God of War: Part 11


Lynn Jepsen


Elle beams when I let her help me with the shovel. This is the part of my
job I love. There's a small sapling standing off to the side, and she and
Joe help me to move it into the hole. A horde of dignitaries stand ready
to help, in case they're Commander in Chief can't managed to dig a hole
and put a plant in it, but I manage, all the while smiling at Elle, and
watching her watch the cameras. She's already got this politicians grin.
My little girl is going to be a heartbreaker.

The only spoiling the one-big-happy-family moment we've got going is the
absence of my wife, who begged off for a thing, which I know doesn't
exist, and Josh, who I presume's been in hiding to avoid coming to this.
I guess Rachel's working on something with him, because she's not here
either. When the tree is safely planted, the Freedom Foundation director
steps forward to announce the dedication. I would have thought lynchings
were a thing of the past. I'm sure this kid, he would have rather had
better laws in place before he died than a memorial after the fact.

The rope line is boisterous, and I can see Jeff chomping at the bit to
get me in the limo. Humoring him seems like the easiest things to do
under the circumstances, and so I put an agent in a car with Elle and
Joe, and send them back to the White House. Then I let them tuck me into
my car with Carol and Lily briefing me on what I can say and what I must
not say when I walk the gauntlet. You know, I've been in politics a
while. What makes you think I can't figure this out myself. "Well, sir,
the fact that you're here might be a clue." Well. I guess the staff
agrees with Josh on this one.

*

The crowd roars as I step up on the stage, and I sense the energy. I'm
expected to support Hate Crimes Legislation. I'm expected to support the
Violence Against Women Act. I'm expected to support Senate Bill 234,
which has been dubbed 'The Vast Left Wing Conspiracy'. I'm not going to
do any of that. Diana and I rewrote the speech. I'm going to come out in
support of the Constitution. Freedom of Speech, of Religion, of
Assembly.... Lisa holds the view that the Hate Crimes Legislation is
thought control, and the Violence Against Women Act needs rewritten
before it can even attempt to fulfill its purpose. She might be right.
Either way, I'm backing down from that fight.

I sat down after talking to General Zeta and the Israeli embassy this
afternoon. I'm not going to admit it, but my wife and my Chief of Staff
have a point. If I have any hope of passing the energy bill and the crime
bill, I've got to save my numbers, and I've got to stop playing Don
Quixote. I just wish they were here to see this.

By the end of the speech, the crowd is silent.

At least no one boos.

Toby has a mildly pleasant look plastered to his face, which is never
good, but Carol and CJ are beaming. At least someone here's happy. "Mr.
President, you will be remembered for making an intelligent decision in
there." I shake my head at Lily. No, I think I'll be remembered for
dropping bombs tonight, but I appreciate the sentiment.

"What made you change you're mind?" I glance around to make sure we're
out of camera range when I answer her. I thought it was anti-liberal to
regulate people's thoughts. Besides, I want to get off the couch sometime
before I turn ninety. Lily smirks then, and she squeezes my arm. "You
know, some people are going to say you were scared in to it." And they
might be right.

It's then that I hear the squeal of tires. It's followed shortly by the
sound of gunfire.


God of War: Part 12

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