Altered America (5 page)

             
Was that a blessing, or a curse?

             
She pushes the thought away and focuses on what is foremost on her mind; will anyone care about what she did?

             
Oh certainly, if and when this horrible day’s events are finally over, there will be a great many people who will
know
what she did, but will anyone
care
about what she did? Will she just be some minor footnote in the history books? Will she be honored, or vilified? Or will she be long-forgotten six months from now?

             
She realizes that it’s an odd thought to have while hurtling at just under 120 miles an hour. Then again, maybe it truly wasn’t? Would anyone else be having the same thoughts, in the same situation, after making the same decisions?

             
She is one minute away from impact...

* * *

              Session started: (11/01/2003 11:33 a.m.)

             
Mike says: Hi dad.

             
John says: Hey! Long time no hear!

             
Mike says: Sorry. Had a lot on my mind.

             
John says: Something you wanna talk about?

             
Mike says: Yeah. No. Not sure.

             
John says: Jeez! You’re picking up some bad habits from your sister, Mike. Just spill it.

             
Mike says: It’s complicated, dad.

             
John says: They’re treating you ok there? Your mom is a bit worried. I keep telling her that you’re far away from all the fighting there in Iraq but she keeps hearing all this stuff about—what do you call it?—IEDS or something. Scares the hell out of her.

             
Mike says: Tell her I promise to call her more often but she can use the computer too, you know?

             
John says: You know your mother; anything more complicated than the remote confuses her. Mind you, this fancy msn messenger thing confuses me sometimes too.

             
John says: You said it was complicated. What’s complicated?

             
Mike says: Like I said, it’s complicated.

             
John says: And?

             
Mike says: There’s... stuff... going on here, dad. Bad stuff. Stuff we’re doing to prisoners and detainees.

             
John says: What kind of “stuff?”

             
Mike says: Can’t say, dad.

             
John says: Can’t or won’t?

             
Mike says: Bit of both.

             
John says: I don’t understand.

             
Mike says: It’s... complicated. I’m in a bit of dilemma. There’s stuff happening here I know that’s wrong but I have nobody to tell. Even telling you this much may have broken a few regs.

             
John says: Can’t tell a superior officer? Let them deal with it? You’re just a corporal. You don’t need to deal with this kind of crap. And if it’s illegal stuff, then you’re required by the regs to bring it to a superior’s attention.

             
Mike says: Not sure who to tell. That’s the complicated part here, dad. There’s bad stuff going on here. Stuff that needs to be told. Stuff that needs to be known. Stuff that needs to be stopped. But who do I tell? And should I even tell in the first place? You have any idea what kind of trouble I could get into if I tell the “wrong” person about this?

             
Mike says: That’s my big dilemma here, dad. I have a big decision to make but have no idea if I’m doing the right thing. What do I do?

             
John says: WWMD.

             
Mike says: What?

             
John says: What Would Melissa Do.

             
Mike says: Not sure I understand.

             
John says: You remember that young lady pilot on 9/11? The one who took out that plane before it hit the White House?

             
Mike says: Of course I do, dad. Half the guys on our street signed up because of her, remember?

             
John says: She was your age, son. Whole future ahead of her. But she had a big decision to make. And she made it simply because it was the *right* thing to do.

             
John says: So you have to ask yourself—what is the *right* thing to do here? Never mind the consequences—what’s the right thing to do?

             
John says: Son?

             
John says: Mike? You there?

             
Mike says: Yeah, I’m here. Just... never thought of it that way.

             
John says: Did I help?

             
Mike says: Yeah. You did. A lot. Thanks. Have to go. Tell mom I love her.

             
John says: Will do.

             
Session ended: (11/01/2003 11:41 a.m.)

* * *

              She finds herself—once more—second guessing herself.

             
Did it all matter? In the end? When all is said and done, will everything she did matter? Will
anything
she did matter?

             
Maybe they will put up a simple memorial to her? A nice little plaque back at the base. Maybe do a big newspaper article? Oh, won’t
that
be embarrassing!

             
She frowns suddenly as she realizes that she’ll never have the joys of having another Christmas turkey with her parents. Then she smiles suddenly as she realizes that—yes, on second thought, she does indeed know that she did the right thing here.

             
After all, doing the right thing – regardless of the consequences to oneself—is what it is all about. Right?

             
She is 30 seconds from impact…

* * *

              New York Times, November 9, 2016

             
[…] No one can know for sure what complex emotional chemistry tipped this election Senator Mike Roberts’ way.  Was it Clinton’s lackluster appeal—continued criticism over Benghazi among other political disparagements of her actions as Secretary of State?  Or was it Senator Roberts’ unique charisma, as a former soldier often credited for exposing the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse scandal, and his former service as spokesman for the Melissa Hand Charity Foundation?

             
Regardless of the precise alchemy involved, President Roberts faces a tough four years, but with the enthusiasm and dedication to doing ‘the right thing’ that he is known for, it will not be faced haphazardly. […]

* * *

              A smile crosses her lips again.

             
Maybe it is the delayed effects of brain damage obtained from the impact. Maybe it is merely wishful thinking on her part. Or maybe—just maybe—it is the action of something else.

             
But, for one brief instant of an instant, she knows—knows!—that there will be an entire generation inspired by her.

             
And she feels the beginnings of a laugh bubble up within her.

             
And she laughs and laughs and laughs, feeling alive... so very alive...

             
She is still laughing when she hits the lake...

What
If...

The Louisiana Purchase Never Happened

by Edmund Wells

May 2, 1964: San Francisco, New Spain

             
A montage of newspaper articles lays spread across a cork board, edges fluttering in the breeze of an oscillating fan. Red circles and yellow highlights offer the only color to a wall buzzing with black and white. In the distance, flamenco music provides a backdrop to snippets of animated conversation.

             
Behind a worn desk, a heavyset man—senior news correspondent Manuel Gomez of
La Costa Califórnia
—sits smoking a cigar, his mustached face poised before a microphone. Two stern-visaged men enter the room, escorting a slender woman dressed in somber, yet graceful, black.

             
Lifting her veil, she takes a moment to scan the wall of articles...

BOSTON GLOBE, USNE –November 9, 1960

             
Massachusetts Senator, John F Kennedy, was elected president last night in a landslide victory, decisively defeating Republican hopeful Nelson Rockefeller to become our nation’s 36
th
president. Celebrations continued throughout the night across our great nation, from the Atlantic Coast to the Mississippi Passage, from Fort Maine to Florida.

             
Mr. Kennedy seized an unprecedented twenty-five states, including the Cuban Islands, securing eighty-one percent of the electoral vote and ninety percent of the popular vote. Of the remaining five states, Rockefeller only took the popular vote in his home state of New York. Clearly, a battle-weary nation has made its voice heard.

NEW YORK TIMES, USNE –December 28, 1960

             
France conducted another open-air nuclear test yesterday in the Sahara Desert, Algeria. The third in a series of atmospheric tests, the Gerboise Rouge—an atom bomb half as powerful as the one which destroyed Hiroshima—provoked protests from Japan, USSR, and Egypt. Prime Minister Jacques Dupré of French-allied Louisianne applauded the testing, pointing out that the USNE, UK, and USSR no longer enjoyed monopolies on nuclear weaponry.

             
Heightened fears that France will share its newfound nuclear capacity with the FCU and Louisianne have sparked renewed demands for a nuclear weapons treaty, particularly as the USSR increases its already formidable nuclear stockpiles.

ZURICH NEWS, SWITZERLAND –February 15, 1961

             
A bomb went off at 3:06 am this morning, local time, in the Port Memphis district of the Mississippi Passage, killing two Swiss Guards and sixteen New Englanders, while also sinking a USNE coal freighter. Swiss authorities have apprehended several suspects for questioning. A spokesman for Louisianne denied any knowledge of the incident, but condemned the attack.

             
Only last week, a Louisianne barge housing a cabaret and casino was set ablaze under suspicious circumstances, though no one was formally charged. Nine Louisianne men and women died in that fire, while dozens more suffered from burns and smoke inhalation.

             
While the Swiss play an important role in the security of the region, the ten-mile wide strip of neutral territory between the USNE and the Republic of LE has now claimed the lives of two hundred and forty-nine Swiss nationals, who have sworn to protect the area since 1789. Increasing incidences of violence have called this duty into question among many Swiss citizens, who more and more cry out for a release from this onerous and deadly duty.

             
USNE President, John F Kennedy issued demands for a full investigation so those guilty could be duly punished, echoing recent demands from Prime Minister Jacques Dupré of Louisianne.

LIBÉRATION, REPUBLIC OF LOUISIANNE –May 3, 1961

             
Tensions rose another notch between the United States of New England and the French Canadian Union as the Bastille party assumed control of the Quebec-based government.

             
François Gourd, newly elected Prime Minister of the FCU and long-time detractor of the USNE, dedicated another 1.2 billion francs to fortify Le Mur, the “safety curtain” between the northern US and the FCU, due to “perceived threats of imminent New England aggression.”

             
This news comes less than a week after the Soviets announced plans for construction of their own wall separating East and West Berlin. Meanwhile, both the USNE and USSR continue to build up their nuclear arsenals, which is of concern to all the world’s nations.

LA COSTA CALIFÓRNIA, NEW SPAIN -June 28, 1961

             
Califórnian actress and model, Marilyn Monroe, was seen this past weekend frolicking in the company of New England president John F. Kennedy, photographed together in a posh Palm Springs resort. The blonde bombshell seemed smitten by the suave young presidente, who did little to hide his own interest in the vivacious senorita.

             
By her absence, one must assume First Lady Jacqueline Bouvier-Kennedy, is not herself a sun-worshipper, nor a fan of Miss Monroe’s body of work.

LE QUEBEC CHRONICLE, FCU –August 8, 1961

             
Surrender! After three days of fighting, the USNE has raised the white flag over Nova Scotia, ending their attempted military takeover of the independent island nation.

             
The New Englander attack was launched August 5, under cover of night, from Bass Harbor, Fort Maine. The invaders landed at Herring Cove, where they met swift resistance from locals and coast guards. Under the command of General William Fielding, Nova Scotian Armed Forces moved swiftly, preventing enemy incursion deeper onto the island. Bogged down under heavy fire, the New England attack fizzled a mile south of Halifax, the fortified capital city.

             
With this latest aggression, the United States, who has long contested ownership of the small but strategically-located island, has revealed its growing desperation. USNE Secretary of Defense, McNamara, stated: “It was never our intent to harm Nova Scotians, only to solidify the defense of our coastline by reclaiming territory rightfully ours in the wake of the American Revolution.”

             
In a ceremony earlier today, Premier Angus MacMillan opened the Nova Scotian Canal, formally proclaiming Nova Scotia’s intent to join the FCU after years of dissent, citing fears of further USNE hostilities.

LA COSTA CALIFÓRNIA, NEW SPAIN –September 1, 1961

             
Our roving photographers spotted Marilyn Monroe this past weekend on Andros Island in the Bahamas, dipping her toes in the cool waters alongside New England jefe, John F. Kennedy. The Califórnian cutie seemed relaxed in her canary-yellow bikini, despite the ever-present, dour-faced Secret Service men in their dark suits and sunglasses. Cheer up, amigos!

             
And where, one must ask, is dear Jacqueline? No doubt running things in her husband’s absence.

LIBÉRATION, REPUBLIC OF LOUISIANNE –December 13, 1961

             
François Gourd, Prime Minister of the FCU, announced to the world yesterday the capture of the New England submarine USS
John Marshall
, which was discovered in the Gulf of St. Lawrence and forced to surface 20 miles south of the Quebec mainland.

             
The event raised alarms throughout all of French Canada, resulting in the scrambling of Canuck fighter jets and attack helicopters, while the battleship HMCS
Ville de Quebec
and a dozen submarines sealed off the entrance to the gulf. Only when the invading submarine’s crew was safely evacuated were defense conditions returned to normal.

             
Today, USNE Secretary of Defense, McNamara, requested the release of the sub, indicating that its navigation systems had malfunctioned, causing it to run off course. French-Canadian authorities have expressed logistical concerns over this explanation.

             
When asked how such an advanced submarine, replete with 16 ballistic missiles and computer guidance systems, could have wandered so far astray, McNamara could only apologize, insisting on the release of the sub and its 140 crewmen. No terms for release have been proposed by FCU officials.

ATLANTA GAZETTE –February 3, 1962

             
Our fine First Lady, Jacqueline Kennedy, has announced the formation of a new charity—a humanitarian relief fund for victims of terrorism within the Mississippi Passage. The fund, known simply as Blue Angel, will offer financial assistance to anyone injured, or otherwise victimized, while carrying out their normal duties within this territory.

             
To the surprise of many, such relief is not limited to New Englanders, but is available “without regard to national origin.” It further provides compensation to families who have lost a loved one, including Swiss security forces.

             
Mrs. Kennedy has donated $15 million of her own family’s assets to open Blue Angel, and has proposed a 1% national sales tax to help keep the coffers filled. A series of charity dinners are planned across the nation to create awareness, with plates at $5,000 to $10,000 apiece. Meanwhile, the First Lady has renewed her plea for peace in the region, and asked that both sides bring an end to the bloodshed.

CHIGAGO TRIBUNE –July 3, 1962

             
With the failed US invasion of Nova Scotia less than a year behind us, many citizens and politicians have grown fearful of military retaliation in the wake of the USS
John Marshall
submarine incident. Protests continue in major cities across New England, including Capitol Plaza in Philadelphia, demanding the release of our captured crewmen.

             
Thus far, Mr. Kennedy has refused a deal offered by the FCU to formally abandon rights to the sub in exchange for the release of its crew.

             
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara maintains that such technology, in the hands of the French Canadians, would present both short and long-term dangers to our country. As such, he is unwilling to accept such a deal, even if it leads to military engagement. To most New Englanders, however, the plight of our captive soldiers is of more immediate concern.

             
Premier Khrushchev of the Soviet Union has called for President Kennedy to recall all New Englander nuclear subs worldwide or face the consequences of similar “mishaps” in what he termed “less tolerant waters.”

NEW YORK TIMES, USNE –September 30, 1962

             
US-allied intelligence sources have learned that the Soviet Union has, over the past six months, deployed more than a hundred K-19 nuclear-class submarines into international waters, double previous estimates. These subs, which are armed with medium and long-range nuclear missiles, are capable of hitting targets up to 800 miles inland. Revised estimates on the Soviets’ arsenal of land-based Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles, or ICBM’s, place the communist regime’s nuclear capacity at roughly double that of the USNE and UK combined.

             
If one places stock in the theory of “balance of power,” then there appears to be some cause for concern. The President continues to emphasize that New England arsenals are adequate to provide for a “mutually assured destruction,” a boast which provides little comfort to your average New Englander.

THE TENNESSEAN, USNE –November 16, 1962

             
An assassination attempt on John F Kennedy was thwarted yesterday as the President’s open motorcade passed through Legislative Plaza in Nashville at 1:20 p.m. As witnessed by thousands of shocked spectators, Secret Service Agent Cloyd Hill reacted at the first sound of gunfire and shielded the President, taking two bullets. Despite the best efforts of medics, agent Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.

             
President Kennedy was shaken, but fortunately unharmed.

             
Jacqueline Kennedy was also struck in the attack, suffering a bullet wound to the upper leg. The First Lady was rushed to Baptist Hospital, where doctors successfully treated her injuries.

             
Vice President Adlai Stevenson, who rode in the third car behind the President and First Lady, was critically wounded by a shot to the chest. Paramedics were unable to stabilize him en route to Baptist Hospital, where he died of his injuries.

             
White House Press Secretary John Winkler indicated that Mrs. Kennedy was doing well and was expected to make a full recovery.