THE BEGINNING Book Two (THE EVENT)

by Marshall Huffman

  “How could we do such a thing? I mean how would we actually put such a plan in action? What do we really know about a Democracy? Even America seems to struggle with the concept from time to time. The Russian people are used to being under government control. Giving them a say in government could cause a great deal of conflict,” Andreev said.

  “I think he is right. Democracy has seldom worked in retrospect. I mean, when Democracy is introduced after the fact, it seldom goes the way it was planned. Corruption becomes rampant in just a short time. Sooner or later everyone is stealing out of someone’s pocket and you end up right back where you started,” Matryona added.

  “Yes, I see that potential but look how many people we now have. What is the count? Less than 50,000 all total. If we are ever going to do such a thing, now is the time. What are our other options? Go back to government control over everything? That didn’t work out so well did it?” Yegor said.

  “No, but neither have the changes since the collapse of Communism. We had more crime than ever before. The people were only marginally better off,” Andreev replied.

  “We have no more food than before either,” Matryona added.

  “We have to do something. Doing nothing is no solution. Do we really want a dictatorship again? Royal families that own everything and the peasants going hungry? We have to find a better way.”

  “Let’s say you hold an election. Who would vote and who would run for office? How would we determine who should lead the country and under what kind of structure? We are by nature a suspicious people. We trust no one. How would we ever find the right person and then convince the people to trust them?” Andreev asked.

  “That is the crux of the problem isn’t it? Who and how?”

  “Only you have that kind of power now. I mean to actually control the whole country. It all rests in your hands doesn’t it?” Andreev asked.

  “I have control for now but when has that ever remained stable in Russia? Someone is always plotting a takeover. Russia is not an easy country to survive in as a leader. Power is fleeting when taken without the people’s support,” Yegor replied.

  “I am not so sure now. You have the military and they are certainly willing to follow your orders. I don’t see how you could have anyone seriously challenge your position,” Matryona said.

  “Maybe not today and maybe not for a couple of years but what happens when the infrastructure starts to break down and other supplies and goods are depleted and we have no way of replacing them. Food isn’t an issue now because of how few mouths we have to feed. Oil and gas isn’t an issue for now either. What happens when things start to grind to a halt? We need a free enterprise system that encourages people to invent and replenish what we need.”

  “I honestly don’t see how you can plan that far in advance anyway. We hardly know what is going to happen in the next few days,” Matryona added.

  “True. But that doesn’t mean we can stick our heads in the sand and hope it all works out for the best. We have to start planning for the future and that means looking at our options now. We can’t afford to live day to day. We have to live for the future,” Yegor said.

  “You are not thinking of disbanding the military are you?” Andreev asked suddenly.

  “Heavens no! We will always need a military but how it is structured and who it answers to is just as important. I never want to have another revolution or military juntá take place.”

  “Sometimes that is the only way,” Andreev replied.

  “We will see. Thank you for your opinions. I appreciate your candor.” Yegor said.

  “Thank you for the dinner. It was amazing. I am honored to be here,” he said standing.

  “We will have you again when Yegor isn’t in such a serious mood,” Matryona said, taking his arm and walking him to the door.

  “Goodnight Matryona, goodnight General Nitikin.”

  “Sleep well,” Yegor said as he closed the door. Yegor helped her clear the table.

  “Yegor, why was I there?”

  “Because I value what you have to say.”

  “Yes. But we had this discussion earlier. You heard most of what I have to say,” she replied.

  “True but I thought it would help to open Andreev up if the two of you talked. He may have been less forthcoming without you there. Andreev is an accomplished administrator but he does not see past the military view. He has become oblivious to the needs of the people.”

  “And why are you so different? You have been in the military your entire life. What do you know about the peasants and their plight?”

  “Little, I’ll admit, but I also know I need to find out if we are going to ever make any real progress in this country,” he said.

  “Yegor, you are selling yourself short. You have the vision that is required. You should be the person to implement a new era in Russian history.”

  “We will see. We will see.” Yegor said, kissing her on the back of the neck.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  RUSSIA

  One of the first things Yegor Nitikin did when he arrived in Moscow was to go to Lubyanka and meet with Sergey Vladimir. As with most KGB interrogation rooms, it was dark, damp, and sparsely furnished. It was meant to be intimidating and it certainly did a good job of it.

  “Ah, Vladimir we meet again,” Yegor said as he was brought into the room, I would like to talk to you about what you were attempting to do and why,” Yegor said.

  “Why should you care? You are military. Why would you care about my plans?”

  “Because Sergey, I doubt that what we want for Russia is that far apart. At least not as far apart as you might think.”

  “General, please forgive me for this but that is total crap. You have no inkling as to what I want for Russia,” Vladimir said.

  “Sit, please. Why don’t you tell me and let me judge for myself?”

  “And if I don’t, what will you do? Cut my other fingers off?”

  “Of course not. How would you pick your nose?” Yegor said, and smiled.

  Sergey looked at him for several seconds, smiled and sat down. What harm could it do he reasoned?

  “I will tell you what I see. I see a time when Russia is no longer ruled by a privileged class that can have people taken out and shot or disappear because they don’t like what they say. I see a Russia that has laws that are the same for everyone. A Russia where a person can make money based on his or her hard work. One where the average person doesn’t have to look away whenever the military comes down the street for fear of being arrested. I want criminals taken off the streets and not be able to buy their way out of prison because they know the right palm to grease. I want a Russia where a General cannot simply summon a person because he has power, just to put fear into them. You see, General Nitikin, what I want is a Russia that has reasonable laws and treats people as individuals and not the property of the government. I doubt you can understand that,” he said.

  “And what do you think I want for Russia?”

  “Does it matter?”

  “It does to me. I am asking. Please indulge me.”

  “I would suppose you want what any good military man would want. A Russia that is strong and ready to do battle with any foe, real or imagined. One where the people are forced to bend to the will of the military because they feel they know what is best of them. In short, General, what they have always wanted, dominance and control.”

  “And do you think you speak for the people?”

  “I don’t honestly know but I stepped up because everyone else was afraid to. Someone has to lead and I looked around and decided I was as qualified as the next person,” Vladimir replied.

  “I understand, but what I am asking is what do the people really want? Is their vision the same as yours? Have you actually asked them what they want?”

  Sergey looked at him for a few seconds, trying to measure the General. What did he really want? Why was he really asking these questions? Was this some sort of trap? Did it really
matter? He was in their custody and they could do what they wanted and he could do nothing to stop it.

  “No, General. I did not go out into the population and ask them what they wanted if that’s what you mean. I took their acceptance of me as the leader that they were willing to follow me. No one objected. I didn’t use force. I simply took over office and everything else fell into place. The army was totally voluntary. They joined because they wanted a change from the past rulers.”

  “You and I both know that last part is not totally true. Especially for the military soldiers you captured and the officers you murdered,” Yegor said.

  “Well that was an unusual circumstance.”

  “If you say so,” Yegor said and added, “What do you think about asking them?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “We actually find out what they want. How they want the country ruled. See if there is some common ground that can be used to form a new government that is supported by the population,” Yegor replied.

  Sergey looked hard into Yegor’s eyes trying to determine what he was really all about. He was military and that alone made him suspect but he seemed different somehow, less arrogant and threatening. How much could he really tell this man? Finally he made his decision.

  “All right General Nitikin. I may regret this but I will tell you that I have had a group of people talking to the general population for weeks. They bring back bits and pieces of information and I have been collecting them. I have been trying to determine a pattern and to see which was legitimate and which was just wishful thinking. I have been doing this since I became Chancellor, or was Chancellor,” he said.

  “And would you share that information with me?”

  “Why? So you can use it against them?”

  “No, so that when we have free elections we can better understand what they need from their government,” Yegor said.

  “Elections? Yes, I have seen how elections are done. I don’t think that is going to impress too many people.”

  “I am talking about free elections. Ones not suppressed by our government or the military. I am talking about people debating and laying out their beliefs for the future. I am talking about real elections.”

  A long silence followed again before Sergey spoke.

  “Who are you really and what do you want? Military people do not care about elections and how the peasants feel about the government. What are you really up to?”

  “Sergey, as I said in the beginning, I don’t think we are as far apart as you think we are. I have no desire to return to the ways of the past. Russia needs to change for the better. We now have the chance. All the old rulers were wiped out and now we have a clean slate to work with. We can make Russia into whatever we want it to be. Will we still have a military? Yes. Will they rule? I am adamantly opposed to that. They should no longer be the political muscle for use against the general population,” Yegor said.

  “Who the hell are you? You look Russian and sound Russian but you don’t think like a Russian. Especially a military Russian. If you are trying to trick me, you are one hell of a smooth operator,” Sergey said.

  “Share your findings with me. I will have you released immediately and maybe together we can find a path to the future of Russia,” Yegor said.

  “Just like that? You have my fingers cut off and now I am supposed to trust you and work with you?”

  “From what I saw, you were the one that caused your fingers to be cut off. All you had to do was tell them who you were. You were too busy trying to be a tough guy to save your fingers. I don’t accept responsibility for your foolishness,” Yegor said.

  “You think you had no part in this?” Sergey said, holding up his hand.

  “I think we each control our own destiny. You chose the path you wanted to go down. Did you really, in your heart, not think that we would know who you were at some point? What was the point of letting them cut your fingers off? To prove a point? Sergey, if you want to be a part of the leadership of Russia in the future, you will have to think through the consequences of your actions and how they affect others,” Yegor said.

  Sergey was stunned by his words. He was right but he never expected to hear them said in quite such a way. Why did he do it? Foolish pride? Most likely, he decided.

  “I will share my findings. Not because of being let out of prison but because I think you actually care. I hope I am not being a fool.”

  “I would let you out of prison even if you did not share the information. In fact we will be releasing all of the prisoners during the next few days. I don’t like the fact that they murdered military officers or anyone that didn’t join your so called volunteer army but that is in the past and we are building the future,” Yegor said and called for the guard.

  “Get this man a shower and some clean clothes. Bring him to my office when he is ready,” Yegor instructed.

  “Are we to guard him?”

  “Are we to guard you Sergey?”

  “What for? What can I do?”

  “There you go. No reason to guard him. He will let you know when he is ready and you can make sure he gets shown to my office, understand?”

  “Yes General Nitikin,” the guard said.

  “I still don’t understand or trust you totally, General Yegor Nitikin, but it is a start,” Vladimir said.

  “It is a start,” Yegor agreed.

  ~~

  Lieutenant Kronowski and Captain Andreev sat across from Yegor as he explained what he intended to do over the next few days.

  “You intend to let them all go? They killed Federation Officers,” Kronowski said.

  “Yes, I know they did but what do you think we should do with them? Start a prison system? Use torture to find out which ones are responsible? What would be the point? What would we really gain? Look, if someone brags about what they have done then we will take the appropriate action but I do not want to start another blood bath. We would never be able to convince the population that we were trying to make changes for the better. I don’t like it any better than you do but I can see no good coming from keeping them locked up.”

  “I don’t know. What kind of signal does this send? You can kill someone from the military and nothing will happen?” Andreev said.

  “I guess that is one way of looking at it. But let me clarify my position. If anyone kills a person in the military they will pay for it with their lives after a trial. A fair and open trial. Not one done in the depths of Lubyanka. The KGB no longer exists and I damn sure don’t want to bring it back again in any form.

  “I see this as a dangerous path to follow,” Kronowski insisted.

  “Then we will have to make sure that everyone understands why we are letting them go. We will also have to make it perfectly clear that criminal acts will not be tolerated at any time or by anyone. That includes government officials.”

  “Couldn’t that open the door to false accusations? It would be like when the secret police arrested someone and made them give someone else’s name even if it wasn’t true,” Kronowski replied.

  “Then what do you suggest?” Yegor asked.

  “We keep them where they are until we know for sure which didn’t commit murder. We can let the rest go.”

  “And how do you get that information? Torture? Threatening them? Isn’t that the exact same thing you just warned against?” Yegor asked.

  “I don’t know. It just seems wrong to let them get away with it,” Kronowski said.

  “I Understand. I feel exactly the same way but I figure the really bad ones will do something stupid again. They always do. Then we will take appropriate measures and the people will back the action because it will keep them safe,” the General said.

  “At least in theory,” Andreev added.

  “Yes. At least in theory,” Yegor agreed.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  CHINA

  General Tusan watched as Tay, Kinjo and Sima were forced to kneel. A soldier held a pistol to the back of Tay’s h
ead and looked over at Tusan. He nodded once and the soldier pulled the trigger. The front of Tay’s head exploded and he fell forward face down. The guard moved behind Ky and placed the barrel against the back of his head.

  “It will not end just because you kill us,” Ky said, defiantly.

  “I would imagine you are right, but no matter what happens, I will stand up to the challenge. China will take its place as the world leader and nothing or no one can stop that from happening,” the General said.

  “I think you give yourself too much credit. You may rule China for now but you will not rule the world. Other nations will rise up against you and bring China to its knees. You think that force is the answer but it is not,” Ky said.

  “Unfortunately for you, you will never know,” he said and nodded. The bullet ripped through Ky's brain and he fell across Tay’s prone body.

  “And what do you have to say?” he asked Sima.

  “Nothing I say will matter to a man like you. You already think you have all the answers. The world has seen thousands like you come and go. When you are finally defeated you will never understand why. You will curse at the gods and rant that they should have been on your side. You will never understand that it is men that determine your fate not the gods. You will be defeated by men, it is as simple as that,” Sima replied.

  “Then if you are so knowledgeable, why are you here on your knees?”

  “Because I am a man. I profess to be nothing more. You may shoot me but you will not kill my spirit. It will live on long after you are dead and gone,” he said.

  “Enough. Finish it,” he said to the guard. He pulled the trigger for the third time and another lifeless body fell to the ground.

  “Have them taken to the square and dumped for everyone to see. Do not remove them for three days. Then burn the bodies in the square. I want this to be a lesson to anyone who tries to oppose me,” he said to the guard.

  ~~

  Tusan’s first orders after getting rid of the uprising leaders was to round up all scientists and have them start working on a way to deliver nuclear bombs to Russia and America. They were to be given anything they needed in the way of manpower and materials. It was considered to be the top priority of the country.