Chapter Five - part two

    It was only a short time before their breakfast arrived. The young girl who was bringing it was wide-eyed and laughing over his meal. It was, according to her, a dozen fried eggs, a pound of sausage, a dozen biscuits with a large bowl of gravy and another bowl of jelly and butter in small packets. She also brought him in a pot full of black coffee. Aadila started to protest until the girl returned with a huge platter of pancakes, and bowl full of syrup cups. Aadila had a cup of coffee and milk too. There was a note folded up beside the sausage and eggs James had in front of him. It was short and to the point. "Don't eat it all in one sitting. Start with a couple of eggs and some sausage with a cup of coffee, then wait a bit and have some biscuits and jelly. This should take at least two hours to finish." It was signed "Doc." They both proceeded to chow down. James had just traded a couple of his eggs for a pancake when a knock at the door brought everything to a halt. There was a Colonel standing in the door, but it was the man directly behind her that they were looking at. Actually, it was the three stars on his shoulders that they had locked their eyes on. James didn't know about Aadila, but suddenly he wasn't so hungry anymore. In fact, he was a bit sick to his stomach even as he tried to get up and come to attention. The general spoke even before James could get the food pushed aside so that he could get up. "At ease, no need to get out of that bed. I can talk to both of you right where you are. Do you know who I am?"

   James swallowed and gave a quick reply. "Sir, yes sir. You are Lt. General Michael L. McBride, acting Superintendant of the Academy, sir." The general smiled. "Very good, then I assume you are aware that you being in my presence is alone an unusual event and that me coming to see you personally simply should not happen?"  Again, James snapped a quick reply. "Sir, yes sir. I am very aware, sir." The general nodded but the smile was gone now. He glanced over at Aadila and then turned his full attention back to James. "Well young man you should know then that coming to the attention of the Academy superintendant can be either a very good thing or a very bad thing. Would you care to take a guess which category you two fall into?" This time James simply shook his head slowly. He had the distinct feeling that a spoken answer wouldn't have been wise. The general snorted and nodded his head before confirming that. "You just made a very wise decision to not answer that question at this time."

   Then the general put his hands behind his back and studied them both for a long while. James had the distinct feeling he was being measured for a coffin. After several minutes, the general spoke to the Colonel. "Colonel Roberts, please step out and close the door behind you. I want to speak to these two alone. I do NOT want to be disturbed for any reason! Is that clear?" The general had never stopped watching them as he spoke. Colonel Roberts didn't hesitate with her reply. "Yes sir, unless the President is standing in front of me to give the order personally, NOBODY will disturb you, sir!" With that she stepped out and closed the door quickly behind her. The general glanced over his shoulder as she left, but only for an instant. Then he stepped forward and pulled the chair by Aadila's bed back towards the foot of both beds. Next he looked over at the still full cup of coffee on Aadila's table and spoke. "If you don't intend to drink that I could use another cup." Aadila managed a quick response. "Please sir, you are welcome to it, sir." He smiled and took the cup in his hand. Only then did he sit down in the chair and resume looking at them both as he sipped the coffee. He just sat there studying them while he drank that cup of coffee.

    Finally, he leaned forward and spoke to James. "You may not be aware of it, but you had already shown up on my radar before this incident. I had heard enough whispers and such to take an active interest in what or who was causing them. Your name came up. I was told that you might well become a problem if certain issues were not dealt with and adjustments made. I decided to contact Colonel Madison. She had been the source of similar issues and problems when she was attending the Academy and since graduating she has been highly proactive in dealing with those issues and problems. She assured me that while you would likely remain on my radar, she didn't consider you to be a real threat for major problems."  Then he leaned back and frowned before continuing. "However, she did say there was a possibility of real trouble. I believe her exact wording was, 'He has a will of iron and while he may bend a little he won't bow down or break no matter how great the pressure against him.' I believe that was her exact wording. It would seem that she is indeed an excellent judge of character, because you have certainly demonstrated that iron will for the world to see."

     Now he turned his attention to Aadila. He actually smiled at her before speaking. "You on the other hand, I had never even heard of before this incident. After this happened I did do a bit more checking though. You are a very bright prospect, near the top of the new class on your academics. I was told that you are a devout Muslim. You pray to Allah three times a day regardless of what it may cost you in the way of extra duties. I was told that you were very quiet and seldom seen or heard except for your prayer times. Overall, I was told that the only issues seemed to be your need for more physical conditioning, though you showed great improvement and the determination shown by your refusal to alter your daily prayer routine was impressive. That routine seemed to be more of a problem for those training you than for you. You were willing to pay the price required with no hard feelings in order to keep your prayer schedule. I am not so certain they felt the same though." He stopped and shrugged before looking them both over again. Finally, shaking his head, he spoke again. "Honestly, you two are polar opposites in many ways. I don't believe I have ever seen a pair as different as you two who have managed to come together to cause such an extreme and immediate firestorm without it being a result of their own personalities conflicting."

    Once more he turned his full attention to James. This time he watched him for only a brief moment before rising and stepping to the door. He opened the door and spoke to the Colonel outside, but his voice was too soft for James to understand what was said. James had never taken his eyes off the general since he had sent the Colonel out. James wanted to look over to see how Aadila was doing, but he just couldn't look away. He knew that his future might well be decided right here, in an instant of time. He was determined not to miss something that might make a difference for him or for Aadila. The general shut the door and turned back to step close to them again. James had seen what was in his hands, but he kept his attention on his face. Lieutenant General McBride held a Bible up in his hand and looked at it and at James. "I believe this is yours?" he asked.

    James simply gave a single nod, but said nothing. Lt. General McBride nodded and stepped forward to hand the Bible to James. As James took his Bible from his hand, McBride spoke to James. "I noticed it was a King James Bible, not too common to see someone with a King James these days. May I ask why you chose it?" As James held his Bible he smiled slightly as he replied. "Sir, it was a gift from Dad on my 16th birthday. He chose a King James with the hope that every time I heard my name I would think of my Bible, sir." Lt. General McBride actually laughed and shook his head again before asking another question. "Did it work?" James nodded as he replied with a full smile on his face "Sir, yes sir. They only called me James when I was in trouble, so I usually did think about praying." The general just nodded as he continued to study James. Then he spoke in a different tone of voice. It was softer and more fatherly almost. "You do understand that you are holding a weapon in your hands? That book you hold has started wars and destroyed kingdoms. In your hands it has already changed the entire climate at this Academy. I want you to give some careful consideration to what you could do with that book and more importantly what you plan to do with that book. Frankly, I would like to see you lay that book down. It has already raised enough bumps and caused enough damage here. I don't believe that was your intention, but as long as you hold it in your hand it will be seen as a club in your hand. Someone is going to feel threatened by it. You don't need a club. Just lay it down and let's all walk away from this before it gets worse than it is. Do you think you can you do that?"

    James finally looked away from the general and took a long look at his Bible. After a moment he frowned and shaking his head looked back up as he spoke. "Sir, I do understand that this has been, and still can be a weapon. I know you are absolutely right when you say it has caused wars and destroyed kingdoms, though I believe the people using the book were responsible, not the book itself." He hesitated and looked back at his Bible. Then he slowly raised it and began to speak while holding it out before him. "Sir, I don't think of this as a weapon and I won't use it as one. Sir, to me this is a staff and a shield. I use it to support me and guide me as I walk the path I am called to follow. Perhaps there will be times when I am forced to use it as a sword to defend myself or maybe someone else, but sir... that won't be my first choice. It will always be my last resort. I will only use this as my staff and as a shield, never as a sword unless forced to it. You have my word on that, sir." He stopped for a moment and then holding the Bible close to him he continued. "Respectfully sir, I cannot and I will not le  ave this behind. I will stand with it or fall with it, but I will never lay it down, not for you or anyone else. I am sorry sir, but I can do nothing else, sir."

   Lt. General McBride sat down in the chair again and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Then he let out a long sigh as he nodded. "I guess I expected that answer. Alright, keep it. But...I want to make a few things very clear to both of you. Being made superintendent at the Academy is often a last assignment before retirement. It is considered an easy assignment, a reward for a job well done over the years. I took command just after the last class graduated. I haven't yet finished a full year here and suddenly my world is in flames and the two of you are the spark that started this inferno. Now I am well aware of the fact that this nation has been effectively waging a cold war against religion in general and Christianity in particular for decades. The military itself has been waging a cold war against Christians almost since my career began, if not before. Having said all of that, you two need to understand that the cold war is now in danger of becoming an all out war."

    He stopped for a moment to look at them each separately as if to make certain they understood the importance of what he was saying. "A devout Christian comes to the aid of a devout Muslim and suddenly we are on the brink of catastrophe." He looked directly at Aadila. "You opened the valve on a tank of jet fuel when you allowed him to carry you to the finish of that race. And you, you Mr. Cooper, you are still holding a lit torch in your hands." He pointed to the Bible as he said that. He turned his attention to Aadila. "I am told that you were heard praying to the Lord, God of Abraham, just before he made that last sprint to the finish. Is that true?" Aadila dropped her head and just nodded. The general frowned a little more and asked another question, still watching her intently. "Are you not a Muslim, a devout Muslim who prays three times daily to Allah?" Again she just nodded. "I want you to look at me and explain why you prayed that prayer and more importantly why you prayed it so loud that most of the cadres following the two of you heard it."

   Aadila let out a long breath and wet her lips before she looked up to face him. Then she closed her eyes for just a moment. When she opened them she spoke. Her voice was a bit unsteady, but it was clear. "Sir, as we approached that last hill, the last stretch, I told him we were almost there. I asked him to just look up and see how close we were, that he could do it. He could finish the Ironman run. He did that and then as we started up that last hill... well I felt him getting weaker. I felt him starting to tremble and stumble. Sir, I... I don't really know how to explain it... I just knew that I had to pray. I had to pray to his God and I had to do it loud and clear." She stopped for a moment and let out a long sigh. "I knew it and I did it. That is all I can tell you ... Sir." He never hesitated when she was done. He simply asked her. "Are you still a Muslim?" She looked back up at him startled by that question. "YES SIR! I am... I... I am a Muslim, sir." General McBride just smiled. "And yet you prayed to the God of Abraham. Why? No excuses, I want an explanation, I want the truth!" Aadila stared at him almost in disbelief, but he just returned her stare. Finally, she dropped her head and shrugged. He spoke again only this time his voice was sharp and cutting. "I want the truth!"

    Aadila took a deep breath and raised her head. This time there was a fire in her eyes and her voice was strong and sure. There was almost a defiant tone in it. "The truth is that I knew his God would hear me and answer my prayers. I wanted answers and I needed them." She pointed to James. "He needed them. I have been a Muslim all of my life. I didn't and don't wish to become a Christian. I just knew what I had to do. I felt it. Inside my heart I felt it. It was right and his God did hear me and did answer my prayer. I felt the power flow into him. I felt his muscles swell and felt him lift me higher. Then he ran. He ran like he hadn't run before. He carried me right to the line and then we stopped. Together we crossed that line. Together we defeated those who would have defeated us. That is the truth! That is my explanation!" Aadila was sitting up straight in her bed now. The fire in her eyes still blazed and the defiance was clearly evident in her posture and attitude.

    Lt. General McBride was leaning back in his chair with his arms folded across his chest, smiling.  "That is better. I believe that." He turned to James. "And that young man is the real problem we now face. A lot of cadres saw you carry her at least part of those last ten miles. A fair number of those heard her prayer too. The real problem though was what you did after that prayer. I have seen a video of that last sprint. And to be very honest, it is incredible, some would say miraculous. You literally sprinted away from everyone who was following you. They tried to keep up and couldn't, and you did that carrying over 275 pounds when they carried nothing. I wouldn't have believed it possible, if I hadn't seen it. I am still not sure I believe it, but a lot of people do. That is the problem. A lot of people are calling you the Ironman. Some are calling you God's Ironman, though not where I can hear it. That is causing a lot of trouble. I need, we need, to put out that torch you are carrying before this whole thing explodes. An undeclared cold war against Christians is one thing, but if this isn't handled properly I am afraid that war will be declared officially. Now I want both of you to think about all of this. I want you to think about it very carefully. You will be released to return to the Academy tomorrow, barring any unexpected problems, and you need to be ready."

    Then he stood up and prepared to leave. He looked at Aadila and spoke in a much softer tone. "I am truly sorry I had to speak so harshly to you. This wasn't your doing in any way. If I could get even a glimmer of proof as to who took your boots, I would give you a new custom made pair, made from their hide! While I do have strong suspicions, I doubt I will ever have any solid proof at all. I do apologize and I promise you that will never happen again while I am here, or ever, if I have anything to do with it. Those I suspect will still pay a steep price, even if I have no definite proof." Then he turned to James. "As for you, well I have spoken at length to the cadre who was there at the beginning of this. He told me what was said and what was done. Frankly, you did the right thing. I still don't like the results of that, but I admire what you did and respect it. Truthfully, neither of you were to blame for what happened out there, but that makes you no less responsible for the results of it." Again he stopped. Then he smiled. "You may think I am punishing you, but actually I have other reasons for what I am about to do. I am putting you both in the same squadron, Mighty Mach One. They have a reputation for being the most anti-religious squadron in the Academy. They are also the lead squadron, who by their lead position set the standards for the rest. I expect there will be some conflicts for both of you, but I think after what has happened this might be the best way to at least bank the flames for a while. I doubt anyone wants to be seen either directly or indirectly in conflict with the two of you right now." He stopped as he prepared to open the door and this time he wasn't smiling when he spoke.

    "I fully expect both of you to help me get the inferno you helped set off under control. Rest assured I will be watching you constantly. But remember that while I may be the top dog in this pound, I am not the biggest or the meanest dog out there. You may not want any part of fixing this mess, but it belongs to you as well as to me now. You better get yourselves resolved to that fact. You may still be Doolies who have yet to prove yourselves worthy to be called full cadets, but you are bound by the oath you took to do your duty. That duty, first and foremost, is to protect the honor and integrity of this institution and those in it. A lot of people, in a lot of places, have their eyes and their ears on all of us now, but on you two specifically." He directed his attention to Aadila. "You will need to hang onto that fire I saw burning in your eyes a moment ago or I fear they will freeze you out, but I warn you to keep that fire contained or you will be drowned by those who fear it." Turning to James he did smile again. "As for you young man, hang on to that staff and shield very tightly. A lot of people will do a lot to get it out of your hands or destroy it entirely. I strongly suggest that you plant it firmly beside you and keep it planted there while standing your ground behind it. If you start swinging it around, sooner or later they will succeed in taking it from you or destroying you with it, perhaps even both." With those words he stepped out and closed the door behind him.