by Kurt Winans
Finally there was the support staff for all those he had mentally listed. Although perhaps uncertain of exactly where their respective contacts and superiors had fit into the grand structure, they also deserved some credit for their collective effort. No matter who it was, or what part they had played, it was nice for Samuel to see many of them present to celebrate the birth of a new nation. Each of those individuals had been part of a larger team that helped to create it, and therefore they should enjoy the spoils that went with it.
Realizing that the time had come to do so, Samuel seized the opportunity to acknowledge those who had given so much to the success of the overall plan by offering his sincere and heartfelt thanks. While clasping Victoria’s hand for temporary balance, he climbed up onto a sturdy table and said loudly, “Can I please have everyone’s attention for a moment? I have an announcement to make.”
It took several minutes, and a few repeated calls for their cooperation, before all those gathered on the large outdoor patio area settled down, but they eventually did. Then a flow of those who were in the family room or other portions of the mansion made their way outside while Samuel remained patient. He didn’t begin speaking until after he heard Kyle report, “I think that’s everyone from inside the house dad.”
Then with his booming voice he replied, “Thank you Kyle. Now ladies and gentlemen, I’m sorry to interrupt the festivities for a moment, but I wanted to thank everyone for the part that each of you played in the overall plan. Some of you have not met before this evening, but I can assure you, that was never intended to be a personal slight upon any of you. Please know within your heart that you played a role in re-establishing the independent Republic of Texas, and that tight security measures were vital in attaining that goal. Personally speaking, I shall never forget those efforts that each of you put forth. I have also spoken with number one earlier today, and was asked by the leader of our organization to convey thanks and congratulations to each of you. Additionally, I was asked to provide a special acknowledgement on behalf of number one to those brave men and women who were members of the air and ground assault teams at each of the three target locations. I believe it’s proper at this moment to ask that each of those brave souls raise their hand so that we as the collective can recognize them and give them the well-deserved round of applause that is due.”
After having done so, and hearing a various round of shouts such as “Here’s to those on the front line” and “Long live Texas, may she never forget you”, everyone took a drink from their glass to salute each member of the assault teams.
Then Samuel asked for quiet again and continued, “Ladies and gentlemen, I would also be remiss if I didn’t add one other thing. All told there were twenty-eight men who parachuted into the eastern stadiums, along with twenty women who provided them with ground support by retrieving them and driving them safely back to Texas from New York and Maryland. Another group of five women and two men were responsible for both ground and air operations with regard to the fourteen additional men who jumped into the Colorado stadium for the western attack. Although three drove back home from their mission, the other four of that support group were responsible for flying them away from the stadium toward Mexico. Then that collective of eighteen persons needed to wait within the borders of our foreign neighbor for more than a week until the opportune moment to re-enter Texas from the south was presented. Within that entire assault and support force of sixty-nine persons, there was only one injury that required medical attention, and one death. The man who died was part of the Annapolis team, and internal injuries caused shortly after the attack were the cause. His teammates with him in the escape vehicle provided the best medical attention they could offer under the circumstances, and asked repeatedly if he wished to go to an emergency clinic. Knowing that such an action could potentially expose the entire operation, he bravely declined. With no family members to assume the care of his body, it became an extreme honor for both me and Victoria to have his remains put to rest upon the property of this ranch next to our youngest son Chance. Now I must ask one final thing from everyone. As it was proper for all of us a moment ago to provide applause and a toast to those brave souls who came home to us, it is also fitting and necessary that we share a moment of silence in the memory of the one who has fallen.”
After a long moment in which no one seemed prepared to be the first to raise their head or utter a word, Victoria took the lead. She broke the deafening respectful silence by saying, “Thank you for your attention everyone, and for paying proper respect where it was due. Now please, let’s all get festive again by celebrating what that man felt was a cause worth giving his life for.”
Throughout the course of the next few hours, and the several kisses to celebrate the New Year and the newly reformed nation, Samuel and Victoria were interrupted from time to time by well-wishers from various factions of the organization. One such interruption was made by the approach of a man with a bandaged left arm. Then when reaching with his right hand, he said, “I would like to offer my thanks for the evening Mr. and Mrs. Tillman, but especially for what you said about the man who fell after Annapolis.”
Reaching to shake the man’s outstretched hand, Samuel replied, “You are welcome sir, and how is your arm?”
“The doctors at Baylor were able to save it from just below the elbow as you can see, and they say that was due largely to the care that I received during the drive back from Annapolis. Unfortunately the bullet had shattered the bone in my upper arm, so chances are that even with my soon to be fitted prosthetic, I will never again have the full range of motion that I previously took for granted.”
Victoria intervened by stating, “I understand that the past seven weeks have been difficult for you young man, but please don’t despair. The medical staff at Baylor is top notch, so you keep working hard on the rehab and your new Republic will cover the expenses.”
Turning to his hostess, the man replied, “Thanks for the encouragement ma’am, and I will work hard to regain mobility so that I may be of further service to Texas.”
Then Samuel added, “Regardless of your range of mobility, there will always be a place for you in the organization sir. Texas will need to defend herself from a foreign enemy at some point in the future, of that I have no doubt. When that day comes your services will be welcomed, if not on the front line, then perhaps in the role of an instructor.”
“Thank you sir, that’s kind of you. Please know that I shall be ready for the call.”
The man departed to try his luck with a woman near the pool who had caught his eye, and having watched her initial reaction to the bold advance, Samuel stated to Victoria, “I think he may stand a fair chance with her.”
After a few moments of uninterrupted celebration, number forty seven, who had done such a tremendous job with organizing the Pennsylvania aspect of distribution for the eastern attack plan, approached to offer both his congratulations and heartfelt thanks for the evening. After a kiss of good cheer on the cheek from the hostess, he looked at his host Samuel and offered his hand. Then in the grip of a firm handshake he said, “I await my next assignment from you with great anticipation number two.”
“You have done well number forty seven, and another assignment with regard to the defense of Texas will come your way shortly my friend. For now, Victoria and I wish you a happy New Year. Now please continue to enjoy the evening and the birth of our Republic with many of our other good friends.”
Ms. Holloway had moved through the mass of people to stand at the side of Samuel and Victoria shortly before they concluded their conversation with number forty seven, and after the man moved away, she was offered champagne by Samuel. Then Victoria leaned closer to her husband’s ear so that only he and Ms. Holloway could hear, and quietly asked, “Do either of you think that number forty seven, or anyone else for that matter, has put the sequencing together yet?”
Samuel responded quickly, “That’s difficult to know with any certainty, but I haven’t h
eard any conversation about it. I don’t personally think anyone has, as most of the numbered operatives and those beneath them probably assume that they just haven’t been introduced to each of the other numbered players as of yet. For security purposes that remains a good and useful thing, and it would be beneficial if that belief were maintained within the ranks for as long as possible.”
Then after reaching for her glass, Ms. Holloway added, “I suppose that’s true Samuel, but someone is bound to figure it out eventually. Now let’s toast again to our new nation?”
With a clink of their collective glasses, Samuel and Victoria leaned in close to kiss the opposite cheeks of their longtime confidant. Then Victoria softly whispered into her ear, “We would be honored to toast to our new nation with you my dear friend.”
Samuel was once again quick to follow suit by stating, “And if I may be so bold as to say so, I promised you that with concentrated effort we could achieve our desired goal.”
Looking up at the man she had known for nearly fifty years since he was a brash teenager in possession of an unwavering ambitious thirst, Ms. Holloway replied, “Yes Samuel, you were right. And thank you for everything.”
With an even closer lean for security sake, Samuel added, “You deserve many thanks as well number one. It was you who devised the foundation of this intricate and brazen plan years ago. Because of that early vision along with strong effort and conviction, all of our collective dreams have now become reality.”
Kurt possesses a spirit of adventure, which drives his thirst for experiencing new places and activities. He maintains a love for the great outdoors, and enjoys traveling whenever his schedule permits. One of his favorite activities is hiking in the clean mountain air, where the tranquil locations provide him with an opportunity to develop characters and storylines for his books. Kurt currently resides in Northern Nevada, where he and his wife have lived for more than a decade.
Visit the author at:
www.kurtwinans.com &
www.bhcpress.com