Chapter 112

112
THE WATERGATE HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D.C.

Even though General Tower was not to be seen, his presence was everywhere. The phone rang, that is the intercom to the operations room rang. An unfamiliar voice identified himself with military accuracy, "Lt. Colonel Timer, Sir. Am I speaking to Mr. Robeles?"

"Yes, Colonel. This is Jesus Robeles. How can I help you?" Jesus answered politely.

"There are six Marines in operations. They wish to come up to the penthouse. They are clear from the entry protocol at this time."

Jesus shuddered. Entry protocol was pretty rough. "Yes! Please have them come right up! We've been waiting for them!" He answered.

Within a few minutes the Secret Service agent on hallway duty knocked at the door. Juan jumped across the room to answer. Standing in the hallway were six soldiers dressed in boots and fatigues, complete with duffel bags. The athletic Brazilian immediately grabbed two of the bags from Maggie Stone and Cindy Bennet and hefted them into the living room. The eye lock which had begun at their previous meeting was in full force.

The remainder of the group piled their bags against the wall and collapsed into the over stuffed furniture of the living room. For a moment silence prevailed, then Brenda Teal crossed the room and gave Jesus a mighty hug followed by a rather passionate kiss. "I've really missed You, which is saying something after only meeting You once. I've thought about You everyday."

Jesus held her close. "Me, too. I hope you knew I wouldn't let them separate us no matter where they sent you."

"Alaska wasn't as bad as You might think. It was really only awful because You weren't there. We all knew what was happening, and we all knew better than to put in to try to keep this duty station. It was pretty clear that someone was getting even for something," Brenda spoke still observing the diplomacy of not naming names. "Cindy had a pretty randy time in Jakarta. On the bright side we all have Secret Service passes. They were waiting for us when we got downstairs.."

"They used the pictures they took of us before we came in last time. Thank God they didn't take them after that search." Cindy added from across the room. "I actually got briefed not to say that I had met You while I was in Indonesia. They're all Moslems."

"I'm just glad that everyone is back. None of you would have had those orders if it hadn't been for Me. Now that we're all together again, I think we should have a feast, although probably not a pizza. What do we want? Our Secret Service room service is downstairs cooling their heels. Let's get some dinner." Jesus spoke in an organizing sort of way. "Where have Juan and Nicole gone off to?"

Beatrice squawked hoarsely, "IN THE BEDROOM! OH NO! IN THE BEDROOM! OH NO!"

A quick search produced the two from a bedroom. Sergeant Brenda Teal, the ranking Marine, cautioned "Remember what we promised General Tower. Let's keep our act together, woman. Anyway, it's dinner time."

The whole group settled on roast beef, carve your own style. A day of traveling and youthful hunger eliminated everything brought to the penthouse, including desert. Afterwards, over coffee the conversation turned to planning.

"Doesn't living in a hotel get on Your nerves? Not ever being able to go outside. I can still remember the day we spent in Pennsylvania!" Mark asked.

Juan answered this question after Jesus translated for him. "Yes. I would rather live out in the open without a house or anything. At least it would be nice to have a yard. Then we could get a dog." As Jesus kept up with him, he added, "Our problem is that we can't set foot outside without an army. I really didn't think it was going to be like this when we came from Brazil."

"I did. It seemed different in Rio, but it was actually pretty much the same. The only difference was that the government and the Church were after us instead of the Fundies." Jesus allowed with a sigh.

"I think you're too rich to not get to live where You want." Maggie said. "How can You be trapped here when You have all that money? What is there about getting a yard and a dog that million dollars won't pay for?"

Again Jesus translated to Juan. The lanky Brazilian set down his coffee cup thoughtfully and said, "We are jungle bunnies! It's just like General Veemer said. We came to the United States and just nested into the first place we landed! I have to say that I really thought this is how Americans live, but it isn't! We don't have to live in a hotel. Even Beatrice would rather live somewhere else, somewhere with room to fly."

Beatrice only commented, "JUNGLE BUNNIES! JUNGLE BUNNIES!"
Now Mark Stentson spoke up. "Maybe You should consider a ranch. You're going to have to have Marines and Secret Service anyway, but on a ranch You could at least sort of get away from them."

"You have got to have enough clout to get that through the Chain of Command around here. But I think it might be pretty hard for You to go look at properties. You would have to have the full entourage with You." cautioned Peter Vasquez.

"Our lawyer, Mr. Santos could do that for us!" Jesus said calmly. "I'm sure he could pick a good one for us."

"Can You call him tomorrow?" Maggie asked.

"I can call him right now. We're his only clients." Jesus answered picking up the cell phone. "I feel better already. See, once we are surrounded by friends, good things begin to happen by themselves!"

Five rings could be attributed to the hour. It was a little past eleven in Washington. Finally, a voice answered, steady and confident. "This is Victor Santos."

"This is Jesus. Hello, Mr. Santos." Living most of one's life with no knowledge of a telephone made the instrument a little intimidating. Jesus had a habit of pausing, waiting for the other party to speak, thus the dead air.

"How can I help you, Jesus?" Santos asked.

"I want to buy a ranch with a yard and a dog and room for Beatrice to fly wherever she likes." Jesus began.

Juan quickly broke in. "Also a place to swim!"

"Also a place to swim." Jesus relayed.

"You already own one. Forty thousand acres in south central Virginia. It has good forest and a river that runs year around. The main house is a little rustic, but You can remodel after You're there if You wish." Santos answered. "We'll have to construct some housing for the Marines and the Secret Service, but we can put in temporary quarters for now. Do You want to move in there?"

"Yes. We all want to move in right away!" Jesus answered.

"I'll get everything cleaned up and repaired. It's a six bedroom house with a ten room bunkhouse. Would You like for me to purchase some horses?"

"Yes! Horses would be good! And cowboy hats! Eight of them." Jesus responded.

Mr. Santos laughed kindly over the phone. "Yes, Sir. Eight cowboy hats it will be!"

"So are we movin'?" Peter Vasquez asked. Every ear in the room awaited Jesus' answer.

"Yes. We are moving. Three days." He answered smiling.