There was the contemplative silence, then suddenly questions began to fly back and forth among the Chiefs of Staff and for a good hour they exchanged concerns with Alex, Admiral Torrance, and the President. Finally the President stood up and walked to the screen where Alex’s plans were displayed.
“Gentleman, remember this is survival. This is about ensuring the US is still around after July, 2017, so let’s get it done.”
The President left the secure debriefing room as Torrance stood up along with all the others in the room. Torrance then addressed the group.
“Men, we’ve got our marching orders. There is zero tolerance for missed deadlines. General Hanken has absolute authority from the President and me to accomplish the intended outcomes. Nearly eighty percent of the armed forces will come under his control including the land based nuclear forces along with the air wings that have nuclear capabilities. The sea based naval forces will remain under my control. You Chiefs of Staff are there to ensure your line people are cooperating fully with General Hanken. That concludes this meeting, now get to work.”
As Alex waited for his superiors to file out of the oval office first, Admiral Torrance buttonholed him.
“Well done, Alex. I’m sure you need to get some rest, so I won’t hold you long. Howard told me about your son. If you think he can add value to your efforts then bring him on board.”
“Thank you sir.”
“We’ve already run a background on him. He is everything you said.”
“But.”
“His fiancé’s parents seem to be…on the seamier side of society. We wouldn’t want your son, or Cynthia—is it? To be compromised in any way.”
Of course. He should have warned them. “Admiral I’ll handle it, don’t worry. They’re both good kids and very talented.”
‘I know you will, Alex. Now go to your son and get some rest. That’s an order.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ten minutes later Alex was flying back to the Pentagon on the President’s chopper. God, had it only been three weeks since he’d invited Curt and Cynthia over for the celebration dinner?
“Hey, there’s the new graduate.” He kissed Cynthia’s cheek. She’d just received her Master’s degree in mathematics from Cal State Sacramento. Curt had asked him to make a big deal out of it since her parents had hardly paid any attention to her for years—not since Curt told him that Cynthia had returned from a family visit sporting a bruise. Alex had visited Cynthia’s father, who was drunk at the time, to make sure that bruise was the last. Since then Cynthia had hardly seen her parents. But he was happy to pick up the slack.
“You know,” Cynthia said after diner. “I think you would really like this lady at school. She is 44, a widow, one grown daughter, pretty as a picture.”
“Cynthia I—“
“I told her about you, and she said she would be interested in meeting you. How about it Dad, I’ll give her your phone number?”
Alex’s stomach had tightened. He just wasn’t up for this. He was perfectly comfortable living alone and why rock the boat?
“Cynthia she sounds very nice and under normal circumstances…I’d be interested. But right now I have a lot of things on my plate that I’m dealing with—and, no, Curt, it’s not about your mom. I am over Ellen’s passing…I’m just very busy right now.”
At the time, it had been a lie. He still couldn’t see himself with another woman, not after he’d botched things so thoroughly with Ellen. All those years she’d hinted, then suggested, then demanded, and finally almost begged that he spend more time with her and Curt. And he’d always intended to, but something always seemed to come up. Until it was too late.
He hoped he’d changed since then. After Ellen’s death, he’d retired and spent as much time with Curt as he could. But he still had his doubts.
Of course, now it was all moot. Like it or not, he was going to be phenomenally busy right up until the moment of impact. And then, the real work would begin. He realized the chopper was hovering above the Pentagon landing pad, too pressed for time, he leapt the few feet to the ground and hurried to meet Curt. He found him.
“No, sweetheart, there’s nothing to worry about. I was told Dad was summoned to a special meeting of former Air Force generals to discuss better retirement options for the military, and his cell phone went on the blink. That’s why I couldn’t get a hold of him. Listen, here he is. I’ll call you back later…I love you too….Yes I will, talk to you later, bye.”
Alex gave Curt a brief man hug, careful not to make it longer or harder than usual.
“How was the trip?”
“Good…Dad what the hell is going on?”
“Hey, let’s go have dinner some place special, like the War Room. I’ll call the cafeteria and they will send us a feast. How’s that sound?”
“It sounds like you’re stalling me. What are you involved in? It’s more than just this—
“Not now son, let’s go eat and enjoy our dinner okay? Give me fifteen to clean up and we’ll head down to the big room.”
When they arrived at the War Room, cafeteria personnel were hurriedly setting up a table in an adjacent room for them. A half hour later a five course meal was delivered with steak and lobster—Curt’s favorites—as entrees. Alex dismissed the attendant so he and Curt could speak privately.
“Curt you know I love you don’t you?”
“Okay, you’re not making me any calmer.”
“And you know I would never intentionally hurt you.”
“Dad—“
“Let me finish. Do you trust me?”
“I have always trusted you.”
“Well, then listen to me when I tell you that I am involved in something, if I were to tell you more, I would violate the US Secrets Act.”
Curt stared for a moment, then took a gulp of his wine.
“Dad what the hell have they got you doing?”
“Curt it’s the biggest thing since God created the earth.”
“Okay, let me put it right back on you. Do you trust me?”
“That’s dirty pool, Curt.”
“And that’s not an answer. Do you trust me to keep something secret?”
“Yes.”
“Then tell your only living son what his father is involved in, so I don’t have to worry about you disappearing into the night.”
Alex realized Curt was not going to let up. He was his father’s son.
“Okay,” he said, “sit back and let me tell you the tale. It’s a shame to waste all that good food though. You’re not going to want to eat when I’m done.”
He told Curt the events of the last few days, giving things in order in which he’d found them out. As he did Curt went from stunned to, visibly shaking to, holding his hand to his mouth to keep from retching.
Alex finished and waited for Curt to respond. Curt sat there for a moment then recovered and looked his dad straight in the eye.
“Dad, if there is a chance the world is going to end, I want to spend every last day with you.”
And after everything else, that was the one thing Alex couldn’t handle. The tears