by Darrel Bird
“Everybody get out, and send Albert Winston in.”
“Sir?” The men asked almost in unison.
“I said get out, never mind hunting him, I’ll call him myself.”
The men got up out of their comfortable leather chairs and scurried out, all but Abe Garner, his vice president, “He’s right down the hall in a room Liam, you want me to go get him?”
“Yeah, and then take a fifteen minute break Abe, I’ve got to handle this myself.”
The vice president left the room and quietly closed the door. Liam knew he could depend on the man to ward off any questions from people he didn’t know. In five minutes Albert walked in the door, or rather slithered in, and sat down before being invited.
“I’ve got a situation going on out by Denver Colorado Albert. Some red neck sheriff has got some Christians treed in a hollor out there. This has got to be handled fast. I need a cap on it and buried by tomorrow morning, or day after at the latest. I want you to grab one of the private jets, and be in Denver by noon. Grab up some National Guard, and get to Grant County, and shut this down. I don’t care if you have to put the hurt on the local police, but I don’t want hide nor hair of them Christians harmed.”
Liam spoke with a tangy Midwestern accent, and he was proud of his good old boy drawl. It had won him favor on the west side of the Mississippi as an honest man, although he was crooked as a rope, and mean as a snake.
“Since when did you care about some Christians Liam?”
“I don’t, but this can damage me bad if this thing turns to crap Albert, can I depend on you?”
“Of course.”
“Ok, my appreciation will be fourth coming. We will communicate by secure cell only.”
“Yes sir, is that it then?”
“Since when did you begin calling me Sir Albert?”
“Since you came into enough power to squash me like a bug.”
Yes sir, it felt good to be the president. He watched the man go through the door, but he could have sworn the room was fifteen degrees colder. He shivered; I’ll end up having to kill that man. He walked to the door and motioned the others in.
Two hours later platoon sergeant Joe Danko received a call from his commanding officer, and he walked out to where the troops were doing maintenance, “Ok listen up, you won’t be going home tonight, instead I want you in full combat gear in fifteen minutes.”
One of the men asked, “What’s up Sarg?”
“You’ll be told when you need to be told Alred, get going, we got choppers waiting on the pad.”
Part 10- The Miracle
Men came to relieve Paul and Maria on the hill. They hadn’t eaten since early morning and it was growing dark. Maria waved as they entered the compound clearing about the same time.
“Anything I need to know?” He asked her as he fell in step with her on the way to the kitchen.
“No. I’m so tired I’m almost out on my feet.”
“Well we can get a good nights sleep. I doubt if they will attack in the night.”
“I think they may wipe us out Paul.”
“Only if God allows, and whatever he allows is ok by me.”
At the same time they were talking, two helicopters hovered over the road, and National Guard troop’s rappelled from them. In ten minutes the troops had the sheriff and his deputies surrounded and were pointing M-16’s at them.
“Not me you idiots…down the hill!” Cole yelled to the stern platoon sergeant. The sergeant just stood, and looked at him. He took his cigar out of his mouth and blew smoke up at the sky.
Albert Winston walked up to Cole, “You are too get these men out of here, and don’t come back.” His face showed no emotion, his demeanor as calm as a grave.
“Like hell I will, these people broke the law!” The sheriff looked at Albert, and he suddenly shivered even though it was relatively warm.
Albert grabbed Cole by the shirt collar and yanked him close enough that his nose was almost touching Coles face, “Listen you little shit, the white house doesn’t like you and I don’t like anybody, so get your stupid ass down off this hill before I take a piss on your grave. Sergeant if this man hasn’t cleared the area in two minutes...kill him.”
The sergeant looked at Cole and grinned, “Get on while you can. We’ll be watching this place, and if I see you here again you will be shot without warning.”
Cole blustered, but turned to his deputies importantly “Ok men, the military has it, lets go.” His face was white as a sheet.
His men, who had worked for Wright for a long time, looked at him and snickered as they piled into the cars.
Sergeant Danko, turned to Moran, “Moron, go down to that compound, and tell them they won’t be bothered again.”
“Sergeant, I’ve had more fun watching this show than I’ve had in a long time.”
“Just do it Moran, you hard of hearing?”
“Yes sergeant, hooah!”
“Yeah, hooah ” And he lit another cigar and leaned back to taste the fast falling dusk. At least some folks can sleep safe tonight, and my boys are doing something useful.
At the bottom of the hill Moran called out, “Don’t shoot! I’m coming in with a message! I’m unarmed.”
“Come on in. Just keep your hands where I can see them!” A guard called back.
When Moran got close enough he said, “Yall can sleep well tonight, you got the National Guard on duty. The law has gone home, and won’t be back to bother you.”
“Thank you son.”
“Yall are welcome sir. Good night sir.”
Moran turned and walked back up the hill.
The word bubbled down that President Liam Grant had protected the Christians, and the people of the U.S took that as a warning not to do them harm. The Christians had peace for a time.
Many of the Christians stayed on at the compound, and that included Paul and Maria. The range for hunting had widened to fifty miles, and they were on one of those hunts. They stopped the truck on a high plateau, “I never thought God would use a new president to protect us. He’s not a professing Christian.” Paul remarked.
“He thought it was to his own benefit, but God meant it for a miracle of protection for us, and many others.” Maria said.
A day later, the Christians buried their dead and committed their souls to God. It was a sad time, and made more poignant to lay the children to rest. During the service Paul openly held Maria’s hand.
“I love you Paul.”
“I love you too. Without love the sadness would break us.”
The End