“Mr. Washington,” Murdock said. “Do you remember your American history? It took our George Washington eight years to win his revolution. Are you ready to put in that kind of time here to win yours?”
“No. This is a much different situation. The government is holding on by its fingernails. They have used up all of their goodwill with the people. The Army is starting to become nervous and could break into pieces at any time. All we need is a few sparks and we can move this country into a new era.”
“Do you have the support of the people?” Murdock asked.
“We did today.” He told them how the people had done everything he’d asked them to do. “Today the party made a lot of new friends. All we have to do is show that we can lead them, and we’ll have a grand march against the Government Building.”
“With the Army cutting down half of them with a hail of lead,” Jaybird said.
They talked until it grew dark. The generators began, and lights blossomed around the camp and in the Vice President’s tent.
“I have some strategies that I believe will help push the President back and incite the Army to mutiny,” Mojombo said. “What can you tell me that might help with new ideas or attacks or new ways to discredit the President and win over the people?”
“The Vice President told me about his idea for you to move closer to the capital, and to solidify your support by the people as you go,” Murdock said. “You need to show control over half of the country and the villages. This way you can win new converts and men for your army.
“Staging your hit-and-run raids are tremendously effective. The Army will never know when the next might come and where you’ll hit next. You could be shooting up the military installations every three or four days. Blow up facilities, barracks, burn down buildings, shoot up transport. Kill as few soldiers as possible and the Army brass will get the idea that you’re not after them, but the Army power.”
“Fine, until we run out of ammo,” Mojombo said. “We don’t have an unlimited supply.”
“Raid more Army ammo bunkers,” Luke Howard said.
Murdock watched Mojombo. He wasn’t satisfied with the talk. “Mr. Washington. Let us confer here for a while tonight, and tomorrow we’ll have some ideas that might help out your cause. We’ll make them as practical as possible and see if we can help set up and carry out some of the attacks. May we have a green light on that, Mr. Vice President?”
“I can give you that authorization. The White House might not agree, but they are one hell of a long way from here. Where is that U.S. Navy task force?”
“Should be a destroyer offshore sometime tonight or tomorrow,” Jaybird said. “Depends what choppers they have on board. Probably the smaller ones, the SH-60B used for sub-hunting, but we can adapt them.”
“All right, gentlemen, I’ll leave you to your conference,” said Washington.
“Ten-hut,” Murdock barked as the Bijimi Loyalist Party leader stood to leave. The SEALs snapped to attention.
Mojombo grinned. “Hey, I couldn’t even get into the ROTC. But thanks anyway. See you tomorrow.”
He left, and Vice President Adams motioned for the SEALs to gather around. “Now we get down to work. This great man needs our help. I’m convinced he can lead his people out of this quagmire the current officials have dumped the nation into. So, let’s get our brains working and come up with some great attack plans that will leave old President Kolda reeling.”
“You weren’t kidding about our being able to get in a few shots in anger against this bunch of crooks?” Howard asked.
“I don’t see why not. As long as none of you get wounded, the brass back in Coronado will never know. At least, I won’t tell them. Now let’s do some tall thinking about this problem.”
14
The next day at 1 P.M. the SATCOM stuttered out its bursts of electronics as the Vice President called Washington, D.C., and the embassy in Sierra City. When he had them both on the air, he gave them a report.
“Mojombo Washington is going to make his demands for my release at three o’clock today. Two hours from now. Ten A.M. your time. He wants the news media to listen to the demands in both D.C. and Sierra City. He says they will be detailed, and vital to his nation. He warns that he will also make a pitch for the world to swoop in on President Kolda and throw him and his criminal bunch of thugs out of office. Any questions?”
“I didn’t think you were a hostage,” the President’s Chief of Staff said. “The President is at a power breakfast right now, but I’ll have him here for the announcement. It will be recorded. Yes, we can open the transmission to the press. We’ll set it up shortly in the press room. Any idea what Washington’s going to say?”
“Not the slightest. We’ll be back in touch with you in about two hours.” They signed off.
“What’s this demands business?” Murdock asked. “I thought you were his buddy and newfound friend.”
“I thought so too. He did say one of the reasons for inviting me to be his guest here was to focus worldwide attention on his country and the sorry leadership it has now. That must be part of it. I’m sure millions of people now know what and where Sierra Bijimi is who never had heard of it before my…. visit…. here at Camp Freedom.”
“Every news service in the world carried your story big-time when you were snatched,” Jaybird said. “Right now there are about forty newspeople in Sierra City waiting for something to happen.”
“Sounds like it’s going to today.”
Mojombo Washington said, “Knock, knock,” at the tent flap and slipped inside. He carried a clipboard with some papers on it.
“I hope you gentlemen slept peacefully and had a good breakfast and lunch. I try to feed my men well.”
“Yes, we’ve been treated fine,” Murdock said. “You really going to make some demands for Mr. Adams’ release?”
“Absolutely, big-time demands. How is our time?”
“Almost two hours.”
“Radio all set up and the antenna checked?”
“All done, Mr. Washington,” Howard said.
“Good, I’ll be back later. Sometimes I like to surprise folks and start things a little early. But not this time. I’ll be back.”
At exactly 3 P.M., Mojombo Washington took the handset from the vice president and began:
“Good morning to the United States and to the world. Today we have some serious business to attend to. It’s my pleasure to report that Vice President Adams is well and in good spirits, and working with me for the freedom of my country, Sierra Bijimi.
“To further those ends, I have some demands that must be met before the Vice President can be returned to you. These demands are:
“One. Send in ten thousand United Nations troops to throw out the current government at every level and run the country until free elections can be held.
“Two. With supervision and direction by the United States, hold free and open elections within six months to elect new government officials at all levels within the country.
“Three. Deliver with United Nations supervision one million tons of food to be distributed to our nation’s poor by U.N. personnel.
“Four. Direct World Bank interest-free loans in the amount of ten billion dollars available to Sierra Bijimi industrial and business firms without involving any current government agencies.
“Five. Begin investigations by the World Court of all current government leaders on charges of bribery, theft, murder, and looting of the national treasury.
“Six. Begin an immediate airlift of small arms and ammunition sufficient to help the Bijimi Loyalist Party’s armed forces to maintain order until the U.N. and U.S. forces are in place.
“These demands are not open to negotiation. A meeting of a high U.N. official and a high U.S. official and the leader of the Bijimi Loyalist Party should take place within three days.