13. Dilemma 1
At the Gate
Without minding who would lose their job or be reproved because of their presence, the two boys never relented in their quest.
“Good afternoon, Cadets,” the Major greeted them happily when he arrived.
“Good afternoon, Major,” Gerald panted and Samuel focused on the Major.
“I think there is a misconception here. We don't have any record of such a thing here,” the Major pointed out but they insisted.
Their big sister and mother could not be lying when they said that he was killed by the soldiers and taken away in a helicopter.
“Major, we are certain that he was killed by the military and taken away with a helicopter,” Gerald stated.
“We are not asking for justice for him, Major but give us his body for a proper burial,” Samuel requested.
The confused Major looked at their puffed eyes and told himself that he had a serious problem. He was aware that the military did not do that but played down his knowledge and asked, “When did it happen?”
At that point, David was happy that he had been exonerated and looked on.
“It happened yesterday morning,” they answered simultaneously.
“Where did it happen?”
“At the Armory Estate.”
“They came with a helicopter, killed him, and took his body away,” Samuel emphasized.
The story was getting more complicated because the estate was for soldiers but they were looking for a dead civilian. To avoid keeping the Head of State waiting, he said, “Calm down. I will get back to you.”
His words gave them hope, and Gerald added, “I have been calling his number, and the person holding his phone refused to pick up my call.”
“I will get back to you,” the Major said and left immediately.
David breathed heavily and offered them a seat, but they turned down his offer, “Thank you, Corporal,” they said and stood firmly in the same spot.
To avoid aggravating the matter, he overlooked them and took his seat.
At The Auxiliary Armory PLC
Alice had made the counter post and walked back to Laura's office to inform her. Unfortunately, she was in a bad mood and wished to be alone.
“Good afternoon, Boss. I have shared a counter-story of the disparaging story.”
“Okay,” she answered without interest.
Alice was surprised and looked at her worried face. She attributed it to the negative comments about her. Then, she displayed her phone before her and said, “You may take a look?”
“Don't bother. I will look at it later,” she said and shoved her phone aside.
“Okay, Boss,” she said and walked away.
Laura mulled over the events of that day and was angry. Apart from being disappointed because she flirted with the wrong man she was ashamed that it was noticed.
“I think I was carried away,” she told herself and logged on to her internet news.
She was reading the counter post when the Canterbury Defense Academy story popped up, and she was attracted by the post. She forgot about her post and tapped on the story. Her eyes beamed when she saw the blurry pictures and recognized the students.
“Gerald and Samuel!” She exclaimed and read the story.
“Truancy at The Canterbury Defense Academy! Did they leave the school? Or have they gone back?” She asked herself at once and looked carefully at the picture, but could not identify the environment. Likewise, she looked at the time and it was a few minutes past 2 PM.
“If they are in school, they won't be with their phones now,” she assumed, and decided to inform her parents.
Anxiously, she dialed her father's number and waited for the call to connect.
“Hello, Laura. What's up?” her father greeted her.
“Hello, Dad. Could you believe that Gerald and Samuel left school? I don't know where they have gone.”
“Oh, my God! I hope they have not ruined your day?”
“Ruin my day? How?”
“They came back this morning.”
“What! Why?”
“Don't mind the rascals. They said they want to give that scumbag a befitting burial and pay their last respect.”
“What a nonsense. I will give them a piece of my mind when I come back.”
“It is all right. How is your new President?”
“He is fine,” she answered and cut the call at once to avoid more questions.
“How can they boycott classes for that never do well?” she hissed and returned to reading her counter post.
At The Head of State's Office.
Major Horton walked in with a self-condemning face. He gave him a reprimanding look, and the Major began to explain immediately, “They are crying because according to them, their brother-in-law was killed yesterday by some military men.”
The Head of State was as startled as the Major was when he heard Gerald's complaint. Instantly, the angry look on his face was replaced by curiosity and the Major continued
“They said the soldiers went to the Auxiliary Armory Estate with a helicopter, killed him, and took his body away.”
Instantly, the Head of State got the true picture of the story and feigned ignorance.
With the same mood, he ordered, “Ask them to leave, and we will look into the matter.”
The Major was aware that the children would not accept that but obeyed the last order.
“I got it, Your Excellency.”
At the Gate
He returned to the gate. Not as a military man but as a concerned person who felt their plight.
“Young men, I can feel your pain. I have taken note of your complaint and promise to look into the matter.”
“Look into it? We only want his body,” Gerald, who felt that there should be no ceremony about it, informed him.
“You can look into the matter, afterward. Just ask the person holding his phone to release him,” Samuel added.
The Major only looked at their helplessness. Now, Samuel requested, “We can give you his contact, Major. The person will respect you and pick up your call.”
“That is a good idea,” Gerald stated but the officers knew better.
They would not want a case like that to be traced to their numbers and were mute.
To pacify them, the Major asked, “Have you eaten? You must be famished," and that was the height of it.
“Who talks about food when an innocent citizen was murdered in cold blood?”
Without further words, Major Horton quietly excused himself.
At Tim's House
The handgun that he was inspecting was a substandard one compared to the one he had produced in the past.
“Why did McDonald not stick to the standard we were producing before?” He thought and began to disassemble it while George looked on.
To George's dismay, in a few seconds, the gun was in pieces without the use of many tools.
“Can you assemble it?” Tim looked into his eyes and asked.
George shook his head and answered, “No, Boss.”
“But you saw what I did.”
“Yes, Boss but I …”
He was interrupted when Tim's phone rang and waited for him to pick up his call. Tim looked at the caller and discovered that it was the Head of State.
Likewise, he faced George and instructed, “Try to assemble it. I will be back.”
For respect's sake, he answered, “Okay, Boss,” knowing that he can't do it.
Tim walked quickly up the stairs to his room and picked up the call, “Hello, Your Excellency,” he greeted him.
“Hello, Tim. There are two boys at the main gate. Are you familiar with them?”
“Two boys?”
“Yes. From the Academy. Check the camera in your room.”
“Okay, Your Excellency,” he answered.
Meanwhile, when he mentioned the Academy, he thought of the two before he looked at the camera.
“Oh! I have seen them, Your Excellency. They are my ex-wife's siblings. I wonder what brought them and why they are crying.”