Phoenix Rising

other two agreed they liked, then asked for the price.

“Holy shit! Two hundred and twenty thousand dollars?” the sergeant who had wanted the Cadillac said. “What’s going on here?”

“Inflation,” Clay replied. “Inflation like we’ve never had in this country before.”

“Sergeant Major Matthews,” Jake called. “Would you step into my office for moment?”

“Yes, sir,” Clay said.

“Look on there, see what the hell kind of car we can buy,” one of the men asked Jenkins as Clay went into Jake’s office.

“Close the door,” Jake asked. “And have a seat.”

Clay closed the door, then took the seat Jake offered him.

“How are the men holding up?” Jake asked.

“They’re gettin’ a little antsy, what with nothing real to do,” Clay answered. “Truth is I’m beginnin’ to get that way myself.”

“I know what you mean,” Jake said.

“Major, do you know something I don’t?” Clay asked.

“Like what?”

“I know that none of the officers are getting any flight time. None of the enlisted personnel who are on flight status are getting any flight time either. Are things ever going to get back to normal? Is the school going to reopen?”

“I don’t know the answer to either question,” Jake replied. “But if I had to guess, I would say no, things are never going to get back to the way they were, and no, I don’t believe we will be making any more new pilots.”

“Pardon my language, sir, but just what in the hell is going on? Does this new president have his head up his ass and locked so tight that he is going to be the ruin of us all?”

“I’m afraid that might be the case,” Jake answered.

It was obvious that Clay was not expecting that answer, and he blinked in surprise. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

“I’m very serious,” Jake replied. He opened the middle drawer to his desk and pulled out a manila envelope. “This envelope is filled with signed requisition forms, DD-1195,” Jake said. “I want you to take as long as you need to get every requisition processed and filled.”

Clay pulled out some of the forms. “Whoa, twenty cases of MREs? Five cases of nine millimeter and five cases of .223 ammunition. Are we going on a field maneuver, Major?”

“As far as anyone else is concerned, we are.”

“Ten barrels of JP-four. Why do you want that? Doesn’t that normally come through the school?”

“I don’t want any of this to go through the school,” Jake said. “I don’t want anyone to know anything about this. And if you are unable to get anything on this list by requisition, then I want you to get it in any way you can. I seem to remember that you are an expert at scrounging.”

“And a water desalination device. A water desalination device? Major, you want to tell me what’s going on here?” Clay asked.

“All right,” Jake answered. “Clay, did you know that during the night, last night, the dollar was disconnected from the international money exchange?”

“What does that mean?”

“It means that the dollar is no longer the monetary standard for the rest of the world. Instead of saying that one dollar is equal to one and a half euros, the rate is now free to float. It might cost ten dollars for one euro, or one hundred, or ten thousand.”

“That’s not good, is it?”

“No, it isn’t. There is a possibility, and I think a strong possibility, that this republic is going to come crashing down around us. And if it does, it’s pretty much going to be every man for himself. Unless small groups get together for mutual benefit.”

“I see. Do you have a such a group in mind, Major?”

“Not yet,” Jake replied. “But when the time comes, I want you to be a part of it. If you are willing.”

Clay stood up, saluted, then stuck his hand across the desk. “I would be honored,” he said.

“Clay, until the time comes, this is between us,” Jake cautioned.

“Right, sir.” Clay put the forms back in the envelope. “I guess that, in addition to rounding up these items, I should also find a secure place to store them.”

“I think that would be a very good idea,” Jake said.

“I’ll get right on it,” Clay said.

The telephone rang and Jake picked it up. “Environmental, Major Lantz.”

“Jake, have you seen the news this morning?” Karin asked.

“No, what has happened now?”

“Ohmshidi has turned Yamaninan over to the Islamic Republic of Yazikistan.”

“What?”

“You have a TV in your office?”

“Yes.”

“Turn it on. Ohmshidi is speaking now.”

“All right, thanks.” Jake held his hand up to stop Clay from leaving.

“What’s up?” Clay asked.

“Wait. Before you go, you might want to see this,” Jake said. He picked up the remote and clicked on the TV that was mounted on a stand high in the corner of the room. The president was talking.

By extending our hand in peace, by proclaiming to the people and the leaders of the Islamic Republic of Yazikistan that we mean them no harm, I am taking the first step in building a bridge of understanding between our two cultures. It is a bridge that I am certain will pay incalculable dividends.

While some of you might consider Abdullah Ibrahim Yamaninan a terrorist, to the people of Yazikistan, this brave man is a hero who was willing to give his own life for the cause that is so dear to his country. All of us cannot help but admire someone who has the courage and dedication to give that last full measure of devotion to his country and to his cause.

It is my sincere belief that this incident, which resulted only in injury to Yamaninan, offers us the perfect opportunity to end the hostility between us. Therefore I am returning Yamaninan to his country, along with a note of admiration for his courage and dedication. For too long now, there has been enmity between us, an enmity created by conflicting religious views. Now is the time for religious mythology to be assigned to its proper place so that secular humanity can rule our activities.

Thank you, and good night.

Ohmshidi’s picture left the screen to be replaced by Carl Wilson, an anchorman for World Cable News.

This is Carl Wilson. We have just heard the president announce that Abdullah Ibrahim Yamaninan, the terrorist who tried to blow up an airliner over New York, will be returned to Yazikistan. In the studio with me now is Lawrence Prescott, former head of the Yazikistan office for the CIA. Mr. Prescott, your thoughts?

My thoughts ? I will be honest with you, Carl. If I shared my sincere thoughts with you, we would be taken off the air. If someone were to write a manual on what not to do when dealing with these people, this would be principle number one.

The Middle Easterner on the street sees negotiation of any kind as a sign of weakness. And this? Turning over a suicide bomber—or rather a would-be suicide bomber to the country that launched the attack, without any concessions? This isn’t negotiation. This is surrender.

And, where do you think this will lead?

It can only lead to catastrophe. Look, Yazikistan has let it be known that they want a nuclear weapon, and they are willing to pay any amount of money to get it. The country is wealthy in oil money, and unlike