An American Millennium:

Common Sense

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Common Sense For  A New Millennium Essay

Chapter   25   

Friday, October 28, 1999, Woodcrest, Washington

 

            Justin erased the screen 3 times on his essay and then left the clubhouse.  He walked for a way into the woods, until he could make out the image of Duffy off in the distance.  He must have been praying, because he stood with his hands in the air in an upright position and just stood there motionless.  It was curious to Justin, who had been raised on bedtime prayers, and table prayers, and church prayers, but none like Duffy prayed.  His arms formed a V above his head, and he looked like a human funnel, drinking in God’s power, as it flowed right down into the core of him.  That was Justin’s impression.  Justin did not know that his assessment was a fairly accurate one.

            Justin made his way to his cabin.  The cabin was empty.  Angie must have been at her mom’s cabin.  He was feeling tired, so he lay on his bed to rest his eyes.  He would get 20-30 minutes, and then get back to work.  Justin began to doze, and he started to dream.  He found himself in some woods again, but not like the ones in these parts.  There was snow on the ground, and a little dirt road to travel.  As he walked, he was becoming very cold.  He passed a sign that said Philadelphia, 1/2 Mile.  Another 100 yards down the road, he saw a cottage with a dim light on inside.  Instinctively, he knew to go up to the door and knock on it.  After a short moment, a man of about 40 years answered the door.  He was dressed in early American clothes, with a silk shirt, and knicker-type pants, and long high socks, and buckled shoes.  The man had longer hair, fastened back in a kind of ponytail.  His hair was dark brown.  Justin knew that this was Thomas Paine, and he knew he was dreaming.  But, even though it was a dream, Justin would have jumped at the chance to speak with a hero of his.  It was his dream after all, so he would get the most from it.

Thomas Paine did not speak right off, so Justin made a strange introduction.  “My name is Justin Brooks, and I am dreaming.  May I come in and speak with you?”

In true, Thomas Paine form, the man gave him the following reply.  “Never let it be said that I, Thomas Paine, a free and independent thinker, would disallow any man his sovereign right to do as he pleases in his own dream.  Do come in and have some tea with me.”  With that statement, Thomas Paine laughed, and begged Justin’s forgiveness for teasing him.  The two men sat down by a cozy fire, and Paine poured Justin and himself some tea.  He was there, all alone, and he had obviously been sitting at a desk nearby with a parchment and ink quill pen.

“What year and month is it, Mr. Paine?”  asked Justin.

“It is December, 1775,” replied the man.

“Sir, you must be writing Common Sense right now, because you release it in February, 1776.”

Paine was intrigued.  “Now how might a person such as you know there is such a work when I have disclosed its existence to no man?”

“Remember Mr. Paine, this is my dream.  I am from the future, and over 200 years from now, I read your famous Common Sense.”

“So, it is famous you say.  This is most strange.”  Paine was intrigued.

“I have a few questions for you, sir.  What made you decide to write it, and what makes you believe anyone will read it and receive and enjoy its message?”

Thomas Paine poured himself some more tea, and sat back to share some thoughts with Justin.  He was unaware of his habit of stirring his tea as he talked.  “I did decide to write Common Sense because I am a writer, and there is a great need in the colonies at this time.  No person has yet been able to verbalize the severity and the opportunity of the moment, and the amazing doorway to the future that this small band of colonists stands at.  They have it in their power to launch a free country like there has never been on the Earth before.  It is destiny that it happens.  Men have dreamed of this opportunity for centuries.  I simply am forming mountains of common sense thought on the subject of a break with England.  Now, at this moment in history, I do expect it to be read.  The content of my ‘Common Sense’ is already on the lips of many colonists, and several great men are already positioning themselves and their contacts to applaud a bid for independence.  My friend and benefactor, Ben Franklin, is one of these men.  He encourages me in this writing endeavor.  God has a Divine plan for these colonies, I am sure of this, and I am His instrument when I lift my pen and record messages of liberty.”

Justin was spellbound.  Even if this was a dream, Mr. Paine was all he expected him to be.  Maybe that is what dreams are made of anyway, our expectations.  Suddenly, his dream became unstable.  His surroundings were not the quaint cottage surroundings of Mr. Paine, but of Woodcrest.  The clubhouse was flashing in on this dream, and then back to Mr. Paine’s cottage again.  He felt the dream was ending.  He might have time for one more question to his hero.  “Mr. Paine, if you were living 225 years from now, and America was in great trouble, and many of her people had seemed to forget the passion of the freedom and liberty that they possess, what advice could you give....”  Justin couldn’t even get the words out.  He looked over at where Thomas Paine had been sitting in his chair.  He was no longer there.  Instead, he saw Leopard.  His heart began to race, he looked around the room and began to cry out, “Mr. Paine, Mr. Paine, wait, I need to…”

Then it happened.  Leopard, as he sat there, grew great wings, and his body contorted into the body of a leopard, and his face became catlike.  The creature he had thought was the man, Leopard, now swooped up out of the chair, and with a great mocking laughter, began to fly around Mr. Paine’s cottage.  No, it was the clubhouse.  No, …his dream was confusing and had gone like many dreams go, from a mild interesting dream, to a great nightmare.  Suddenly, Duffy appeared in his dream.  Duffy burst through the door.  He carried a glowing sword, with fire coming off of its sharp edge.  Duffy stepped up, lifted the sword high, and began to pray.  Justin, yelled again, but this time, it was out of terror, instead of losing Mr. Paine.  Justin closed his eyes, and put pressure on his mind and brain.  I will wake myself, he said, and take control.  Justin awoke in his cabin.  He was sweating, and his heart was racing.  It was so real.  He must calm down.  He had been asleep for only 15 minutes.  He lay there awhile, and soon, all the fear left him.  He got up, and started to walk back to the clubhouse.  He would never forget the dream.  He was filled with awe at the talk with Thomas Paine, and he was filled with extreme desire to stop Leopard.  He did not know the significance of the flying creature, but he didn’t care.  He knew what he had to do.

 

 

Friday, October 28, 1999, Omaha, Nebraska

 

            Bob Madsen picked up the phone.  Ron Phelps was calling from Seattle.  “We have a situation here in Seattle.  We have five bodies that were found in a lake in the mountains outside of Seattle.  They all died of gunshot wounds, and a few have been identified.  A preliminary check indicates those identified had dealings in the militia up here.”

“Damn it!”  Bob was hot.  “How are we going to catch our terrorists if they keep ‘offing’ their own people?  The public already suspects we have a ‘fed’ hit squad.  The director isn’t going to like this.”

Ron went on.  “This looks like a hit.  These guys didn’t have a chance.”

Bob thought for a moment.  “I’m going to book the next flight.  I’ll call you back and tell you when to pick me up.”

“Yes sir.”  The two ended the call.

Bob looked out over the Omaha skyline.  He sighed, picked up the phone and dialed it.  “Get me the Director, please.”

 

  The true idea of a great nation, is that which extends and promotes the principles of universal society; whose mind rises above the atmosphere of local thoughts, and considers mankind, of whatever nation or profession they may be, as the work of one Creator.  The rage for conquest has had its fashion, and its day.  Why may not the amiable virtues have the same?  The Alexander and Caesars of antiquity have left behind them their monuments of destruction, and are remembered with hatred; while those more exalted characters, who first taught society and science, are blessed with the gratitude of every age and country.  Of more use was one philosopher, though a heathen, to the world, than all the heathen conquerors that ever existed.

                                                       Thomas Paine, Letter To Abbe’ Raynal, 1782

  Chapter    26 

Friday, October 28,1999, Woodcrest, Washington

 

            Justin walked through the door of the clubhouse.  Sheila, Ralph, and Jeff, were all sitting there.  They looked at him.  Ralph spoke.  “My, you look pale, are you feeling alright?”

Justin smiled weakly.  “I took a nap and had a doozy of a nightmare.  I’ll be fine.”  The three went back to work, and Justin opened his laptop.  He opened his essay on the screen.  He saw the words on the screen, “Unity in America.”  His title didn’t grab him.  He thought of his dream again, and of Thomas Paine.  He heard the words still ringing from Paine’s lips.  “God has a plan for these colonies, I am sure of this, and I am His instrument when I lift my pen and record messages of liberty.”  Justin smiled.  He had never asked God to inspire writing before.  So silently, with others present in the room, but oblivious to his thoughts, he remembered asking God to save his family, and he realized that it had happened with exact precision.  Now he looked at the ceiling, and said in his mind, God, give me the wisdom to be your instrument.  Thank you.  Amen.  He looked at his screen again.  He highlighted the title he had and hit “delete.”  He then sat up straight, and closed his eyes for a moment.  He then opened them and began to type.  “Common Sense For A New Millennium.”  Justin looked at the title on the screen.  It had a ring to it.  It looked good on the screen.  It had a Thomas Paine flavor to it.  It was what he needed to write, right now, and the message was boiling over in him.  He had never felt more patriotic than he did right now.  Maybe it was his dream, or maybe the prayer, but he lacked no passion for America at that moment.  Passion would do it.  He was, however, sober over the content he must choose.  Leopard would love a stinging rebuke, or an expose to give him press to manipulate.  Leopard was a master of deception.  If Justin threw out a covert and diabolical plan, to the public, Leopard would throw out, into the public arena, three or four other cover up scenarios that would provide a smoke screen.  This would allow him time to move against America.  America was in a mess, and faced a huge crisis, but her people didn’t know it yet.  Would he add to Leopard’s plan by using his passion to attack Leopard? Or, could he do more damage to the rebellion by writing a generic, passionate essay on the attributes of America, and on the principles of freedom?

If this were done correctly, the people would never know what almost happened.  They would just have patriotism reinforced in them by the essay, and they would be somewhat resistant to deceptive suggestion by Leopard when he made his move.  Justin wanted to insulate the people from propaganda and evil suggestion, by stating the opposite principles, which are wholesome ones.  That was the plan in Justin’s mind.  Justin could render Leopard as an “un-person,” and as no threat, by ignoring the crisis, and striking Leopard a blow of his worst fear, which is failure, and sinking into obscure oblivion, with a powerless rebellion, and disillusioned followers.  He didn’t realize it, but he was using all the cunning of his adversary, and more, when he decided this course of action.  It was almost like a supernatural wisdom had settled in on him, for a moment of time in history, and at a strategic time for America.  Justin Brooks, like Thomas Paine, sat at his post, as a good soldier, with the mightiest weapon ever used in man’s history, the pen.  In Justin’s case, it was a laptop, with a keyboard, and America’s future hanging in the balance.

            Justin stopped typing for a while, and went over and sat down by Jeff.  The detective, the reporter, and the computer whiz looked at him.  He asked, “Are we getting anywhere?”  Justin was curious.

“Yes we are,” said Ralph.  “You have no idea.  We have pieced together several corporations who may be involved.  We are pretty sure that Onyx is the core of everything.  I wouldn’t be surprised if Leopard has a penthouse suite in their headquarters.”

Sheila then piped in.  “Jeff thinks he has something on this encrypted language.  Tell him Jeff.”

Jeff said, “I see some common encrypted words and phrases in each simple child’s story.  I don’t know what they say yet, but they are definitely on the same subject in each story.”

Ralph looked at Justin.  “What are you working on?”

“I am delivering on that order of Leopard’s for an essay,” said Justin.  “However, he isn’t going to get what he bargained for.  Sheila, I am going to need a source to print it, what will your paper say?”

“Get me a copy for my editor, so he can see what you are saying.”  Sheila was eager to help.

Duffy came through the door with an open Bible in his hands.  He sat down at the table, and looked at the crew.  “I have been thinking about this guy named Leopard.  I have found some scriptures that may give us some light on this thing.”

Ralph chuckled.  “Duffy, we are investigating a real case, and it takes reality, and not fantasy.  Now, we have very little time.  The Bible holds no answers here.”

Duffy smiled at Ralph patiently.  “Ralph, I have had this reaction before, and it doesn’t bother me.  This case is more about spiritual matters than you think, or for that matter, more than I think.  We are just men, and we fight some mighty foes of man, from the spirit world.  This won’t take long, just hear me out.”

Justin cut in.  “Ralph, I want to hear this, and I want all of us to hear it.  I have been in Leopard’s presence, and it is sickening, to say the least.  However, he is good-looking, well groomed, and intelligent, so what makes being in his presence so sickening?”

Ralph now leaned back, and sighed.  “OK, Duffy, go ahead!”

Duffy continued, “I found a passage in the Old Testament book of Daniel.  It is a great prophetic book, relaying happenings from the end times of man’s history, which is our future.  It may be the present also.  Listen:  ‘After this I looked, and there was another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird.’

Justin sat up sharply.  “Wait a minute.  I had a nightmare about this thing just a few hours ago.  I saw Thomas Paine in my dream and then he turned into the man Leopard, and then the man turned into this winged leopard, and flew around the room.  In fact, it was this room that we are now in.  Duffy, I didn’t tell you my dream.  This is too much.”

Duffy looked very solemn.  “Let me go on.  ‘The beast also had four heads, and dominion was given to it.’”  Duffy looked up.  “This being which is coming against America is a real being from Hell.  From the very first day you told me he called himself, ‘Leopard,’ I have been searching the Bible.”

“But Duffy,” said Justin, “I asked him why he called himself ‘Leopard,’ and he said it was for the cover he has, like a camouflage, with spots and all.”

Duffy had an answer.  “This is no doubt a characteristic of this demon, to cover itself with deception.  It is possible the man, Leopard, believes what he told you, and the demon will let him believe it.  You told us that Leopard is crazy about Thomas Paine, and has political propaganda.  The demon will let him believe anything he wants, to accomplish the objective at hand.  If the demon can twist Paine’s work and deceive millions, he will try.  As for your dream, Justin, it sounds as if God has given it to you, to show all of us who is really behind this revolt.  God will never give a dream that cannot be backed by a scripture.  But here is your scripture, and God is confirming your struggle here, and His help to you in it.”

Ralph took out his gun and laid it on the table.  “Preacher, here is the cure for crazy leopards running amuck, or flying, or whatever.”  Ralph was very cynical.

Duffy wasn’t moved.  “I am a man of God, Ralph, and a servant of Jesus Christ.  My weapon isn’t a gun; it is prayer.  With God on our side, we can win without firing a shot, because God is mightier than the evil one, and He is stronger than our adversary.”

Ralph stared at Duffy.  “You do what you have to do, and I will do what I have to do.”

Duffy started turning the pages of his Bible.  “I have another verse here in Revelations. 

 

‘Now the beast which I saw was like a leopard, his feet were like the feet of a bear, and his mouth like the mouth of a lion.  And the dragon gave him his power, his throne, and great authority.’

 

 This verse says the power of this demon comes from Satan himself, and he would have great authority.”  Duffy closed his Bible again.  “In Daniel, the other scripture I shared, this beast represented Greece, and was later referred to by an Angel of God.  Daniel had been praying, and the Lord’s Angel appeared, and said he was on his way but was detained by the prince of Persia.  Then, the Angel said later that the prince of Grecia also was in the struggle.  These princes referred to by the Angel were demonic beings in control of whole countries.  They possibly are fallen angels, which is why they can stand up to God’s angels.  This angel, in Daniel, said the Archangel Michael came and helped him, and they prevailed.  However, this being ruled all of Greece, probably at the time of Alexander the Great.  He no doubt was in Alexander, and drove him to conquer.  That is not all.  This beast, the leopard, is the ‘Beast’ from the Bottomless Pit.  He is mentioned in Revelations, and is the spirit being in the anti-Christ.  This being has ruled in several evil men over many generations, and each time, they were overthrown, and the beast was sent back to the Bottomless Pit.  I believe he was in Hitler, and I believe we are facing him right now, in Leopard.”

Justin sat in awe of the spooky story he had just heard.  “Are you saying we are facing the anti-Christ?”

Duffy smiled.  “Only if God allows it this time, and only if the being wins.”  One day, this being will win, and the nation he rules will be under his total control, as well as 10 other nations.  God has prophesied it in scriptures.  God is in control of America.  Many do not think so anymore, but He is, and He has great plans for America.  He isn’t going to give it over to the prince of Grecia, or, the winged leopard.  This being is named in the Bible.  He is called Abaddon, and also, Appollyon.  It means, destruction.  He alone can bring a real threat against America, just as Alexander, or Hitler, seemed invincible for awhile in history.”

Sheila opened her eyes wide.  She looked around at the others.  “This gets to be a more amazing story everyday.”

Ralph wanted to get back to business.  “Let’s finish the Sunday school lesson now and get back to work on this case.”

Justin stood up.  “Duffy, can I see you outside?”  The two men went outside.  “Duffy, what does my dream mean?”

“Justin, I think we answered that inside.  We are up against a great evil.”

“But,” said Justin, “I was talking to Mr. Paine, and I was able to ask him several questions about himself, and his politics, but when I tried to ask him advice about our situation, the dream went crazy.”

Duffy smiled.  “Justin, I don’t have all the answers, but this I know, God has ordained that each generation overcome evil for themselves, with His help.  The Lord gave you a productive dream, but now, you must trust Him, even if blindly.”

Justin knew Duffy made sense, and he had much to do.  “Thank you Duffy.  I don’t understand everything you shared in there, but I respect the Bible, and I know we are up against more than a man.  You keep praying, and so will I.”

Duffy smiled at Justin.  “Justin, there is something inside of you that will do the correct thing, and you have a special inner strength that will be seen.  I have sensed it, and I am here for you.”

            Justin turned and walked into the clubhouse.  Ralph looked up at him.  “Where did you get that guy?”

Justin was getting a little bit irritated at Ralph’s attitude.  “Ralph, you stay off his back.  You are the best at what you do, and Duffy is a great man, but humble.  He is the best in his business.”

“And what business is that?” said Ralph.

“Why, God’s business, of course.  As tough as you are Ralph, you ought not to mess with that man.  Don’t you see what is going on here?  We are here for a purpose, and it is no accident Duffy has this place, and he and his wife are willing to feed us, and serve us, and pray for us.  This whole thing is a set up by God.”

Sheila now intervened.  “Hey.  Guys.  Come on.  No fighting; we are in this thing together.  Duffy and Liz are the sweetest people I have ever met.  Ralph, you just need to let it go, and not mock anything you don’t understand.  I am still reeling from that information he shared, but I am not going to dismiss any possibility at this point.  No enemy of America has ever gotten so far, in a plan of this degree.”

Ralph looked at his new girlfriend.  He smiled at her and Justin.  “I can take on Leopard’s soldiers, but if you two are going to gang up on me, I’m finished.”  He reached over and playfully punched Justin’s arm.

Justin smiled and said, “Come on, let’s get our work done.”  The four sat around the table, looking at Jeff’s computer.  “Jeff,” said Justin, “what do you have on Y2K?”

“I have some notes on it from a recent speech.  I’ll print them out for you.”

“Good.” said Justin.  “I need some insights on it for my writing.  We need the public to get rid of some of the fear of that thing; their fear of the unknown makes them more vulnerable to Leopard.  I believe Leopard’s next move is to release an essay, in the general media, with grievances and catchy political ideals, and I want to beat him to the punch.”

 

   

3:00 P.M.  Friday, October 28, 1999

 

            The four sat and discussed the clues for a couple of hours.  Ralph needed to run into the city, so he announced he was leaving.  Sheila said she’d tag along.  Justin asked them to stop at a bookstore or library and pick up some material on Thomas Paine.  After they left, Justin sat there at Jeff’s table.  “Don’t you have to get back to Denver?”

“I called my wife, and told her I’d stay here through Sunday.  She is fine with that.”

“Jeff, what about Y2K?  Is it as bad as they say?”

Jeff smiled.  “It is a tempest in a teapot, or a mountain from a molehill.  The experts know this, but the public is scared.  It makes good press, it makes good advertising, and it is getting gold and silver brokers rich.  Capitalizing on it is big business, and that is the danger.  The country is more ready than the public knows, but fear is now the greatest enemy.  We simply need to soothe and diffuse the nation’s fears.”

Justin looked thoughtful.  “Aren’t the promoters who profit from it simply doing what Leopard is doing on a smaller scale?  They are using the crisis to their own advantage.  I wonder if Leopard is looking for ways to enhance the Y2K issue.  Jeff, where is that list of corporations that Onyx owns or controls?”

Jeff shuffled some papers, and found the list.  “Onyx owns Venstar, a telecommunications firm, and they own Telcorp, a chip manufacturer.”  Jeff stared at Justin with his mouth wide open.  “They’ve been manufacturing chips.”

“So?” said Justin.

Jeff explained, “Embedded chips are the biggest threat on the Y2K issue.  The chips sometimes have the 2 digit date on them to save space also.”

Justin scratched his head.  “Whose chips and what kind of chips have they manufactured?”

Jeff pulled his laptop close.  “I can probably tell you that in a few minutes.”  Jeff began searching online, and came up with several items.  He was looking for trade articles with contract awards, or anything that told him what Telcorp’s main project was.  “Lets see.  Here’s one, from the Detroit News, “Telcorp was given a contract by Vance Radio Systems Inc., a leading maker of short wave radios.”

Justin was dumbfounded.  “Like police radios, and radios in federal cars, and more.  Jeff, can radios in law enforcement authority’s cars fail on New Years?”

“It’s feasible.  At this point, I don’t put anything past Leopard.”

“Jeff, do you have anything on any other of the firms that Onyx owns?”

Well, this article about Venstar caught my eye.  This firm is launching satellites later this year.  In December, they are creating a new communication network in the lower atmosphere, about 500 miles up.  Other firms have already done this earlier this year.  Launching lower satellites is a newer practice.  The old communications satellites are launched much higher up.”

Justin couldn’t believe it.  “How many are they launching?”

“Eighty-seven,” said Jeff.

“Let me get this straight.  Leopard controls Onyx, and Onyx owns a firm providing chips to law enforcement’s radios.  At the same time, Onyx owns a firm creating a new communications system, no doubt, for Leopard’s people.  So he will be connected, and the authorities could have radio deafness.”

Jeff nodded.  “It certainly looks that way.”

Justin and Jeff were on a roll.  Their thinking had opened up now, and they were aware that the possibilities were endless.  Jeff carefully documented each finding, on a single disc.  He had been doing this ever since he had arrived at Woodcrest.  The intention was that the group would download the whole disc and all the findings to the FBI task force, Sheila’s contact, in Omaha.  Sheila would also get the scoop, and release the story, with the FBI’s permission, and in their timing.  Ralph knew they would not want their suspects warned in any way.

Jeff was now ready to invade Onyx’s computer banks.  He went to a pathway he was familiar with in his earlier hacking days.  Many firms have secure hookups with their banks, accounting firms, and other support services.  Security Encryption is a newer technology, and many firms use an older method, which Jeff knew how to break.  Access to this pathway could get Jeff inside the mainframe of a private company.  He had used this method to spy on his grades in college, and he used it now and then, but it had been a long time.  Jeff was after Onyx.  As Jeff tried different routes, he suddenly got Onyx’s password page on the screen.  He had used coding on the check stub to get into the accounting firm for Onyx.  Once in there, Jeff went over to Onyx.

“Bingo,” said Jeff.  “We’re in, but we need a password.”

“Try Leopard,” said Justin.  “That is the obvious one.”  Jeff typed in the word, L-e-o-p-a-r-d.  ACCESS DENIED!  “Try the word Satan.”  Jeff looked at Justin, and raised his eyebrows.  S-A-T-A-N.  ACCESS DENIED.  Justin looked out the window.  He tried to think like Leopard and the Onyx people.  They want to overthrow America.  They are Satanists.  They are into high technology.  They are political extremists, or at least, that is their cover.  It is possible that people like the ones employed at Onyx, believe the garbage Leopard spews about revolution, and the feds, and Thomas Paine.  Justin turned to Jeff.  “Try Thomas Paine.  That is P-a-i-n-e.”  Jeff typed it in, and the computer started humming.  Jeff was in.  He looked at his watch.  It was 6:15 P.M.  Jeff saw records and accounting registers, and he saw lists of vendors, and connected companies.

“This is good.  I don’t understand it, but I know the FBI will know what to do with it.”  Jeff put in a blank disc and downloaded until the disc was full.  Then, he put in one after another.  Jeff filled seven discs.  The information whirred through as Justin and Jeff sat there like two kids on Christmas.  Justin looked at his young partner.  This guy was a true computer hacker and expert, as good as any in the nation.  Though he was so young, Justin noticed his great maturity.  “Jeff, do you think we are contributing to our country?”

Jeff kind of smiled without taking his eyes off the computer screen.  “I don’t think about politics too much, but I wanted to be in on this.  I’ve been working on Y2K issues for 2 years, and this is a refreshing break.  Nothing could keep me away.  I have to master this machine, and I have to get one step ahead of anyone using it.  It’s in my makeup.  I guess we are doing a big service, here, helping the FBI, and all.  If this guy Leopard succeeds, a lot of people are done for.”

Justin asked Jeff another question.  “What do you think about what Duffy says, about Satan, and demons, and all that?”

The question made Jeff uncomfortable and he wanted to avoid this issue, but he knew Justin would not let him.  “I have never been very spiritual, but I can respect Duffy’s beliefs.  I guess I believe if someone believes they are evil, or they are full of evil, it is about the same.  Do you believe it?”

Justin smiled.  “I do.  I was raised a Baptist, but I haven’t been active in church or anything. In fact, until my family was kidnapped, I hadn’t prayed in years.  Lately, though, I see many reasons for needing to believe, and have faith, and what Duffy says is straight from the Bible.  I was raised reading it, and I remember many of those things he shared.  Our nation was founded on Christian principles, and I can imagine that Satan would hate it with a passion.  Hitler and his henchmen, like Eichman, were evil, and into the occult like Leopard.  They hated the Jews with a vengeance, and I guess that really makes me think that they were demon possessed.  The Germans and the Jews had the same skin color, and many spoke the same language, but that hatred was so antagonistic.  Hitler slaughtered millions, and I believe it was due to their spiritual connection to God.  If you can’t get a person, get his children.”

Jeff was listening.  “Some of that makes sense to me, but it is still beyond me.”  Jeff turned away from Justin towards the computer, as if to change the subject.  He said, “Here.  The download is almost done.”  Jeff put a rubber band around the discs and put them off to the side.  The two guys took a little break; Justin went to see his family, and Jeff went to his cabin.  What neither Jeff nor Justin knew was that the Onyx Corporation had just installed a tracking and tracing device in their system. 

 

6:33 P.M. Friday, October 28, 1999, Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

            Max Porter was cutting into a juicy steak at dinner, when his phone rang.  It was a technician at the Onyx Corporation.  “We’ve picked up a hacker in our mainframe computer this evening at 6:20 P.M.”

“Did you get a trace on it?”

“We are checking the phone records now, and we expect a location within a few hours.”

“Good,” said Max.  “Call me when you have it.”  Max hung up the phone and finished his steak.  He would call Michael in a few minutes. 

 

 

8:00 P.M.  Friday, October, 28, 1999, Woodcrest, Washington

 

            Justin returned to his laptop after visiting with his family.  He opened it, but first took a little time to read Jeff’s notes on Y2K before starting.  Jeff came in and picked up the copy of Animal Farm, and sat down in an easy chair and began to read it.  Justin then began to write his essay, with great vigor and zeal.  “Common Sense For A New Millennium.”  To The Inhabitants Of The United States of America!  This is how Thomas Paine began the historic Common Sense, in 1776.

Justin had typed for about an hour, when Ralph and Sheila walked in.  “Hi kid, how’s the essay coming?”  Ralph affectionately called Justin ‘kid,’ even though Justin was 43 years old.

It’s coming along fine.  Let Jeff fill you in on our progress.”  Ralph and Sheila sat down, and Jeff sat at the same table and began to share all the findings of the afternoon discussion.  Ralph and Sheila were elated.  Ralph said, “You guys really covered some ground.  It’s all on disk?”  Ralph was looking around for the disks.

“Yes, it is,” said Jeff.  “This is a neat package for the FBI.  When do you want to give it to them?”

Jeff looked over at Justin, who was busy typing.  “Don’t look at me.  Ralph is the cop, and Sheila the reporter.

Ralph leaned forward.  “What about the Websites?”

Jeff jumped up and walked over to the chair, where he was reading.  “I’m working on that.  I think this Animal Farm book is a key.  I actually have seen some patterns in the messages, and if I can figure out the conversion key, I can read to you what those Websites say.”

Sheila spoke up.  “I have Bob Madsen’s pager.  I can reach him this weekend when we’re ready.

Ralph stood up, and looked at Sheila.  “I’m kind of tired.  Let’s turn in early.”

Sheila looked a little embarrassed.  Justin and Jeff looked each other and smiled.  Sheila took a book out of her purse and handed it to Justin.  It was a library reference book on Thomas Paine.

“Thanks,” said Justin.  The two left, and Justin sat there typing away, while Jeff, sat staring at a Website and a political book about farm animals.  The two men, who were more alike than they knew, were sitting at laptops, working hard to save a country from an internal invader, a spiritual evil, and from much heartache.  This night was a crucial night, and possibly the night of destiny for both of these men.  They would never ride such a high crest of a wave again as they did this day, and this night. 

 

 

Saturday, October 29, 1999

 

            Jeff let out a gleeful shout at 4:30 A.M.  Justin was there, still typing and jumped with a start.  Jeff said, “I cracked it!  The encrypted messages, there are three of them, and I am reading them.  This book has strategic letters in it that form words.  The Websites have numbers in them that locate the letters in the book.  I had to count my way up to the letters.  Then, when a simple story is seen, the letters correlate to the letter in the book, and the encrypted message is decoded.”

Justin shook his head.  “Say that again.  No, wait.  Don’t repeat it.  Just decode the messages.”

“I already did.  I’ll print them out.”  Jeff printed out three pages of three messages.  Each message was successive to the earlier one, so it read like one long military briefing.  As Jeff read it to Justin, he was astounded.  There were bases in Mexico, and in Canada.  Both areas were just across the border.  These were the locations of the “travel” Websites that Jeff had thought were strange.  The front of Minuteman Travel was for the coordination of the foreign terrorists from Canada and Mexico, and that explained why Jeff could never make sense of travel packages that didn’t exist.  These messages were intended for the Lieutenants, and for the foreign terrorists.  Asama Ben Laddin’s name was mention 3 or 4 times here.  In these messages, Leopard discussed strategic locations of militias, and strategic government targets.  Justin laughed.  He and Jeff had hit pay dirt, and the FBI could use every bit here to remove every threat.  Dates were discussed, and the day January 1, 2000, was mentioned and planned, very plainly.

Justin now was cynical.  “Leopard, you think you are sly, and have camouflage, but here you are, and your neck is out there, in plain sight!  Good work Jeff!”

Jeff looked pleased.  He had done the impossible.  Jeff put the information on the main disk, and labeled it.  “If we can, lets get some sleep.”

Justin was rubbing his eyes.  The two men walked out the door and towards their cabins.  Justin smiled and said, “Goodnight Jeff.”

Jeff looked at Justin and said, “Goodnight Justin.”  They sounded like two factory workers going home after a long day.

The sun never shined on a cause of greater worth.  'Tis not the affair of a city, a country, a province, or a kingdom, but of a continent - of at least one eighth part of the habitable globe.  'Tis not the concern of a day, a year, or an age; posterity are virtually involved in the contest, and will be more or less affected, even to the end of time, by the proceedings now.  Now is the seed time of continental union, faith and honour.  The least fracture now will be like a name engraved with the point of a pin on the tender rind of a young oak; the wound will enlarge with the tree, and posterity read it in full grown characters.

                                                                                    Thomas Paine, Common Sense, 1776

 

  Chapter 27       

Saturday, October 29, 1999, Gifford, Montana

 

            Michael and Frank were packing.  Max called again.  “Michael, they are in a place called Woodcrest.  It is outside of Seattle, and it is a Christian non-profit campground used for retreats and meetings.”

Leopard seemed to almost hiss like a cat.  Max held the phone out and looked at it.  “So it’s a ‘Christian’ thing here.”  Leopard was mad.  “We’re going in after dark.  I want two, no three cars, and eight men.  We will see who has the power here. 

 

 

8:00 A. M. Saturday, October 29, 1999, Woodcrest, Washington

 

            The group was together in the clubhouse.  Ralph and Sheila looked well rested, but Justin and Jeff looked quite tired.  Liz brought them all some coffee.  Duffy came in, poked the fire a little, and went out, to do his work.  Ralph followed him outside.  “Duffy, I want to talk to you.”

Duffy turned, and looked at Ralph.  Ralph seemed angry.  “I don’t know what you said to Sheila, but she wanted no part of me last night.  I know she talked to you.  You have meddled where it didn’t concern you, and you have caused a problem.  This is exactly why I have no use for people who play ‘church’ like you.  You are a fraud in my book.  I don’t know your angle, but I am watching you closely now.  I’ve seen it many times before.”

Ralph now watched Duffy’s face.  He would know where Duffy was coming from by his next words.  He figured Duffy would try to weasel out of it with some pat religious answer.  Ralph stood there, a violent man, with a large gun under his coat.  The tall Ralph was an intimidating sight.  His eyes were almost glowing with anger.  But Duffy had stood in the presence of God that morning.  There is no one or nothing more intimidating and awesome, than the presence of God.  Don’t fear a man, but fear Him who can cast your soul into Hell.  That was what Duffy lived by.  It was a healthy fear, and a good fear.  To actually fear God right now, in this moment, would make it impossible to fear Ralph.

Duffy smiled at Ralph.  “Ralph, I am so sorry I have offended you.  I only wanted to give my acceptance to Sheila.  She was troubled.

Ralph looked puzzled.  “About what?”

“That, Ralph, is something you can discuss with her.  Again, I am sorry.”

Ralph looked Duffy right in the eyes.  “Don’t do it again.  You leave her alone.”

Duffy stared down Ralph, but smiled a loving smile.  “Ralph, I respect you, but I take orders from a higher source, and if you want something of me like that, then you will have to talk to Him.  Now, I have some work to do.”  Duffy turned and walked away.  Ralph stood there and scratched his head.  It was no use dealing with this guy.  He was not scared, nor could you land a verbal blow. Ralph didn’t know it at the time, but he was dealing with Divine Love, and it is impervious to any threat or attack.  It would be easier to hold back rain, than to try to stop God’s love.  Ralph turned and went inside, to join his friends.

 

The four sat and examined the Website information.  Justin had finished his essay, and only needed to get some rough edges out of it.  He had it printed out, and he gave Sheila a copy of it.  Sheila glanced at the title.  She read aloud, “ ‘Common Sense For A New Millennium’.  I like the title already.  I can’t wait to read it.”

Justin was very deliberate.  “I’d like your editor to get it and consider printing this on Monday or Tuesday.  Leopard has one of his own, and this can subvert his essay, if we move quick.”  Sheila went to a phone and paged her editor, and came back to sit down with the group.  Sheila and Ralph were amazed at the information and how descriptive and incriminating it was.  Jeff showed them a stack of seven disks, and they then reviewed the information they collected.  Sheila mapped it out on a huge white board.  Duffy came in at 10:15 and informed them that breakfast was ready, and the five of them walked down to the cafeteria.  Justin’s family was already there and he kissed them all.

Angie nuzzled him.  “You didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“No, but I finished my essay, and I want you to help me edit it later, if you will?”  Angie always did Justin’s editing.  Though he was a college teacher, she was more grammatically correct than him.

“Sure dear.  I’ll come up to the clubhouse right after breakfast if you want.”  

            The group sat down and enjoyed another great breakfast.  Duffy spoke first.  “You all look so happy and content today.  I take it you’ve done well.

“Very well,” said Justin.  “We are about all finished.”

Sheila looked around.  “It has been an unforgettable week.”  She winked at Ralph.  “I’m flying out today for New York.”  She had to get to her paper where she could really do something in her special area of expertise and, she wanted to get Justin’s essay back to New York.

Jeff spoke up.  “I guess I’ll catch a ride to the airport and fly out today too.”

“I’ll drive you both,” said Ralph.  The group leisurely finished their meal, and enjoyed each other’s company.  Today, this group would disband, and their jobs were done.  Duffy looked fondly at them like they were all his children.  He was extremely proud of them.  He had been praying for all of them since they arrived.

“I’d like to say ‘thank you’ to our hosts for everything you have done,” said Sheila.  Duffy and Liz smiled.  This was their life.  They were givers, and they lived for it.  Everyone chimed in, with a heartfelt thank you and many compliments.  As they broke up, Angie’s mom took the kids back to her cabin, and Angie went with Justin to the clubhouse to look at the essay.  As the group entered, the phone was ringing, and Sheila answered.  It was her editor.  She told him about the essay, and how critical it was to run it, but she didn’t tell him any tidbits meant for the FBI.  Harold Barnes asked her if she had read it.  Sheila explained how she would read it on the plane, and discuss it when she got there.

As she got off the phone, she turned to Justin, and said that her editor sounded a little negative about the essay.  “I’m sorry Justin, but he hasn’t been here, and he doesn’t know the severity of the situation.”

Justin smiled.  “Don’t worry, Sheila.  We just have to have a little faith.”

Ralph looked at Justin and laughed.  “OK, ‘Duffy.’”  Justin smiled.  At that moment, he thought it a compliment to be called ‘Duffy.’ 

            At 2:00 P.M., Sheila paged Bob Madsen, and left the number in the clubhouse.  Bob called back in about 10 minutes, and Sheila answered the phone.  “Sheila, where are you?”

“I’m just outside of Seattle, in a small camp called Woodcrest.  I want to discuss this terrorism case with you.  We have some evidence on a huge conspiracy, and it involves kidnapping, murder, and those bombings you have been working on.  It is also a huge plot to take over the whole government.”

“Sheila, slow down,” said Bob.  You seem excited.”   “I’m sorry, Bob, but this is big.”

“Sheila, I’m in Spokane right now, checking on a lead.  When I get done, I’ll come over there.”

“Just hurry,” replied Sheila, “because we have a ton of evidence saved on computer disks, and we want to get it in your hands safely.  But one thing, Bob.  This is my story first.  OK?”

“OK, Sheila.  You’ve got it.”

Bob hesitated, and then said, “Sheila, are you safe?”

“Sure, we are very secluded here, and no one is here but us.”

“Who is with you?”

“Bob, I am flying out of here, but I want you to see Justin Brooks when you get here.  We are at Woodcrest.  It’s on the map, on Rd 18.  It is about 45 miles east of Seattle.  He will be here with the caretakers.  Their names are Duffy and Liz.  Justin will have several computer disks for you, and he can explain what they are.”

“Sheila, this is my cell number, it is always with me.  I’ll be over there tonight.”  Sheila and Bob ended the call.  Sheila handed the cell number to Justin.

            Angie completed editing Justin’s essay.  Looking at Justin with pride, she said, “It’s beautiful, honey.  I have you all set on your grammar and punctuation.”  Justin smiled and gave his wife a kiss.  He then put a disk in and saved the essay to the disk, and popped it out.  He took a pen and wrote the newspaper name on it.  He then asked Sheila for her editor’s name.

“Harold Barnes.”

“And the phone number at the paper?”

Justin added the name and phone number to the disk.  He was now ready to hand over his essay to Sheila.

“Do your best,” said Justin.  “There are many militia people who need to read this.  This will give Leopard a black eye, and anyone else who wants to question America.”  Sheila slipped the disk into her purse and headed for her cabin to pack for the trip home. 

            Justin helped Jeff pack for the trip.  He had all his equipment, but he left the laptop for Justin.  “You can send it to me sometime.”  The two men exchanged phone numbers, and addresses.  When they all walked out to the parking lot, it was a sad goodbye.  Justin and Angie gave Sheila a hug, and Justin and Jeff shook hands.  Duffy and Liz came out, and they hugged both the travelers.  Ralph stood by and observed.  He’d be back from time to time to check in on Justin.

Duffy walked up close to Jeff and Sheila.  “I have been honored to help you, and I want to extend a welcome to you to return to us for a visit.  Duffy grabbed Sheila’s hand, and took her aside.  Ralph saw this, and just looked down at his shoes.  Sheila looked perplexed.  “Sheila, I have prayed for you, and I want to let you know that God spoke to me about you.”

“Really,” said Sheila, in an inquisitive tone.

“Yes.”  Duffy got close and looked her right in the eye.  “Your father did really love you, contrary to what you have thought all these years.”  Sheila’s knees began to shake.  Her eyes started to water and she tried to hide her emotions.  “Come here, small fry.”  Sheila really lost it.  That was her dad’s pet name for her.  Duffy gave her a big hug, and she held onto him for a while.  This man was a true father type, and the gift was from God, the Father.  Sheila got in Ralph’s car weeping.  Justin watched in amazement.  He wiped his eyes and shook Ralph’s hand.  Ralph jumped in and sped off.

            The ride was quiet to the Seattle airport.  Sheila and Ralph dropped Jeff off first.  Ralph jumped out and helped Jeff cart his hardware to the baggage counter.  He extended his hand, and smiled at Jeff.  “If you ever want a new line of work, I could use a partner like you.”  That was a great compliment coming from Ralph, who hated having partners.

“Ralph, be careful.  It has been great.”

“You just go and exterminate that computer bug!”  Jeff laughed.  He turned and walked to the terminal.  Ralph began to go out the door.

“Ralph!”  Ralph turned around and Jeff was running towards him.  “Tracing.  There are some tracing programs out there for computer hackers.  Leopard and his people may have made us last night.  I don’t know why I didn’t think of it before.  Justin and the rest may be in danger.”

Ralph stood there, thinking.  “You go catch your plane.  I’ll get back there and get someone else there until the FBI shows up.”  Ralph went out the door and took Sheila over to her terminal.  The two had fallen in love that week.  They kissed, but they had to cut the goodbye short.  Sheila walked onto the ramp that lead to the plane entrance.  She waved back at Ralph.  Sweet Ralph.  He could be so boyish, and so sure of himself too.  Ralph raced out to his car.  He had gone through too much to lose any ground now.  Sheila boarded the plane, and sat down to read Justin’s essay.  She had her mind on Duffy, and on his words.  He couldn’t have had any knowledge of her father, or her own sadness about her now dead father.  Sheila burst into tears again.  Had God Himself touched her heart today?  She wiped her eyes and started to read the essay.  Thirty minutes into her flight, Sheila was entranced by the writing.  It was good.  It brought everything together.  There was nothing about Leopard, but as she read Justin’s essay, she felt proud to be an American, and she felt good about being alive.  And the thing about her father?  It was like someone had cut a twenty-pound weight off of her, that she had carried since she was 15 years old.  She had some things to do, and getting back to New York was the first step in her future.

 

 

5:30 P.M., Saturday, October 29, 1999

 

            Ralph raced back towards the camp.  He first phoned Bud at home, and asked him to get up to Woodcrest as quick as he could.  He then phoned Justin on their special phones.  No answer.  He must have left it in his cabin.  Ralph had an hour drive, which would put him back at Woodcrest after dark.  Bud had farther to come than he did.  Ralph was a controlling person.  It served him well in his work, but it drove him crazy.  He would want to be there if Justin or his newly rescued family was in trouble, but now he couldn’t be, and it was more than he could bear.  He sped up and slowed down, back and forth, and the drive seemed like an eternity.  The camp was around a bend, there were several bends, and Ralph kept thinking the next one was it, but it wouldn’t be.  He was so on edge that his neck hurt.  Finally, he rounded the bend and pulled into the parking area of Woodcrest.  He found everyone in the cafeteria, eating.  He pulled up a chair and had a bite to eat.  Ralph asked Justin to come outside and talk to him for a moment.

“What is it Ralph?”

“Leopard and his men may be coming.  Jeff thinks he may have triggered a trace on the computer at Onyx.  If he did, then they are aware of us, and this place.”

Justin shook his head.  “Let’s get over to the clubhouse and call Bob.”  They walked over to the clubhouse, and Justin dialed the cell phone number Sheila had left him.  “Hello, Bob Madsen here.”

“Bob, this is Justin Brooks.”

“Justin, I’m on my way there now.  We are about an hour out from you.  Is everything OK?”

“Well, the suspects may be on to us here, so just hurry.  I have my family here.”

“Will do.  I have two cars and two men per car, including myself.  Who is with you?”

“A police detective is with us, the one from Seattle.”

“OK, Justin, see you in a bit.”

            Ralph walked out and around the perimeter.  He opened his trunk and got out his shotgun, and his other handgun.  He grabbed some shells.  In about 20 minutes, Bud pulled up in his car.  He jumped out and opened his trunk.  Bud put his cap on backwards.  He found a tree about 30 yards out from the parking lot and climbed up it.  He was in position if need be.  These two men operated on pure instinct.  You wouldn’t ever catch one of them sleeping with real danger lurking near.  Ralph walked over to Bud.  “Hey, the FBI will be here shortly.  Can you tell a fed from a bad guy?”

Bud laughed.  “Sure.  Don’t shoot the feds.  Wait a minute.  Did you say the FBI or the IRS?”

Ralph laughed.  “Will that make a difference?”

“Maybe.”  Bud was kidding.

Ralph saw headlights and trotted for the clubhouse.  “Justin, we have company.  It’s too early for the FBI.  Get your family in here, from their cabins.  Whatever happens, don’t come outside.  Promise me that.  You won’t come outside.”

“OK, OK, Ralph, I won’t,” Justin promised.

Ralph headed out to his car, and Justin gathered his family.  Liz came into the clubhouse, with them, but she didn’t know where Duffy was. 

            Outside, Ralph saw three cars about 50 yards out.  Two men were making their way along the road, from where the cars had stopped.  Ralph looked at Bud, in position, and he checked his shotgun.  Ralph crouched behind the car.  As the two men got close, Ralph yelled, “Stop!  Throw your guns down.  This is the police!”  The men answered with gunfire.  No, these were not feds.  Car doors swung open, and three or four men piled out of the cars, and ran towards Ralph.  Bud and Ralph were outnumbered.  Bullets started flying everywhere.  Ralph was crouched behind his car, and somewhat exposed.  Bud fired and hit a man right off.  The intruders hung back when they realized there was a marksman in the trees.  They sprayed gunfire at Bud’s tree.  Ralph hoped Bud had good cover.  Two men worked their way around Ralph, but Bud got another one of them.  It appeared there were now six or seven.  Ralph gave several shotgun blasts, but they were not close enough.

Inside, Justin heard the shots.  He called Bob again, and Bob said they were speeding but still several minutes away.  Justin laid the phone down without hanging it up.  Bob listened to the shots in the background as he rode in the car.  Bob hit the dashboard and yelled for his man to speed up.  Justin put his family and Liz behind a huge sofa, and he waited for the FBI.  He had no gun, and he felt helpless. 

            Outside, Ralph and Bud had their hands full.  Bud got two more men, and now Ralph had shooters just about 20 feet from his car.  They were shooting right into and through his car.  Ralph made a break and ran for a huge tree.  A bullet tore through his shoulder.  Ralph returned the fire, and hit a man with the 9 mm.  Ralph crouched behind the tree, but a man had got around behind the office, and came out behind him.  Ralph spun around, but another bullet hit him in the chest, and went through him.  Ralph crumpled to the ground, and Bud hit the guy by the office.  But, two men rushed Bud, and a flurry of bullets went into that tree, and Bud came crashing down to the ground, a bullet through his head.  Bud was dead.  Ralph sat up, and emptied his two handguns, and the men who got Bud were both dead.  As one of them fell, he shot Ralph again, and this time, Ralph was really down.  Ralph lay flat on his back; unable to move, because a bullet had torn through his spinal cord.  Ralph could feel the warm blood going into his lungs.  No gunmen were left.  Ralph lay there paralyzed from the neck down.

Ralph heard footsteps, and a man in a long trench coat walked up and stepped over Ralph, and walked toward the clubhouse.  He had gloves on, and a scarf.  He was short, and had stiff short hair, neatly combed and cut.  Ralph knew who this was.  He tried to move, but couldn’t.  He turned his head and watched the man walk towards the clubhouse.  His worst fear was realized.  Someone he cared about was in danger, and he couldn’t move.  He could only watch, in horror.  Leopard walked towards the entrance, and as he was about to take a step up, Duffy came around the corner and stood on the porch, between Leopard and the doorway.  Good old Duffy, Ralph thought.

Duffy stared at the demonic man.  “I know who you are, and you are not going into this building.”

Leopard laughed.  “I know who you are too.  And you are nothing.”

Duffy set his jaw and stood fast.  “You are going back to the pit, and this person is going to prison.”

Leopard, with a jeer, said, “Wrong again.”  Then he pulled out a gun and shot Duffy.  Duffy slammed back against the wall, and slid down it.  Leopard walked right past him, and pushed open the door.  Justin had heard the exchange between Duffy and Leopard, and stood behind the door.  As Leopard came through the door, Justin jumped at him and grabbed his gun arm.  The gun was knocked out of Leopard’s hand, and Leopard turned around and the two men grabbed each other and fell to the ground.  Angie screamed.  They wrestled, but it felt to Justin that Leopard had the strength of four or five men.

Leopard let out a mocking laugh, and Justin suddenly remembered his dream, the great winged cat-like creature, and the laughter as it flew around the room in this very clubhouse.  Justin’s family watched in horror.  Justin was fully aware of them, and what it could mean if he didn’t prevail here.  Bob Madsen sat listening on the cell phone, helpless, yelling at his driver to speed up.  Justin, in a state of desperation, cried “God, give me strength,” and in one huge effort, Justin broke free and grabbed a lamp.  He hit Leopard with it across the face, as hard as he could.  Leopard screamed and fell back.  Blood gushed from his nose and mouth but he continued to laugh, and he got up.

Leopard dove at the gun he had dropped, and picked it up.  He pointed it at Justin as Justin slowly backed up.  “Who will I shoot first?  The wife, or the ranting mother, or the sweet children?  Which will give you the most pain, Justin?”  Leopard saw the white board.  It was full of his information.  “So, we have been a busy-boy, Justin?”  Leopard saw the laptop, with the lid up.  He walked over to it.  The essay sat there on the screen.  “Common Sense For A New Millennium.”  Leopard grit his teeth.  “More Thomas Paine?  I will show you what I think of Thomas Paine and your writings.”  Leopard smashed the laptop.  It popped with the sound of circuits breaking.  The screen went dead.  “Now, someone is going to die.”

At that moment, a sound came from outside.  It was a loudspeaker.  “This is the FBI.  Come out and give yourself up.”  It was Bob Madsen.

Leopard screamed.  “No!  I will not be caught!”  He ran over and grabbed little Tamara, and put the gun to her head.  Angie and her mother screamed, and begged him to let the child go.  Justin pleaded for Leopard to take him, instead.  Leopard sneered, backed to the door, and walked out.  He shut the door, and stepped onto the porch, and yelled, “I have a little girl here.  I’ll kill her.”

“No you won’t!  Jesus, help me!”  From inside, Justin heard Duffy yell, followed by a commotion, and two loud thuds.  Justin rushed out the door to see a bizarre sight.  Duffy stood staggering, barely able to stand.  He had Tamara by one arm, and he held a long cylindrical piece of firewood in the other hand.  Leopard lay in front of him, on the ground, not moving.  One corner of his skull was crushed in.  Justin grabbed his daughter and squeezed her, and quickly returned her to her mother.  Liz had come out and was supporting Duffy.

Justin, suddenly filled with panic, yelled.  “Ralph!”  He dashed into the parking lot, as the FBI men approached.

A man yelled, “Are you Justin?”

“Yes, sir.  We need an ambulance.”

“I’m Bob Madsen, with the FBI.  Is everyone alright inside?”

“Yes,” said Justin as he ran past him.  In three huge leaps, Justin was at Ralph’s side.  Ralph was conscious, but in a bad way.  He could barely talk, but made a gurgling sound in his chest.  He was coughing heavily.  “Get an ambulance, now!”  Justin was frustrated.

Ralph looked up into Justin’s eyes.  “They got Bud.  I saw him die.  Did we get the bad guys, kid?”

“Yes, Ralph.  You got them.  You and Bud did it.

“I...., I wasn’t the only one.  Did you see what the pr.. preacher did?  Where is he?”  Duffy came limping up using his wife as a crutch.  He painfully knelt down, and got close to the detective. “Duffy,” said Ralph in a very faint voice.  “I’m sorry I gave you trouble.  If you, ever want a new job, I could use a partner like you.”  Ralph was coughing horribly now, and losing strength as he did, but he had just given Duffy the best compliment he knew to give.  “Do you think God can use a good cop up there?”

Duffy laughed.  “I’m afraid, Ralph, there is no longer a need for them up there, but God can always use another son.”  Justin stood up and turned his head, and wept.  Duffy was close to Ralph’s face.  “Ralph, let me pray with you.  Ralph could hardly speak, but got out the faint words, “I’d like that.”  Duffy prayed over Ralph, as Ralph listened, and some beautiful words were said.  Justin remembered hearing Duffy say, ‘today you will be with Him in Paradise.’

After the prayer, Ralph, in a barely audible voice, said Justin’s name.  Justin knelt down, and got close.  Ralph whispered.  “Tell Sheila I love her.  Also, Justin, can you find my ex-wife, and my two kids, and tell them I’m sorry.  Tell them I always loved them.  Also, tell ‘em what we did here.  Will you do that Justin?”

Tears were dripping off of Justin’s face.  “Ralph, consider it done.”

“Good old Justin...”  Ralph squeezed Justin’s hand, and his body gave one mighty shudder, and went limp.  Justin just sat there for a few minutes.  Liz helped Duffy back to the porch.  Justin could hear sirens.  He thought of this man who had now saved his life and his family’s lives twice over.  He thought about how much this big, tough guy cared, and he thought about how he had changed at the end.  Justin saw a dead hero lying before him.  

            The ambulance pulled in and was putting Duffy on a stretcher.  The FBI was going around checking the bodies.  Justin ran to Duffy’s side, who seemed to be in good spirits.  Justin smiled.  “Thank you Duffy.”

“Justin, thank God.”

“OK.  You’re right,” said Justin.  Then smiling at Duffy he said, “I thought men of God wouldn’t have to fire a shot, or resort to violence.”

“Justin, I didn’t fire a shot.  But, we men of God can only be pushed so far, and then we might be dangerous.  Jesus might not have done it that way, but I have a lot yet to learn.  We men of God are only men.  I saw him taking your little girl, and I said ‘enough is enough.’  He won’t take her again.  Anyway, we found another use for a good piece of oak firewood.”  Duffy laughed out loud, and then he winced.  A paramedic indicated that the bullet must have passed right through his torso, missing everything vital organ.  It is the only explanation that he was as lively as he was.

Justin clasped Duffy’s hand, and got real close.  “I’ll take up your job of prayer while you’re gone.”  It was the best thing Justin could have said, and Justin meant it!  Duffy smiled.  He then kissed his wife, and the paramedics slid him into the ambulance.  Liz climbed in with him.

Justin went over to Bob.  “There is a dead man over there named Bud, he died helping us.  Don’t put his body with these others.”  Justin pointed to Leopard’s men, lying on the ground nearby.  Bob nodded, and went over towards Bud.  Justin walked over to Angie, she put her face in his chest, and the two hugged for a while.  “It’s almost over, Angie.” 

            The officials took the body of Leopard over to an ambulance.  He was stone cold dead.  Justin saw a bag going over him, and he thought about all that evil, and how it was now gone; the spiritual being of darkness is powerless without the man.  Justin and Bob walked into the clubhouse, and Justin found the seven disks Jeff had made.  He handed them to Bob and said, “It’s all here for your people.  Jeff indicated which program he used on the disk here.  There is stuff on the Onyx Corporation, and Telcorp, and on militia locations, and on some camps in Mexico and Canada, with ben Laden’s people there.  We found it all.  Take this to your Bureau and tear the hell out of that organization.”

Bob looked warmly at Justin.  “You’ve been through hell, haven’t you?”

“You have no idea.”

“Justin, I am going to stay over in Seattle tonight, and I’ll come back tomorrow, and we can sit down and go over all of it.  You get a good night’s sleep.”

Justin looked around at the room.  The struggle had done some damage, and Justin saw the ruined laptop.  His essay was gone, except for Sheila’s copy.  Justin cleaned up a little, and Bob went outside and arranged for two FBI agents and a patrol car to keep watch at Woodcrest.  The threat could still be real, but with Leopard gone, things might wind down fast now.

 

Chapter   28 

  

1:30 A.M., Sunday, October 30, 1999, New York City, New York

 

            Sheila walked off the terminal ramp, picked up her luggage, and made her way to her car.  She was thinking about her unforgettable week in Washington State, and about the coming week.  The FBI had the incriminating evidence on Leopard and all hell would break loose in the next few days.  Sheila knew nothing about Ralph, and Leopard.  There was a message at the paper for her from Justin, but she had only just stepped off the plane.  She had much to do, but it was the middle of the night.  After a good sleep, she would get to the newsroom, and meet with her editor about Justin’s essay.  She walked to her car, in the long-term parking lot, and rummaged for her keys in her purse.  Sheila opened the car door, and that was the last act she would ever do on this Earth.  The car exploded with an enormous huge orange ball, and the explosion took out three other cars.  The explosive that was used, C4, had such force, that no trace of Sheila’s body would even be found.  The whole airport rocked and rumbled, and within minutes, there were sirens.  When the force hit Sheila’s purse, the contents were vaporized, that is, with the exception of one thing--the disk made by Justin.  This charred disk flew into the air some 200 feet in height and caught a wind current like a Frisbee.  The only surviving copy, of “Common Sense For A new Millennium,” sailed up into the atmosphere, as if it had a mind of its own, finding air currents to keep it spinning onward and upward.  As the propelled object rode the air currents, it traveled about half a mile and landed at the feet of an airport luggage porter.  The man picked it up.  It was still warm.  He heard all the sirens, and figured the object in his hands was possibly related to the great boom he had just heard.  He stuffed it in his coat pocket and went about his work.  The police had no clue about who had set a bomb in the car.  From a license plate, they determined that the car was Sheila’s.  Her mother, who lived in another state, was notified.  Her editor, Harold Barnes, was notified on Sunday at about noon.  

            Sheila was a threat to Leopard with the articles she wrote, but he had no reason to know she was in the Woodcrest group, or associated with Justin.  Evil men do not always have to know all the “facts,” because the evil beings they are pawns for know enormous amounts of information, through a network, and the pawn simply carries out the plan.  Sheila got too close in her series of articles.  She had no specifics, but she was so passionate, that her writing made the key players contact her.  This brought them all together into a team that shook the gates of Hell itself, and diverted a major American crisis.  For this role, Sheila paid a huge penalty--her life.

Leopard had sent a man to place the bomb in her car.  This man had been following her around before she left for Washington.  He had followed her, the day she left, to the airport parking lot.  He had set the bomb to blow when the first person opened the door.  In this twist of fate, Leopard murdered Sheila posthumously, and Sheila, because of her participation in the Woodcrest connection, dealt Leopard a deadly blow to his organization and to him after her car bomb was rigged, but before her death.  The only one who suspected Sheila was in danger was Duffy, who had a dark foreboding the day he said “goodbye” to her.  That is why he had heaped upon her God’s love and blessing so tenderly, and released a gift, that was in him, from God to her that day, and touched her to the very core of her being. 

            A great patriot once said that he regretted only having one life to give for his country.  Sheila, and Ralph made that sacrifice, without being given a choice.  It is unknown, however, how many lives were saved by their contributions.  It is sad but precious that they crossed paths in their final week and fell in love, and brought meaning and value into two lonely lives, their own, and they both died doing what they loved and what they were so good at. 

 

 

11:00 A.M., Western time, Sunday, October 31, 1999, Woodcrest, Washington

 

            Bob and Justin sat in the familiar clubhouse, and Justin ran through all their findings step by step.  They viewed some of the coomputer disks, but Bob needed to send some to headquarters to be analyzed by experts.  The Director had chosen the right man to head the task force.  Bob Madsen was organized, meticulous, and thorough.  He took notes from Justin and asked the right questions. A young agent by the name of Ron Phelps, who had come with Bob, sat and listened.  Bob had already called the Director the night before, and brought him up to date.  The leader of the conspiracy was dead, and probably his top people also.  Now the infrastructure would need to be dismantled.  The Director and Bob had discussed keeping this matter silent, and limiting the information that Sheila would be permitted to write about.  It would be far better to report that a terrorist group, who was responsible for the recent bombings and some homicides, had been discovered.  In a shoot-out, the leaders were killed.  A police officer as well had been killed in the line of duty.  To let the public believe that a whole network of rebels came very close to attacking the federal government would not be profitable.  Bob explained this to Justin.

“That is just how I feel,” said Justin.  “Many of the people involved never did anything wrong except to follow an evil man.  Many of the Lieutenants need to be picked up for questioning, and their records need to be checked, but the militia personnel would be neutralized, without the leading force and thrust behind the revolt--Leopard.”  Justin was inwardly concerned about the militia’s reaction to Leopard’s death and the way the Lieutenants might try to twist it. 

            The phone of the clubhouse rang.  Justin picked it up, and looked at the two FBI agents as he said hello and identified himself.  “Justin, this is Harold Barnes, the editor of the American Tribune.

“Hello, how are you doing?” said Justin.

“Justin, I have some bad news.  I’m sorry to tell you, Justin, that Sheila is dead.  Her car exploded at the airport when she got in to New York.”  Justin was shocked.  He shook his head in disbelief.  First Ralph, and now Sheila.  He hadn’t gotten to tell her what Ralph wanted him to.  “Justin, at first, when I spoke to Sheila the other day, I wasn’t going to run your essay.  The way I see it now, is that she died trying to bring it back here to me.  Somehow, the disk got through the blast, and some stranger returned it to me.  Apparently, one of you put my name and number on the disk.  It was charred, but my name and phone number were slightly legible.  Anyway, I reviewed your essay, and I say we run it tomorrow.  We will have the last laugh, and so will Sheila, wherever she is.

That would be great Harold.  I think the country needs something right about now.”  Justin carefully told Harold nothing about the night before.  They hung up the phone, and Justin told Bob and his partner the sad news.  Bob had known Sheila for only a few weeks, but he commented that the country had really lost a great reporter.

Bob thought for a moment.  “We can’t change the fact of Sheila’s death, and I fell bad for saying this right now, but I say her story dies with her.  This will match our strategy, and possibly be a positive thing that we pull from this tragedy.

“Agreed,” said Justin.  He went on, “We could have done nothing about Leopard, without her.”  The agents agreed.  “Bob, this thing was big.  In these disks, you’ll find information about the Onyx Corporation, Venstar, and Telcorp.  These were front running corporations in the scheme.  There are some satellites, and there are also some microchips that are probably bad and set up to shut down in police cars in 2000.  I am hoping you guys will find more things that we didn’t, and just give our country a good purging.”  Bob was amazed.  Never had an investigation been made so easy.  After awhile, Bob and Ron got up to leave.  Justin said, “Bob, Jeff Graham in Denver might be of more help to your people, let me write his number down here.”

“Thanks, Justin.  I’ll call him Monday.” 

            With that, Bob and Ron were off to Omaha.  Their first project was to send federal people to Canada and Mexico to locate ben Laden’s terrorists.  The FBI now had the element of surprise.  Maybe they’d get lucky, and Osama himself would be there. 

 

 

Chapter 29

Monday, November 1, 1999, Woodcrest, Washington

 

            A copy of the Tribune was on the office porch.  Duffy and Liz were still at the hospital.  Justin arose early, got the paper, and went to the clubhouse.  He made a fire, and sat down in a nearby chair to read the paper.  Today was supposed to have been the day of Leopard’s essay release.  However, it would not happen.  When he opened the paper, he was surprised to see a reference to his essay on the front page.  Justin turned to the inside page, and there it was.  “Common Sense For A New Millennium.”  Anonymous.  There was an editor’s note at the top of the text.  It read: 

 

“In a tragic bombing on Sunday, Sheila Halpren, one of our best reporters was killed.  She died while trying to bring this essay to press.  Sheila had written about domestic terrorism in our paper, and her aggressive reporting was in no doubt related to her tragic loss of life.  The bombers have not been caught, but we honor Sheila by releasing this work, an essay to the American people. Sheila did not write this, but the author wanted to remain anonymous.  The work is fused with quotes and comments from Thomas Paine’s earlier works.  This essay is well named, for it gives us some ‘common sense’ as we approach the new millennium.  Paine’s work, during the American Revolution, called Common Sense, brought Americans to their destiny, and gave them encouragement to move forward.  Let this article be like that, just as it has stirred patriotism in our editorial staff as we prepared to print it for you today.”

 

            Justin had a few tears in his eyes as he read the editor’s notes.  He had wanted the essay to be in print, but not at so dear a cost.  He was proud of his article, but he was even happier that many Americans would be reading it, who were deceived by Leopard.  He hoped this essay would be their wake-up call.  He remembered that Leopard told him that his militias idolized Thomas Paine, so there was a good chance that this could be very effective.  He thought about John Walker, the father of his student.  Would he read it, and would it help him?  Justin went about his day.  He was doing Duffy’s work while Duffy was recovering.  He and his family would stay until Duffy and Liz returned.  He would have a time of peace and relaxation here at Woodcrest.  It would give the FBI time to clean up the mess, and maybe Justin’s home would be safe to return to within a week or two.

 

 

 

November 5, 1999, Woodcrest, Washington

 

            A car drove up and Justin came out of the camp office.  It was Duffy and Liz being brought home by a friend.  Justin met Duffy at the car, and helped him out.  “Justin, my boy, it’s good to be home.”

Justin smiled.  “Duffy, you look great.  It’s hard to keep a good man down.”

Duffy laughed.  “God has been good and He has healed me fast.  I guess I have much to do in His Kingdom.”

Justin liked the way Duffy talked.  “I guess we both have much to do, Duffy.”

Duffy said, “Justin, I loved your essay.  It is perfect for the country, and I believe it to be God inspired.” Justin helped Duffy into the clubhouse, where they sat down.  A warm fire was burning.  The two men talked for hours.  Justin’s children played nearby.  “Justin, I believe what you did for America, through your investigating, and your difficulty, and in your writing was your destiny.”

“I guess it was Duffy, and what you did too, especially ending the life of that man, was in your destiny.”

“I think so Justin.  I didn’t ever think I could perform such a deed, but the man was pure evil.  I guess you could say he met with Divine justice.  Just the same, it hurt me worse to kill him than to be shot.  God will have to heal me of that memory.”

“Well, you saved my daughter, if you can take any comfort in that fact.”  Duffy smiled.  Justin knew that Duffy had violated something sacred, within himself, and for that, Justin would be forever grateful.

“Justin, it is hard to believe that Sheila and Ralph are dead.  It seems like yesterday, that they were here, busily cracking the case of their life.  Ralph was a real warrior, and Sheila, a sweet girl.”

“Duffy, I am just glad you are OK and still with us.”

“Justin, if it had been my time, I think I might have known it.  However, I had prayed heavily over the whole issue.  I just don’t know why some of us died, after all my prayers.”

“Duffy, Ralph and Bud were violent people.  They only could have lived so long in that lifestyle.  Remember, ‘if you live by the sword, you die by the sword.’  Sheila is the one that is hard to understand.”

Duffy stared at Justin.  “My son, we will have to call you ‘preacher’ soon.”  Both men laughed heartily, until Duffy grimaced with a little pain from his healing wound. 

            Justin and Angie stayed four more days with their new friends, until Duffy was strong enough to do his work.  Duffy and Justin discussed many things.  Duffy learned much about political things, and Justin learned much about God’s Kingdom.  These were nice days for Justin.  He would treasure them always, and whenever they could, Justin and Angie would come back to visit this couple, and stay at Woodcrest, in the mountains outside of Seattle.

            The day before Justin left for home, he borrowed Duffy’s car and looked up Ralph’s ex-wife and two grown children in Seattle.  As he sat and talked to them for a while that evening, he realized Ralph’s son looked exactly like him.  The ex-wife was on guard and didn’t quite accept his sincerity, but his kids seemed to.  Justin made sure they knew what a hero their father was, and Justin thought it important that they knew he made peace with God.  That is no doubt why he wanted them told that he was sorry.  Both of the children finally broke down and cried.  Justin vowed to himself to keep in touch with them both.  As he drove back to Woodcrest that night, he looked up into thin air and said, “There Ralph, I did it!”  

            On his way home the next day, Justin stopped and saw his old pastor in Seattle, as he had promised.  This time, he had his family with him.  The pastor was delighted, and they spent a wonderful afternoon together.  Before they left, the old man informed Justin that he had been told he had only a few months to live.  He said he kind of wanted to see the new millennium, but he also was quite ready to go home and see his Lord, and his wife.  Justin gave him a warm hug, and the man blessed him and his family.  Justin had tears in his eyes.  The drive home was like a new life, as though God had given this family a second chance, and a new beginning.

 

 

Sunday, January 2, 2000, Wenatchee, Washington

 

            Justin got up and read the newspapers.  The day before had been relatively uneventful, except for many people having massive hangovers.  In the light of the Y2K bug, Justin had seen very little trouble, and the mindset of the country was “business as usual.”  It didn’t feel like a new millennium.  Justin was writing a new column, that Harold Barnes had offered him, in the American Tribune.  It was titled, “Common Sense For A New Millennium.”  The popularity had been overwhelming, and Justin finally revealed his name as the author.  He was eager to start a new semester at the college, and he would have a new appreciation for the word “freedom,” as he taught students about their great country.

            Justin’s phone rang and he got up to answer it.  “Justin, this is Colonel Sharpe.”

Justin froze for a moment with a familiar fear.  “What do you want?” he asked tentatively.

Colonel Sharpe began to speak.  “Justin, calm down.  I’m making a friendly call.  I was deeply deceived by Leopard.  I took part in some things I wished I hadn’t, and I want your forgiveness.”

Justin was silent.  It still hurt to think about that difficult time.  He also remembered what he’d learned about the grace of God.  “I can forgive you Colonel.  Is there something else on your mind?”

The Colonel paused for a moment.  “Justin, I thought I knew God while I was serving Leopard, and I thought my actions against Jews and other races, and the feds were for God’s purposes.  What stood out most in your essay is that more can be accomplished in a unified America than in a divided America.  That, I believe, is God’s purpose.  I have quit worrying about our government.  Your essay made sense.  God touched me as I read it, and I cried for two days.  I feel ashamed of the hate views that I once had.  Jewish Americans and Black Americans are still Americans.  This nation is great because it blended diverse races and nationalities together and accepted all of them.  When we hated and abused our Black brothers before the civil war, our people paid dearly for the mistake.  I realize now, that is what the whole message of the Statue of Liberty is.  We thought we were protecting America from minorities, and we thought the feds were our enemies, but we were violating the most basic of American principles when we displayed racial hatred.  In addition, when we hated the feds, or, federal agents, we were actually bucking authority, and the chain of command.  As an old military man, I can tell you that the sovereign powers must be respected.  After all, all federal agents work for us, the people; when we hate them, or attack them, we are shooting ourselves in the foot.  Anyway, I want to make amends.  This country is worth working on, and investing in.”

Justin sat breathless.  This was a remarkable thing.  “Colonel, I’m proud that you have had the humility to admit those things, and get honest with yourself.  If you are serious about making amends, I’d like to interview you for my column in the Tribune.  I think America would enjoy hearing about your old and new views.  I will change your name of course.”

The Colonel laughed.  “I’m ready when you are.”  Justin found out how to contact the Colonel, and they ended the call.  He sat and stared out the window.    He felt like crying.  This man represented his worst enemies, and he had asked for forgiveness and admitted his wrongs.  A Bible verse Duffy had shared came back to him.  “When a man’s ways please the Lord, He will make even his enemies to be at peace with him.” 

 

Justin smiled, and shook his head.  He had waited until today to make a special phone call.  Justin dialed a phone number, and a familiar voice answered.  It was Jeff Graham.  “Hey, computer man, how are you?”

Jeff was elated to hear from Justin.  “Justin, I’m so glad you called.  Everything is fine.”

“You mean the Y2K didn’t do you in?”

“No, it was apparently overkill of cautiousness, and it has worked out fine.  There are some challenges in some computers still, but, hey, I have to earn a living.”  Justin laughed.  “Justin, I heard about Ralph and Sheila.  I really felt bad.  But, I loved your essay.  You really hit the points that America needed.”

“Well, I guess I owe you a laptop,” said Justin. 

“Forget it, Justin, that was a company issue anyway.  I’ll handle it.”

“Thanks, Jeff.  I want to keep in touch with you.”

“Same here.  Maybe we can get together soon.”

“That would be great.  So what is next for the top computer guru in the nation?”

“Well, you won’t believe this, but there are rumors that the year 2002 is going to do damage to computer systems.  Some idiocy about binary language or something.”

“That does sound dumb,” Justin agreed.

“I have already received three calls from clients to come and troubleshoot it.  So apparently, the rumor has some people really believing it already.”

“Who thinks this stuff up, anyway?”

“I don’t know, but you know, some people are not happy unless there is something to worry about.  With Y2K past, they must transfer all that worry somewhere.  But what am I complaining about?  I’ll get good money to go and tell them not to worry.”  The two friends had a great laugh, and talked for a while longer.

They said a warm goodbye, and Justin headed for his computer.  He had new things to write, and he breathed in a big breath of air.  He said to himself aloud, “That feels good.  That is new millennium air.”

 

 

 

 

 

  

July 4, 2004

           

            “That Ben, was the close call America had in ‘99.  The small band of patriots really came through, and America will never know what they owe those heroes.  The FBI moved quickly, and they got Max Porter, Frank Foreman, and many of the Lieutenants.  They raided the Mexico and Canada camps, but the most of the terrorists had left after they heard of the death of Michael Ingstrom.  The three corporations were seized, and then the heads were indicted for treason.  None of them were tied together; the FBI handled their investigation this way on purpose.  They let Leopard and his followers go into obscurity without any acknowledgment of their achievements.  Many cases of treason were tried that year, without much fanfare.  America came out stronger for the crisis, and Justin’s essay was very helpful in pacifying many disgruntled militia people, and others.  After the American Tribune ran the essay, many newspapers, and magazines picked it up around the nation, and a publishing firm published it in a handbook and it sold millions of copies.  It became a document of great discussion in the land; with people applauding the sensible way, it touched on issues, and gave a positive slant on the future.  In fact, the members of the Senate in Washington D. C. voted and gave Justin a resolution of thanks for his essay, and for his patriotism.

Justin now had a good platform for his ideals as he wrote and filled in at Sheila’s old paper.  I couldn’t have been prouder of a young man with a literary gift who knew how to shape his own destiny, and that of a nation’s.  The tale of the disk that survived an explosion trickled through the land, dramatizing the essay even more.  The Tribune allowed the charred disk to be put in the Smithsonian.  Things have gone more smoothly for America since the new millennium, and the country is prospering.  The FBI has some new techniques and policies for domestic terrorism that they learned and developed after dismantling Leopard’s organization.  The country is much more insulated and impervious to attack from within itself.

            Ben, in my story is revealed a great secret about being a good American.  These five people taught us a valuable lesson.  If Americans can grasp it, they will have a great concept.  The college teacher, the detective, the reporter, the computer expert, and the man of God all did their own job in their area of expertise with a pride and excellence, and great competence.  Then, when they combined these gifts and talents into one body, with a display of unity for the common good of America, they did the impossible; like David and Goliath, they felled a giant evil movement with a swift blow.  This is the spirit of Americanism.”

 

The old man finished the story.  Ben laughed and slapped his knee.  “I loved that.  I must come over here more often to see you.”

The old man smiled.  “Won’t you stay for dinner?  I have two special guests coming.”

“I don't know,” said Ben.  “You know, I have always said, ‘Early to bed, and early to rise...!’

“Oh Ben, you know you don’t need sleep anymore.  Wait, I see my guests coming up the walk now.”  The old man opened the door, and smiled.  “Ralph, Sheila, come in.  We have been talking about you both for quite some time.”  The two celestial visitors walked in.

Ralph looked at his host, and said, “Thank you, Mr. Paine.”

Ben was excited at the prospect of meeting these two people.  He said, “Thomas, set me a place!  I have decided to stay for dinner!  After all, I have nowhere to be for at least 1000 years!”

Mr. Paine looked at his two guests.  “Would you like some tea?”

“finis!”  

 

Final Section 

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