* * * *
Randy was shooting hoops in his driveway when Angie drove up. She got out of the car and walked over to where he was bouncing the ball. He must have been in deep thought since he didn’t even seem to notice her standing at the edge of the driveway.
“Randy?”
“What? Oh, hi. Sorry, I was kind of spaced out. How are you doing Angie? Ah...wait. Is something wrong?”
“No not really. I just happened to be going by and saw you sort of just standing there. Is everything okay?”
“I guess. As much as it can be.”
“Look, I’m headed over to get lunch, why don’t you join me and we can talk. Where is Sophia?"
“Talk?”
“Yeah, you know, move our lips and sounds come out?”
“Very funny. Ah what the hell, I can’t hit squat anyway and I am kind of hungry. Sophia is at school right now," he said tossing the basketball on the grass.
They climbed into Angie’s car and she drove over to the only restaurant. It was later in the afternoon so only a few people were still eating. They took a booth by the window and sat down opposite each other.
“So, I take it you are on a mission,” Randy said.
“Mission?”
“Yeah. Keep Randy from going around the bend.”
“No, really it isn’t anything like that. You seem normal enough to me and I sure don’t see you as crazy enough to do something stupid to yourself,” she assured him.
“Still, you do have a motive. I seriously doubt you just happened to be passing by. I do know where you live and my place certainly isn’t on the way.”
“Okay. You’re right to some extent. I am worried about you keeping this all bottled up inside you. I know you are a strong person but beating yourself up every day is going to drag you down.”
“Yes doctor.”
“Don’t be a smart butt. You know what I’m saying is true. You as much as gave me this lecture some time ago, remember?”
“Fine, but how did you accomplish normalcy? I mean, exactly how does one go about just letting it all go and acting like everything is hunky-dory?”
“By getting back in the saddle. Getting your head back in the game. We have some very serious decisions and you happen to be the key person in the entire works. Sure we can cover for you up to a point but you need to be there as well. You bring a unique point of view to the table, just like you said I did. We all do but yours is especially important because General Webber appointed you to lead.”
“I haven’t done a very good job of leading.”
“That’s pity talking. What do you want us to do, have a parade telling everyone how valuable you are to the League? That we can’t go on? Geez Randy, we all have things to work out but we can’t just run and stick our heads in the sand.”
“Look, you don’t know what I am feeling. Sure you can judge me but you are not inside of my head. You talk about me failing the League, what about Rachel and the baby, Sophia? At least the League is still alive.”
“So how much longer do you intend to have a pity party?”
“Damn it, I’m entitled to feel sorry.”
“It’s a luxury we can’t afford. Certainly none of us in the League. We simply don’t have time for that.”
“Well I’m taking the time. I don’t care what you guys decide. Just leave me out of it for now,” Randy said angrily.
“Alright Randy. Have it your way. We will do what we think is best without your input. None of us like it but we will do what we have to do for the good of the people. I understand you lost Rachel and the baby but we have almost eighty-thousand people we are responsible for and each one of them deserves to live. For that to happen the League has to make some hard decisions and that is exactly what we intend to do,” Angie said, getting up from the table, “You also need to think about what kind of parent you are for Sophia right now.”
She walked to her car without looking back, started it and drove off without a backward glance. Randy just sat there watching her drive off. What did they expect from him? He wasn’t an android, he had feelings and no one seemed to understand that.
He walked home, feeling like the world was crashing down on him. When he finally got home he walked over and retrieved the basketball, bounced it a few times and took a long shot from the edge of the drive. It missed everything and bounced down the street. He just let it go.
* * * *
Angie was furious. Mostly at herself. She was sure that she could find a way to bring him out of his funk. She was usually really good at getting people motivated. Randy was such a different personality. Very complex and maybe a little bit bipolar. He seemed to either be really sharp and upbeat or exhibiting self-doubt and out of the picture.
She drove back home and was somewhat surprised to find Laura sitting on her front porch. She got out of the car and walked up to the steps.
“Hi Laura, are you waiting on me? Were we suppose to meet and I just forgot?”
“No, no. Nothing like that. I just thought I’d pop by and see what you were up to. You got any big plans for this evening?”
“Nah, not really.”
“They have a good show on at the theater tonight. An old Robert Redford flick. Three Days of the Condor. It’s been ages since I saw it. I thought you might want to go with me.”
“Sure. That sounds great. Beats sitting around here all evening. Have you eaten yet?”
“I had a snack about an hour ago. We could stop by the restaurant first if you want to,” Laura suggested.
“Okay, come on in. I’ll change my duds and we can go eat.”
“I’ll just wait here. It’s such a great afternoon.”
“Cool. I’ll be right back,” Angie said and went inside.
Fifteen minutes later she was ready and they headed to the restaurant. It was still early enough that it wasn’t too busy. She half expected to see Randy still sitting there but was relieved when she saw that he was gone.
“So, when is the next big inventory?” Laura asked.
“Not long from now. The road to Bolder is almost open. Once that’s done we will go in and clear it out.”
“Am I going to be on that detail or do you know yet?”
“Sure. I can work you in if you really want. It’s going to be a lot of work with the University being there and all.”
“I don’t mind. I like getting out and doing things.”
“I’m talking about a month or more. You sure you want to make that kind of commitment?” Angie asked.
“You bet. I would really like to be on the team.”
“Okay, consider it done. Once I get the okay, we will form up and head out,” Angie said.
“That would be awesome. Thanks, I really appreciate it.”
“Heck, I'm glad you volunteered. It will make getting a crew together easier.”
“I guess with all the troops gone it makes getting a crew even more difficult,” Laura said, digging into her salad.
“Yeah. It is going to continue to be a problem for some time I’m afraid.”
“Why?”
“From what I hear, things are not going too well in Germany. It may be a couple of months before they get to head home again. I guess they have had a lot of causalities and wounded.”
“Man that sounds serious.”
“It is. I feel sorry for them.”
“Yeah, I know what you mean. War is crazy,” Laura said.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
- MOSCOW, RUSSIA –
“My warrior returns,” Matryona Mihailvo said, rushing to hug Yegor.
She threw her arms around him and they embraced for a long time.
“I can’t believe how much I missed you,” Matryona finally said.
“And I missed you darling. I could hardly wait to get back to see you. This is a very unusual feeling for me. I always enjoyed my time with the men in the field but this time all I wanted to do was get the job done and come home to see your smiling face.”
“Is that all? Just my smiling face?” she asked with a smile on her lips?
“Well, since you asked...”
“See, I knew it.”
“Hey, you started it, now let’s go home and finish it.”
Yegor was telling the truth. Normally he did enjoy the missions. It was a challenge that he found stimulating. Pitting his skills against those of his foes. It was an adrenalin rush that was difficult to explain to anyone that has never been in combat.
This is the first time he could ever remember wanting to just get it done and get back to his woman. No, that was not right. Not just his woman but the woman he loved. He shook his head, how could that be? How did it happen? When did it happen? It didn’t matter how or when but it was a simple fact that he did truly love Matryona.
After they had made slow passionate love, Yegor said, “Matryona, I have something to ask you. I want you to think about it before you answer. Would you do that?”
“Certainly Yegor. What is bothering you?”
“While I was in Germany I got to thinking. You know when you asked me to introduce you as Mrs. Nitikin?”
“Of course. I didn’t want them to think I was just a mistress of some old guy.”
Yegor reached over and smacked her on her bare butt, “You are terrible. I should beat your butt for that.”
“You would enjoy it too much then you would forget what you wanted to ask me.”
“You’re probably right. Anyway you scamp, I was going to ask you a question and I wanted you to think about it. Do you think you can do that without being an imp for one minute?”
“I will do my best, even though it will be hard. What is this important question?”
Yegor looked at her for a minute then said, “Will you marry me?”
Matryona eyes opened wide and her mouth fell open. She sat up looking at him, tears filled her eyes.
“Yegor, do you really mean it? I...”
“Matryona, I love you. I want you to really be Mrs. Nitikin.”
“Oh Yegor,” she said, throwing herself at him and hugging him.
She pulled him down on the bed and held him. Tears fell on his chest as she looked down at him.
“You can’t believe how long I have wanted to hear you say that. I fell in love with you almost at first sight. I love you Yegor. You have made me the happiest woman in the world,” she said kissing him.
Yegor lay there, stroking her hair.
“Then, I take it that is a ‘yes’?”
“Yes. A thousand times yes my darling Yegor.”
“I must ask, are you a virgin?”
She laughed and cried at the same time as she climbed on top of him and said, “Of course, but you may now have your way with me since we are to be married.”
And he did.
* * * *
Nitikin sat at the head of the table. Around him was Captain Sidorvo, his second in command, Captain Andreev, Captain Ivanov, Ex-Chancellor Vladimir and Matryona.
He took a sip of water and said, “Yes, I know you are all thinking what a strange mixture but for now, let’s just assume I have my reasons. I have several things I want to discuss with you and I feel a collective of different backgrounds will lead to a better decision.”
No one spoke, they were just watching him intently. No one knew what the meeting was about, not even Matryona. She had tried to get some information from him but he remained steadfast in refusing to talk about it.
“First I want to talk about restructuring the military as it stands now. As you know, we just returned from Germany and hopefully we will not be called on for military action again anytime soon. That does not mean that we can disband the military but we can restructure it. Secondly I want to propose a way to set up a government that is controlled by the people. I am specifically talking about having an election for President and a committee made up of appointed and elected officials to control the various aspects of government.”
Everyone was fascinated. Only the sound of the clock hand moving could be heard. Yegor was trying to walk a thin line. He wanted to introduce them to his plan but not make it seem like he was dictating or cramming it down their throats. It was a precariously thin line.
“As we sit here right now, there are five military and two civilians. That doesn’t seem like a very good mixture. Our government should be represented by the military but not the driving force. They should not have control of the people,” Yegor said, taking another sip of water.
He was watching them closely. Vladimir was the hardest to read. He seemed skeptical but Yegor couldn’t really tell for sure. He could just as easily have been amused or shocked.
“Since the military seems to fall under my jurisdiction I want to ask each of the officers this question. If you could rearrange the military into a unit that would fit today’s needs, how would you do it? I want you to think on that for a bit while I talk more about the government,” Yegor said.
He looked at Vladimir and Matryona for several seconds. He could see that Matryona was wondering what her part in all this was.
“How should we structure the government? Russians have always been skeptical of the government. What should we do to overcome that stigma?” Yegor asked.
Vladimir sat back in his seat, rubbing his chin with the back of his hand.
“General Nitikin, I...” he started.
“Please. Today it is Yegor.”
“Fine. Yegor, between the military and the government, most citizens live in fear. One is as bad as the other. We have had so called ‘elections’ but they mean little. They are either rigged or only the elite are allowed to seek office. The first thing that is necessary is to prove that a change is really taking place.”
“I agree,” Matryona said, “The people have no trust in the system. It has always been a farce before. Honesty has not been the policy of our past government.”
“Yes. I understand, but the question is the same. How do we change that perception?”
“When you say free elections, what do you mean Yegor?” Vladimir asked.
“I mean that each person gets one vote. Voters would have to be listed so that we could check that no one votes twice. Randy Boling, explained that in America, they register voters to make sure they are allowed to vote and to make sure that they only vote one time.”
“Yes, but the process of registering. You obviously have to give the government information about your family and yourself. That alone causes distrust,” Vladimir said.
“Then how do we overcome that?”
“By getting people to believe that a change is really happening. It isn’t just talk but actually happening,” Matryona said.
“How?” Yegor asked.
“Slowly. We have to keep our promises that we make. Small ones at first then larger ones. We need to show them that it is real,” Matryona replied.
“Are you actually suggesting that we would have a government controlled by the masses without military intervention?” Vladimir asked.
“That is exactly what I am purposing.”
“And you see this as a realistic goal?”
“I certainly do. I know we have a lot to overcome but now is the time to make the changes.”
“But getting the people to believe it will not be simple,” Vladimir insisted.
“So? It is not simple. Does that mean it isn’t worth doing? It is much easier to just give up and say let it be as it was. I refuse to do that.”
Vladimir didn’t reply.
“Matryona, what do you think?”
“A big campaign would have to be waged to win the people over. We would have to propose someone they believe in.”
“Vladimir? Could you do such a thing?”
“At one time, perhaps. Not now.”
“Why?”
“Why? Because you drug me out of the Kremlin and put me in prison. People will think I am helping only to remain free or that I have come over to your side. I would be considered a puppet,” he replied.
“Let’s say you are right, who else would the people trust?”
“Sergei Matskevich. He was one of the most outspoken for improving mining safety. The government did not think much of him and tried to squash his influence. Many of those who survived know who he is and what he has done.”
“Then we need to talk to him and see what he thinks. Anyone else?”
“Grigorii Baskov. He was another activist for mining improvements. Rumor has it that the government was plotting to have him disappear to Siberia if he caused any more problems. I don’t know if it is true but he did keep a low profile for a while.”
“Then we need to meet with both of those men and any others you can think of that would consider becoming President.”
“I’m not sure they would even consider it but I will talk to them. I think it would be best coming from me than from you. No offence intended,” Vladimir said.
“None taken. I understand what you are saying and I agree.”
“So, let’s say we elect a President, then what?”
“Well, we would have other offices that people could run for if they are qualified.”
“Such as?”
“A Finance Czar.”
“Please. Do not add the term Czar,” Matryona quickly said.
“Yes, I suppose that is not the best term. Finance Minister?”
“That would be better,” she and Vladimir both agreed.
“And what would those qualifications be?” Vladimir asked.
“We would have to figure that out. Obviously we will need someone that understands both our finances and those of the other nations' and how they will interact.”
“That may not be so easy to find now days,” Matryona said.
“I agree, but the other countries are faced with the same thing so we need to work on it. We would have two others appointed by the Finance Minister, one appointed by the President and one from the military for budgeting purposes,” Yegor said.
“I’m not so sure that is the right amount of advisors,” Vladimir replied.
“How many is not the point. What I am trying to convey is that we need other elected and appointed people as well. The elections should cover whatever ministers that are needed. How many or who is not as important at this point.”
THE REVELATION - Book 3 (THE EVENT) Page 15