The Rangers Are Coming (55 page)

“I have to say,” said Charlene to Marie Franklin, “I never expected anything like all that has happened to us this month, especially leaving Herbert behind.  However, I am happy for him.  He and Andrea Marie seem well matched.”

“We think so also,” said Marie Franklin.  “Although I don’t think Herby knows what he’s about to experience at the university.  It will keep him so busy time together with Andrea will come at a premium, even though they are in the same school.  But we will take care of him and make his transition as smooth as possible.”

“You are so kind,” said Charlene with real sincerity.

President Gallagher was busy with more important business.  He was off to the side with the German Kaiser and the French Chancellor.  “Otto Bismarck is about to pull the trigger on a war with France.  His goal is Alsace-Lorraine.  Frankly, most of the territory is traditionally German.  Here’s a map of how the territory should be split.  It will cause the least amount of tension between the people who live there, and will eventually become a peaceful border.  It looks like Germany is winning, but having France trying to hold the territory will be more trouble than it’s worth.  Germany is getting some land, but France is shedding a perpetual headache.  It’s a fair deal and not worth having France overrun with German troops all the way to Paris.”

“You know all of this for a fact,” asked Moncrieff?

“Let’s just say that my understanding of the strategic situation has a sound basis,” said Gallagher.  “We will build a modern road from Berlin to Paris as a way of smoothing out the tensions between the two countries.  You both get something you need, and it will buy us the time to begin making real improvements in both countries.”

The French and German leaders shook hands on the deal.

“I wish all our problems were going to be so easy to solve,” said Gallagher.  “Just know Europe is going to be overrun with American engineers and workers for the next ten years, putting in roads, power plants and building steel mills, the components for a basic infrastructure.  However, we will put a bunch of your people to work and give them a good wage.  None of them are going to complain.  The ‘Most Favored Trade Status’ the members of the United Nations countries are getting from us will ease the cost of your imports, as well.  The rest of the world will pay the full price.”

“By the way, before you ask,” said Gallagher, “I will tell you two what I’ve told the others.  It would be a little hard for you to put a million dollars in gold into your carry-on bags for the airplane.  The gold went out on one of the Destroyers, this morning.  They will be in London  by the end of the week, and in Calais a day or so later.  The gold is being transported to each of you personally by a detachment of Rangers.  They are travelling by Humvee.  That ought to attract a lot of attention from the local folks who have never seen such a vehicle before.  It’s our way of saying ‘Hello, the United States is here’.  There is no purpose in our hiding out in North America anymore.”

“It will make our jobs a little easier, too,” laughed the Kaiser.

When the banquet was over, President Gallagher jumped up on the stage and the band stopped playing.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, boys and girls, Americans and Europeans, Friends and comrades, this is a great day and the dawn of a new future for the planet Earth!  God has blessed us with his wisdom and grace this past month and nothing will ever be the same again!”

There was a thunderous applause as every person in the room rose to their feet and gave full throat to their joy and happiness.  Gallagher let them vent their feelings for several minutes.  At last he held up his hands and the noise slowly died down.

“I believe we can say that we have done a great work here and the long period of isolation and preparation for us has finally come to an end.  We are now and will continue to be your friends.  We are the even-handed, generous supporter of all free people wherever they are.  We will freely share our bounty with all, and especially for the new organization we have forged that stands for peace, prosperity and the pursuit of happiness for all.  Raise your glasses and join me in a toast for the greatest creation of Mankind, our United Nations!”

Americans and Europeans rose as one and lifted their glasses, “To the United Nations.”

“This is our final night together.  Tomorrow you will be flying home.  Try not to be sad for your fellow citizens and what they don’t have when you get there.  Know we are coming home with you to fulfill our pledge of sharing all we have with our partners in the United Nations.

“We cannot let you go home without giving you the opportunity to say a personal goodbye to the guides who have been with you this last month.  So, here they are.”

Into the room marched a column of guides.  They were wearing the dress blue uniforms of Rangers.  The Europeans gasped.  They had no idea the men and women who had been their patient companions for the previous month were actually part of the most feared military force in the world.

Gallagher said, over the noise, “When I invited you to come, I promised you would be safe.  What better way to do that then to surround you with Rangers, over 500 of them.  They were your bus drivers, your cooks, your baggage handlers, and your guides, who have come to pay their respects now.”

Cary came to the Gladstone family, smiling.  He was wearing the stripes of a master sergeant, and he had medals galore over his left pocket.  Gladstone was overcome with emotion and hugged the young man.  The whole family took turns hugging him.  “It was wonderful for you to volunteer for such a humble assignment,” said Gladstone.

“Humble,” said Cary, “I had to beat 25 people in the martial arts ring for the privilege of getting to do this.  I hear congratulations are in order.”  He shook hands with Herbert and gave Andrea Marie a little hug.  “Best of everything to both of you,” he said.

“His Majesty, Leopold of Belgium tells me his fellow Europeans have a parting gift for us.  He says that  it is uniquely American, as it should be,” said Gallagher.

Leopold jumped to the stage, and spoke into the mike.  “Fellow members of the United Nations, places please.”

The Europeans jumped to their feet and took their positions on the ballroom floor.  Leopold jumped down to his spot.  The quartet of singers came to the stage and the musicians took up their instruments.  The opening bars rocked the room, then on cue, the Europeans began their line dance.  All 320 of them began dancing in unison, with a single plop of shoes, clapping of hands and Yehaws.  None of the Americans had seen this before and they cheered and clapped their hands with the music.  After dancing furiously for ten minutes, the song came to a melodic stop, and the Americans fairly mobbed the Europeans in appreciation and joy.

        
48

London, England

Leaving America was a sad experience.  The Gladstone’s gathered up their luggage, now filled to overflowing with practically nothing European.  Their shoulder bags, once flat and nearly empty were just as full.  They wandered around their rooms, fingering all the wonderful devices they knew were not yet a part of life in Europe, and looked out at the city of Washington on the verandas for the last time.  Then they took the elevator to the lobby and slowly walked to bus #2.  Cary was there to meet them.  He was wearing his green fatigue uniform with a beret.  He put their luggage in the bus bay and got on with them.  The buses pulled out in convoy and headed for the airport.

              The big plane was sitting there waiting for them.  The group had time to say their goodbyes to their guides while the luggage was being loaded on the plain.

              “This has been a wonderful experience, the best of our lives, of course,” said William.  “We could not have managed without you Cary, uh Sergeant.”

              “Just Cary, William,” said the Ranger.  “It’s been quite an adventure.  I hope this isn’t the last time I ever see you.”

              “We’re coming back as special representatives of England, as soon as we can,” said William.  “How do we find you?”

              “I’ll find you,” said Cary.  “I’ll take Herb to his room at the University.  “I guarantee it’s not as swanky as the Resort.”

              “Thank you, I’m sure he’ll manage.”  William turned to his son, “It’s a strange thing leaving you this way, but I’m happy for you.  Charlene hugged her son and Henry did the same.  “Take care, brother.  I wish I were staying here with you.”

              Then the family turned and walked up the stairs.  Herb and Cary waved goodbye as they disappeared into the plane.

              It was late at night when the plane landed in Normandy.  There were many coaches and carriages waiting as the plane taxied to a stop on the tarmac.  The group had said their goodbyes on the plane and now just walked down the stairs and on to their carriages.  Gladstone recognized the American Ambassador, and went over and shook hands with him.  “I must say,” said Gladstone, “if I ever needed a spy who could keep a secret, I would want you.”

              The ambassador laughed, “You wouldn’t have believed me if I had told you.”

              “Good point,” said Gladstone,” now we have a whole country to tell.”

              The trip back to London was tedious and tiring.  First the bumpy ride in the carriage to Calais with the smell of sweating horses, then the crossing of the channel, which was rough and choppy, then the ride through the streets of London to the Gladstone residence.  London was more crowded and grubby than Gladstone remembered.  The soot from the East end factories filled the air and the whole city had an unpleasant odor about it.

              The house was musty from being closed for over a month.  The servants had been given a month off, with pay.  They had only returned that morning to put the house back in order.

              As they came in the housekeeper greeted them and asked, “Where is Herbert?”

              “He stayed in America,” said Gladstone.

              “My goodness,” said the housekeeper, “who would want to live in that backwater frontier.”  All three of the Gladstone’s laughed. 

              “Matilda, you have quite an education ahead of you,” said Charlene, “America is the best kept secret in the world, as you and the rest of the country is about to learn.”

              Everything about his previously comfortable home was a pain.  No switches to turn on lights, no refrigerator to keep drinks cold, no radio, no television, no phone, no beautiful view.  When they went to bed that night, Charlene said, “I can’t imagine us sleeping in this little, lumpy bed all those years.”  Gladstone just grunted and fell asleep dreaming of America.

              The following morning Gladstone really missed his shower.  He didn’t even have running water in the house, just a hand pump from the well in the kitchen, and he was considered fortunate.  He put on clean clothes and had his carriage take him to his office.  His arrival was jovial by his staff.  It was a good staff and he liked and trusted them all.  The problem today was they all smelled.  Gladstone had never noticed it before, but he didn’t let on there was anything wrong.  He just greeted his people and sent messengers off to get an appointment with Queen Victoria, contact his parliamentary whip, and send for a reporter from The Times.

              On the way back from France, Gladstone, and the ambassador made their plans.  He learned, at great expense and moaning and groaning, the ambassador had booked Prince Albert Hall for three months, beginning in three days.  He said the techs were moving the equipment and the enormous big screen into the Hall that day and would be ready for screenings on Friday night. The program was just under two hours long.

              The messengers came back.  The Queen could see him that afternoon.  The Whip came back with the messenger.  Gladstone took the Whip into his office and closed the door.  “Jack, I don’t really have time for a lot of chit-chat.  I want you to get in touch with every member of parliament, both houses and tell them I have just returned from America and have a vital message to show them on Friday night 7 PM at Prince Albert Hall.  Nothing is at stake here, Jack, just the future of the entire British Empire.”

              “Good Lord, William, did something happen in America?”

              “I wouldn’t know where to start,” said Gladstone, “but yes more happened than you can possibly imagine.  You’ll have to wait and see for yourself Friday night.  Go get started.”  The Whip left.

              A secretary put his head in the door, “The reporter from The Times is here Prime Minister.

              “Send him in,”

              The reporter who came in was the senior writer for The Times.  That suited Gladstone.  He knew him pretty well, and he was a friend to the Party.

              “Come in, Alex,” said Gladstone, coming around his desk to shake hands with the reporter.  “Thank you for coming so promptly.”

              “Prime Minister, I would have brought the entire newsroom here if I could have.  Your sudden disappearance for over a month has caused quite a stir.”

              “I announced that I would be on Holiday in June.”

              “Yes, but you seemed to vanish and none of our contacts anywhere in Europe could find you in the places you normally go.”

              Gladstone had to chuckle, “That’s because I wasn’t in Europe.  We went to the United States.”

              “I don’t understand Prime Minister, “said Alex Hawkins, “an ocean voyage would have taken you at least a month to make the round trip.”

              “Yet it only took eight hours to reach Washington, D.C.”