“We’re not ninjas, Ariel,” Tatiana said. “We don’t like women being assaulted and we’ll act against the aggressor when we can. I was assaulted many times when I was growing up and I decided I’d never be raped. I took care of things and I killed one of them. I was fifteen then. No one messed with me after that.”
“These were punks and they were terrorizing that young girl. That I will not allow,” Jozette said.
“They could’ve been armed with guns,” Belinda said.
“They could have and then we would’ve had to deal with that,” Tatiana said.
“You could have been shot,” Ariel said.
“Perhaps but I can’t and won’t stand by and watch a woman being assaulted,” Tatiana said.
“And you, Julieta, you just jumped in there and took that kid down,” Ariel said. ‘How did you learn that?”
“Little Wolf taught me to fight dirty. He’s always worried about me being attacked.”
“Well, he shouldn’t be worried now,” Ariel said.
“Not every situation is the same, Miss Ariel. Today it worked but the next time I or anyone else could be in trouble if they jump into a fray.”
“So, if you do it again you could be hurt,” Ariel said.
“Yes, I could but like Miss Tatiana and Miss Jozette said, I won’t stand by and let a woman or a girl be attacked.” Ariel nodded understanding.
“I was raped as you know but I was helpless to stop it. I didn’t know any methods to help myself like you three do. I’d like to learn how to defend myself if it happens again,” Ariel said. Tatiana and Jozette exchanged looks.
“It’s not like learning to play the guitar or juggling,” Jozette said.
“I know that, Jo,” Ariel said.
“Sorry, Ariel I didn’t mean to sound flippant,” Jozette said.
“I didn’t take it that way, Jo, but I want to learn to do what you three girls do. Will you teach me when we get back to the states?” Tatiana took a deep breath.
“We can show you some things,” Tatiana said.
“Thank you,” Ariel said.
“I guess I couldn’t learn to do those things,” Belinda said.
“No, Lind, you couldn’t but you could just talk non-stop and bore them to death or they might even kill themselves so they didn’t have to listen to you anymore,” Jozette said.
“Ha, ha,” Belinda said. “You’re so funny, Jo.”
“Alright, let’s behave, girls,” Tatiana said.
“Lind, I couldn’t resist,” Jozette said.
“Actually, you’re right, I could never do what you three did and my best bet might be to bore them to death,” Belinda said.
“Look, Lind and Ariel, you two and Lexi are just not cut out for our kind of life,” Jozette said. I’ve killed and so has Tatiana. We know what to do if we’re forced to and you two don’t.”
“Can we change the subject?” Julieta asked and it was agreed.
“Yes, a good idea,” Ariel said.
“I wonder how Justin is doing,” Jozette asked.
“Probably boring the President with his college stories,” Belinda posed.
“I have to say, Mr. Weaver, that your college stories are refreshing and funny, your wife must live to hear you talk about your college days,” Ellen said.
“Oh yes, she craves them,” Justin said. Ellen grinned knowing Justin was being facetious. Ellen liked to get to know her interviewers and spent a long time just talking about herself and expected other people to do the same.
“It’s nice to see someone who is laid back and comfortable with themselves. You don’t get that in Washington very often.”
“And, if I may, I have to say that you’re more down to Earth than I expected,” Justin said.
“It’s the Xavier Corners thing.”
“So, you told us.”
“Ah, I see you’ve detected my ruse.”
“Well, I didn’t buy in completely to the Hooterville version of yourself. I knew there was more substance than that.”
“You know, growing up I was a simple country girl with no knowledge of the outside world and a naïve impression of everyone around me. Then I entered politics and saw otherwise. I had to adjust and I did but I tried to keep the most important parts of who I was.”
“I think you have, Madam President.” They looked at one another for a moment then they both grinned.
“Okay, I’m guessing you’re ready to cut the jabber and get down to the nuts and bolts of this thing.”
“Yes, Ma’am.”
“Me too, we’ve exhausted the small talk so, let’s go.”
“May I start with questions?”
“Sure.”
“Alright, whose idea was it for the treaty talks?”
“When Russia took over The Crimea during the Ukrainian revolution, tensions between Russia and the U.S. escalated. There’s never been a friendship between the two nations. In the old days of the Tsars the U.S. was calling for more freedom for the lower classes, the end of serfdom, elections, etc. Then under the Communists of course the call was greater. Radio Free Europe beaming broadcasts into the old Soviet Union telling the people how bad their government was. The Soviets came back with our problems such as the racial divide and that argument was not without merit. After the fall of communism in Russia, there was a brief moment of friendship overtures but as time has passed, we’ve descended back into a less tense cold war but a cold war nevertheless. Each side has about seven thousand missiles pointed at each other. So, friends? No, and it’s not likely to occur in the future unless there’s a common enemy that emerges.”
“Muslim extremism?” Justin posed.
“That could work.”
“So, was it Russia or we that made the first overture?”
“Deniken wanted a resolution so we could move forward. He wants out of The Crimea at least as a governing influence. He approached President Clark but Amos wouldn’t even talk. To him it was still 1958 and the commies were everywhere.”
“Then fate intervened and you became President.”
“Yes, and Deniken saw his opportunity. Amos had met with Deniken in Paris about six months before he died. For one of the few times I was along with the President. I managed to get a note to Deniken and suggested that we had a common goal. He arranged a secret meeting. If Amos knew about it, he never let on that he did at least not to me.”
“What’d you talk about?”
“War, peace, the Middle East and finally The Crimea and The Ukraine.”
“The bread basket of Europe,” Justin remarked and Ellen grinned.
“Yes, and it’s still coveted by Russia.”
“Was it Deniken who broached the subject of a treaty?”
“It was veiled but yes. I told him I agreed but that Amos never would as long as he was President.”
“But then you became President.”
“Yes, and Deniken put out a feeler within a week.”
“For a meeting?”
“A secret meeting between Andrew Bellingham and Vasily Glasovitch.”
“Where?”
“Reykjavik.”
“Sufficiently obscure to not raise any eyebrows,” Justin said as he wrote.
“Yes, and we sent Andrew instead of Marty Ingersoll. When the Secretary of State leaves Washington the press is all over it. Andrew took a three am flight and drove himself to the airport.”
“I see, so you were up to clandestine things early in your Presidency.”
“Yes, the idea of a transparent presidency is a fallacy and anyone who proposes that is deluding themselves and if they continue to talk about transparency then they’re a liar. Many things must be kept from the people to get anything done. Of course, we intended to reveal the treaty to the American people and we did but not until it was complete.”
“Can you reveal the contents of the treaty?”
“Oh, sure, it’s not a secret anymore. The two main issues are Russian takeover of The Crimean Peninsula and Ukrainian membership in NATO.”