The atmosphere was relaxed and congenial as the governors retired to the receiving room, a room conveying a country club ambiance. Beneath the calm veneer of pleasantries were shark-infested waters.
O’Neil was the linchpin holding them together, keeping them from each other’s throat. He encouraged just enough backbiting to drive a wedge between them, but not enough to cause dissention and civil war. Like the medieval kings of old, he placated the wishes of his land barons in order that they do his bidding and enhance his treasury.
The smoke-filled room contained the only men who, by withdrawing their support, could effectively challenge O’Neil’s hold on power. O’Neil was all too aware of this fact and sought their support by plying them with every pleasure, including a small harem for each of the suites.
After drinks, the gathering convened into the conference room. O’Neil’s guest took their places at the table. Jason, along with the six other waiters, similarly clad, stationed themselves around the walls of the room at equal intervals.
The clangng sound of silver against crystal calmed the twaddle. All eyes swung to the front of the room. The president was not concerned with speaking in front of the help, since they had no contact with the outside world, not ever.
“Governors, honored guests, you have been invited here today so that I might answer any questions that you may have and to put to rest irresponsible rumors.” Theodore Wainwright, Governor of Montana and chief rival of O’Neil, spoke first.
“What the hell went wrong in the northern campaign, Tom? You promised us that this full-scale effort would bring a swift end to this lawless bunch, but instead your blunder has portrayed us as weak and vulnerable. If only in perception, this defeat encourages civil disobedience and rebellion. If this situation is not remedied, it threatens to destabilize the whole damn country. Our joint ventures with our Asian and European partners, as well as our alliances with the United Nations hinges on our ability to maintain a strong sovereignty.”
“As usual, you’re making too much of the so-called threat,” O’Neil responded. “I can assure you that we have the situation well in hand. The enemy has been uprooted from their stronghold and has fled to escape destruction. Furthermore, they have been dealt a major blow with the lost of their leader, the elusive Omar. My command staff guarantees me that it’s just a matter of mopping up.”
“Horse shit, Tom! You know damn well that your ‘staff’ will tell you anything they think you want to hear. They are a bunch of ass kissers, the lot of them. You invited us here to speak candidly. Well let’s speak candidly!
“The truth is that this rag-tag bunch of mountain goats has withstood your best efforts and has even managed to hand your top general a humiliating defeat. What if the Latin American regimes begin to think that we are too weak to govern? They could invade. In all due respect, Mr. President, I don’t think you comprehend the gravity of the situation. Furthermore, I don’t think that the state of Montana can continue much longer to indulge your ineptitude.”
“Gentlemen, I think that we may be getting a little ahead of ourselves,” interjected the Governor of Minnesota, attempting to ease the tension-filled room. “I think we all appreciate what’s at stake, and to quarrel now would help to bring about exactly what you warned against, Teddy. Let’s just calm down and hear Tom’s plan.” O’Neil was seething, his eyes narrowed on his chief critic.
Jason continued to look straight ahead, but had noticed the President throwing a puzzled look more than once in his direction.
O’Neil washed down his anger with a shot of Wild Turkey and turned back to his guests, his voice having returned to a more cordial tone. “We thought that after we killed that black devil, the clans would fold like a house of cards. But, it appears that this devil had a seed. Fortunately, he is just a boy. What threat can he really pose?” the president offered with a bit of a chuckle, scanning the faces of the governors.
“Remember, Tom, Alexander the Great was just a boy when he conquered a good piece of the known world,” retorted the Montana governor. O’Neil shot the governor a harsh look.
The governor of North Dakota broke in. “This ‘boy’, as you called him, Tom, is developing quite a following. It doesn’t stop at the Ohio River either. Our informants report that there is a cult-like following swelling up around this boy. They’re calling him the American Messiah.”
“So let me get this straight,” said O’Neil. “You’re telling me that the good white folks of this great nation are worshiping a nigger?” O’Neil burst into laughter. The rest of the room followed him. The governor of North Dakota waited until the laughing had run its course before continuing.
“Let us not forget that our own reports show that his father’s army included a good many whites.”
The president prepared to fire back, but was cut off.
“Gentleman, I think we’re getting adrift of the issue,” the governor from Texas interrupted. Peering over the top of his glasses, his head tilted forward. “What assurances can you offer us that this ‘boy’ will not continue in his father’s footsteps?”
O’Neil flashed a confident smile. “Our inside operatives say no one has seen the boy in nearly a year. Rumor has it that he is dead. Others say he’s come west. But, I can assure you, gentlemen, that you are perfectly safe. It will take more than some black Messiah to crash our little party,” O’Neil joked. The room once again erupted. Jason smiled inside.
“My best people are on his trail as we speak. If this boy is alive, we’ll nab him. As far as his clan army is concerned, I plan to lull them into a false sense of security. And, when they least expect it, we’ll hit them with everything we’ve got. All I’m going to need from you is half of all the men under your combined commands.”
There was a long silence as the governors sat stunned. “It’s either that or I’ll will be forced to use U.N. peacekeepers,” the president added. “I have been in close contact with the General Assembly, and they’re willing to lend their full support of ten divisions plus supplies.”
Governor Theodore Wainwright voiced his opposition to the plan. Cringing at the thought of having foreign troops occupying American soil, the group grudgingly supported O’Neil. Not a man in the room trusted the UN. O’Neil was well aware of the risk. He knew that, should his plan failed, the Montana governor would be waiting in the wings.
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