“You too, Babel. How’s your morning?”
“Not too bad. Been a long week. I’m ready for the weekend.”
“I know what you mean. These new regulations are driving me crazy.”
Babel led him back to his office. “Charlie, you want some coffee?”
“Sure. Black, please.”
Babel poured Charlie a cup from the pot in his office. “So, how’s the family?” Babel asked once they had settled into the chairs in Babel’s office.
Babel had spent most of his life in Michigan. After attending the University of Michigan, he moved to Tennessee to start his company. The tax benefits in both states were similar but Tennessee had a much better climate and Babel figured he could get more business done without worrying about the weather. The biggest adjustment for him was getting used to the way business was conducted in the South. In Tennessee, small talk still proceeded business talk.
“The family is fine. Our oldest son made the varsity football team so that sums up our Friday nights, eh?”
Babel smiled. “Sounds like it. And business is good?”
“Business is good. We’re about to get everything lined out.”
“That’s good.” Babel agreed. “Now, what do you need from me so that we can start building homes for you to sell?”
As Babel asked the question, Charlie stiffened, which told Babel that what Charlie had to say this morning wasn’t good news. “That’s what I wanted to come here and talk to you about.” Charlie started. “We really like your work. Your bottom line is close to where we’d like it to be, but…” Babel knew the word but always preceded something he didn’t want to hear. “The other investors in my group don’t feel the same as I do. I explained to them that we need to go local, but another company came in with a bid for two percent cheaper than what you can offer.”
“What about their quality of work?” Babel asked.
“It’s not as good. It’s not bad but it’s not what you can offer.” Charlie admitted. “I voted to go with you but the others voted to go with a company out of Georgia. I’m sorry Babel, there’s nothing I can do.”
“You can pull your money.”
“I can’t. I’m in too deep. If I pull out now, I’ll lose twenty five percent of what I put in. I can’t take that kind of hit.”
“Can you give me a little more time to crunch some numbers?”
Charlie shook his head. “I’m sorry. They’re anxious to start digging.” Charlie stood, apologized again and held his hand out for Babel to take. Babel knew it was business but he couldn’t help feeling angry. The deal would have been a two-year contract.
Babel didn’t want to take Charlie’s hand but he did. As he did, an old feeling came over him. “No.” he said to himself. He tried to push the feeling down but couldn’t. It was too strong.
He heard an explosion come from the parking lot. Charlie let go of Babel’s hand and ran to the window; he saw that his truck was on fire. The gas tank had exploded and the fire was rapidly spreading to the other vehicles.
Shrapnel filled the parking lot. It was a miracle that no one was in the parking lot when the truck exploded.
Babel didn’t go to the window. He stood where he was – he knew what had happened. Minutes later, distant sirens filled the air as the fire departments responded.
Charlie was glued to the window, unable to move, shocked at what he was witnessing. Babel stood motionless beside his desk, waiting for the worst of it to come. The sprinkler system came on inside of his office and he knew the building had caught fire.
The water got Charlie moving and he ran out of Babel’s office door only briefly glancing back. Babel turned to leave as well and as he did, he noticed that Charlie had left his briefcase. He knew that inside of the briefcase, more than likely would be the contract awarding the deal to the construction company in Georgia. Maybe it was already signed. Babel thought briefly about grabbing the briefcase but decided to leave it in his office. “Let it burn.”
Outside of the building, Babel surveyed as the firefighters fought unsuccessfully to stop the blaze that was consuming his office. It was only a matter of moments before the entire building collapsed. As far as he could tell, everyone had made it out which was a relief.
He watched the flames that he had caused – the fire that he had started with his mind.
CHAPTER THREE
“What happened, son?” Babel looked at his father but didn’t speak. Instead, he turned back to look at where the office should have stood.
Babel’s mother had divorced his father John during his time in the service. It was not so much his time away on various operations as it was his aloofness when he was home. He returned from various assignments, including one war, very distant. He was taciturn and Babel’s mother almost felt less alone when he was gone than when he was home.
For fifteen years she was married to him. Finally, after the Gulf War she couldn’t take any more. She knew it was unfair to leave him at a time when she knew he needed her more than ever but she couldn’t be with a man who never shared his thoughts or his feelings. She had no idea of what he had been ordered to do.
In the end, she didn’t quit loving him but she quit caring. She had given him fifteen years and together they had raised a fine son; but she was done.
After the divorce, John
