  “I’m Officer White and these are my friends Charles Harrelson and Charles Rodgers.” Roscoe White pulled the gun from his holster and shot Sandy in the face. Charles Harrelson and Rodgers ran to the back of the ambulance and opened the doors.

  When Jane saw the grassy knoll gunmen she gave out a scream and dropped the gun. They began firing shots into the ambulance, she saw both doctors getting hit in the heads and fall to the ground. There was a shot from the front of the ambulance as well and Clint gave out a scream of pain.