Casing the Colors © Week 35

Casing the Colors © Week 35 • • • CHAPTER 53 • • The next few months produced few surprises but much to feel remorse for in the world that the small group of Washington insiders had created with such decent intentions. Mexicans and Latin Americans continued to filter into the United States but Scott Bennett imposed such repressive sanctions on any illegal alien found north of the border that after a brief time, few Latins bothered to face the risk. The Arabs were as good as their word. Cairo and several other Arab capitals found their streets gorged with Raqqa's followers when the news of his murder by the Americans drummed over their short-wave radios. But after a couple days of demonstrations, the Arab terrorist elite consigned Raqqa to his fate, called off the protesters and went into secret sessions all over the world, trying to decide how to deal with the new political reality. By November 2023, the US, NATO and German military had managed to re-establish order in both Germany and central Europe, while, as General Gordon had predicted, the rest of Europe looked on, slightly embarrassed. The Baltics became fatalistically quiet, realizing there wasn't anyone who would bother to save them from their Ukraine and Belarus neighbors. That was what Alexei had bargained for in his initial Alliance play and he was happy to see the Baltics exchanged for Russia as the target of Kiev's and Minsk's search for power. It gave him time to try to hold his Russian democratic coalition together. In January, 2024, General Gordon finally retired and went back to his house in Potomac, Maryland, to tend his garden, write his memoirs, and wait for the birth of his first grandchild. Alexei and Kate were to be parents. Kate knew her father was more repulsed than anyone by Scott's actions, but whenever he talked to her, he would only say, "I told the bastards it would happen. I hoped it wouldn't have to be Scott, but I wouldn't have bet against it, given the chaos among his civilian commanders." Stuart Wellford, politician to the end, would neither condemn Scott nor call for his overthrow. Instead, he learned to enjoy the City of Lights and the role it scripted for him as the only US President ever exiled. Kate spoke to him often after his arrival in Paris, and it was clear he hoped that by playing for time and being everyone's ally his own chance for a return to power would be improved. Meanwhile, Sheila Wellford became the latest darling of the French left, holding court over endless symposiums and soirees in support of everything from farmers rights to a universal immigration policy. She and Stu never spoke of the events that led to her earlier private disgrace, nor did they ever discuss Ricardo Pelluci's real identity as Raqqa, the 'legitimate face' of the terrorist leader, providing a place to put his funds and giving him a respectable cover in the city of the stars. Alexei and Kate attended the first Alliance conference in Washington, along with President LeNoir, Chancellor Gerhardt, Prime Minister Moore and the Alliance's new Arab members. It was filled with media opportunities and little else except General Bennett's continuing dialogue with reporters about how stable leadership would correct most of the world's problems. For the Russian hard-liners, however, Scott Bennett was a powerful threat and they began a vicious campaign to oust Alexei and all his republican followers from power, in the hope that it would not only give them control of Russia but also weaken the new American leader's hold on European events, forcing him to deal with them. When one reporter from Europe, where a moderate but continuing censorship had put the media into sullen retreat from confrontation, asked Scott when he expected to turn power back to civilian leaders, the General jovially replied, "As soon as I find a civilian leader." He laughed as he spoke, making his words seem like just the latest joke from the most popular leader the United States had produced since Ronald Reagan. Alexei and Kate managed to get a few hours alone with Stu and Sheila Wellford, thanks to President LeNoir. When Kate told Stu how chilling Scott's answer had been for her, he simply shrugged his shoulders. "Don't expect great constitutional delicacy from our new leader," Stu said, "I doubt that he knows much about the gentle touch." "I don't think his loyal American Agenda troops and camp followers would appreciate it anyway," Sheila added. Alexei took up the conversation. "Whatever he is, he's the only United States President we have and I think we ought to try to accommodate him to the maximum. Otherwise, he may decide he doesn't need us and that decision would be right on target with American Agenda, too." Alexei Katerinov was correct. Middle class America cared very little that it was living under a military government. Most Americans liked Scott and his flag-waving, super-patriot brand of action politics and their lives were mildly agreeable for the first time in years. Americans were actually beginning to feel responsible again, knowing they could make a difference, if only in their own communities. • • President LeNoir put it aptly one evening early in 2024, sitting with Alexei and Kate in their Kremlin apartment after a long Russian state dinner in honor of his second retirement from the French presidency. "The world is quiet, perhaps quieter than it has ever been. There are no wars, no ideological battles for men's souls and pocketbooks, no whisper of animosity between what used to be East and West." As Jacques reminisced, Alexei and Kate sat silent, more worried about the continuing political turmoil in Moscow than the rather gentle discomfort in Paris. Jacques ended his thoughts by adding, "The quiet seems hollow." He began to reminisce. "Where is the passion that drives man to achieve the impossible? What have we made of man in our rush for peace?" he asked, his republican sense of man's essential liberty moving him to speak in the quiet but precise French that had marked his half century of political battles. "We're feeding more people," Alexei answered. "Perhaps their passion for democracy will flow later. Perhaps the world needs time for assimilation. Maybe that's what the year 2024 is about, understanding what we had become during the twentieth century. Anyway, Jacques, there is enough political disorder here in Russia to keep you happy for another lifetime, if you are interested." Jacques smiled then laughed softly, raising his cognac glass toward them, his French refinement of expression beautifully captured in his elegant gesture of friendship and sympathy for what he knew would be their life's work. "You, my children, have the next round. I am going back to France, to enjoy myself and try to leave a world sufficiently interesting for my grandchildren to want to fight over it."