EXCERPTS from Part Time Dementia Diary

Continue Plus: 70,69,68,67,66
Excerpts from Part Time Dementia Diary
“Facts and Legends”

John R. Marshall Conservative



No part of this book shall be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, photographic including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system for any and all commercial purposes without prior written permission of John R. Marshall. No patent liability is assumed with respect to the use of information contained herein. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this publisher's contract copy, the author assumes no responsibility for errors and omissions. Neither is any liability assumed by the author for damages resulting from the use of the information contained herein.


PART TIME DEMENTIA DIARY
FARMER’S SON VOLUMES I -VI: Excerpts
John R. Marshall
All Copyrights /“All Rights Reserved”
JOHN R. MARSHALL TEXAS
ISBN: 0-9747105-3-9


Events and characters are fictional. Do not represent any actual person or event.


Contents

Facts:
One of Five
Two Of Five
Three Of Five
Four Of Five
Five Of Five

Legends:
World’s Shortest Novel
Legend Of Wild Olives
Devil’s Gold
Life Is Not Fair
Lost Good Years
Heart Of Ebony
Nathan’s Faith
Thanksgiving Dinner
American Rip Tides
Through One Assassin’s Eyes
More Than A Village
A Christmas Play

Lyrical Visual Prose:*
Keep It In motion
Some Tears Never Dry
More Or Less
Dark to Darkest
71 Blues Waltz

*Volume V: Twenty Past Eleven
“Lucky Thirteen” Soundtrack Excerpts
Price of Blues a prequel to Life Is Not Fair



FACTS

1) “One Of Five” (Continue Plus 66)
Hurricane Dolly On Scene Report

Writing Exercise Warm Up:
More honest than necessary,
warning does not matter.
This drifter’s writing exercises,
just like other drifters
really just about drifting.
More honest than necessary,
warning does not matter.
Why set up home,
stay for fool’s love
lose reasons to change.
More honest than necessary,
warning does not matter.
Original title for this writing exercise “Dolly’s Fair Weather Principles”. As for this author’s recent absence, still like a conservative ghost who occasionally leaves shadows. As a retired professional hired gun turned Texas drifter with no home or family; I have been satirically submitting writing exercises using American socialist computers.
Since Hurricane Dolly has limited access to socialist computers, other arrangements have been made. This writing exercise “Hurricane Dolly On Scene Report, along with next four “Racism Against Anglos”, “Portrait Of A Cancer Economy”, “Multi Culturists Lower Standards”, and “Not Enough Americans Have Died” all seek to entertain and inform.
Think my standards are strict, not so when compared to “Billy’s Mark” reference The Conservative Voice Archives.
America will never return to being the country envisioned by Founding Fathers; until honest hard working America conservatives stop tolerating wasteful, incompetent, corrupt, and morally bankrupt use of their tax dollars by both socialist Democrats and socialist Republicans.
Comparable mindset too socialist Republicans, being one of the few never losing electric power before, during, or after hurricane Dolly due to batteries in my fifth wheel “”Free Spirit”; brought unexpected tourists. I asked the late night visitor during the storm, “thought you were married?” Her response, “I pray to the Lord every day not to get caught doing adultery.” Now I am no religious scholar, do not think praying to not get caught committing a sin is how salvation system works.
Hurricane dolly’s legacy for future historians will be professional volunteer victims scamming contributors whose incompetence created many avoidable problems. Example, why should federal and state taxes be used for storm repairs while counties knowing allow substandard construction in dry lake beds? Let damages be covered by assets of corrupt local officials. What a strange concept, not rewarding corruption with taxes taken from honest hard working citizens.
Snapshot lessons from Hurricane Dolly’s recent visit to South Texas. Might have entitled this writing exercise “More Examples of Artificial Good Intentions of Public Bureaucrats and Government Officials Before During and After Disaster Management”; problem too many characters and character spaces for TCV title format.
Advantage of being part time senile and full time old farmer’s son, life becomes simpler with fewer standards: competent work ethic and personal integrity. Being kind, most public officials before, during and after Dolly were less competent than junior officers calling artillery in on their own positions during Vietnam War.
As for most public officials in same Dolly circumstances, their integrity was significantly less than the Presbyterian Pastor, of a church my parents had belonged too and financially supported for almost forty years, refused to perform graveside services for my mother until he go his one hundred dollar gratuity in advance.
Reader reference bio experiences for this author, sum total is harder than many and easier for others. Following represents times author survived alone and on his own: five hurricanes, four tropical storm floods, three ice storms, three life threatening experiences, lost three businesses, forced to sell three homesteads, watch both parents die, too many priceless friends died, plus list does not include over three decades of too many less than break even days in intelligence, investigation, security private sector industries.
Explain not complaining, evolving into a drifter alone and on their own has without family and outliving old friends; has provided me with the privilege to see America from street up. Opposing views of looking down on Americans as snobs by anti-conservative aristocrats, most bureaucrats, and hoards of world owes me government subsidy addicts will eventual provide consequences similar to Custer who ignored his scouts.
Snapshots of recent Dolly visit will only be remembered as footnotes of previous personal experiences survived alone and on own. A few verbal visual experiences you might enjoy. Remember I try to paint with words like artists use colors.
First, example of sheer foolishness, much water damage was from volunteer fire department causing wakes by driving through residential are at excessive speeds for no apparent purposes,
Republican County Judge did not warn citizens who did not evacuate that approaching hurricane that county would only be conducting “fair weather” rescues.
Republican administration hurricane national security policy was politically correct actions at federal border check points with non-existent immigration document checks allowing illegal immigrants, smugglers, and possible terrorists to exist South Texas for interior America during hurricane evacuation. These were administration not field agent guidelines.
In Washington D.C. during Dolly’s visit, Republicans exhibited fair weather loyalty to capitalism by mirroring a Republican Socialist Party by providing taxpayer funded subsidies to both irresponsible mortgage borrowers and financial institutions.
Two positive verbal photographs included, first an ethical capitalist who set up and provided within three hours day after Dolly free warm meals and water too three hundred to four hundred citizens/ City’s response was to distribute two cases of defrosting microwaveable dinners which were useless as their was no electricity to operate microwaves.
Second commendable actions were by out of South Texas electric repair crews from Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Carolinas.
Nearly most embarrassing behavior was “show” performances by federal, state, and local officials that exited air craft and stated to news media that these people “have problems”; then left area after letting public know how
much they cared.
Another memorable impression of Dolly’s approach and departure was people acting like flocks of seagulls fighting over a single bread crumb.
No one should be surprised that most embarrassing conduct was by electronic news media before, during, and after Dolly. News media’s after storm gloating would make one feel media’s role was more important than planning, preparation, individual responsibility, and good fortune.
Want a fair question, how can government predict consequences of global warming, when it cannot reliably predict path of a wobbling hurricane two hours in advance?
Original title, “Dolly’s Fair Weather Principles” is truthfully a non-sense concept since fair weather combined with principle is an oxymoron. Consider this thought, does what Republican candidate promise and do one in office, make them an oxymorinite? Want a possible example Chamberlain McCain breaking campaign promises to conservatives before finishing his oath of office.
Want an idea for your own writing exercise similar to “chicken and egg riddle? What came first, counterfeit conservatives or covert Republican socialists?
What was childhood expression about judging one’s character by company they do not keep? Seems Constitutional right to assembly would extend to right of not assembling with some people. If one chooses not to socialize with internationalists, counterfeit conservatives, counter American Revolutionaries; should one not add socialist Republicans to list?
Who knows ending up alone and own your own may be closer than you think. Doubt this observation, America’s non-apparent socialist Republicans and long time Democrat socialists are both in process of turning America into a public subsidy addict paradise. Tell tale signs include excessive “rents” known as property taxes, income taxes, and other taxes to subsided declining living standards and more dangerous communities
Enough warnings that do not matter back to more Dolly verbal visual photographs, confused priorities by some non-profit organizations like Salvation Army. The organization in two known cases set up free food lines that blocked traffic from entering small businesses that suffered losses of needed storm recovery revenues. The organization should reconsider policies of screwing contributors to help professional volunteer storm victims who could have walked across street to use food stamp cards.
My favorite scam was “rent an old person” especially for non-food supplies like mosquito repellent. Scam worked like this, get an old person in car then drive through to get freebies that could be sold on black market. Circle back in same car to get more freebies that were also headed to black market. Learned that two cars with one old person could be used to work scam all day, scam would follow distribution sites from community to community.
Government competed with scam artists for unethical behavior award. It seems public sector rescue teams only checked on Hispanic families while failing to see if Anglo families needed help. Isolated conduct of unintentional racism against Anglos by government, not quite as government only sprayed Hispanic home sites for mosquitoes while totally ignoring Anglo home sites.
Government officials and bureaucrats will deny discrimination against Anglos, but why should anyone believe Democrats and Republicans known for trading votes from minority voters for discrimination against Anglos? How consumed by hate does one have to be to not offer rescue services to storm victims because of ethnic background? How consumed by hate does one have to be to subject people to hordes of mosquitoes because of ethnic background?
Some property damage resulted from Dolly’s visit resulted from rising water due to government removing “drain ditches,” that caused flooding in areas never subjected to flooding in any previous hurricane or tropical storm. Most property damage from Dolly resulted from local politicians allowing and tolerating for votes substandard residential construction in flood prone areas. Why should federal and Texas taxpayers subsidize preventable storm damages caused by one area’s political incompetence and corruption?
Worst example of government arrogance and condescension was treatment of storm victims by FEMA field workers who have apparently never heard of concepts like courteous respectful interaction with people suffering personal tragedy. Perhaps citizens should enact policies which deport FEMA workers along with illegal immigrants.
Think proactive racist America last behavior is a rarity among a few government agencies, consider following example. The federal court system ruled during clean up of Dolly’s visit, it might hold jury trials on national security issue of southern border fence construction. Imagine your family security could depend on potential jury member who; maybe I should just end with America and Amerika are oxymorons.
Conservatives deserve government they tolerate their families may not deserve the horrors. To recite title of one of my favorite short stories, “Life Is Not Fair”.

2. “Two Of Five” (Continue Plus 67)
Racism Against Anglos

Sometimes starting with a writing exercise warm up exercise is about considering new responsibilities. Your author’s been thinking about getting to be a friend of a hard working intelligent beautiful good natured American Hispanic woman. One consideration is start hiding cash reserves for child support payments for a child that may never be born. Affording her will not be free, as she told me, I was lucky that she is not charging me rent for her wandering around my mind. It seems Texan ladies are almost worth new options.
Time to move onto what interests you, contemporary American racists all share one common trait, their lack of personal self respect have caused them all to become the evil they hate. Unspoken truth about America’s contemporary civil rights movement; many minorities and guilt driven whites despise President Jackson’s “equal opportunity without privilege” policies.
True motives for hypocritical civil rights advocates like following:“ superstar” black television show host, Kennedy-Clinton types and supporters, many anti-conservative Republican aristocrats are self consuming hate driven racism against Americans with Western European genetic heritages.
Repetition is a teaching tool, primary advocates of greed, vanity or guilt based racism includes: affirmative action supporters, Hollywood liberal Democrats, and less obvious anti-conservative Republican aristocrats. Examples of limousine liberals can be found thriving in tabloid sources, mainstream news media, and court jester entertainment formats.
As for anti conservative aristocrats, starting point: one Texas U.S. President, two Texas U.S. Senators, Texas Governor Perry, South Texas Republican county judge, and many McCain supporters. Motives include vanity to convince others they are compassionate. Those on list can easily prove me wrong by doing what is best for America regardless of costs to their snake oil reputations.
Readers might be surprised that Vice-President Cheney is not on list. One does not always have to agree with someone to respect them. By not inviting Cheney a party loyalist, world’s second most powerful man, a patriot who has served with honor to attend and speak at 2008 Presidential Convention for a round or two appreciative applause; suggests McCain and his organization will abandon promises and loyalty to conservative donors, volunteers, and voters before McCain finishes his oath of office.
Side note, most important U.S. Presidential character trait is to be respected and feared by foreign governments and regimes. Unfortunately President Bush is neither, respected or feared by foreign leaders in Russia, China, Middle East, Venezuela, or Mexico. There is only one scenario worse than foreign threats not respecting or fearing U.S. international policies; American allies not respecting or trusting American commitments. Presidential Candidate Obama’s foreign policy, guaranteed to be infinitely worse than President Carter’s legacy.
Back to this writing exercise theme, second type of racism is based on revenge against people who have been dead for more than a century. This “world owes me” cult includes some minority members and is too obvious to redundantly repeat.
Greed and lust for power are motives for third type of racism against Anglos. List includes unethical capitalists, public subsidy addicts, socialists, and fascists like Greenists.
A near closing question, is exploiting bad people for fun or entertainment a sin if good people do not get hurt?
Twist of irony: Anglos are not responsible for sins of their ancestors deceased for more than a hundred years. Contemporary discrimination by living makes living responsible for their violating due process rights of their victims.
Blind lady’s justice sword cuts both ways, living Anglos who discriminate against minorities are guilty of racism; contemporary minorities who discriminate against Anglos are guilty of racism. Anglos who discriminate against Anglos for vanity or greed to benefit minorities are also guilty of racism. President Jackson had it right, “equal opportunity without privilege.”


3. “Three Of Five” (Continue Plus 68)
Portrait Of One Cancer Economy

Greed brought illegal immigrants to America and greed will send them home. Out flux of illegal immigrants will leave fewer to detain and deport, while making international criminals and terrorists easier to manage.
Rio Grande Valley along with other southern border communities and metropolitan areas are excellent studies in economies based on retail profits generated by criminal activities, criminal investments from foreign countries, and populations on public subsidy addictions.
Implementing following policies is more than a good start in resolving America’s illegal immigration financial costs and societal problems. Based on poison fruits due to bad roots, first enact asset forfeiture of all property owned by illegal immigrants after a sixty day grace period to allow illegals to takes their illegal gains and leave America. Also enact asset forfeiture of any property used to assist illegal immigrants: transportation, housing, employment, financial exchanges or other assistance processes.
Americans do not need a national identification card to currently prove citizenship or legal residency when a notarized birth certificate or appropriate Homeland Security documentation of legal residency.
Examples: 1) new or renewal of driver’s license or vehicle insurance; 2) obtain post office box or mailing address; 3) rent or buy property; 4) open or maintain financial account or wire money; 5) obtain any utilities; 6) pay property taxes; 7) obtain employment with companies with more than two employees; 8) obtain federal services; 9) obtain any federal funds; and 10) obtain any state or local services or funds partially paid by federal dollars.
Above provisions will be supplemented with “responsible for sins and liabilities” provisions for those employing or assisting illegal immigrants. Example, illegal immigrant commits crime like involved in driving under influence accident which results in deaths or injuries, the employer or person providing assistance is criminally, civilly, and financially liable for actions of illegal immigrant.
State and local governments can spend their taxpayer dollars as they choose only not with any federal dollars. There is an amendment that prevents federal government from respecting establishment of religion. Breaking law to subsidize those engaging in criminal behavior is contrary to “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” violates constitutional law and should be subject to due process asset forfeiture.
Chamberlain McCain’s vanity can be managed by several conservative aristocrats who could explain that honoring his oath to Constitution includes McCain’s first executive order being enacting all ten above policies to allow illegal immigrants greed to motivate them to leave America. The “responsible for sins and liabilities” provision must be included to encourage greedy Americans not to employ or assist illegal immigrants.
McCain can avoid Bush II mistakes of not having power, rather never learning when or how to use power. Having power and not being willing to use power is no different than not having power or being powerless. Not using constitutional power is being naïve. Live with reality conservative strategists.
Many Republicans as many self identified conservative talk show hosts advocate choosing lesser of two evils to be popular or win elections. This strategy when taken to extremes can lead to choices like is raping a young woman less offensive than raping a child. Principles are about not crossing lines, not moving lines for relative convenience.
Return to second paragraph theme of this writing exercise: Rio Grande Valley along with other southern border communities and metropolitan areas are excellent studies in economies based on retail profits generated by criminal activities: criminal investments from foreign countries, and creating populations based on public subsidy addictions.
Existing formulas can suggest percentage of economy based on criminal activities. Some factors contributing to answer include following components: collateral retail profits for law abiding citizens’ operating legitimate businesses benefiting from criminal conduct like domestic illegal drug wholesale and retail sales to purchase property real estate, vehicles, and consumer goods purchases.
Other collateral retail profits are generated from investments by foreign criminal activities and corrupt governments. Domestic activities include smuggling illegal immigrants, employing illegal immigrants with illegal wages, weapons trafficking, fraudulent document sales, and many other scams and crimes,
A good guesstimate suggests that perhaps thirty or more percent of Rio Grande Valley, Texas economy involves billions of dollars based on criminal activities. Cancer part of the economy develops with collapse of community’s moral and security fabric which accompanies all economies built on crime.
It is not intent of this writing exercise to suggest all South Texas citizens are refugees from ethical capitalism, conservative principles, patriotism, and spiritual decency. There are many left, but these citizens are perhaps America’s most endangered species being assaulted on all sides by Judas profits for some capitalists. List also includes Democrat Socialists, Republican Socialists, some Hispanic racists, illegal immigrants representing ten percent of population and thirty to forty percent of social problems and crimes; finally, just plain greedy mean evil people with rabid souls.
National security lessons learned from forcing Rio Grande Valley to abandon collateral retail criminal profits will benefit all of America.


4. “Four Of Five” Continue Plus 69”
Multi Culturists Make List

Despite insults, lies, and propaganda by America last crowd, The United States based on its accomplishments is world’s greatest culture. America has set standards for planet earth in science, art, literature, technology, military capabilities, political processes, institutionalizing civil rights, defending and helping other nations.
England, France, Germany, Western Europe survived and were re-built with American intervention. Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, and Philippines also experienced nation direction changes with American intervention.
Comparing cultures is achieved by separating cultures into: Africa, Middle East, Far East, East Europe, West Europe, Latin America, and America.
All cultures except America have origins and traditions in peasant – dictator societies. Excluding Western Europe’s dabbling in constitutional republics, rest of planet earth has tended to adopt peasant-dictator political systems. Consider Africa, world’s oldest culture which remains, has, and still mostly generates regional tyrannies interrupted with sporadic anarchy throughout much of its history.
The only difference between Africa, and Middle East, Far East, Eastern Europe, and Latin America is that these areas have generated long term dynasties and empires founded on peasant-dictator relationships.
America’s standards for liberty, freedom, private property, constitutional republic, and standards of living are being threatened by multi culturalists condoning illegal immigrants refusing cultural assimilation. Other America last creeds supported by multi culturalists include: Islamic Fascism, Greenism the new fascism, Democratic Socialism, promiscuous liberals, Republican Socialism, anti-conservative aristocrats, moderate Republicans, counterfeit conservatives, counter American revolutionaries, and racists against American and Western European Anglos.
Citizens have right to compromise their principles and support multi cultural prejudices, and conservatives have the right not to have their tax dollars subsidize America last political policies.
One contemporary example includes America’s current event issue of fusing America’s culture with Mexico known as Mexicaniztion of America by multi culture groups. Intelligent citizens select cultures based on historical positives and negatives not vanity based compassion based on guilt, greed, or racism.
Consider Mexico’s most dominant historical cultures. Aztecs were a slavery-tyrant culture based on imperialist theft as most Aztec “achievements” were stolen from other tribes like Olmecs, Toltec’s, and Mayans. Mexico’s Aztecs established the largest religion known to historians based on cannibalism. Mexico’s entire history has evolved from sham democracies run by aristocrats to revolution to sham democracies run by new aristocrats followed by revolutions installing different aristocrats.
Migration of illegal immigrants into America is about nothing more than Mexico using illegal immigration as a “relief valve” to delay eventual revolution which will inevitably occur as Mexico’s history continues to repeat as historical cycles do.
When Mexico’s next revolution eventually occurs, Americans will be collaterally involved in violence as illegal immigrants on American soil will engage in violence against Mexican aristocrats “hiding out” in America. Many Mexican aristocrats have already started moving to American soil to seek refuge from Mexican revolution they know will seek justice for crimes aristocrats have committed against Mexican people.
Setting eventual violence risks against American citizens from Mexico’s next civil war aside; America is confronting problems caused by illegal immigrants with no desire to assimilate into American culture. Readers can reference “Assimilation The Big lie” in The Conservative Voice archives.
Multi culturists are about blending cultures’ traditions, ethics, principles, and life styles; a debatable socialist idea if all cultures were equal. Problem is not any two cultures are equal. You can run the numbers. If America receives a score of ninety-eight for its achievements and Mexico receive a score of twenty for its achievements the average represents lower living standards for American citizens.
Goal should be improving Mexico’s society based on examples by America’s culture to improve quality of lives for Mexicans. Multi culturalists motivated by naiveté, foolishness, greed, or self hatred would rather lower living standards of Americans.
Doubt validity of this observation, only differences between American side of Rio Grande River and Mexican side of Rio Grande is positive influences of America’s culture and less than positive influences of Mexican culture. Future historians will add American multi cultural advocates to a list including: Brutus, Judas, and Benedict Arnold, and internationalists.


“Five Of Five” (Continue Plus 70)
Not Enough Americans Have Died

Citizens who ignore national security spend too much time at cemeteries. Examples: Fanin of Goliad fame, Custer ignoring his scouts, American military for ignoring Mitchell’s warnings about role of aircraft carriers in future wars, political leaders for abolishing intelligence services after World War II, bureaucrats abolishing sniper units after Korean war, Americans who ignored warnings about President Johnson’s socialist welfare state programs, and Americans who ignore warnings about illegal immigration invasion.
America as a society tends to only make good decisions after sufficient numbers of American citizens become unnecessary casualties of foolish public policies. Examples of how America last crowd threatens national security: supports porous southern border, supports collateral retail profits from criminal activities, supports racism against Anglos by minorities and Anglo political opportunists; tolerates tens and tens of thousands of American citizens mostly Hispanic Americans being murdered, raped, sexually tortured, kidnapped, extorted, robbed, and killed and injured in traffic accidents by illegal immigrants, supports putting Americans out of work by employing illegal immigrants; supports internationalist economics which threatens national security by destroying America’s domestic manufacturing base, supports threatening national security by destroying American oil producers who will be needed to win America’s next major war; and among other treasons support Greenism the world’s new fascist movement.
What is difference between voting for Democrat Party Socialism and voting for Republican Party Socialism which only serves anti- conservative unpatriotic greed motivated unethical capitalist aristocrats?
Aristotle correctly observed over two thousand years ago that: an aristocratic state may be beneficial for a time, but aristocrats tend to deteriorate, and become the worst form of government.
Aristotle also correctly observed in advance about America’s internationalist aristocrats: Noble character is seldom found among those of noble birth, most who are good for nothing … gifted families often generate into maniacs. One of many good examples includes Hollywood’s promiscuous driven left.
Concerning rule by public subsidy addicts, Aristotle observed: When a democracy is dominated lower classes the rich are taxed to provide funds for the poor. The poor receive it and again want the same supply, like pouring water into a sieve. When either the rich get the better of the poor, or the poor of the rich, neither of them will establish a free state.
Brutal truth is that no changes will head America back to constitutional republic envisioned by America’s Founding Fathers if those changes are supported by either Democrat Socialist Party, or anti- conservative unpatriotic greed motivated unethical capitalist aristocrat wing of Republican Party.
Another ugly truth, helping people who are too blanked up to know they are blanked up is a total complete waste of time. Wasting time pretending to help those too blanked up too know they are blanked up only serves one’s vanity.
Contemporary times are consistent with America’s Revolutionary times in that only one citizen in three needs to tire of governments’ assaults against private property, inalienable liberties, and lives. Why care what person to your left side or right side does so long as you do what is right for America. Something to consider as Heaven only judges you for your sins not sins of others. America’s least discussed tradition, patriotic followers and patriotic leaders will naturally find each other when enough is enough. The process only seems to occur when enough Americans have died.
A redundant explanation for those not familiar with my writing exercises, my writing exercises are not intended to save your soul, that is Heaven’s task. My objectives are only intended to provide a few ideas to help you stay alive long enough to use your liberties, resources, and properties to make right free will decisions.
Experiences as a security consultant have taught me not to experience joy in other people’s fatal foolishness. Truth like it or not is that not enough Americans have died to motivate enough patriots too; this writing exercise’s closing might help you decide what I mean.
One of the first intelligence managers I worked for told me it was hoped that eventually I would become someone who followed orders with prejudice. It was explained that there are two kinds of orders those followed by prejudice and those followed with non-prejudice. Translation: non-prejudice orders are those strictly followed regardless of consequences; while those followed by prejudice are adapted with agent responsibility based on experience.
Reducing personal, family, societal, and national security threats for Americans begins with understanding meanings of two words: apathy and respect. Change is never started or accomplished by apathetic people who are people that do not care about theirs or others futures.
Primary motivation for apathy is lack of respect. Best known partial definition of respect is “to consider worthy of high regard.” A lesser known partial definition of respect, “refrain from interfering with.” A part of “refraining from interfering with” results when offenders have no fear of retaliation.
One reason illegal immigrants who represent ten percent of America’s population and commit close to forty percent of crimes in America is that illegal immigrants do hot hold America or its traditions in “high regard” or fear serious retaliation from victimized Americans.
Consistency suggest that Americans tolerate abuses, injuries, and deaths of their families, communities, and eventually their country’s constitutional republic; because not enough individual Americans have enough faith based self respect to abandon self destructive apathy. Now you know why this part time senile old farmer’s son can say with certainty of truth not enough Americans have died for enough Americans to again start acting like patriotic Americans.



LEGENDS

1. World’s Shortest Novel


Rene was rich and lonely. Richard was poor and happy. Rene never learned to play by herself.


2. Legend of Wild Olives


Folklore as recorded by John R. Marshall, provides a tale about an older bride whose first and only true love died at San Jacinto during Texas' War For Independence.
The bride became so depressed: she was diagnosed as dying of a broken heart.
After all efforts to cure the dying bride had failed, her family asked a young priest to intervene.
Following inspiration during prayer, the priest gave the near comatose widow a single wild olive tree. The cleric suggested that she care for the seedling and allow the white flowers to remind her of the beauty she and her true love shared during their time together.
As time passed, the bride recovered and the tree continued to grow and bloom. Eventually the time neared for the widow to rejoin her husband.
She asked the now middle age priest to only make her one promise: to care for the tree she had so carefully tended too since the passing of her husband.
After the bride's "going home", the priest became terribly depressed when none of his efforts to care for what became known as the widow's olive seemed to no avail as the tree without explanation started to die.
As the community was aware of the priest's promise to care for the tree, rumors started that the priest had lost his faith. Then almost like divine intervention, the priest thought that maybe the tree was dying from a broken heart.
The priest leaving in the middle of the night and with the failing light of his candle found a small wild olive tree that also seemed nearly dead. He continued on to the widow's abandoned ranch and planted the second wild olive.
As if a miracle, an unseasonable rain nourished both trees. You already know he rest of the legend. Both trees recovered and still survive to this day. Now you know why wild olive trees always do better when planted in pairs.


3. Devil’s Gold

Players:
Bounty Hunter (Johnny Angel - pronounced: Johnny On-hel)
Fugitive
Corrupt District Attorney and Deputy Sheriff
Girl With Car Trouble Felina - pronounced: Fe-lean-ah)
Ghost Rider
Bartender
Witch (Bruja - pronounced: Bru-ha)
Gambler

All stories start somewhere. This one started at an abandoned bordello on the road to the Arroyo Colorado. Colorado is Spanish for “red,” and describes the blood which flowed into the Arroyo following the massacre of the Flores family by politicians from Harlingen, Texas.
Some call me Johnny “the desperate” Angel, a tide given to me for my fair treatment of fugitives during my days as a bounty hunter. I had just passed “the curve” which is about a mile east of the long abandoned bordello known as Paso Real. I was delivering my prisoner, Mr. Fugitive, to the courthouse in Brownsville.
The Fugitive and I were still about three hours from our destination when he started complaining that it had been about six hours since I had allowed him to take a personal rest stop.
I decided that this might. be a good time for a stop, since I did not want him going inside my 1951 Ford pickup. Another incentive to stop was the nasty looking blue northern that seemed to be heading our way.
Upon our stepping out of my most valuable possession, my banged up old truck, Mr. Fugitive asked what would keep him from disappearing into the South Texas mesquite thicket. I told him nothing but the derringer that I always kept concealed above my wrist.
Upon preparing to resume our journey, I noticed a Cameron County sheriff’s car headed our direction. People in my line of work often know when it’s not going to be their day.
Two men stepped out of the sheriff’s car. The man in the suit asked why my passenger was in handcuffs. I informed him that I was a bail enforcement agent and had all the necessary papers to be transporting my prisoner to the court house in Brownsville.
The second stranger wearing a deputy’s uniform said that maybe they would do me a favor and deliver my prisoner to Brownsville for me. I told both strangers that would not be necessary since I would only get paid if I delivered Mr. Fugitive in person.
The deputy pulled his weapon and informed me that it was an election year, and that it might be nice of me to donate my prisoner to the man in the suit who was seeking re-election as County District Attorney.
I informed both strangers that since I was not a registered voter in their county and did not care who got elected, both men could go have sex with themselves or each other. I did not really care.
At that point the District Attorney pulled his weapon and asked me if I wanted to die now or some other time. I’m not inclined to start a fight I know I cannot win, so I told the public sector outlaws that I would rather die some other time.
The District Attorney was informed that he would not be able to take credit for Mr. Fugitive’s capture if he could not get the prisoner’s handcuffs off. I added that since the prisoner was wearing specially made cuffs which required a special key, it might be a good idea to let me keep my handcuffs.
Both public sector outlaws were informed that Mr. Fugitive had a bladder problem and needed personal rest breaks about every hour, and that if they didn’t want a mess that would permanently fowl the inside of their car, they should accommodate their prisoner’s medical problem.
I thought Mr. Fugitive’s expression would give my plan away when I slipped him my derringer while removing his handcuffs. The thought was that I would lag behind, and recapture my prisoner after his hopeful escape. Heck he might even be worth more money at that point in time.
The District Attorney told me to turn that piece of junk I called a truck around and get out of his county as fast as I could. No problem since I figured I had some time to waste while waiting for my prisoner to escape.
I had almost reached the curve heading back to Paso Real, when I noted a truck the same year model as mine stopped on the side of the road. As I approached, I noticed the most beautiful woman I had ever seen.
Closer inspection showed that she had a flat tire. Further inquiry determined that she did not have a spare tire. Without hesitation I took my spare and put it on her vehicle. While she was talking about what a coincidence it was that my tire would fit on her truck; I couldn’t help thinking, how could any woman living in the land of the dead be so beautiful.
As she was getting ready to continue her journey she handed me a small cross, and said this will protect you from the coming storm. As she drove off, I couldn’t help thinking: what a fool for not asking her name.
The approaching storm had me thinking, I hope the cross she gave me will make up for giving my derringer to Mr. Fugitive.
I knew that my day was not going to get any better when I heard my right front tire explode as I started skidding into a ditch.
Not wanting to spend the night in my truck, I thought; since I’m only about thirty yards from the curve, perhaps I can run fast enough to make it to the abandoned bordello before the rain and sleet start. At least that way I’ll only be cold instead of both cold and wet.
I could not believe what happened next. I was almost trampled flat by a run a way wagon being pulled by four of the blackest horses I have ever seen. Two simultaneous thoughts struck me, why hadn’t I seen or heard the wagon coming, and second maybe the cross from the lady with car trouble was more valuable than my derringer.
There was little time for thinking as the storm had started to blow in. I started running towards the curve and Paso Real with every ounce of energy in my body.
The strong wind and swirling dust blocked my view of Paso Real until I collapsed from total exhaustion twenty to thirty yards from the entrance.
What I saw next shocked me more than the incident with the run a way wagon. I could not believe what I was seeing. The abandoned saloon/bordello looked like it must have the first day it was open for business.
As I struggled to stand up, I realized that I was still holding the cross given me by the lady with car trouble. I then made my way to the swinging doors to get in out of the now pouring
rain.
The cantina part of Paso Real, a part time hotel and full time bordello, was empty except for the bartender. The glance of his warm eyes was instantly followed by a haunting baritone voice bidding me welcome.
The reassuring greeting caused me to put the lady’s cross in my pocket I asked for a beer. The bartender quipped “the special is two beers, and a burned steak with black beans. It’s a better deal for the money.”
Not in any hurry to settle in and wanting to find out more about what was going on; my response was that I could only afford one beer.
In less than a heartbeat the bar tender announced that he was always willing to run a tab for anybody looking for the devil’s gold. My wary look generated the following one sided conversation. The devil1s gold used to be called Taylor’s Gold.
During the 1845 war General Taylor came this far south to secure the Rio Grande from incursions by Mexico. He crossed the Arroyo just beyond the curve just east of here. After marching about twenty miles General Taylor started thinking he might have actually crossed the Rio Grande and be twenty miles in Mexico.
Not wanting to jeopardize his army’s gold payroll, Taylor sent one of his most trusted officers with twelve of his most trusted enlisted men to cross back across the Arroyo and bury the payroll which consisted of a thousand pounds of gold coins.
History has it that after burying the gold, the entire unit was ambushed by who knows who. Unfortunately, the dead thirteen took their secret of where the gold was buried with them. Taylor was forced to bring in an additional payroll for his troops through Point Isabel.
Legend has it that the devil sent his demons to destroy Taylor’s unit because he wanted all that gold to attract greedy souls. The rules are simple those who find the Devil’s gold can keep all they can get away with.
The special is two beers, and one burned steak with black beans. Want me to run a tab? I just know anybody named Johnny Angel would never pass up two beers and a burned steak with black beans.
My response, “You can tell me how to go about finding Taylor’s gold while I settle back and enjoy your hospitality.”
The long and the short of the Bartender’s second one sided conversation was that I had to walk back to the curve east of Paso Real. Go around the curve and walk until I saw an old witch known locally as Bruja under a giant mesquite tree.
I was not looking forward to the walk, but the meal had been good, the northern had blown through, and the skies were clearing while the temperature continued to drop to freezing.
All that aside, a deal is a deal. Besides that, I did not feel like sitting around and listening to the bartender all night. At that point in time, it seemed appropriate that a strange day should be followed by a strange night.
Except for the increasing cold the walk to and around the curve was uneventful. I was amazed to find that my truck had not disappeared from where I had left it. After a pretty good walk I spotted a woman who looked to be a hundred and fifty years old standing under a huge leafless mesquite tree.
The Bruja’s first words were “Why should I help you?” I never was good at protocol, and responded, “Your commission is on my soul.”
Her response caught me totally off guard. I’ve never heard such laughing.
She started speaking almost as quickly as she started laughing, “I influence spirits; I don’t collect them. The answer to your question; in return for you treating my niece like your one and only love.”
Before I could respond, she continued, “The rules are: 1) jump before the curve 2) never take more than you need, and 3) never draw first. You can start back at Paso Real; my niece will find you. Now leave. You bore me.”
It was not long after I left the Bruja that the breezy midnight turned to still darkness as a wagon appeared. The ghostly driver was young. His excited voice was cold, “Get on he said.”
Continuing without hesitation, “I was the best around running cotton for guns. Kept on getting through. We’re brothers lost in time. Told Felina I’d quit after one last run.”
“Fifty cal drained my blood, still working my team trying to get through. I know Felina will wait; with your help I know I can get through and spend eternity with my Felina my love. I’m begging you; please don’t jump before the curve.”
Like the Bruja under the mesquite tree said, when evil hearts collide, it’s the walking away, not the winning that counts. It’s a long way to paradise when you’re headed back to Paso Real.
Did not really know what to expect as I walked through the swinging doors into the Paso Real. Was somewhat relieved to only see one new player, a well dressed man who appeared to make his living as a never lose gambler.
Before I could reach the bar, the soft spoken stranger asked if I wanted to “pay the cards.” Told him I was broke only to see the bartender toss a gold coin on the table and bark I’ll put it on your tab.
After barely taking the first two hands, I knew the game was rigged because Mr. Gambler was letting me win. Next came the hard part, deciding when I should walk away. Remember rule number two: never take more than you need.
Some where through out the next two h6urs, I decided that being the seventh son of the seventh son; I could settle for forty-nine thousand in gold coins. I expressed my desires and waited for the gambler’s challenge.
Without saying a word, the gambler got up and stepped in front of the swinging doors. I slowly emptied my pockets to show Mr. Gambler that I was not carrying a weapon. The bartender stepped around the bar, and laid an antique six shooter on the table next to my right hand. His comment was predictable: I’ll put it on your tab.
Trying to buy time, I asked how I could be sure any gun that old still works. The gambler said that the bartender could exchange the gun on the table for his. After the exchange. Mr. Gambler told me to draw anytime I was ready.
Told Mr. Gambler that I would not draw on him. The response: “Not even as a reflex?” I heard the last sound I wanted to hear, a warning from a rattle snake. I partially looked down and saw a rattle snake coiled on the table across from the gambler’s gun.
The only thought going through my mind was, “God, please don’t let me draw when that serpent from hell strikes.” Before I could finish my desperate prayer, the snake struck towards the gun. I don’t know why I didn’t flinch, but I didn’t and the snake eased off the table and crawled away.
I looked back and the gambler was holding a Bowie knife against the temple of the girl who had car trouble. Before I could totally grasp the situation, he moved the knife to her throat and said: You draw now or I will toss you her head.
No time for a prayer. Speaking without thinking, “I know the rules; you kill her, I don’t draw, you lose. You have nothing to gain by hurting her. Since this is between you and me, killing her would be a sin.” As he whirled her into thin air, Mr. Gambler evolved into an exact image of Johnny Angel.
There before me stood me. I don’t know what I sound like, but I’m sure he sounded like me. I saw his hand start to move. What scared me was that I knew I was moving my hand. I started clenching my fist, his hand kept moving. My hand kept moving. Au I could think about was squeezing my fist tighter and tighter.
Suddenly he screamed with a shrill that would scare the dead. He opened his gun hand and it was burning. I opened my hand and showed the bartender the cross in my palm that was a gift from the girl with car trouble. When I glanced back, my evil apparition had disappeared.
As I started gathering up my winnings, I noticed that the sun would be up shortly. Wishing nothing more than settling my account with Mr. Bartender and wanting to leave, I laid a single gold coin on the bar.
He smiled and asked if I wanted my change. Thought of rule number two before I answered, “Good try, but I’ve come too far to lose on the last play of your game. I think I'll keep my soul for now.” Evil never gives up, his last words were, “There’s always an open tab for you here at Paso Real.”
Where to go, where to go? Headed back to the curve and my pickup. Talk about strange luck. Just as I reached the curve who do I see leaving a note on the windshield of my truck but the girl with car trouble. Turns out she was heading up to Del Rio and wanted me to know where I could find my spare tire.
I know what I said must have sounded totally goofy, but I asked her if I might ride along with her to Del Rio to pick up my spare tire.
As we were passing the again abandoned Paso Real headed west, I heard. on the radio that the district Attorney and his chief investigator had been found shot to death just outside Brownsville. The newscast also reported that their car had been found covered with brush near the bank of the Rio Grande.
The girl who had car trouble asked if I had any unfinished business in this part of Texas. It dawned on me while I answered; the bartender got two souls after all. Not any more; don’t believe I know your name.
She smiled with a warmth that few seldom see, “I thought you would have figured it out by now, it’s Felina.”



4. Life Is Not Fair”


Time for new choices old choices are getting old. Lesser of two evils is still premeditated evil. Oaths are moral contracts, compromise half today half tomorrow, soon nothing left to compromise.
The following is not about prophets, legends, or heroes. Life Is
Not Fair about life not being fair, not even for the virtuous.

Intro

Life Is Not Fair starts with Christopher engaged in conduct most
Americans are guilty of and never held accountable for, driving while intoxicated or bluntly stated driving drunk.
Christopher began to realize that he had too much to drink when
he stomped on the accelerator instead of the brakes while entering his parent’s garage.
The new vehicle a college graduation gift came to a stop after
surging into the back of the garage and into the utility room. Christopher before nodding off was wondering how he would explain the new utility room door to his parents.
Not remembering when or how he made it to the couch in the den,
Christopher was startled awake by a persistent ringing telephone about four thirty in the morning.
Christopher was about to learn a horrible life’s lesson late night or
early morning phone calls never bring good news. The official sounding person informed Christopher that he needed to come as soon as he could to the local hospital, as his parents had been involved in a serious traffic accident.
After trying to sober up with alternating hot and cold showers,
Christopher finally managed to get dressed, find the keys to his father’s truck and make it to the hospital.
Upon arriving at the hospital, an intern escorted Christopher to
the morgue to identify not visit his parents.
Christopher learned that his mother’s car had been hit head on by
drunk driver.
Hardest part for Christopher was identifying both his mother
and his father’s faces as their heads separated from their bodies during the violent impact as the drunk driver was traveling over a hundred miles an hour.
Christopher an only child kept thinking on the way home, “life
is not fair my parents did not even drink.”
Little did Christopher know that life was going to get a lot less fair
as he was living in Rio Grande Valley Texas, first the hospital put a lien on his parent’s house as their health insurance did not include provisions for injuries caused by illegal immigrant drunk drivers.
Second, emergency room services refused to sign Christopher’s
mother and father’s death certificates until Christopher paid emergency room and ambulance fees. Third, life insurance companies would not pay for the funerals without signed death certificates.
Fourth, pastor from the Presbyterian Church Christopher’s parents attended, served in, and financially supported for forty years would not perform graveside services without a hundred dollar gratuity in advance.
About one in the morning following Christopher’s mother and
father’s funeral, he received another late night telephone call. Again another official sounding voice informed him that his only and favorite relative, his uncle had been killed by feral hogs on his ranch.
Two days later Christopher went to the post office only to find a
card from his uncle that was more distressing than the notice he received from the county, where his uncle still had not been buried, demanding property tax payment within thirty days or lose the ranch his uncle had willed him.
Christopher created a plan. First, settle his parents’ estate.
Second, use balance for property taxes and ranch cash reserves.
Third, move to ranch settle his uncle’s affairs.
It would have worked if life were fair. Unfortunately, Christopher
trusted long time friends in the real estate business to arrange estate property sales. Turns out, the profit before friendship people stole most of estate proceeds, and left Christopher just enough gas money to leave town and pay property taxes.
There is an expression made famous by some Texas Rio Grande
Valley residents: Better to screw friends than enemies who will not put up with it.
Christopher was pleased when he received a twenty-dollar refund
for settling the tax account early. Twenty dollars seems a pittance in America’s credit card society, to Christopher it seemed like a fortune.
Look at the world through Christopher’s eyes little gas money,
little food money, his ranch paid for; only thing left was detached lethal revenge for his uncle’s death. In addition, he had found a place to live where the community standard was not screwing friends is preferable to screwing enemies.
As the weathered game warden approached the unkempt cabin, he
saw Christopher kneeling between two small manicured graves. He had one hand on a grave marked Tan and the other on a grave marked Red.
What caught the warden’s attention were the silent tears getting
lost in Christopher’s sun bleached beard.
Warden: Your Uncle told me right before the accident, that except for you, his Patterdale Terriers were the best thing that ever happened to him.
Christopher embarrassed by his emotions almost shouted: Tan sacrificed his life to Evil for mine two summers past. Red lost his life to Evil for my Uncle. Do not know if you will understand I did not know Tan well, but I sure loved Red.
Warden, “Thought you might like to have your Uncle’s Model 94” to
which Christopher quipped “I will use it to kill Evil.”
Warden, “Christopher, Evil is dead your Uncle died killing him.”
Christopher’s without thinking response, “Don’t mean to be rude
Warden but I won’t know that until tomorrow.”
Warden retorted “Sunrise early enough for you?”
Brimming with impatience Christopher smiled and added “I’ll meet
you at the main gate.”
The ride to the Uncle’s death scene was without idle conversation.
As the two approached where Uncle died, the Warden
commented, “That’s unusual buzzards have not bothered the dead hogs.”
Christopher noted, “Why would they, they don’t scavenge evil. Your
report was Uncle died when he stumbled between two feral hogs. Evil and another feral hog killing both while they attacked him.”
Before the Warden, responded Christopher walked over and knelt
down by one of the feral hog skulls. Remaining silent, he stood up then walked over and moved the other skull with his foot.
Without hesitation, Christopher informed the Warden, “Evil the
boar that killed Tan, Red, and my Uncle is alive and well and still haunting this ranch.”
The Warden incredulously asked, “Now how do you know that?”
Christopher began a rant that the Warden would never forget.
“First, these feral hogs are the same size, Evil is a lot larger. Second, (pointing) my Uncle shot this hog first in the side of the head probably from a blind back there on the hill. This hog, a decoy, was shot close up between the eyes and dropped in his tracks. Third, these hogs born at the same time are both carrying six-inch tusks, Evil closer to twenty years old sports tusks over a foot long.”
Continuing, Evil came out of the brush knocked Uncle down from
behind. Evil used two decoys.”
Even more stunned Warden asked, “What decoys.”
Christopher started another rant. “Uncle sent me a card (handed
Warden post card that said: Evil killed Red after I shot decoy). Let me explain. Evil always leads his off spring and always travels just inside brush lines.”
“Evil has a habit of dropping back letting other herd members be
decoys by breaking into clearings first (these opening are always smaller than an average kitchen). This was proven when Uncle killed a clearing decoy the day Red rushed in and was killed by Evil.”
“Evil adapted from using one to two decoys. That means my
textbooks are wrong. Feral hogs are supposed to be evolving predators. A notebook question is the adaptation unique to one animal or social among the herd.”
Christopher pauses for several seconds, “The hog Uncle shot in
the side of the head was the clearing decoy. The hog shot between the eyes was the second decoy, one that Uncle was not expecting.”
Christopher added, “Alright, even Evil is running out of decoys. I
have watched Evil’s five progeny for the past four summers that leaves two remaining decoys and Evil. All I have to do is kill the first two decoys and Evil last.”
Warden still trying to grasp Christopher’s conclusions, “Need help?”
Christopher seeming more confident then ever, “No sir, this time
tomorrow Evil will be dead.”
Shortly after sun down Christopher’s plan went as scripted, first
from his Uncle’s blind, he killed the first decoy as it broke into the clearing with a single shot inches below the ear.
Christopher did not notice his adrenalin until he entered the
clearing and witnessed fading aberrations of Tan at eleven o’clock and Red at four o’clock.
During fractions of a second, Christopher put down the second
decoy at eleven o’clock. Simultaneously he spun to four o’clock firing at Evil. In what could not have been an echo, he heard another shot spinning to see a hog drop at his feet.
In the process of trying to grasp what had just happened,
Christopher hears Warden calmly say, “All that fancy calculating and you forgot that barren mama makes seven.”
Warden’s emotions started flowing in the same breath, “Boy I
lost my best friend, because your Uncle never learned, that no matter how good you are; there will always come a time when backup decides who wins and who dies.”
Christopher coldly responded, “At least now I know that adaptive predatory behavior among feral hogs is social not unique to single animals.”
Warden, “A notebook question, who is crazier, you or your Uncle.” Both men smiled and started laughing at the joke shared among
friends.
Christopher with the Warden’s connections became a regional
legend as ranch detective or ranch scout depending on where you live.

Act I

Debriefing for morning assignment those present Investigation
Company Owner-Manager /Bail Agent / Christopher
Bail Agent to Christopher: “When I tell you to check in at a certain
time, I expect you to follow orders.”
Christopher, “If I had your fugitive would now be in Mexico not
county jail.”
Company Owner to Bail Agent: “Let him finish.”
Christopher: “You told me the fugitive was smart. If I were a
fugitive, I would put a scout where I thought you would place a surveillance agent. I made a decision to look for the bad guy’s scout and found him watching the terrain you told me to set up at.”
Finishing his report, “After disabling the fugitive’s security I
moved on to my prearranged location just in time to watch you, the Company Manager-Investigator, and his support personnel take the fugitive into custody.”
Christopher added, “If you want me to check in at a specific time,
you make damn sure I do not have to take care of problems you over looked.”
Bail Agent: “Backup, what happened to the bad guy’s scout?”
Christopher: “I shot him with a dart full of feral hog tranquilizer.”
Company Owner / Investigation Manager: “How did you know how
much tranquilizer to use?”
Christopher: “Did not know, just used what I would on a three
hundred pound hog.”
Bail Agent’s screamed: “You could have landed us all in jail if that
man died and the cops found the needle.”
Christopher: “Checked his pulse when I retrieved my needle,
another reason I was late reporting in.”
Company Owner / Investigation Manager to Bail Agent: You need
to calm down, we can finish our business in a few minutes, step outside I want to talk to Christopher.
Company Owner to Christopher in nonchalant voice: I intend to
cut back on my responsibilities; plan to hire an investigation manager in September. What is your education background?
Christopher answers, “I am twelve hours or four elective courses
short of a Bachelor of Science degree in Wildlife Management.”
Continuing, “My priorities changed after I took over my Uncle’s
ranch, could not see the need to take basket weaving.”
Company Owner, “I am going to pay you an extra five thousand
dollar bonus to match the five thousand you earned for your work this morning. Use the bonus to get your degree or whatever. Should you choose to spend the bonus on summer school, take the following classes: forensic photography, legal report writing, SCUBA diving, and basket weaving. After you graduate come and see me in September, I just might have the perfect job with good pay for you.”
Christopher thought for several seconds, “I understand the first
three electives, but why basket weaving?”
The response, “So you never forget who will be your boss.
Christopher I have no problem pushing technology beyond its limits, experimenting on my cases and not telling me is off limits. Things like using hog darts to tranquilize people, you understand?”
“Yes sir. I understand (pause). Sir I sincerely appreciate your offer,
though I am an outdoors person, and not sure I would make a good desk pilot.”
Company Owner, “Leave shuffling papers to me; you will be in the
field and keep me informed what is going on.”
Christopher, “My parents always wanted me to get my degree, for
them I will take your electives, even basket weaving. I will see you in September.”
Company Owner, as Christopher shook hands and started to leave,
“Do not forget my basket; tell the Bail Agent to come back in.”
Christopher was thinking as he left what he hoped would be his new employer’s office, “Finally a routine seems to be starting, some cash reserves for the ranch, money to finish school for my parents dream, and possibly a career starting job.”
It has always been my policy as an author, not to interfere in my characters lives. Otherwise, I would have warned Christopher that many a city woman has changed farmers sons lives. Sometimes ruined, sometimes made better, only what follows will tell.
Christopher decided about two hours into the eight-hour drive back to the ranch that a small café meal would re-energize the drive home, next stop next diner.
Some twenty to thirty minutes later Christopher stopped at a run down rural bar hoping to find a not too burned burger.
Christopher while entering the cantina indifferently checked out the customers. Christopher nondescriptly moved to a corner table so he could sit with his back to the wall.
A waitress with the nametag Socorro set a glass of water on the table followed by, “Beer, food, or both?”
Christopher trying to be clever, “I was going to get a cheese burger to go, since the scenery is nice I’ll dine in, what’s the special.”
Socorro: “Don’t try the liver, chicken fried steak and onion rings are decent.”
Christopher, “Chicken fried steak, onion rings, ice tea with no sugar.”
Drunk at bar yells, “Boy you might try Socorro’s mouth for a quarter for desert.”
Socorro whispered, “Let it be.”
Drunk, “After you bring me a beer, bring me the boy’s food, I got a quarter.”
Christopher stepping away from the table in a voice everybody could hear, “Not looking for trouble. What you do means nothing to me, boy.”
Bartender jumps from back room with a shotgun, “First one to move dies, stranger you leave now, and take that trouble making Socorro with you.”
Socorro follows Christopher out side, “I told you to let it be, so where are we going (Christopher says nothing), look boy you cost me a job and a place to live. You at least owe me a ride.”
Christopher quipped, “Get in.”
After almost fifteen minutes of silence that would wake the dead, Socorro turned on the radio only to hear the end of a song Christopher had never heard. “Darn, I always miss the end of Emerald Starr.”
Christopher, “What kind of name is Emerald Starr?”
Socorro “A stage name, Emerald because Dar-Rene has green eyes and Starr because that is her real last name.”
Christopher “Never heard of her.”
Socorro, “Dar-Rene ‘Emerald’ Starr, five feet one inch tall, 110 pounds, straight black glossy shoulder length hair, oval face silky skin, smile that could warm even your cold heart.”
Christopher “How do you know I have a cold heart?”
Socorro “You have tombstone eyes.”
Christopher “What do you know about tombstone eyes?”
Socorro “My dead husband had tombstone eyes. He kept going on high-risk operations until he did not come back. Back to Emerald Starr, her voice was a gift from heaven. Her plane was lost in a blizzard and she was never found.”
Christopher “You are wrong about me having tombstone eyes.”
Socorro “Not likely, I saw the hope in your eyes that my boss’s nephew would cross the line so you could prove how good you are. What do you do for a living executive protection, bail enforcement, or private intelligence maybe all three.”
Christopher “Nobody likes a smart mouth.”
Socorro “You mean mouth smarter then yours. So where is my home for tonight?”
Christopher “I have a ranch.”
Socorro “You do not look like a cowboy.”
Christopher “Not a cattle ranch, a wildlife ranch.”
Socorro “Sounds different, wake me up at the turn off from the main road, so at least I know how to leave.”
Christopher nudged Socorro “You said to wake you up when I turned off the main road. The next town is twenty miles straight ahead the last town is thirty miles behind us. It is almost five miles down this gravel road to the ranch gate.”
Socorro’s comment caught Christopher by surprise “People like you always carry concealed, let me have your pistol for insurance until I leave.”
Christopher’s only comment, “Do not hurt yourself” as he handed Socorro his pistol.
Silence prevailed until Christopher entered the ranch and stopped in front of a small tent.
Hoping to lighten the moment, Christopher apologized to Socorro and explained that ranch accommodations were in progress and after Socorro settled in, she could walk down the road around the curve to the barn when he would have supper ready.
Christopher also instructed that since he had been having trouble with a mountain lion, it might be a good idea for Socorro to count backwards from a hundred at the top of her voice to keep the predator from having her for supper.
Socorro did her part performing a nervous though less than flattering rendition of backward from a hundred until she cleared the corner, and saw a small immaculate white wood frame cabin.
It seems that Socorro did not feel Christopher’s concept of humor was funny. As things turned out, Socorro was not a stranger to pistols, after supper Christopher spent the rest of the night sleeping on the porch.
Christopher was aroused the next morning by Warden wanting to know why he was sleeping outside.
After introduction formalities, the Warden asked Socorro when the baby was due.
Christopher’s stunned response, “You are pregnant.”
The Warden quipped, “Boy if you cannot tell by looking you need to get off the ranch more.”
Christopher both embarrassed and sore from sleeping on the porch blurted, “I am late registering for my basket weaving class. You be here when I get back we need to talk about you and your baby.”
The Warden also enjoying lighter moments asked Christopher, “You mean me or Socorro also I want to hear more about your basket weaving.”
Socorro jumping in added, I will be here I also want to hear about the basket weaving.”
Christopher’s summer with Socorro generated true friendship, stability, and wisdom.
Socorro tried to explain to Christopher what she learned as a dancer, there is a difference between needing money to pay bills, and knowing that her clients were spoiled mama’s boys who had to pay for affection that grown men found free with respect.
Socorro also tried to teach Christopher peace with nature comes from only killing for food or in self-defense, translation only kill what wants to eat you, hurt you, kill you.
Sometime between summer classes and spending time with Socorro, Christopher started believing love and romance could last by being responsible for, and respectful to Socorro and her child.
Summer like all seasons eventually ends. Christopher took his new college diploma and Socorro to the interview for what he hoped would be his new career.
As Socorro was not feeling well, she decided to wait for Christopher in the truck. Socorro could tell by the expression on Christopher’s face that he had good news.
Christopher was happier than he had been since driving through his parents’ garage. His first words, “We can use my signing bonus to find baby furniture for your miracle.”
After loading boxes of baby furniture, Christopher was suddenly knocked into the air as a drunk driver slammed into the back of his parked truck. Before Christopher felt the parking lot, he saw his truck turning end over end.
Christopher in fractions of seconds was with Socorro only to find two obvious deaths.
The soul killing silence was interrupted by the drunk driver screaming, “Get me out of here I am covered in gas.”
Christopher’s eyes transitioned back to tombstone eyes. Christopher walked over to the drunk driver reached in his pocket pulled out his lighter, flicked it open looked into the drunk’s eyes, “Enjoy hell” and tossed the lit lighter next to the soon to be executed.
Christopher has told those closest to him that he was holding Socorro and her child and does not remember the flash or explosion of the drunken murderer’s car.
Seven days later Christopher was not surprised to see his new boss as he was leaving the funeral home. Followed by the mentor asking, “How are you Christopher?”
Christopher uncharacteristically showed emotion, “I am sad, sad, sad.”
The older immaculately dress gentleman instructed, “ There is nothing I can say that will make you feel better simply let you know that only time will partially ease the sadness.”
Christopher, “ I am learning that. This time last week, my only thoughts were dreams, dreams of a new wife, new family, and new career. Seven days later, my dreams are this card board box full of ashes.”
New Boss, “Maybe Heaven leaves us good memories to help ease our pain over boxes of losses.”
Christopher, “Socorro was right when she said I could learn from you. Socorro had no family, she loved the ranch, need to take Socorro and her child to their favorite place on the ranch.”
Boss, “I have a new case for you when you are ready, but only when you have your edge back. In addition, a friend gave this to me, said it might be yours (as he hands Christopher his lighter). My contact suggested you be more vigilant next time you do the taxpayers work.”
Christopher, “I will be back in the office in three days,”
Boss, “Make it five days, meet me at the café across from Freedom Park seven thirty for breakfast. If you need more time, call in, I will understand.”
Christopher, “I only have one dream left, I’ll be early.”
Five days later Christopher walked in the café thirty minutes early.
Boss, “Morning Christopher, in exactly forty-five minutes, you will take this back pack which contains one hundred thousand dollars of company money, go across the street, walk into Freedom Park, continue past the swing set, then sit down at the second bench, wait for a tall red headed stranger to hand you an envelope with a diskette. Leave the backpack for the stranger. Bring the diskette to the office so I can give you your new assignment. Now what would you like for breakfast?”
After a surprising good meal, Christopher took the backpack and headed into Freedom Park on schedule.
As Christopher approached the swing set, he saw a horrific site, an obviously near delivery pregnant woman who could have been Socorro’s twin sister swinging higher than safe or prudent.
Next came Christopher’s worst nightmare, the woman flying from the swing landing face down. Without thinking, Christopher ran toward the groaning screaming woman to determine her injuries.
As he set down the backpack and started to help, Christopher simultaneously saw the flash and report from a pistol as he felt two hammers hit his chest and push him back.
Next while trying to regain his breath, Christopher heard his Boss scream enough, while someone grabbed Christopher’s hand as he reached for his own weapon.
The next site Christopher would never forget were the red stains on his chest that later turned out to be paint.
While still trying to get his bearings, Christopher heard his new boss’s voice, “Christopher, I told you not to come back if you were not ready. You have been at work less than five minutes already blown a case, lost one hundred thousand dollars of company money, and got yourself killed. ”
Continuing, “This is a one mistake business. Now if you need more time take it, otherwise go get cleaned up and meet me in the office at nine o’clock.”
Christopher after changing shirts made it to his new office on time.
Boss, “Glad you made it, now if you are ready to start work, I have your first assignment. The location is several ranches west of your place across the canyon. Your job determine how our client’s son died and finish his work.”
Christopher, “Question, are you sending me on this assignment because I failed that test this morning?”
Boss, “I am sending you to do this work because you are my only employee that knows the difference between a lighting bug and shooting star.”
Boss continued, “The secretary will provide your case review cassette, brief case, walking money, and will tell you how to acquire any equipment you need. One more thing, your probation is over no more distractions. Stay in touch.”

Act II

It has always been my policy as an author, not to interfere in my characters lives. Otherwise, I would have warned Christopher of two things: first, nothing hard is ever easy and second, being right does not make one popular.
As Christopher positioned himself in the recently assigned company vehicle for a long drive, he like most people reflexively turned on the radio.
Christopher not in the mood to listen to redundant news about the ninth anniversary of a missing singer and her plane, started listening to a cassette tape of his graduation required essay “Predators and Preys Relationships On Recreational Ranches”.
Christopher suddenly experienced a mind-set that since he had written the prose, listening to his essay again would be a useless exercise in vanity.
Like the possessed, he went back to the radio only to find a different station promoting the missing singer’s anniversary.
Remembering that travel time should be work time, Christopher decided to listen to the office provided cassette “Case Location Review”:
Couple of ranches north of your home base across the canyon; American Aborigines preceding Native Americans described a place called “Spirit Island”.
The canyon as you know runs about four hundred miles with nine hundred foot walls divided by the harshest rough water rapids on planet earth.
West and northwest Spirit Island is protected by thousands of square miles of shifting twenty to forty foot constantly shifting sand dunes; the north and east are protected by a miles deep salty lake frequented by unpredictable hurricane strength storms.
The last known human inhabitant was a World War I survivor of mustard gas. No one knows when the barmy monte man died. Monte is Spanish for brushy thicket where flora has thorns on thorns.
As for wildlife, the little known legendary jaguarondi tops the list. This small un-spotted black gray reddish below is a relative of the mountain lion. The jaguarondi is occasionally active in early morning, a good swimmer, excellent sprinter, and travels mostly at night.
Many naturalists have devoted their entire lives without success for a glimpse of this most elusive of American cats.
With the advent of technology, America’s traitors to Heaven’s Gardens of Eden, greed driven developers want to convert Spirit Island to recreation housing for pop-culture weekend environmentalists.
Only way to preserve natural habitat for America’s jaguarondi is to document their existence in the wild.
Parents have a right to know how their children die. The first objective of your investigation, written conclusion: suicide, accident, or murder of client’s only son.
The second part of this assignment, publishable photographs of
jaguarondi (fulfill client’s dead son’s dream).
Hope you were paying attention during at least two of your summer elective classes. I will try to work in basket weaving in a future case.
Autopsy report along with other background documents are in the brief case accompanying this tape.
Christopher, enjoy the ride, this could be the hardest and most dangerous assignment of your life.
On a lighter note, if you get careless or let vanity guide your decisions like your uncle; my company your employer will not pay for your funeral, as it is doubtful what’s left of your body will ever be found.
One more thing, I do not have a reputation for hiring fools, I am depending on you to reward my trust by doing good work and returning in good health.
Enjoy the work.

Halfway during the journey Christopher stopped at No Where Café for something called chicken fried quail. He spent the meal reviewing case documents enclosed in company brief case. Waitress seemed intriguing wrong time for new dream.
Christopher returned to the radio only to find music by Emerald Starr. It was not that he did not enjoy country blues rather sad entertainment reminded him of Socorro. Perhaps a mental investigation plan would be better use of his time.
Photographing endangered cats was the client’s son dream, no motivation for suicide. As for the death being an accident, a training manual titled SPY AS A VERB had taught Christopher that the obvious in the intelligence business is diversion.
As for motives to murder the photojournalist, hundreds of millions of dollars for real estate developers by turning Spirit Island into a resort for promiscuous worthless alphabet retirement plans baby boomers.
A public murder as shooting would bring Satan’s real estate agents unwanted publicity. Until proven other wise, Christopher would operate under the premise that the accidental death was premeditated murder.
Autopsy photos showed the photojournalist had no defensive marks before falling off the four hundred foot cliff, something had to have caused his reflexes to cause him to move the wrong way.
Reflexes liven up by pain, sight, or sound. A loud noise seems the easiest possibility for now. What is the easiest loud noise to generate, gunshot.
Christopher had a sudden sense that Boss was right, this job was going to be dangerous; he had to lure the killer into the open by being murderer’s bait.
The dangerous part was only half the job since photographing Jaguarondi to protect them from Satan’s real estate agents was also part of the assignment.
As if inspiration from the other side Christopher thought, I owe Socorro and her child two crosses carved from the heart of the Ebony. Failure is not an option.
Christopher set the company vehicle’s cruise control at eighty settled back to enjoy the company ride for two hours of deserved silence.
Christopher was half way but not really looking forward to seeing a place Uncle had told was not worth visiting. As he turned the final curve, Christopher was amazed to see twenty to thirty portable buildings.
He later learned these were real estate developers hoping to rape Spirit Island for quick profits once the dead line for proving existence of jaguarondi on the island passed.
Christopher’s contact simply named Guide was supposed to meet him at the boat ramp. Shores across from Spirit Island were perfect for Guide. A man probably in his thirties who looked sixty with no known past, he was just there, and had been there as long anyone knew.
Two things everybody did know were that this refugee from society did not work for or help people he did not like. Second, nobody on the planet knew more about this part of the planet.
Guide was not much on introduction or greetings, he first comment to “We need to get going before water gets too rough.”
Christopher grabbed his backpack, locked the car, quipped, “Let’s go.”
Upon reaching Spirit Island Guide simply said, “I need to get back before the winds. Head down the main trail about a mile, take a right at the giant ebony tree, follow the path to the cabin, I will return in the morning to see if you are still alive.”
As quick as it took Christopher to get his pack and step on shore, Guide headed back.
Christopher’s investigation plan priority was find the cabin before dark, since the sun was setting, he guesstimated that thirty minutes was the time frame to achieve his goal.
The giant ebony tree was right where Guide said it would be. Darkness continued and the path kept getting harder to follow. Suddenly a clearing brought hope, sure enough there was the cabin.
Christopher now had a new objective, using his spot light to check out his temporary home. Christopher decided after forcing open the door and seeing a rattlesnake under the dining room table that he would sleep outside the first night at his new home.
Clearing out snakes would be easier in morning light.
Christopher was grateful the first day of his new career was ending: test and office interview, eleven-hour drive, just getting here. Christopher had slept on rocks at the ranch but never slept on rocks on Spirit Island.
Sleep even restless sleep seemed a welcome relief. Shortly less then two hours into almost dozing off Christopher heard the last thing he would have prayed for, the shrill bone chilling scream of a mountain lion. Christopher’s reflex was to reach into his pack for his 9mm pistol.
As he reached for the weapon, he remembered that he had taken it out of his pack and put it between the seats in the car, during the rush to leave, he left it in the car. By now the cat was making deep-throated growls as it started tightening circles around Christopher.
Christopher started franticly looking for a stick to attach to his pocket knife, knowing full well that a makeshift spear was no match for the cat which had all the advantages: strength, speed, stealth, surprise, and darkness.
The only other option sleep in the cabin with the snakes, rather non-option Christopher had already decided that was not going to happen. As if by inspiration Christopher started counting backward from a hundred at the top of his voice.
The cat must not have appreciated butchered backward from a hundred as it temporarily left after about twenty minutes. Christopher thought Socorro was right I was not funny the first night we met.
The cat as if playing with a mouse taunted Christopher throughout the night by returning with tighter and tighter circles. Each time Christopher butchered the country classic until the cat backed off.
Sunrise finally returned after what seemed like a night that would never end. Christopher’s first task was clearing the cabin of what turned out to be only one snake. He took the unwanted visitor several hundred yards from the cabin. Why hurt the snake it did not want to eat him.
Next job was patching holes and cracks in the cabin to keep out mice that snakes did eat. After eating a package of hot peanuts for breakfast, Christopher started cleaning the cabin.
Christopher still wanted to check out the cat tracks to see how big and old of an unwanted visitor he was dealing with. First things first, review the photojournalist notes photos, tapes, recordings, and albums.
What an interesting life, the photojournalist had been working on two projects first photograph jaguarondi. Second, locate Emerald Starr who he believed survived the plane crash and was still surviving somewhere on Spirit Island. Journalist evidence recordings he had recently made of her singing different songs.
To make the morning stranger, Christopher could not locate a single cat track left by the unwanted visitor the night before. This was perhaps the most unnerving event of the morning as he prided himself in his ability to read tracks like diaries.
Passing thoughts entered Christopher’s mind, maybe the cat is Emerald’s pet and it scared the journalist off the cliff. If that happened, why did the cat not kill me last night? Maybe since the cat does not leave tracks, Emerald and the cat are the same.
Christopher wanted to visit the crime scene before Guide returned. The journey there and back offered opportunity to develop a mental list of things he wanted to bring back with him, starting with his 9mm.
Christopher after surveying the accident scene had fewer doubts that the journalist had accidentally fallen off the cliff. It was a chipped rock, which left him with fewer doubts that a murder had taken place.
Upon returning to the cabin, Christopher encountered Guide whose first question was, “Sleep well last night.”
Christopher smiled, “Like a baby, just like a baby.”
Christopher’s return across the lake to portable building village did not make the place any more desirable.
Upon reaching shore Guide told Christopher, “I will wait here. I have to live here, and prefer not being associated with a trouble maker.”
Christopher’s first stop on the mainland was the company car where he retrieved his 9mm, then used the car’s mobile fax machine to order office supplies with delivery instructions.
Next Christopher entered a convenience store in a portable building. The cashier promptly told Christopher people trying to save the cats, cannot even buy the time of day in this town.
A local thug picked up an ax handle and blocked Christopher’s exit saying, “People like you have accidents around here. So why don’t you go crawl back to the whore house you were born in.”
Christopher politely asked, “Know what I like about fat mama’s boys like you?”
Thug, “What’s that?”
Christopher, “Two things, (Christopher pulls his 9mm and points it at thugs chest) they are hard to miss at close range, and second they always wet their mama’s panties when they know they are about to die. Put down the ax, walk out the door do not let me see you while I leave. Go change your mama’s panties.”
The local thug dropped the ax handle and ran out the door to change his mama’s panties.
Christopher left the store went back to his car and faxed an order for additional supplies.
Upon retuning to Guide’s boat for the return trip home he heard, “Hear you been making friends.”
Christopher, “Two things I do not like, people insulting my family or my dogs.”
Trip back across the lake seemed more peaceful for both Christopher and Guide.
As Christopher was stepping out of the boat, Guide’s demeanor had diminished as he tossed Christopher a bag, “Food for a couple of days, check in on you tomorrow.”
Christopher, “Thanks, make it the day after tomorrow I need to do scouting tomorrow.”
Guide, “You’re the professional.”
Christopher’s second walk back to the cabin almost seemed enjoyable.
Christopher after returning to the cabin decided to take what Uncle used to call a two-minute break. The relaxation diversion ended up lasting almost an hour. Christopher grabbed the bag of food to see what Guide considered appropriate food. What interested Christopher most was the exceptional high protein of items Guide gave him?
No mind, free food is free food. Christopher started playing Emeralds albums, not because he enjoyed the music, rather just made him feel closer to Socorro.
Eventually the cassette stopped, before Christopher could turn the tape over he heard an acapela version of the next song coming from outside the window. The first thing he did grab his micro-recorder to capture what sounded like the same person singing on Emerald’s tape.
As soon as Christopher slipped out the back door, the singing stopped. He called Emerald, “I am not here to hurt you.” Christopher then tried Dar-Rene; “I am not here to hurt you,” still no response.
Not having slept well the night before, Christopher went back in the cabin and fell asleep at the desk reading the journalist notes. Early the next morning Christopher continued studying the journalist notes looking for a place to photograph jaguarondi.
Day was uneventful and not productive as Christopher found neither jaguarondi tracks, clues for the unknown vocalist, or evidence of the hypothetical sniper. Regardless, it was a good relaxing day.
The return of night brought wailing, screams, and growls from the cat that never left tracks. Trying to drown out the visitor that had almost unnerved him his first night home, Christopher turned up volume on one of Emerald’s songs.
To his surprise, cat sounds stopped and the unknown vocalist started accompanying the tape. The earlier thought returned, maybe the cat and Emerald are one in the same.
Christopher turned down the volume, only to hear the vocals continue without hesitation or errors.
As soon as Christopher turned off the cassette the cat’s growls returned which is what Christopher hoped would happen as he started recording the cat’s growls and screams.
Developing an affinity for Emerald’s music, Christopher turned the cassette player back on and listened to a duet of two Emeralds, the second one being either insane or a ghost. No matter the vocals were indistinguishable.
Christopher left the cabin early the next morning headed for a larger than normal clearing east of the cabin. There it was right on time, a small plane charted by Boss dropping supplies. Christopher’s fax had generated results.
Christopher set aside the wire he requested along with several motion detector cameras. He took the cameras and set them up where he thought a sniper might set up along the perimeter of the murder scene.
After accomplishing his objective, Christopher slipped back to the cabin and waited for afternoon. After finishing the last of Guide’s high protein food, Christopher took the wire and headed back to the accident scene. Occupied with one thought, fight reflexes and move to noise.
Christopher not known for luck, however he had it when he started sifting dirt around the chipped rock. There he found a projectile that appeared to have ricocheted off the rock into surrounding soil. Probably from the murder weapon, the sniper had fired right below the journalist foot causing his reflexes to move away from the shot carry him over the cliff.
Before Christopher could appreciate his success, he felt Socorro’s voice, “Fall back now.”
Christopher started leaning as he heard the ear shattering report of hunting rifle that seemed right behind him. His movement carried him behind a smaller rock. He started randomly firing in the direction of the sound. In a few seconds, all was quiet.
Christopher stayed where he was for almost two hours, slipped through the brush back to the cabin.
Shortly after sunset, Christopher eased out the cabin’s back door with his red filtered lights and dirt sifting wire, returned to the accident scene. His luck was still with him as he found the bullet that had almost pushed him over the cliff.
Christopher had decided to scout the backside of Spirit Island for jaguarondi the next day as he was guessing the sniper would return to the accident scene hoping to kill him while he sifted for the second bullet. If things worked as hoped, the motion detector cameras would record the sniper’s presence.
Christopher met Guide early at the bank the next morning and asked him to make sure he delivered the bullets and tapes of the cat and vocalist the same day. Christopher also asked Guide to wait for the results.
Guide seemed honored at Christopher’s trust in his ability, and volunteered to take a different route to the mainland. Christopher headed for the back of Spirit Island hoping to finish a dead child’s dream.
The more Christopher searched in vain for the jaguarondi the more he respected their elusiveness. He had found no sign or any indication that jaguarondi were even on Spirit Island, suddenly one of those why did not I think of it sooner thoughts? The person to find the cats is some one who lives with them. That person is crazy Emerald.
While heading back to the cabin, Christopher stumbled on a cave. He decided that since he had no lights or rope he would come back the next day. A good plan since the extra day would give Guide time to return with the reports, aggravate and maybe unnerve the sniper, and most important give himself time to think of a way to make peace with Emerald.

Act III

Christopher had his best night’s sleep since losing Socorro. He stuffed his light and rope into his pack along with other daily essentials and headed for the cave. The trip was more of a journey suited for a naturalist doing what he loved then a hired gun.
Gently moving shrubbery away from the cave’s entrance using his smallest red lens light Christopher slowly and methodically slipped into the cave.
Any jubilation he had quickly faded away as the stench of death permeated his lungs and clothes. Before any thought of leaving entered his mind, he saw a silhouette of Emerald sitting in an old airplane seat.
He for the first time in his life felt his hand shaking as he reached out to touch Dar-Rene’s shoulder. His heart stopped as he touched Emerald and her bones crumbled to the floor.
In an instant of pure fright, Christopher dropped the light and drawing on every ounce of energy a body could muster ran from the cave banging into the walls and falling down several times before seeing sunlight.
Christopher had not traveled any great distance from the cave, when he heard the most horrifying scream of his entire life. He kept moving like anything except a seasoned naturalist or trained professional.
The return journey was one the longest single horrifying experiences of Christopher’s life.
Christopher had only been back at the cabin for a few minutes when Guide showed up with a report that simply read: Two bullets match; growling and acapela also match but not to cassette album.
Christopher to Guide, “I need you to deliver a word for word message tonight in person by telephone: Backup helps, need crazy person to find cats. Thinks I killed his sister. I can manage him; it is barren mama’s .308 late tomorrow may be problem.”
Guide, “Try not to hurt the boy.”
Christopher, “Now is the time to tell me everything you know.”
Guide starts, “Three people were on the plane: pilot, Dar-Rene, and her mentally handicapped brother.”
Christopher, “I have finally figured that, how did you find the plane when no one else could?”
Guide, “As I started to say, I used to drive the equipment truck, as soon as the concert ended and equipment loaded. I would drive all night to the next show. The pilot would follow the next morning with Dar-Rene and her brother. The pilot was obsessive about back up plans.
Every night before I left, he gave me a map of towns about two hours apart where I would stop and report in, so if I had trouble or broke down, he would know where to start looking, the pilot also marked closest emergency runways in case he had to put his plane down in a hurry.
Most rescuers thought he would try to fly away from the bad weather. I knew he would look for the closest landing place. The rescue teams all went north, while I rented a small plane and flew south. The pilot had been giving me flying lessons to reduce monotony. I spotted the plane went back and hiked to the wreck.
After finding the wreck, did I mention that the show was a family business and the pilot was my uncle? The singer and her brother are cousins.
My uncle appeared to have died on impact. I found no other bodies giving me hope my cousins had wandered into the wilderness.
After waiting out a snowstorm that buried the plane, I came back and made sure the plane would never found.
I have been keeping the curious away to let my surviving cousin survive. Society always treated him like a freak, plus he seemed happy taking care of his sister and watching the jaguarondi. What happens now?”
Christopher, “Get your cousin to show me where the cats are, so I can get my photographs after that your secret is up to you; provided you deliver my message.”
Christopher spent the night listening to intermittent sobbing, growls, screams, and fragmented renditions of Emerald’s songs, all by a soul infinitely more tormented then his.
Christopher finally dozed off and woke up during sunrise with the following revelation: There is a difference between being alone and being lonely. One is never lonely when one has memories, dreams and a place to enjoy either or both.
Memories included thoughts of unconditional love of his parents killed by a drunk driver. Memories also included lost loves, his uncle who taught him to think and Socorro who taught him about happiness.
Dreams could include hope of future love or during sleep fantasy visits by admired celebrities. In Christopher’s dream, it was a female vocalist best remembered for impersonating The Rose.
Christopher’s vision involved both sitting on a pier their feet dangling in the water watching the first sunset after a hurricane.
It was meaningless meaningful conversation highlighted by eyes sparkling like stars; innocent childlike like smiles that resuscitated a soul grown old before its time.
Christopher unlike many private professional soldiers, hunters, or scouts was learning to keep violence in the arena and away from personal life.
There were no hidden agendas in his sleeping vision with The Rose impersonator no lust, no self-serving vanity, no hopes for finding a meal ticket; only thoughts of being together to be together.
Christopher spent the rest of the morning hanging around cabin thinking, enjoying memories, and keeping faith.
After lunch, Christopher headed for the cave with lights, camera and a backpack. Upon reaching the cave, he sat in front of the entrance as if guarding Dar-Rene’s sanctuary.
Christopher did not have to wait long before hearing the visitor’s growling as Guide’s cousin moved in closer and closer to Christopher’s position.
Without hesitating, Christopher retrieved a stereo cassette player from the backpack and began playing one of Emerald’s album tapes at full volume. As the growling increased, Christopher would lower volume on the tape player until growling decreased at which time Christopher again increased volume of Dar-Rene’s music.
This back and forth duel stabilized after about ten minutes until all growling had stopped and the visitor was performing a duet with Emerald’s tape.
Christopher was starting to believe that his plan might work until the tape started dragging because of weak batteries. Now the visitor started to believe that Christopher was hurting Dar-Rene.
Out of nowhere came a rock that hit Christopher below the right eye. Christopher was in the process of trying to regain his composure when hit by another rock. He tried to move when he heard insane screaming descending, as he reached for his pistol he heard Guide yell “Sit, Sit.”
Screaming stopped followed by instant brief silence that follows violent events. Christopher heard Guide say “Stay Boy Stay.” Followed by “Please don’t shoot him. Saying sit and stay was how I used to keep him out of busy streets when he was young.”
Christopher to Guide, “I hope you have some trick get him to help me find the cats so I can protect your private insane asylum.”
Guide, “Give me some time with him.”
Christopher, “Be as quick as you can I have other business waiting.”
Christopher with the help of Guide’s reluctant cousin found a small creek water pool where a pair of jaguarondis refreshed themselves before beginning their evening hunt. After utilizing two rolls of film, Christopher motioned Guide and his cousin to move away without disturbing the beautiful animals.
His next words to Guide were, “Here take one of these rolls of film. Both of you stay by the cave tonight, there is extra food in my backpack, tomorrow take a back way off the island. Deliver the film to my boss, I promise you the developers will stay off the island and your secret will be safe.”
Guide to Christopher, “Are you going to be alright, your eye looks bad, when will I see you again?”
Christopher’s non-feeling response, “I cannot answer that right now.”
While entering the clearing, approaching the original crime scene Christopher sensed being a target from an unknown location by an unwanted visitor. Strange as it may seem, Christopher was wondering if this is how Evil’s decoys felt when they entered their last clearing.
Christopher’s sensations were accurate as crosshairs mounted on the same .308 that cost the journalist his life, and almost cost Christopher his life earlier were not marking a spot on the ground, rather the center of Christopher’s face.
As the sniper released the .308’s safety and started releasing a deep breath he heard click, click followed by “Flinch or die.”
The .308 round went right of Christopher’s face, The Warden yelled, “You alright boy?”
Christopher yelled, “Yea old man, I’m alright.”
Less than two minutes later Christopher met Warden and exchanged an almost emotional handshake.
Warden, “Christopher that eye looks like it hurts.”
Christopher, “It does. One thing I can say about you old man, nobody can ever accuse you of showing up early.”
Christopher looked over at the prisoner cuffed in a most painful position to a Yucca or Spanish Dagger plant.
Warden, “Need a confession, he has not been quiet since I put him there for safe keeping. The area Ranger is on his way, so why don’t you tell me about your basket weaving till he arrives.”
Christopher, “Maybe we can talk about it over supper, I don’t like talking about my basket weaving in front of strangers.”

Outro

After supper Warden to Christopher, “Here’s a message and briefcase from Boss.”
Christopher opened letter taped to briefcase, “Not bad work for your first assignment. Send via Warden in morning: transcribed report (keep backup tape until master in office), also send film back up roll for cats, case expense receipts, along with first briefcase and documents. Next assignment Lost Good Years find background info in brief case. No rest for the best stay in touch.”
Christopher to Warden, “You know Boss?”
Warden, “Who do you think recommended you for your first job? To answer your next question same father different mothers.”

New Dream?

While reviewing case files for Lost Good Years, Christopher found the enclosed letter in a brown envelope marked “Came for you at office.”
Christopher opened envelope and read: I do not know if you remember, I served you the chicken fried quail last Monday at the “No Where Cafe.” …

The End



5. Lost Good Years


Prologue: Daymares, nightmares, either or both offer relief from conscious memories; especially for people whose fate does not include making it to the promise land. Some know my meaning, bad days get worse; rare good days turn to ... If life were fair, there would be no addicts, sinners, or lost good years.
The assignment seemed simple enough; line up ducks for a two vehicle multiple fatality traffic accident. For this case putting ducks in a row included:
1. photograph, diagram, measure accident scene;
2. photograph and check out vehicles, purchase both wrecks if possible and place in locked storage;
3. interview witnesses and survivors, no survivors in this case;
4. pick up copies of all records, documents, and news reports;
5. conduct necessary background checks;
6. pursue other related leads.
My original reason for entering any investigation area after dark has long been forgotten. Perhaps one learns about the character of a community by the quality of its night people.
It was almost two forty five in the morning when I headed for a vacant corner booth near a side door in the South Texas used to be franchise fast food restaurant. The word restaurant should be in quotations.
After ordering the breakfast special, I headed to the washroom. What first caught my attention was an illegal immigrant using water base paint to cover up blood spatter and pellet holes above and all around plywood covering a hole in the floor where a toilet used to sit.
In an almost satirical way, number four shot outlined the area where the toilet's last patron sat. As for the illegal, he just smiled and said I know nothing.
This investigator was almost tempted after washing up to ask the illegal colonist if he knew anything about trading oil base paint for water base paint with a refund.
Oh well, not my investigation; hope that's not the cook's profile on the wall.
As for my waitress, she probably looked vigorous about ten years ago when she was in her teens. Who cares as long as the service is almost good?
Experience tells me that the waitress's worn out too soon body has a better heart than chamber of commerce strumpets that marry for money.
Unfortunately, most of both do not know the difference between a lightning bug and a shooting star.
While returning to my booth, I started scanning premise patrons. After sitting in my northwest corner booth, the layout from right to left was as follows:
Corner booth directly across room, sat a chamber of commerce suit with his boy toy engaged in an unhappy animated conversation I am glad I could not hear.
Skipping two booths along the wall were three stoned high schoolers. One probably a drop out with his friendly sixteen year old girl friend; both scheming to ignore their awkward out of place friend who just happened to be their ride.
Moving down the center isle of booths was a thirty looking forty year old bar prostitute working her sixty old client. The woman had probably been warned by some social worker or cop about leaving her kids alone as she had them with her while working.
Her twelve year old boy must not have liked watching his mother work as he kept getting up and getting unnecessary refills.
The small for her age ten year old girl who was already wearing makeup and dressing like her mother constantly watched and listened for every sound and move he mother was making.
All the while the old man was oblivious to the kids and was getting the most for his investment.
Skip a booth and their were two way overweight not cheaply dressed women talking disparagingly about the ugly skinny whores in the last bar they worked that kept them from going home with their true loves.
Skip one booth and directly to my left were two middle age over weight soccer dads wearing youth baseball coach uniforms. Both of their conversations were directed towards people who weren't even at their booth.
One kept trying to sell the other on investing is some get rich insurance scheme; while the other kept whining about the politics of being chosen a youth baseball all stars coach.
As for me, I was still waiting for the waitress to bring syrup instead of ketchup for my waffles.
Glancing into the parking lot, I noticed a druggie putting a small revolver in his jacket while positioning a looked to be stolen bicycle. My first thought was maybe he will get nervous, loose his nerve or at least wait until I've finish breakfast and leave, before starting some ill fated robbery.
Amazing luck, shortly after the potential robber stepped inside; two missionary girls came in and started offering to save souls for donations.
Eventually I got my syrup, finished, and left. Perhaps I should have tipped the missionary as she kept the bicycle robber occupied till I left for a less entertaining hotel room.
It took almost two days to line up ducks one, two, and four.
You the reader can review the first paragraph of this dream to remember what I'm referring too.
Moving on, I was now ready to contact the case's only witness. The driver behind the driver who failed to yield the right of way that apparently caused the accident.
The witness's words were clear and concise: The old man pulled up to the stop sign, and came to a complete stop. He looked left; then turned and looked to the right. He was looking straight at the on coming van when he pulled right out in front of them. It was almost like it he didn't see the van's lights. I'll never forget how time slowed as the van exploded when it hit that old man. Next came the horrible smell of burning screaming victims. It all happened at once so there was no way I could help.
The witness voluntarily allowed me to notarize his statement; a declaration that subtlety raised the question, did the old man commit suicide?
My next stop would be with the old man's preferably best friend or at least those who could or would talk about the old man's mental condition.
Some investigators never learn the easiest way to find out what witnesses know is to keep quiet and let them ramble. The old driver's best friend proved to be a career-remembering spectator.
That six foot stringy weathered decaying man, appeared to have seen too much truth for anybody's short ninety years. His hands looked like they had spent a lifetime partnership with sailing ships or cattle ranches.
Still this individual did not need to be gruff as his appearance suggested he could be leaning up against a bar with a beer in one hand, and resolve problems without spilling a drop of his hard earned beer.
I informed the old driver's best friend that I was not trying to prove suicide, only figure out what happened.
The measuring response by my career-remembering spectator: You don't know much about being old in America do you? I know you don't, so no need to answer.
I have a lot to recall would you like a cold beverage? Without hesitating the old driver's best friend continued. Sarita bring my guest and your boss two tall Crown on the rocks.
Sweet Sarita, there's a story you would probably find more interesting. She needs a place to live, and I need someone to drive me around the ranch; so we both tolerate each other.
Forty years ago I could have fallen in love with a woman like Sarita, just never had the time or money. Now I have the money there's not enough time.
My worthless family has started pretending to be nice hoping that I will leave them the ranch and cash reserves. Those virtual ethical ant people are sure going to be surprised upon learning that Sarita won my death's lottery.
Don't reveal my secret, Sarita does not know and I want to
claim the last good turn in our relationship.
Now for your reason for being here, the old driver as you call him was not suicidal case closed. Let tell you about his living experiences.
That old driver worked for the same company for twenty - nine years eleven months and nineteen days before being down sized for out sourcing that meant he fell even days short of a full pension.
Next came news that the corporate cartel had gotten involved in some Enron type scheme and lost all of the old driver's retirement savings and investments.
Bad news often travels in packs, as his wife's lost her health insurance because her predisposition to breast cancer raised her employer's benefit package premiums above company employment limits.
The wife while under going tests at a local hospital suffered an infection caused by improperly sterilized medical equipment. Medical centers generated infections have become one of the greatest threats to older Americans needing medical attention.
After totally destroying his wife's long-term health, the hospital evicted the old driver from a home he and his wife had lived in for almost sixty years. Why, in lieu of paying hospital bills incurred as a result of his wife's hospital induced infection.
Next the old driver learned that the only way to qualify for nursing home care for his wife who would soon be in a coma was to sell his and his wife's wedding rings which had over sixty years appreciated in value beyond the government's minimum assets limits.
It broke that old driver's heart to take back the ring he had given his bride on the best day of his life. Sometime during that night the old driver's wife slipped into a coma.
The suffering never seem to end as the old driver had to find part time work to buy prescription medicines to keep his wife's unconscious state pain free.
Sarita, two more Crowns on ice, for my guest and your boss.
It is Republican Party policies designed to force old people into poverty that causes some of us citizens to not think highly of Republicans. The problem with Republicans is that they have never learned that with power comes accountability.
The political party that controls executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government at the same time is solely responsible for bad government policies.
Have you ever seen movies where Nazi prison guards rip wedding rings and family heirlooms away from old women waiting to be shipped to concentration camps? Don't answer. I know you have.
What is the difference in that, and American polices which force old people to sell their rings, heirlooms, mementos, and give the proceeds to government before being eligible for health care?
Best I can tell the only difference is American politicians with thieving personalities do no have the courage to wear the uniforms.
Do you know why I quit voting for Republicans after seventy years; don't try to answer, you cannot possibly know.
The Republican Party has been hijacked by soul less groups motivated by unethical capitalism.
Dishonest capitalism always evolves into corporate feudalism, a polite phrase for special interest fascism. Republican leadership has become the evil socialists they used to hate.
Old men nearing the end of their lives can say what they like: truth be known, it is doubtful that leaders of either the Republican or Democratic Party are worthy of being buried in American soil.
Back to something you can use, what caused the old driver to see and not register on coming traffic.
Background, companies do not offer full time jobs with benefits to men over fifty-five. Republicans will say this is not true, but they are generally the ones not offering these jobs to blue or white-collar private sector middle class men.
The only available jobs for older American men are part time, minimum wage, no benefits hazardous work environments with competition from criminal immigrants and illegal colonists.
Aristocratic Republicans have betrayed America's middle class by providing public sector full coverage no cost health benefits to illegal colonists.
Additionally ignoring foreign laborers working for less than minimum wage essentially excludes American's retired from part time employment markets.
Government itself is guilty of promoting poverty to make people dependent on government. Six dollars an hour after government deductions barely nets the worker five dollars an hour. A thirty hour a week part time job nets the older worker about one hundred fifty dollars a week; not enough to cover supplemental health insurance premiums.
As for hazardous working environments, this is the good part. Companies know that hiring old men with pre-existing age created health conditions reduces civil exposure to hazardous working environments.
I'll guess the old driver's autopsy showed no signs of alcohol, drugs, or prescription medications.
The old driver worked part time cleaning concrete by spraying chemicals with warning labels advised only be applied when wearing protective clothing and using self contained breathing respirators.
Unfortunately the old driver's employer stored chemicals in open containers in high temperature work environments and provided no safety equipment. Chemicals you need to be testing the old man's blood, tissues, and brain for are: phosphoric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrofluoric acid, and mercury.
I don't know what the mercury was for, but I do know the old driver told me that these chemicals were only deleted with twenty percent water when being applied.
The old driver also told me that the chemicals were giving him severe head and muscle aches along with black outs. To answer your last question, he had to keep working to buy his wife's painkillers for her unconscious state.
It is time for Sarita to drive me around the ranch. Sarita bring me the five-gallon bucket in the plastic bag you are never allowed to touch for my guest and your boss.
The old driver brought me the bucket after it was thrown in the trash at one of his job sites.
Let me wrap this up while we are waiting for Sarita: life includes unjust irony.
What would you call it when the generation that survived the Great Depression, won World War II, rebuilt Europe and Asia, put men on the moon, won the Cold War without blowing up the planet, and produced the wealthiest republic in history; would be robbed into poverty and abandoned to nursing homes by the benefactors of their generation's successes.
The entire time I was thanking the old driver's best friend for his time and help; I didn't know if I was more grateful for the information, or that is was time for Sarita to take the spectator for his ride. Being honest, don't think I could have held up to another tall Crown on rocks.
Some more ducks to line up:
1) order additional chemical residue tests on old driver;
2) surveillance footage of identical chemical container being dumped in trash by company employee and get bucket from garbage truck driver;
3) file report and ship evidence to client; and
4) other activities as needed.
This dream is not quite over. I am not especially superstitious, but I always enjoy listening to my favorite Emerald Starr tape in route to my next assignment.
A fed looking SUV with grill flashers pulled me over just past the city limits marker. Not wanting to get jammed in my vehicle, I immediately stepped out with my micro cassette recording and my concealed carry in place.
I recognized the driver from my first stop in town. He asked if I were the investigator working the multiple fatality accident. He was politely apprised that who, I worked for was none of his business.
This concerned community leader demanded I give him the five- gallon bucket I had gotten from the garbage man.
He was informed that I paid cash for the bucket and that all sales are final. Plus I couldn't turn over the bucket if I wanted too, since it had already been air expressed to its new owner.
Changing the direction of the conversation, I notified the community leader that I wanted to thank him for lining up my last duck: I would not have known you knew how bad the risks were until you made an issue over one empty plastic bucket.
Typical response, He said that he had broken no criminal laws or had any civil liability exposure.
Felt I was taking control and decided to do a little demoralizing: I have heard, that right before people die their life flashes before their eyes.
Also been told that right before good people die, their best hopes and best memories flash before their eyes.
However, when it comes to bad people, it is their greatest fears and most horrible memories that flash before their eyes.
Guess the questions you need to answer are; if your chemicals affected the old driver's reflexes, does that make you one of the bad guys?
If the old driver lost good years because of the way you manage your employees, does that make you one of the bad guys? Sure don't need to know what flashes before your eyes.
Not much else to say, I got back in my vehicle and left.The assignment seemed simple enough, line up ducks for a one vehicle one fatality ...




6. Heart Of The Ebony


The only thing out of work investigators dislike more than telephones are the bad guys. Phones never seem to bring good news, and always bother you when you don’t need to be bothered.
As Heaven is my witness, one of these mornings, afternoons, or nights, I am going to use that damn phone for target practice.
Texas jerked my eleven year ticket to manage investigations in the Lone Star State for moral turpitude. Not mine, theirs. It seems that private political corruption investigations are immoral in Texas.
After repeated warnings from state officials to stop investigating “honest elected officials”; I changed the “x” in Texas on my business cards and Invoices to a swastika.
Apparently people better suited to being welfare recipients do not have a sense of humor. All that aside, It’s my problem not yours that I am presently financially embarrassed because my ticket to make a living has been “Indefinitely” revoked.
It was sometime after midnight when I had just laid down for a good night’s sleep. My only hopes were that the utility company did not cut my water off; before I got up to fix my usual water and cereal breakfast
As predicted, the phone started ringing shortly after my mind was lost to the world.
I barely recognized the frantic voice as that of a friend who always seemed to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.
After getting him to speak slower and not so loud; I was able to gather that he had hit a pedestrian at dead man’s curve, but could not find the body
He wanted me meet him at dead man’s curve with my night vision equipment and heat detector to try and help him find the body.
Told him that I would be there in about twenty minutes. Being honest, I wasn’t thinking about what we would do if I found the body, but how l might be able to get gas money and a real breakfast out of this venture.
The first thing I noticed while greeting my friend was that there was no damage to his car.
After explaining that this favor was going to cost him gas and a real breakfast; he blurted out there was a woman standing in the middle of the road as he came out of the curve.
“She was just there; I tried to swerve but it was too late! I saw her roll over the right side of the hood, and slide off by the passenger door!”
Walking over and pointing to the right headlight, I tried to reassure him with the observation that there was zero damage to his car, and that kind of impact would have had to trash his fiberglass lenders.
I was just about to suggest that we go find a truck stop for my gas and breakfast when I noticed what appeared to be a white veil dangling from the passenger’s door side mirror.
He watched while I spent the next two hours scouring the immediate area with my night vision and heat detecting equipment Nothing absolutely nothing.
Told him after a real breakfast and getting a full tank of gas that he should not say anything to anybody while I made a few inquires.
My first thought was to call Karol about lunch time to see what clues the white veil provided. Karol is the textbook forensic scientist: reserved intellectual doll always in long white lab coat, big glasses, and hair up in a bun.
After she repeated my favorite words, “I’m buying”; I headed over to her favorite vegetarian cafe to see what she might be able to tell me about my only clue.
The meal was alright for people who live on rabbit food1 but she did tell me that the veil was at least a hundred years old, and that she would run some tests to give me a better time frame.
My next contact would be Tanya, a vice cop. I knew that Tanya came on duty about seven that night You guessed it supper time.
Tanya’s “I’m buying” made me look forward to dinner. No more rabbit food. Shrimp marinated in orange sauce Is not usually a part of my diet, but seeing Tanya in her undercover costumes was always pleasing to the senses.
Explained to Tanya that I was helping a friend for gas money; and would really owe her if she asked me about any recent missing persons reports.
After leaving Tanya while heading home, I was thinking that I should draw a circle on the calendar around today’s date: three meals in one day - who need’s bureaucrats when you got friends?
Like an instant replay: It was sometime after midnight when I had just laid down for a good night’s sleep. My only hopes were that the utility company did not cut my water off; before I got up to fix my usual water and cereal breakfast
As predicted, the phone started ringing shortly after my mind was lost to the world. This time the voice was cold and calculated not frantic. It was Tanya asking me to meet her at dead man’s curve.
As I started clearing dead man’s curve I became a witness to one more emergency vehicles light show.
Upon exiting my vehicle, Tanya approached and asked me to follow her.
She led me over to a black body bag; took the towel off the victim’s face and asked, “Is this your fiend?”
Before I could answer, Tanya quipped “Look at his face. The coroner says fear killed him. Is this your friend?”
My crisp answer: he was.
Tanya seemed to forget that we had been dinner companions just hours before: “I want to know what you are working on.”
Being honest, I told her: I don’t know.
As I was walking away, Tanya half way yelled “No more, until you tell me what’s going on.”
What a day, from three good meals to losing two meal tickets.
Why do I know tomorrow is not going to be much better. Sure enough, the next day started out with dry cereal for breakfast because the water department started their day by repossessing my water meter.
No time to explain or complain as I still had to figure out who or what had scared my friend to death. I sure wanted get back on Tanya’s occasional guest for dinner list.
Thought I would start by trying to meet Laurel for lunch.
Maybe she would convey my most recent popular phrase; “I’m buying”.
Being the county’s most relentless journalist, the lady is best distinguished by her business suits with creases that rival those seen in military reviews. At this point I would have been grateful for fast food.
I knew that if anybody could identify sources of information about dead man’s curve It had to be her. Just as sure as rainbows follow thunderstorms, she had the answer: an old historian currently suffering from degenerative senile dementia.
After spending a couple of hours with the occasionally lucid nursing home resident, I was able to come up with the following legend.
The name of the woman that my friend had supposedly seen in the middle of the road, roughly translates from traditional lore as “the tears lady”. Unconfirmed individual sightings of the woman have been reported for almost 250 years.
The story goes that a young Indian maiden converted and renamed Margarita by Spanish priests became involved with a prominent Spanish land owner in the mid 1700’s.
The girl became pregnant and bore the land owners child out of wedlock. The land baron after learning of the unholy birth kidnapped the child and abandoned the infant in South Texas brush country.
Myth has it that Margarita spent the rest of her life crying hysterically while wandering through the thorny thicket looking for her lost child.
Later legend has it that she would stand in the middle of the road trying to cause wagons to overturn when horses veered off the road.
It is also said that sometimes she would be seen on the side of the road, and latter appear on the backs of horses or in the backs of wagons of those who passed her by.
Myth warns that those who turn to gaze at her will see a face so horrible that they shall be scared to death.
As to what she wants, nobody has ever survived her temptations to look upon her original beauty to know the answer; but her desires probably involve something that only the living can accomplish as spirits have physical limitations.
Upon arriving back at my cluttered home, I decided to skip supper and just call Karol for an update of test results on the white veil.
She seemed surprised when I asker her if the veil dated back to the 1750’s. Her response: If you are going to waste my time asking me things you already know, you can find yourself another meal ticket
Somewhere somehow, my thought processes had turned from future meal tickets to returning to dead man’s curve.
Instincts were warning me that I had to avoid swerving and force myself to drive through Margarita’s apparition. Intentionally running down victims may come easy for some
people, but I knew I needed an edge. Since the plan was to stay alert; drugs were not the answer; maybe technology could make the difference.
I set the cruise control at fifty before entering dead man’s curve; now all I had to do was concentrate on running straight and keeping my foot off the brake and accelerator.
As I cleared the curve, what had been a clear night turned to the blackest fog I had ever seen.
Suddenly there in the middle of the road, standing and waving as if welcoming me out of the fog.
My only thoughts were drive straight and keep away from the brakes.
I do not remember what came first, her screams, the sounds of her hitting the car, or my outburst of a single profanity. I apologize for not remembering the sequence, but I was distracted by her rolling over the hood into the windshield.
Maybe it was Poe like terror or pure concentration that kept me from turning the wheel, who knows; but somehow I managed to avoid swerving and come to a slow measured stop.
As suddenly as Margarita had appeared in the road, I was out of my car screaming verbal challenges. ft seems that I had lost control of all my emotions.
The unplanned release of adrenalin suddenly reminded me that I still had to face Margarita’s temptations. In a renewed calmness I turned and stepped back into my car.
In what seemed like passing inspiration, I reached up and tore off the rear view mirror before resetting the cruise control.
My vehicle had not traveled thirty feet when I heard breathing highlighted by whimpering moans coming right behind me from the back seat
In another flash of inspiration I reached over and turned on the radio, but the radio failed to generate a single sound.
Put yourself in my place; imagine you were me; how would you feel when hot sultry breath punctuated with gurgling growls covered the back of your neck?
Would you have turned to looked into that face, or swerved out of reflex?
Being honest, I almost crossed the border of losing all self control when Margi, I was too terrified to remember her full name, started howling and running those colder than ice fingernails down the base of my skull.
Right before losing all control, I noticed Margi along the side the road walking into the fog and mesquite thicket
With out thinking I slammed on the brakes and stopped within feet of her exit point; without turning around, her barely audible fleeting words were: “A cross for my child made from the heart of the ebony.”
I spent most of the next morning looking for a suitable piece of ebony, and another ten hours making and polishing a small cross. I never knew that the heart of ebony was such hard wood.
The phone rang shortly before the ten o’clock news, Laurel wanted an update on my activities. Told her that I couldn’t explain what I didn’t understand. She is incredibly patient, but told me to find another meal ticket until I had a better answer.
Spent the following hours waiting for the phone to ring. Suddenly as if I were possessed, I picked up the silent phone only to hear “It’s Margi, I’m buying”.
Being someone who always keeps their promise, I took my double action forty caliber out from under my pillow ad shot that damn phone twice.
After tossing the pistol on the bed, I reached over and picked up the cross for a child made from the heart of the ebony. As for this time tomorrow, don’t have a clue.


1. Nathan’s Faith


There are two kinds of faith: one requires constant work while the other is received as a sacred gift. Faith for most people simply means passive absence of doubt.
Active faith manifests no fear of death, and is best left to patriots who consign their lives to serving God and America.
Nathan was born on June sixth of fifty-five. His home schooling included respect for religious teachings. He entered Yale at the age of fourteen with future interests in ministry and devotion for service to country.
While attending a town hall meeting, shortly after entering college, Nathan blurted out “let us never lay down our arms till we have achieved Independence!”
His use of the word “Independence” stunned those attending the meeting. Audience members asked, “Where had this boy learned that new word, a word not found in Shakespeare, Spenser, or Bacon?” The only prior reference having been “Independents of England.”
Barely out of college, Nathan resigned his teaching position and enlisted in Webb’s Seventh Regiment The young man’s skills caused him to be promoted to lieutenant on September first followed by a promotion to captain two weeks later.
Nathan’s continued successes on dangerous missions earned his commander’s respect.
At an officer’s staff meeting seeking volunteers for a behind the line assignment to learn enemy future plans; the senior captain protested, “We are willing to be shot for our country but not hung for our country.”
Still pale from physical illness, the youngest captain, who as a child created the word independence, destroyed the silence with these words “if my country demands a peculiar service, its claims are imperious.”
Several weeks later while pretending to be a schoolmaster Nathan was captured by the enemy after his own contact failed to answer his pre arranged signal and abandoned Nathan to the enemy.
Nathan’s fate was sealed when the enemy found him to be in possession of notes written in Latin detailing the enemy’s most precious secrets.
One of the enemy officers asked his commander if Nathan should be physically tortured to determine how the prisoner breached their perimeter.
The commander’s response, “I can tell from the prisoner’s eyes that he would never talk; why torture him and show our troops an example of rebel courage? Try him and execute him at sunrise.”
Nathan spent his time before and during the trial writing letters to family and friends. When the enemy commander was asked for permission to mail Nathan’s final letters, he ordered that the letters be burned in Nathan’s presence. The commander’s explanation “The rebels shall not know they have a man who can die so bravely.”
Nathan requested in lieu of a last meal that he be allowed to read from his bible. The enemy commander’s response “Give him neither, let him die with both an empty stomach and empty soul.”
Shortly before sunrise while being led to the gallows, Nathan respectfully asked the enemy commander if he might say a few words before his execution. The enemy commander spoofed, “why not, what could a spy on an empty stomach, with an empty soul, possibly say that would ever be worth repeating?”
Nathan silenced the festive gallows crowd as he confidently without help climbed all thirteen steps, and then without hesitation proceeded to precisely stride to the front of the waiting noose. After not rushing or pausing, the child who created the word independence spoke these final words “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”
Let us never forget that the last word spoken by Nathan Hale, a patriot blessed with sacred faith, was country not government.



2. Thanksgiving Dinner


There is nothing In the Bill of Rights or Constitution that declares private citizens to be wards of any government Public sector bureaucrats are not the people’s natural guardians. Threats to individual liberties are directly related to increase of any government’s powers. Citizens who allow bureaucrats to become custodians of their rights are fools volunteering to be slaves.
The assignment was a way to make a few extra dollars during the holidays. The instructor was appointed to settle the affairs of a recently deceased derelict
Describing the deceased’s efficiency apartment is an easy exercise in recalling on scene details. The residence was one room that consisted of half a kitchen, small dinning area, a smaller living area with a couch that folds out into a bed (opened); a small black and white television with a coat hangar for an antenna sitting on a cardboard box next to the door that entered the bathroom.
The rest room can best be described as a public sector facility at a downtown bus station that had not been cleaned for twenty years. The hide away bed was covered with clothes for sheets, and part of the carpet from the floor which was being used as a blanket
There are no words to describe the apartment's smell. Possibly because the clothes closet was being used as an in-house dumpster. The left sink was filled with dirty pans, plates, and silverware. The right sink was brimming over with empty bean and dog food cans.
Next to the moldy generic bean and quality dog food cans set a pancake hot plate which contained one can of half opened beans and one half opened can of dog food. ft was later learned that the deceased had been using the hot plate to warm the beans and dog food before mixing them into a bowl of ghetto chile.
A handwritten note was found behind the hot plate that said, “remove paper labels before heating to prevent fire.” The instructor was almost afraid to open the refrigerator at this point in time. Utter amazement cannot describe how the instructor felt when he discovered that the interior of the icebox was cleaner than most operating rooms.
What the instructor found was a sanitized refrigerator full of prescription drugs arranged by names of those who had been prescribed the medication. ft was later learned that the deceased had taken it upon himself to store and administer medication for the area’s homeless population.
The freezer unit of the icebox contained what appeared to be the deceased private papers, along with some type of diary. At this point, the instructor started looking for a place to sit down and review the new found documents.
The apartment’s curtains had been replaced with the most recent Sunday newspaper comics. These paper curtains provided the only color and access for light to the otherwise dimly lit apartment While dragging a chair over to the window; the instructor heard a knock at the door.
A surprised vagabond stated that ha had come by to mad the Sunday comics and see if there was any ghetto chile left. I said that there was no Chile left to which ha shrugged his shoulders, and quipped while walking over to mad the curtains, “There goes Thanksgiving Dinner”.
Your instructor asked isn’t there some place else where you can go for Thanksgiving Dinner?
The response, “Not and be with friends; besides that, being put on display for publicity Is advertising not compassion.
I suggested that the tramp take the curtains with him since I was busy. The response was “If I do that, nobody else will be able to see the funnies.”
He then asked if he could turn on the radio. I responded that I had not seen a radio. The homeless man then walked over to the television and turned it on with the following remarks, “when it don’t have a picture, it’s a radio.”
Upon finishing the “funnies,” the homeless man walked over and turned the “radio off.” As he was leaving, he said “this place won’t be the same without our ghetto chile.
By this time, the instructor had reviewed alt of the personal papers except the diary. The first twenty or so pages of the diary detailed how the deceased had been a working parent with a spouse who traded partying for the sanctity of marriage.
The deceased problems stared when the adulterous spouse had retained a divorce attorney to conduct a high profile bogus child abuse campaign against the deceased. The net result of this government assisted smear campaign was that the deceased lost their reputation, children, and job.
As the instructor was about to get lost in the diary, there came another knock on the door. This time the Instructor was confronted by three homeless people asking if they might reclaim property they had loaned the deceased. Knowing that I had to get rid of the apartment’s contents anyway; I said sure come on in and take what’s yours.
Amazingly, no one started gathering up things until after they had finished reading the “funnies.” I used this quiet time to continue reading the diary.
It seemed that the judge had set the deceased child support payments at a rate based on the deceased salary before they lost their job because of the government’s fraudulent child abuse investigation. The judge said that his court would not tolerate lazy child abusers.
The deceased was unable to find comparable work because employers are not inclined to hire suspected child abusers. This resulted in the deceased not being able to obtain employment and make the full court ordered payments.
A part time job and partial payments did not satisfy the judge who ordered the deceased to forfeit: their driver’s license, vocational license, and all custody and visitation rights with their children. As this was not enough, the judge also ordered the deceased to spend six months in county jail.
By now more homeless people were showing up to claim property previously “loaned” to the deceased. The “radio” along with all the small items were long gone by now. I found myself giving permission for the Intruders to take the furniture and anything else they could carry off. My primary Interest was In finishing the last few pages of the diary.
It turned out that the one week early court ordered release from jail for the deceased required medication based maintenance therapy from one of the judge’s largest re-election financial contributors.
This led to the deceased being required to take more types of prescription drugs than street dealers ever dream of selling. The court ordered prescription drug abuse achieved the desired results, and eventually led to the deceased being classified as “disabled” by other bureaucrats.
The final words in the diary were: “they can destroy my career; they can take away my family; and they can even make me a drug addict; but they can not take away my desire to help the less fortunate.”
My reflections were interrupted by somebody asking about the rest of the drugs I had completely forgotten about the icebox full of prescription drugs. As It turned out’ none of the “dregs of society” had taken anybody’s drugs but their own.
That person asking me about the drugs wanted to know how long the place would be open so the rest of the people could come by and pick up their medication.
I informed the person asking the question that the electricity would be left on for the rest of the weekend. My. response was followed by another question about taking up, the rest of the carpet for blankets since winter was only a few weeks away. Again my response was take what you need.
Within another couple of hours, the efficiency apartment had been stripped bare except for the icebox and the curtains.
An older homeless man approached and said “it would be nice if you told everybody to leave the curtains as kind of a memorial”. After getting everyone’s attention, I said that I had been given a suggestion that the curtains should be left as a memorial to a good person who made a difference.
One of the dirtiest of the homeless people said “thanks.” To which I responded what for? The answer was simple “for respecting what dignity we have left”
The instructor’s plans to close out the deceased’s utility accounts on Friday; were replaced by inspiration: maybe that old man was right; exploiting other people’s misery for publicity is not charity.



3. American Rip Tides


Sleeping neighbors never noticed the unmarked military vehicle ease to a stop near the retired investigator's back door.
Even while a covert digital surveillance system, costing more than the investigator's fishing shack, documented four people entering the home. One of the team leader's followers stayed inside the back door and monitored their vehicle.
The team leader later learned to be some kind of general, along with the other two entered their target's bedroom; quickly grabbed their target and placed him in a standing position before their leader.
The general started waving a sheet of paper in the prisoner's face, while screaming what is this, what is this? The half sleepy though discreetly alert response was your report, sir.
The general countered, I paid you ten thousand dollars to find out why my career's best solder killed America's most powerful politician and four of his secret service agents; and all I get is a one line report that says "America being destroyed by internationalist Republican rip tides".
The unsurprised prisoner paused and responded: Order your security to turn me loose, leave the room, and I will finish your report.
Sit down this may take a while. Motives for the actions of your career's best soldier goes back to his freshmen year and the building of America's greatest rural school basketball team.
If you are going to interrupt, I will go back to sleep. Your career's best soldier and his four life long friends lost every game their freshman year. Friends that evolved into five seniors who never came close to losing a single game while winning their community’s only state championship.
You already know your career's best soldier's employment history. As for the other four: one became a carpenter and construction foreman, another mastered computer software, one became a native plant farmer, while the fourth opened a garage and served in the reserves.
Skipping a little ahead, all four of these men committed suicide before your career's best soldier did what he did.
Let's start with the carpenter. His death was ruled homicide-suicide caused by work place rage after he shot and killed the project contractor he worked for thirty years.
The incident was in fact the result of greed based “in sourcing”. Your career's best soldier's friend was fired for failing to terminate American workers and replace them with illegal Mexican colonists for less than ten percent of going wage rates. Why fire American workers, so the contractor could boost construction project profits.
The contractor not only fired your career's best soldier's friend, he also had the man arrested for trespassing and theft of company property.
One of the contractor's special interest whores was a politician who enacted federal internationalist policies which created open borders and “in sourcing” American citizens out of their jobs. The same politician targeted by your career's best soldier.
Moving on to the computer software designer, he was fired after working twenty-nine plus years for the same company. His job was out sourced to India after the CEO bankrupted the company while squandering the employee pension fund for untraceable investments.
Adding injury to injustice, the CEO was given a ten million dollar severance package while employees were left with no pension and one day of pay for every year of tenure with the company.
This over fifty year old friend of your career's best soldier was left "unemployable" due to out sourcing, and in poverty without medical care while the CEO accepted an appointment as ambassador to the country benefiting from out sourcing by the politician your career's best solder did in.
What happened to the software designer, he chose an unpleasant death after getting drunk and driving his car off an overpass before becoming homeless.
I need a beverage break, before I continue. You or your people need anything?
Back to the report so I can get back to sleep. Your career's best soldier's third friend devoted his life to growing and selling Texas native plants and trees.
Over the years his small isolated farm had survived numerous droughts, floods, blizzards, plagues, economic hard times, and Mexican economic terrorism. The one thing his farm could not survive was bureaucratic fascism.
It seems that his home community had followed the lead of Harlingen, Texas and Cameron County, Texas in learning how to steal property rights and extort money from property owners.
Both of these local governing entities never learned that annexing or regulating property without providing follow up services is stealing, and a sin included in the Ten Commandments.
The native plant farmer reached a point where he could not sell his land, or build on his land without first paying extortion fees exceeding ten thousand dollars to either the county or city.
This one of the closer friends to your career's best soldier, could not even use his land as collateral for a loan to pay ever increasing property taxes after a discretionary ruling by the Texas Department of Agriculture prevented him from selling his plants off premises.
You might remember the Texas Department of Agriculture as the public agency most responsible for causing the "X" in Texas to be replaced with a swastika.
After the man learned that he could no longer sell his property, build on his property, use his property as collateral, or sell products produced on his property; he took off his hat and shirt, threw his watch on the ground, then walked out in the field and worked till he fell over dead from excessive summer heat.
The coroner told me that the man's death was not pleasant, easy, or quick. A reaction conveyed by the eyes of your career's best soldier as he read the autopsy.
As for your career's best soldier fourth friend, he had saved just enough cash for his family and garage to survive twelve months "recalled" tour of duty in his Defense Department contract.
When America’s military arbitrarily broke their contract with the reservist by indefinitely extending his tour of duty; he knew the consequences would be forcing his beloved wife of over thirty years, to suffer alone losing their business, home, and death of their only surviving child. A preschooler who would lose necessary health care medication that kept her alive.
What loving parent would not sacrifice their life for their child? The only alternative seemed to be combat suicide for insurance proceeds to give his sickly child any hope for survival.
General, let me interrupt your disapproval; the man believed that taking charity from tyrants is the first step to slavery, and made a decision based on principle not principal.
In the beginning Heaven created two kinds of Republicans. The first were patriots who live and govern by principle. This case is about the second, internationalist moneylenders living and governing only for principal.
Report Summary: It seems your career's best soldier lost patience with internationalist Republicans and their America last policies of privileges for special interest aristocrats along with destruction of America’s domestic manufacturing base and private sector middle class.
Don't look surprised Republican moneylender personalities have been around since the beginning of time. Who do you think built the golden calf that offended Moses? Who do you think opposed Nehemiah’s wall? Who do you think never learned to “Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions”.
Who do you think murdered Socrates, murdered Jesus, burned Joan of Arc, tried to kill Luther, supported the British during America's Revolution, helped the British burn Washington D.C. during Americas second war with England. Who do you think opposed President Jackson's equal opportunity without privilege policies, benefited from Lincoln's assassination by not having to impeach Lincoln; sent carpetbaggers into the south which lead to the creation of the Klan.
Who do you think claimed T.R. Roosevelt as one of their own after he left the Republican Party, helped put Hitler in power, sold scrap iron to Japan which came back to Pearl Harbor in the form of bombs, plus engaged in above previously listed America last policies and actions.
History gives Americans options to mange moneylenders: Nehemiah out smarted them, Aristotle denounced them, Jesus cast them out of the Temple, and the French Revolution executed them. Truth be known, history’s moneylenders are due 2500 years of payback. The only question that remains is when and how Americans control their moneylenders.
Not to mention creating the environment which caused your career's best soldier and four friends to commit suicide. General, future history will not define tragedy by those who were assassinated or committed suicide. Future historians will only grieve for one casualty America’s Bill of Rights.
As for compassion, I save my empathy for innocent victims not fools, volunteer victims or moneylenders. Why should God bless America?
You saw yourself in, why don’t you see yourself out so I can go back to sleep.
The General used to having the last word quipped: You don’t proffer much of a future for our beloved country.
The retired intelligence officer’s response, “What future, I was describing the present. General before you are tempted to accuse me of sounding Un-American; it is not our country or its constitution that represents wickedness beyond redemption. The guilty are moneylenders, internationalists, unaccountable uncivil servants, and public subsidy addicts.
“Americans have one last chance to save their constitutional republic. First, the Republican Party must be separated into patriotic Republicans and moneylender Republicans.”
Continuing, “The Democratic Party should be divided into individualist Democrats and internationalist collectivist Democrats. Followed by patriots and individualists forming an alliance that retires all moneylenders and collectivists from public office.”
Report completed. Thanks for the assignment. I learned more than I ever wanted too about internationalist Republican riptides. If you need a lesson, the lesson is that apathy is the most powerful of all political weapons. No political institution can survive when the majority “does not know, does no want to know, and does not care one-way or the other what happens” to politicians and bureaucrats.
You saw yourself in, see yourself out so I can go back to sleep.



4. Through One Assassin’s Eyes


SETTING: A Hotel Room (Actor Staring Out Window)

The year does not matter, nor does the month or day. The only thing that really matters is the next one hour and sixteen minutes. What happens In one hour and sixteen minutes, that’s when I start to earn my wages.
Decent money, but probably not enough for killing or getting killed. Then again, when Is the compensation ever worth the consequences? Let’s see what’s on the news.

(Walks Over And Picks Up Remote And Turns On Television)

“Reports are coming in from all over the nation of city, county, state, and federal governments’ secret police agencies harassing, beating, and torturing young and old citizens gathered to protest broken promises, excessive taxes, corruption, and civil rights violations.”
“The government has in some cities started using tanks to move over the hunger strikers and peaceful protectors.”
“Reports are also coming in of random arrests, torture, and shootings of protesters.”
“Other reports indicate that government authorities are with holding medical treatment from surviving citizens being held without ball.”

(Following Three Loud Reports, A New Voice Comes On The Air.)

“This is your compassionate government network. Ml citizens are encouraged to remain In their homes to prevent being mistaken by our honorable Homeland Security Agency as criminal rioters. Repeat stay in your homes if you do not wish to be associated with anti compassionate fanatics”
“This Is your compassionate government network. All citizens are encouraged to remain In their homes to prevent being mistaken
by our honorable Homeland Security Agency as criminal rioters. Repeat stay In your homes if you do not wish to be associated with anti compassionate fanatics”
No surprise here, every radio and satellite news outlet is broadcasting the same message.
“This Is your compassionate government network. All citizens are encouraged to remain in their homes to prevent being mistaken by our honorable Homeland Security Agency as criminal rioters. Repeat stay in your homes if you do not wish to be associated with anti compassionate fanatics.’9
I had better check my email to see if there has been any change in plans.

(Sets On Bed And Picks Up Lap Top)

Let’s see, what’s this: ALL INTERNET SERVICES HAVE BEEN DISCONNECTED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

(Closes Lap Top And Tosses It On Bed And Stands Up Facing Audience)

I guess I am down to two options, take my up front money and walk away and become a thief; or do what I was paid to do. Since becoming a thief is not my style, I guess I will do what I was paid to do.
Does not stealing another’s life make me just another kind of thief?
I have no doubts that my supporters will say that my target deserved his fate.
Little do they know that this is not about deserving to die; rather needing to die.
My target has violated our mutual oath to defend our country from “all enemies domestic and” you know the rest.
Damn that oath that requires me to trade a thirty year reputation based on duty to country for that of an assassin. No damn those before me who failed to honor their oaths.
Damn you clock as your minutes smugly move at the same pace; perhaps I can soothe my nerves with alcohol. Though I must not ease my nerves to the point of making me hesitate or miss my mark.


(Pours And Takes A Drink)

Oh, if I could only return the money perhaps that would make
my motives seem less offensive; no that would only make my actions look like those Of a mad man.
Then again, what’s the difference between mad and desperate? What’s the difference between being mad and being angry?


(Pours And Takes Another Drink)


Sweet drink, the world’s first great illusionist; you only camouflage the pain, you never destroy the pain.
The future always seems too nigh before the battle. All that’s left until the chauffeur arrives, is choose between reading Psalms and Proverbs.
(Sits Down And Picks Up A Worn From Use Bible; Starts Reading)
(Hears A Knock At The Door; Closes And Lays Bible On Pillow)
(Hears Voice From Other Side Of Door Say)
“Are you ready sergeant? ft is not everyday that a real live hero receives the Medal of Freedom from our President.
(While Putting A Wooden Dagger Up His Coat Sleeve) I have never been more ready in my life.
The driver asks: So what do you think about all those crazies

Maybe they won’t have such a bad day after all. (While Following Driver To Limousine)



5. More Than A Village


A Play About Patriots, Villages, and Tribes

Patriots:
Emperor
Emperor’s Food and Beverage Taster
Emperor’s Security Monitor
Governor Amerville
Governor’s Loyal Envoys
Governor’s Five Loyal Captains and Guard
Governor’s Loyal Commanders and Troops
Amerville Patriotic Citizens
Villages:
Empireville
Amerville
Euroville
Mexiville
Iraqville
Saudiville
Chinaville
North Koreaville
South Koreaville
Japanville
Taiwanville
Tribes:
Amerville Judges
Amerville Politicians
Amerville Bureaucrats
Amerville Propagandists
Amerville Workers (employed and unemployed)
Amerville Manufacturers
Amerville Bankers
Amerville Tillers and Herders
Amerville War Profiteers
Mexiville Smugglers
Iraqville Insurgents
Saudiville Religious Fascists
Heroin Smugglers
Conservative Cocaine Smugglers
Liberal Cocaine Smugglers
Salvation For Money Churches
Illegal Colonists (potential warring tribe)
Cheap Labor Credit Slaves (potential warring tribe)
Sets:
Emperor’s Palace
Three Sided Fort (Governor’s Chambers and Fourth Wall)

INTRO

Set: Emperor’s Palace

Emperor: Good my most loyal servant is here.

Food and Beverage Taster: At your service my Emperor.

Emperor: I hear one of the cooks is not feeling well.

Food and Beverage Taster: That happens when one consumes five gallons of mushroom soup in one sitting.

Emperor: Problem with the soup?

Food and Beverage Taster: It had been poisoned with mushrooms.

Emperor: Explain.

Food and Beverage Taster: The variety of mushrooms used in the soup for the party are extremely deadly if harvested before being ripe.
Worms living in the mushrooms determines maturity of the mushrooms. Preparations include placing mushrooms in a bowl of water causing the worms to fall to the bottom of the bowl.
I knew the cook was guilty when he failed to properly prepare the mushrooms.

Emperor: Do you know the source of the mushrooms?

Food and Beverage Taster: Yes, I noticed your cousin was unusually nervous as he personally delivered the mushrooms to the cook.

Emperor: Is there any soup left?

Food and Beverage Taster: Yes about twenty gallons.

Emperor: Guards, find my cousin and bring him to me. On to other business, my most loyal servant, I need an envoy to go to Amerville and serve as Governor. Since you are from there do you have a problem fulfilling this request?

Food and Beverage Taster: When I left home as a young man, I despised those people, despised them for allowing greed, vanity and lust to squander away their freedoms, constitution, and republic.
Later I almost felt sorry for them as one would children who knew no better. Now I believe in free will and understand that the citizens of Amerville made conscious independent choices. Now I do not care about them, only being a loyal servant to my Emperor.
If it were not an imposition, I would humbly ask that I be accompanied by one of your security monitors so you might know that I remain a loyal servant.
Emperor: Your request is reasonable. Have a save successful and speedy return my most loyal servant.

ACT I

Set: Three Sided Fort (Governor’s Chambers) (Three Body Guards Talking)

Guard One: Do you think the new Governor is up to the task?

Guard Two: He served as the Emperor’s food and drink taster for over twenty years he is more than capable.

Guard Three: I heard he made a cook eat five gallons soup

Governor (from the shadows): That’s right, I did order the cook to eat five gallons of soup; you forgot too mention that the soup had been poisoned and was intended for the Emperor.
Since I requested that you serve as my loyal bodyguards, if you need to know anything about your Governor, you have my permission to ask me in person. I will answer if appropriate. Should you need anything, ask me and I shall fulfill your request if reasonable.
Never forget, we are all the Emperor’s servants, and our first loyalties are to the Emperor. Some advice from someone who began their career as a bodyguard: you live longer if you don’t let people sneak up on you.
Show me to the balcony.

Governor (from balcony to village citizens): As a most loyal servant to the Emperor I want to thank you for making my work here easier. I did not know what I would encounter upon my return to my homeland: shame, embarrassment, or sadness for destroying my beloved republic.
Instead I find old friends, neighbors, and villagers acting like children who murdered their parents begging for mercy as orphans. As you are not worthy of revenge all my actions will be guided by best interest and security of my Emperor’s empire.
Greed and vanity destroyed your republic; I will not destroy one of Emperor’s favorite frontier villages by acting like a fool. You people lost your constitutional republic by placing loyalty to political parties and special interest groups before loyalty to constitution. I will not make the same mistake by choosing loyalty to the Emperor’s servants before loyalty to the Emperor. Final decree, you chose security over constitutional liberties and security is what you will have.
I will rule by example: making examples of those who threaten security. Guards, bring the former governor and his appointees to my chambers.

Governor To Guards: Bring the former governor and his appointees’ forward.

(Former governor and appointees more forward.)

Governor: Why do I find the Emperor’s favorite village protected by a three-sided fort?

Former governor: I did not want to offend our neighbors across the river; also, I wanted to stimulate commerce so I had the fourth wall removed.

Governor: Guards, services of the former governor, his staff, and all bureaucracy directors are no longer needed, also their presence is no longer desired. They are to immediately leave Amerville and surrounding villages without their wealth.
These fools will be allowed to return for their families in three years if they have posed no threat to the Emperor’s favorite village. Any action, threat of action, or conspiracy to counter this decree will result in their deaths, deaths of all family members, and all their known friends and associates.
Now make my orders happen.

(Guards clear chambers except for security monitor and personal bodyguards.)

Governor to Security Monitor: Defeating dead martyrs is difficult, plus they should think twice about retaliating as long as their families are our guests; plus their friends will probably abandon them for their own security. We will properly deal with these political prostitutes in three years.
I believe in the reasonable certainty doctrine, and Marshall’s Law: not taking prisoners, getting bad guys to kill each other, blaming bad guy problems on bad guys, and not getting caught.
Now to other problems, the Emperor’s troops are spread too thin; we need to secure our perimeter and police our premises.
Body Guard number one your new additional responsibilities as Captain are to secure the fort’s perimeter, starting with where the fourth wall used to be. You will start by using appropriate technology, sufficient troops on the ground, and citizen labor to rebuild the wall.
Body Guard number two your new additional responsibilities as Captain start with policing the fort’s premises. You will begin by learning who is on the streets, what they are doing, and identifying those who should not be within the fort’s walls.
Body Guard number three, your new additional responsibilities as Captain are to deport illegal colonists; give them a choice, the opportunity to voluntarily leave with their possessions, those who refuse to leave will be deported without their illegal gains.
In addition to not allowing illegal colonists to return as illegal immigrants, your duties include securing our external perimeter outside the fort by stopping unauthorized traffic across the river border. Fulfilling these tasks will make it easier for you to keep out smugglers, bandits, and terrorists.
Do not worry about complaining or interference from internationalist manufacturers, I will deal with them.

Governor returns To Balcony To Speak to Amerville Citizens: Your former governor has threatened the lives of your loved ones by removing the fourth wall of our fort.
The former governor’s reasoning for threatening the lives of your loved ones: public relations to not offend Mexicanville aristocrats. Mexicanville’s sovereignty ends where Amerville’s begins.
Work is to begin immediately to rebuild all four miles of the fourth wall. Anyone interfering, not supporting, or attempting to sabotage the completion of this village security project will be dealt with by harshest methods.
Work starts in one hour and will continue around the clock regardless of weather until this security project is finished.
Those wishing to complain about the harshness of this security project should feel free to blame the former governor and his appointees. Never forget, it was your former political leaders who ran away and abandoned you to suffer the consequences of correcting their acts of greed and treason.

Governor Back In Chambers To Captain Of Guards: Show in the manufacturers.

Governor To Manufacturers: It seems only fair that those who benefited from tearing down the fourth wall of my fort should reimburse financial costs of rebuilding the wall.
Financing the rebuilding of the wall will be accomplished with back taxes for anti empire economic activities. The tax will be the difference between what Amerville citizens were paid for their labors and what foreign economic slaves are paid.
Amerville citizens were paid one dollar a day while Mexiville slaves are being paid ten cents a day. The tax is ninety cents a day for every Mexiville economic slave since you started talking to the former governor about tearing down the wall.
I do not want to hear any lies about saving Amerville consumers money since your savings were never passed along to customers.
A special detachment of troops loyal to the Emperor will accompany you back to your businesses to collect these taxes before the setting of today’s sun.
Each of you will also be held responsible for actions by corporate feudalist slaves tribes believing the friend of my enemy is my enemy.
I will not allow your business relations with corporate interests using economic slave labor to threaten Amerville’s security by tribes victimized by your business associates.
This policy serves as a primary defense against creating future warring tribes.
Also all debt collectors collecting usury rates for money lenders will from this point in time only be allowed to make a living as female prison prostitutes. These usury collectors already have the right mentality for transitions to their new career.
Internationalist economic trading policies that threaten Amerville’s security by aiding hostile villages or destroying Amerville’s domestic manufacturing base will be considered treason against the empire.
Finally, empire dollars will only be spent on products made, manufactured, produced, grown, or raised in Amerville borders or territories. Rebuilding Amerville’s domestic manufacturing base is critical to the long-term defense of Amerville.

Governor to Captain Number One: Go with these manufacturers to collect the taxes you need to build your Wall and do your job.

Governor to Captain Number Two: Send in the bankers and moneylenders.
Governor to bankers and moneylenders: The days of you laundering and transferring money for smugglers, bandits, warring tribes, or villages that mean Amerville harm are over.
You will reimburse the Emperor’s coffers the amount of money you have laundered, transferred, or financed for smugglers, bandits, warring tribes, and or villages that mean Amerville harm.
All bankers and moneylenders will henceforth be held civilly and criminally liable for assisting the financing of violence against the empire.
Captain Number Two, go with these bankers and moneylenders and collect these taxes to need to police the premises.

Governor to Captain Number Three: Bring in the tillers and herders.

Governor to tillers and herders: Tillers and herders will be co-defendants and civilly liable and criminally liable for actions of illegal workers they employee. This policy is intended to prevent future threats from warring tribes of illegal colonists.
Additionally, Financing exterior perimeter security will be accomplished with back taxes for anti empire employment activities. The tax will be the difference between what Amerville citizens were paid for their labors and what illegal immigrants and illegal colonists are paid.
Amerville citizens were paid one dollar a day while illegal colonists and illegal immigrants are being paid ten cents a day. The tax is ninety cents a day for every illegal immigrant or illegal colonist since you started talking to the former governor about free trade and open borders.
One final warning, should any illegal immigrant or illegal colonist while your employee introduce any plague on Amerville soil, punishments will be significantly more than taxes.

Governor to Captain Number Three: Take your troops and collect taxes due the empire to fulfill your duties of securing Amerville’s external boundaries.

Governor to Captain Number Four: Let us speed this along, bring in the Judges, Propagandists, and Religious Leaders.

Governor to Judges: This is an Emperor’s empire not a constitutional empire the only laws you enforce are those consistent with the Emperor’s security and interests. In Amerville I am the only appeals court.

Governor to Propagandists: This is an Emperor’s empire not a constitutional empire, speech and press is limited to what is good for the Emperor’s security, interests, and image. Other speech or reporting is seditious treason.
Tomorrow’s headlines will include: Governor’s final word about natural resources. The governor will not allow the Emperor to find a polluted environment when and if he visits Amerville.
Bureaucrats who neglect Amerville’s environment will be executed; private citizens who pollute our waters will drink their filth; dump trash and you will eat it; destroying Amerville’s natural resources and the guilty as well their families will live in their profit motivated ruins. Amerville’s law; utilize our natural resources, restore them to their original condition or suffer consequences.

Governor to religious leaders: People have the freedom to worship as they choose without intimidation or threat of violence. The days of charging fees for salvation are over. Church leaders will immediately start utilizing church wealth used for extravagant life styles of church leaders to help the poor, the elderly, and the sick.

Governor to Captain Number Four: Empty these chambers I have more pressing matters.

Governor To Emperor’s Security Monitor: It is a long way from being a food and beverage tester to managing domestic and foreign affairs for a village.

Security Monitor to Governor: Are you doubting the Emperor’s faith in you?

Governor to Emperor’s Security Monitor: No, guess I am concerned about the current state of Amerville’s volunteer professional military. My goals for military intervention are redeploy over extended troops and motivate troops by regaining the military’s trust. Starting rules for regaining military’s trust:
- Do not send troops to battle for war profiteers.
- Do not let vanity send troops into ambushes.
- Finish one war before starting second war.
- Provide troops best commanders.
- Provide troops best training.
- Do not send troops to battle without best available equipment.
- Do not send troops to war without more than enough troops.
- Do not let domestic or foreign politicians determine military strategy.
- Take care of wounded and all troops’ families.
- When service contract is fulfilled, it will not be re-extended without voluntary enlistment.

Governor continues: Starting with resolving the Iraqville gold mines situation. If someone were to blow up the gold mines, the war profiteers will leave, and there will be no need to have troops protecting war profiteers, and troops can be redeployed back to this fort to assist in regional security issues.
With our troops deployed away from the Iraqville gold mines, Iraqville Insurgent Tribes will then start kill other foreigners like the heroin tribes and the Saudiville religious fascist tribes. We can later assist the Iraqville Insurgent tribes against their new hated foreigners by trading out dated technology for gold. Such a plan will not only allow us to deploy our troops, but also split apart the warring tribes alliance.
After blowing up the gold mines, the regional commander will inform the war profiteers that our troops were assigned to protect them, not escort them to safety.
The Commander will take all the war profiteers ill-gotten gains for escorting them to the border; the Commander will then divide all proceeds among active troops, injured troops, and surviving family members of troops killed in the line of duty.
The Commander before leaving the war profiteers at the border will warn them to never return to this territory.
A message will be sent to Iraqville insurgents that Amerville’s new Governor serves the Emperor not war profiteers. Include in the message that if during Amerville’s troop redeployment, if even one of the Governor’s troops stumbles and falls on a rock the insurgents placed in the road; every insurgent, every member of their family, and all their friends will be destroyed.
I will issue these orders tomorrow.

Governor to Captain Number Four: Send the following message to the Chinaville envoy: The new Governor of Amerville is a disciple of the reasonable certainty doctrine. Not threatening Amerville’s security is reasonable and the alternative will always be measured and certain.
First, it would serve both our interest if you were to rein in North Koreaville. I will be forced to hold you responsible for actions by your puppet.
Second, hostile actions against Amerville’s allies Taiwanville, Japanville, and South Koreaville will result in necessary defensive responses.
I know you have been dumping slave made products in Amerville to finance the building of your armed forces to eventually influence, intimidate, and or threaten Amerville foreign policies and security.
Amerville citizens engaging in business practices not in the best interest of Amerville security will be treated like traitors.
Clarifications are available upon request.

Governor continues speaking to Captain Number Four: Send the message then create a plan based on the premise that war is not the only way to destroy a village.
I want to know how to do two things: sabotage the Chinaville economy; and since Chinaville is not a mono ethnic culture, how to exploit ethnic tensions which when combined with a collapsing economy immerses Chinaville in a civil war to impede their militaristic imperialism.
Captain Four, I also need this message delivered to alliance allies Japanville, Taiwanville, and South Koreaville: My commitment to our alliance is firm. It would be a gesture of good will on your part to assume responsibility for your primary defenses; Amerville will continue to provide necessary technology, equipment and other needed resources to insure your defense against militaristic imperialism.
Deliver the later messages first and simultaneously. Report back when you have completed your assignments.

Governor to Emperor’s Security Monitor: One more foreign affairs issue before inspecting progress at the fourth wall. As for Saudiville, I am considering the following: Saudiville your survival depends on doing what ever is necessary to manage your fascist religious tribes.
Your question about the problem to the east, fourteen hundred year old problems are not resolved in a couple of decades. Initial impressions are to contain and keep outsiders from making things worse until future middle-eastern generations get tired of killing each other.
Success for power brokers requires seeing the world as it is, not as they would want it to be.
I will not mention Saudiville gold markets, they can be reminded later that customers come and go; those that stay have long memories.
Governor to Captain Number Five: Ask Captains Two and One to join their Governor accompanied by the Emperor’s Security Monitor for a tour of premises and fourth wall perimeter.

Governor To Emperor’s Security Monitor: A question while we wait for Captains Two and One?

Emperor’s Security Monitor To Governor: How do you rationalize all the violence?

Governor To Emperor’s Security Monitor: Predators play a critical role in natural balance. Without predators rabbits will breed like rats and eat themselves into starvation that leads to self-induced plagues.
Rabbits after having eaten all vegetation like swarms of locust leave barren terrain resulting in soil washing away in seasonal torrent rains. Predators are necessary for herd animals to survive.
People who lack the ability to manage constitutional republics need emperors and governors to reduce self-destructive anarchy.
The Captains are here we can discuss predator benefits later.

Set: Three Sided Fort (Fourth Wall Perimeter)

(Governor, Captains One and Two, and Emperor’s Security Monitor move to crowd disturbance)

Governor to Captain Number One: Is there a problem Captain?

Merchant screams from gathering mob: The problem is this toy soldier will not allow my family or me to enter the fort.

Governor to Captain Number One: What is the rule Captain?

Captain Number One to Governor: Only civilians working on the wall are allowed behind wall or to bring families inside wall at night or for security purposes.

Merchant from mob: I will start work tomorrow.

Captain Number One: Then come back tomorrow night.

Merchant from mob: Fine hand me a shovel.

Governor to Captain Number One: May I intervene? (Captain Number One nods yes as Governor looks at troublemaker.) If you ever insult one of the Emperor’s officers or troops again; if you ever interrupt me when I am asking a question, you will be using that shovel to dig your grave.
Captain Number One make sure people like this trouble maker do all their work outside the wall. Captain one more thing, relax keep up the good work and carry on.

Captain Number One (with a sense of pride) to Governor: Yes Sir

Governor in a voice (easily heard by crowd) to Emperor’s Security Monitor: Dedicated loyal troops that know what they are doing, does not get any better.

Emperor’s Security Monitor to Governor: Well Sir you had a good first day.

Governor to Emperor’s Security Monitor: Since this village was not ruined in a day, guess that all it’s problems cannot be solved in a day. One thing left to do, find a food and beverage tester.

Emperor’s Security Monitor to Governor: Our Emperor has already provided one; (pause) you are talking to him.

ACT II

Author’s Note: Explaining not complaining, just like Volume III Dreams: “Hallowed Ground”, the author was not able complete Act II, Act III, or the Outro before having to submit Takes More Than A Village to public.



6. A CHRISTMAS PLAY”


PLAYERS:
• Simon
• Anna a prophetess
• Quirinius Governor of Syria
• Census Taker
• Simon’s Helper
• two visitors

INTRODUCTION:
(Simon praying in a temple)
Simon: Oh Heavenly Father forgive my selfishness. You have blessed me with the privilege of owning the finest olive gardens, the finest sheep herds, the finest inn, and the most profitable market in all of Judea. Yet my rapacious soul would trade all these earthly blessings for the honor of gazing upon your son the Messiah.
(Suddenly the still wind chimes introduced a saintly intruder) Anna: You will not die until you have seen God’s anointed King.

ACT I

(Quirinius on a small throne in his temple with figure kneeling before him)
Quirinius: Rise my fool of a son (person rises). Caesar Augustus has ordered a census to be taken across the nation to make the collection of taxes more efficient. I am commanding you to carry out Caesar’s orders in Judea. If you can accomplish this task I shall reward your efforts by making you tax collector for Judea.
New Census Taker: I wish to thank
Quirinius (interrupts): I have no time for a fool’s babble. Who is the most influential merchant in Judea?
Census Taker: Simon of Jerusalem, he has the finest olive gardens, the largest sheep herds, the finest inn, and the most profitable market
Quirinius: I have heard of Simon, tell me more.
Census Taker: Simon is a devout man who refuses to engage in money lending or take an interest in politics.
Census Taker: Why he is an honest merchant without .enemies?
Quirinius: It is not Simon that could be a threat but the thieves who may use his wealth against us. B. gone, I have grown tired of you.

ACT II

(Six months later - Quirinius on a small throne in his temple with Census Taker kneeling before him)
Quirinius: Rise my fool of a son. Report to me about your progress on the census and Simon of Jerusalem.
Census Taker: The census taking process is on schedule. As for Simon of Jerusalem: I released locust into his olive gardens; I destroyed his sheep herds with plagues; I burned his Inn; I had bandits steal his wealth; and I have incited riots at his market so none will shop there. I am ready to return as tax collector.
Quirinius (erupts in to rage): You fool you have signed both our death warrants. I ordered you to destroy Simon not his property. How can taxes be paid to Caesar with barren trees, dead sheep, ashes, empty coffers, or empty market places?
Guards let it be known that my fool son’s inheritance shall be sent to Caesar to reimburse Simon’s losses resulting from my fool son’s actions. Let it also be known that my son of a fool shall be banished from Syria for the remainder of my life.

ACT Ill

(Simon and Simon’s Helper standing by three sided shelter) Simon (pointing): Isn’t it beautiful?
Simon’s Helper: Sir how can a man who never cheated or punished the innocent; a man who has lost everything he earned his entire life; see beauty in THIS? Sir, every night, I shed tears of confusion not knowing why Heaven is punishing you.
Simon: My dearest life long friend, I see beauty in THIS because I see opportunity. As for heaven punishing me, stewards of faith know the difference between punishment and preparation.
Simon’s Helper: Where’s the opportunity in having a stable without a bucket to bring water, or straw for feed.

Visitor (enters stage): I am looking for Simon of Jerusalem. Simon: I am Simon of Jerusalem.

Visitor: Many decades ago before I was born, you loaned my father this bucket His dying words were that I return your bucket with five donkeys loaded with straw.
Simon: I grieve for the loss of an honest man. I gratefully accept the return of my bucket Heaven only asks for tithes of ten percent; it would be a sin for me to accept straw from your donkeys. Now I must go to the temple to pray for your loss(turning to helper) Use the bucket to bring us water.

CONCLUSION

(Simon returns to stable to find stable half full of animals and Simon’s Helper talking to another visitor)
Simon’s Helper: Great news, a few more customers and you shall have enough profits to buy new sheep.
Simon: I thought I said I could not accept straw from the visitor?
Simon’s Helper: The visitor insisted that the straw from five donkeys was a gift, not interest for a debt
Simon: Who is the new visitor?
Simon’s Helper: Some man less fortunate than us, the man can not afford shelter for his wife who about to give birth.
Simon: What were you telling this man who is less fortunate than us?
Simon’s Helper: I was telling him that Heaven was preparing him not punishing him.
Simon (interrupts): And?
Simon’s Helper: I shall tell Joseph that it would be an honor for you to share your stable; with him, his wife, and their soon to be born child.
Simon: I must return to the Temple to seek Anna’s guidance.
(At the Temple)
Anna (to Simon): Eight days later during Mary’s purification offering at this Temple, you will speak “Lord, now I can die content for I have seen him as you promised.”
(pause - Simon and Anna freeze as Simon’s Helper walks on stage)
Simon’s Helper: Anna’s prophecy came true and Simon found peace as a contented man. Simon later restored that which had been lost to the want a be tax collector. I might add that his restoration work was made much easier by my loyalty. Let me tell you about my tireless......

(Cast and all those involved in play break in while walking on stage singing (insert favorite Christmas song.)




BONUS: LYRICAL VISUAL PROSE


1. Theme Song: Life Is Not Fair
“Keep It In Motion”

What Emerald says is true
Tides need the moon
Like flowers need water
What I am saying is true
Love needs passion
Like flowers need water
Keep our love in motion
Keep, keep it in motion

Wish you could dance
Can live without rhythm
Wish you remembered
Can live without cards
Wish you could tell time
Can live with being late
Wish you noticed changes
an live without compliments

hat Emerald says is true
Tides need the moon
Like flowers need water
What I am saying is true
Love needs passion
Like flowers need water
Keep our love in motion
Keep, keep it in motion

Must have your embrace
Still just not enough
Must have your respect
Still just not enough
Must have your honesty
Still just not enough
Must have you loyalty
Still just not enough

What Emerald says is true
Tides need the moon
Like flowers need water
What I am saying is true
Love needs passion
Like flowers need water
Keep our love in motion
Keep, keep it in motion


2. Theme Song Price of Blues
“Some Tears Never Dry”

Need to go anywhere
Not going away cross
Purely just going away
Maybe partly my fault
Never really explained
Thought you knew
To cover your needs
Work had to be first
Some tears need to dry
Some tears never dry

Need to go anywhere
When I was special
You enjoyed loving
Now you just blank
Frittering away time
Thought you knew
To cover your delights
Work had to be first
Some tears need to dry
Some tears never dry

Need to go anywhere
Your eyes sold you out
Regrets of early promises
Losing faith in my love
Worst injury of all
Thought you knew
To cover your debts
Work had to be first
Some tears need to dry
Some tears never dry



3. “More Or Less”

My life is a mess
Friends call me drifter
That’s close more or less
Freedom never on sale
Depends on way tides flow
That’s ok more or less

My family is a mess
Friends call them died
That’s close more or less
Memories include interest
Depends on way tides flow
That’s ok more or less

My country is a mess
Friends call her fascist
That’s close more or less
Principal buys cheap justice
Depends on way tides flow
That’s ok more or less

My love is a mess
Friends call her whore
That’s close more or less
Attitude with discount love
Depends on way tides flow
That’s ok more or less

My friends are a mess
I call them poltroons
That’s close more or less
Worship greed as Heaven
Depends on way tides flow
That’s ok more or less



4. “Dark To Darkest”

No one volunteer for blues
Finding the blues is easy
Debts not covering credits
Leaving never an option
Trapped alone with misery
Crutches just delay misery

Different shades of The Blues
From dark to darkest
First little “t” little “b”
Second capital “T” little “b”
Next little “t” capital “B”
Last capital “T” capital “B”

No one volunteers for blues
Keeping the blues is easy
Losses without warning
Some losing only bad timing
Others losses not your fault
Most losses just your fault

Different shades of The Blues
From dark to darkest
First little “t” little “b”
Second capital “T” little “b”
Next little “t” capital “B”
Last capital “T” capital “B”

No one volunteers for blues
Losing to the blues is easy
Start fighting against self
Surrender to who cares
Tolerate emotion losing spirals
Allow spirit smothering spirals

Different shades of The Blues
From dark to darkest
First little “t” little “b”
Second capital “T” little “b”
Next little “t” capital “B”
Last capital “T” capital “B”


5. “71 Blues Waltz”

Blank always something
Some say I paint with words
Like artists paint with colors
More like re-arranging words
Know you can do the math
Increasing downside average
Something not to forget
Thing called 71 blues waltz

Something always follows
Still have my health
Finances staying a bust
No family speak of
No love to flatter
Friends losing faith
No home to return to
No past to return to

Blank in always something
Some say I paint with words
Like artists paint with colors
More like re-arranging words
Know you can do the math
Increasing downside average
Something not to forget
Thing called 71 blues waltz

Something always follows
Friends, family, home, love
More like graveyards
Drifting to the unknown
Roadside parks no cruise
Seeking the terrible beauty
Relief from the blues
Keeps the drifting free

Blanking always something
Some say I paint with words
Like artists paint with colors
More like re-arranging words
Know you can do the math
Increasing downside average
Something not to forget
Thing called 71 blues waltz



Post Script

Additional John R. Marshall reference and current writing exercises, visit theconservativevoice.com archives and Google Blog Search Citizens Passions. Until then, remember this reality, purpose of peace is to prepare for war.

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