by DiMirra
I had a longer meeting with my youngest sister, Helene, just to go over all of the details again, as all big brothers do.
To continue our earlier conversation, she explained the Western phenomenon commonly known as "political correctness."
She said, "Father, it is a spontaneous decree from the far left politicians, amplified by the media, that particular thoughts, language and behavior are proscribed and that people who transgress should be called out, ostracized and severely punished per this unwritten law. Basically, it is a rebellion by the spoiled children of the West and has become so insidious and pervasive it carries the weight of law. It has severely eroded Western values and culture over forty years, leaving them in the current state of not knowing who they are any longer, or what to do."
"Well baby girl that certainly explains why they are where they are today" I said.
I gave her the traditional Colombian blessing, a sign of the cross on her forehead, and sent her on her way.
Miche and Don Francisco were both headed back to Colombia on the Boeing Business Jet, so there were lots of hugs and well wishes. I told them I would join them in 72 hours. They would drop Helene at City Airport in London, take on fuel in Havana, and have lunch with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and maybe one of the Castros.
Grandfather would stock up on Cohibas and Montecristos while he was there and drop in for lunch at Hemingway's old bar La Floridita for a mojito and some black bean soup. Grandfather loved Hemmingway and was a great admirer of his work. Hence his novels were all required reading for each generation.
I spent about two hours finalizing the campaigns with Ali, Sidney Field and Gary Dunn on the rollout of Rhino and Voting Machine in Africa. Over the last 72 hours, Sidney had been deploying our Special Operations Teams at Taroudant to the various countries where they were going to engage targets. Once the operation commenced, Ali would hand off command and control to Kenyatta. He would be following the world situation and, of course, the big gorilla in the room -- the United States -- which had yet to become unglued. Intel is a slippery thing. There is so much volume that it is difficult, even for us, to predict the course or the outcome in something this big. I simply knew we were in for one Hell of a ride.
I arranged to have dinner with Ana on the balcony of the master suite where I was sleeping. I ordered a light pasta primavera with shrimp and a bottle of Leroy Montrachet '78 vintage from the cellar.
There was a chill in the air as the sun fell, so Giuseppe lit the gas heaters and stoked the fire pit with a coffee-and-apple wood mix.
The wood was well seasoned, so the pit roared to life and I could hear the crackling as the aroma filled the terrace. I put her medley of Sade and Bach on the Franck Tchang speakers in the background. I've always found it's all the little things that make life grand.
No one can enter a room like Ana. Always the queen, she actually is descended from royalty, from the original people that inhabited the Caucus Mountain region, and some of the first inhabitants of Persia, now called Iran. She represents the very concept of "Caucasian," descended from people of the Caucus Region. Her elegant neck, magnificent green eyes, and high cheekbones were the epitome of sexiness. Voluptuous, she is what a man like me pictures when imagining the perfect woman.
We began with the wine and talk of Paris. It had been some months since I had visited. She really was the lust of my life and the most wonderful sex I ever had – the chemistry was perfection.
"So nice to be in Lugano right now" she said, "we're having a brutally cold winter in Paris and things are so unsettled. It hasn't been this cold since we got snowed in for three days back in '08. I'm sure you remember."
"Ana, your winter is over. It is my wish that you come with me to Taroudant in the morning along with Ali. Then I would like you to take the grandchildren and your mother to the Estancia in Chile while we see how this all plays out. I'll send a team to close up the villa and to stand guard. I have already contacted the French Minister of Security for extra coverage."
"Johnny," she said, "it's in times like these that I reflect upon our life together. So many beautiful memories and no regrets. Well, maybe one, that we did not have more children together."
"That's funny," I replied, "because I wanted to speak with you about that very thing. We did so well with Ali, I think it's time to have another. I spoke with Miche. He assures me that if we start this Cellbot therapy, within the year you would be able to conceive again."
"Oh my God, Johnny!" she said, "Do you really think that could be possible?"
"Ana, my princess, not only is it possible, I think we should start working on it now."
As she reclined on the bed her breasts were pulled out of shape by their own weight. It was a pleasant and exciting vision. Although her hair went prematurely gray in her twenties, her mons veneris was still that shiny red-gold that I remembered.
Some few women are able to have orgasms continuously and Ana was one of these. The large vein in her forehead would engorge and pulsate. She would convulse at times so hard I worried for her but she would only urge me on with gasps and moans of pleasure. The room was filled with the aroma of her sex. It urged me onward toward a level of human experience where I want to reside forever.
She laid there clinging to me, on sheets dampened with our ecstasy, exhausted by the intensity of our emotions. In her repose, she had that look of wonderment and gratitude that I had seen before. It still drives me wild. She shuddered as we fell into perfect afterglow. Finally,
I succumbed to that wonderful place of peace, negligence, quiescence, and calm known as slumber.
Chapter 10
Lugano, Switzerland: January, 2016
"Madam Director, I have the head of the CIA and SecNav on the secure video conference system," said Jackson.
"Gentlemen," said the national Security Director, "I just had a disturbing conversation with that piece of shit Castillo. He's withholding information pending my approval of some unknown requests, what do you know about this?"
The CIA Director said, "Hmm. Madam, he wanted live feeds from two of our satellites, which I have already approved. One is in concert with the DEA to take down two coke labs and a major distribution center on the Colombian border with Ecuador. We will also be using Seal Teams Four and Ten, supported by his forces, in the raids. We'll give credit for the campaign to the Colombian government. The second request is also approved for one of our Mediterranean birds to focus on the Marseilles area for drug intervention and counter-insurgency. He thinks things are going to heat up there in the next couple of days."
"And what are we getting out of this deal?"
"Madam Director, we're getting 36 tons of processed coke, ready to ship. We're destroying 30 percent of their manufacturing capability and capturing one of the worst drug lords and terrorists in South America, Tomas Escalante. As for Europe, in the last 36 hours we have identified over 2,500 jihadists arriving in Marseilles from all over the Middle East."
"I cannot stand this asshole. Why are we doing business with him and paying him? We should be arresting him and extraditing him for High Crimes."
"Here's the bad news, Madam -- since our relationship has changed, due to policy, with Israel, we are almost blind. His security company is the best source of credible human intelligence worldwide. They have either stopped, or informed us, and we stopped, 60 terrorist attacks against our homeland or world interests in the last 20 years. And yes, they sent a special envoy to DC in March of 2001 to warn us of the September attack. The intelligence was disregarded by a high level manager, who incidentally, disappeared 24 hours after the event.
Their family has been in the intelligence business longer than we have been a Nation. They are related by blood to almost every Royal and ruling family in the Middle East and Africa. His Grandfather, 5 times removed, was a commanding General with Simon Bolivar. Nobody knows Latin America like they do. In an outright fight, I am not sure we could take them."
"I cannot stand the man, I think h
e's misogynistic racist."
When the director of the CIA finished laughing, he said, "His family is the most integrated family on the planet -- African, Latin, Chinese, Middle Eastern, Iranian and Indigenous with some Caucasian, say forty percent. I know Johnny. He loves women, all women. Let me suggest that there is a personality conflict and if you like, I'll run point on this for the sake of relationship."
Speaking to the Secretary of the Navy, she said, "John, what's your take on the Fleet warnings he issued today?"
"Director, there have been some movements of various vessels by other navies. At the moment, we are unable to read anything into that, so we are taking a wait-and-see attitude. As for missing subs, since the downsizing, we are unable keep track of all of the submarines out there. At this time, I can say we do not know where two of Iran's are, or where three of Israel's and six Russian boats are located, never mind a dozen from China and India. Obviously any intel on those boats would be a great help. It's my personal assessment that Castillo is reading too much into the situation."
"Ok, thank you John, please sign off as I am going to finish up with the CIA on a compartmentalized issue."
The Navy Secretary signed off, leaving her in the conference with the CIA Director.
"Ok," she asked, "I've heard a rumor that Castillo has the capability to print perfect currency, any currency, including ours. What do you know about that?"
"Director, I've heard that one also and I think he has the resources and capability to do so but I do not see why he would. They are the richest family on the planet and since they're very private, no one really knows much about them. The best credible estimate that I've heard puts them between 500 Billion and a Trillion. So why would they print currency? If they were a country they would be in the top Fifty."
"Very good. I'll stay on this personally. No need for you to run interference. Good night."
She signed off from the conference call and barked at her assistant, "Jackson, tell Colonel Johnson to be in my office tomorrow morning."
Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Lugano, Switzerland: Early Monday, January 18th
I awoke with a start, refreshed and energized for the agenda that was laid out before us. I had espressos sent to the terrace and invited Uwishun and Ali to have coffee with me. It was a morning like so many this time of the year in Lugano. Slightly chilly and misty on the Lake with the rising sun projecting rainbows in the wafting moisture.
"Ali, I have a very bad feeling about the bitch at the NSA. Please put a full court press on, very quietly, with our Washington people. I want to know everything -- who she meets with, who she talks to and where she goes."
"Ok Father, I'm on it."
"You take the Gulfstream to Taroudant and get the family headed to Chile along with your mother. Also take Uwishun and my double with you. Here are my Swiss passport and sat phone. I'll be using Ana's sat phone and travelling as Doctor Calderon, Counsel General to the Colombian Embassy in Italy. I am going to stay here for the day and will meet you late tonight by private charter direct to the compound."
"Uwishun, I need you to get everyone, including your Mother and Wakani, settled in Chile. When you land at the base in Colombia, change transponders on the Gulfstream and file a flight plan to Rio."
"Then I want you back at the Granada Gold Works to coordinate with cousin Alejandro on the raid planned by Escalante. I want a minimum loss of life on our side and Escalante dead or alive, delivered by the Seal Teams you will be working with, to the government of Colombia."
"Johnny what's the final deal with Alejandro? I know he'll lie through his teeth, he just can't help it."
"If we had to deal with honest people on a regular basis we'd be out of business. There just aren't enough and there never will be. However unsavory he is -- he is also family. He helped me set this up once Escalante approached him about robbing Granada. There are 60 tons of processed coke. The CIA gets 36 tons and Alejandro gets 24 tons. He also gets the camp in Ecuador, five million in gold, and the labs. Most of Escalante's hardened men will be killed in the raid. He will leave his number two and a couple of dozen of his loyalists at the camp. Have our team round them up and call for extraction."
"Johnny," Uwishun requested, "I would like to take some of the second generation Guardians with me."
"Excellent idea. Drop them in there 24 hours in advance so they can identify and target what we want."
"Johnny, my only misgiving is leaving you unguarded at such a crucial time. Why don't I leave Santiago, my number two, with you while I'm in the field?"
"Done. I'll awaken Ana and she'll be ready within the hour. Um, on second thought, make that two." Which drew smirks from my friend and my son.
The security team arrived at 09:00 hours with the vehicles and escorted my family to the airport. It was a bittersweet parting but a necessary one. We had received some gruesome reports of crucifixions and wide-spread violence in the neighboring European Union countries.
I had a meeting at 10:00 hours at Banco de Oro Occidente, with Etsa and my brother Diego. I said goodbye to the staff and boarded the armored Land Rover for the short trip into Lugano.
It had been several years since Wakani had seen our son. In a spur-of-the-moment decision I decided he would come with me and see what we do in Taroudant as these grisly events played out.
The clock was running on operation Kwaheri, which would actually be starting in China and Vietnam first because they were ahead of Africa by 8 hours. Operation Voting Machine would start 2 hours after Kwaheri or about 02:00 hours Nairobi time the following day. The troops will have their hands full. Ali, Etsa and I would all be in Taroudant to run interference and provide necessary support.
Don Francisco had a summary expression for almost everything. If he were there, I am sure he would have said, "Johnny, 'Go Big or Go home.'" It began this morning, now it was real. All of our computer models predicted total collapse of the EU within 72 hours. South America would go dark shortly thereafter with the United States declaring martial law.
On my way to the bank, I stopped by the Cathedral San Lorenzo, which has always been one of my favorites, to light a few candles and to make peace with my Creator. In times like these, my early childhood studies come back to me. I was thinking about a quote from the Buddha -- "If a man speak or act with righteous thought, happiness follows him close as his never-absent shadow." This seemed a foreign thought in Catholic chapel.
I left the chapel feeling elated with a phrase I had heard somewhere. I cannot remember where, though it comforted me -- "I do not know what power shapes my way, but my feet are set upon a path that I must follow."
When I arrived at the bank, I could see that the extra security from Taroudant had arrived and was conspicuously deployed. Diego was there to greet me. It had been some months since my last visit there. It was a joy to see him even in these difficult days.
I addressed him in Spanish -- "Diego, Hermano, veo que todo esta preperado (Diego, Brother, I see that everything is prepared.)"
"Johnny, yes -- everything is as it should be. We are prepared completely. I enjoyed seeing the family and with what I heard at the Villa, I think we're ready for whatever comes."
"Excellent, Brother. I just received word, when I was in the Land Rover on the way here, that your children are safe at the Estancia. All you have to do is hold the fort and stay in contact. I have already spoken with the Defense Minister. They will be providing extra patrols in all the banking centers. If you get in trouble, reinforcements are 15 minutes away at the Villa, which holds an extra-strength platoon."
"Diego, where is that Tiepolo painting, Scipio Africanus, that Don Francisco just purchased? I'd love to see it in person."
"It's in the Boardroom Johnny."
My sat phone rang and I answered. It was Ali.
"Father, I know you've been following our news feed so you know that Europe is heating up. I just got a call from Uncle Anees, the Saudi Finance minister, who is in Zurich
at the moment. He would like to come to The Villa for lunch. He says it's urgent."
"Tell him I'll see him there at 1 PM."
"Father, also got word from Washington that the NSA director met with Col. Johnson, her 'fixer,' for 35 minutes early this morning."
"Hmm. What do we know about this guy?"
"When he was on active duty about five years ago, he wouldn't go into that hot zone in Afghanistan to do an extraction. His cowardice cost us a great Special Operations Team. My complaint got him riffed from the Army. Now he's a rogue contractor for the NSA."
"Ok Ali," I replied. "We know his MO. More than likely, he'll follow the trail of my passport and sat phone and the visual on Bryan, my double. That means he'll end up in Colombia at the base, probably under cover of supporting the DEA joint strike force. Give Uwishun a heads up and I'll get back you on this tonight."
In the meantime, there's always paper trail in any bureaucracy. See what you can find out about his equipment and transportation. You should be landing in about 40 minutes. Get the Gulfstream turned around and headed for Colombia immediately. Thank you, Son."
"Diego, I'm going to the Boardroom to make a few calls. I'll speak with you on my way out. Also if you can spare Etsa, I would like to take him with me to Morocco."
"Perfect, Johnny. I'll send him home to pack and have him over to the Villa by 16:00."
"Thank you brother. No worries. We got this!"
Chapter 12
Lugano, Switzerland: Mid-day, January18th
It was over a year since I had seen Anees bin Abdullah, a first cousin, courtesy of our grandfather Don Francisco. He looked very much like me in stature as well as physical conformation. He was six feet tall, fit and trim at 180 pounds, with an aquiline nose and piercing green eyes. When I arrived at the Villa, Anees was already there and had been ushered into my office overlooking the Lake.