Chapter 81

81
THE WATERGATE HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D.C.

General Tower's call was a surprise. It was not a day with a scheduled meeting. "I would like to come up for a visit if it's not inconvenient, Sir."

"Of, course. We would be glad to see you, General. We're always glad to have your company." Jesus said in His usual positive manner.

"Actually, this morning's visit deals with a matter of personal concern to me, but we can discuss it after I come up." the General's voice had an ominous tone for the first time ever in Jesus' recollection. He was at the door a few moments later.

"GENERAL TOWER! GENERAL TOWER!" Beatrice squawked as he entered the penthouse. The pot of coffee Jesus had ordered arrived seconds after the General.

"Please sit down, General. What kind of problem is causing this interruption in Our friendly relations?" asked Jesus. Juan, looking concerned, joined them, Beatrice on his shoulder.

"I have just found out about something called the Santos Investment Group's Bright Horizons Opportunity Fund. It seems that all the enlisted men in this unit have received a share of stock. I have to ask You what You are doing. This kind of thing can get all of them into trouble because of military regulations. Me, too." This brave soldier was more afraid of military regulations than facing a hostile enemy.

"Oh that. Juan and I found out that some of your Marines have children who must eat food stamps. We thought we would try to help out a little." Jesus answered innocently. "Did you know that some of your men were using welfare?"

"I guess I've read something about that in the newspaper, but You can't just give Marines money. That is a very serious affair. The government will wonder whom they serve if they are getting more than one paycheck, Sir." the General protested. "Anyway, it's illegal!"

"Oh, we didn't give it to them. We knew that would be wrong. They won it." Jesus was relieved that this matter was no more serious than this.

"Won it how?" the General asked.

"Each man won a lottery. It's just the same as winning the state lottery. There is nothing illegal about a Marine winning the state lottery is there?" Jesus asked, beginning to build His case.

"No, there is nothing wrong with buying a lottery ticket and winning the state lottery. But this wasn't the state lottery. What lottery was this?" the General demanded.

"Oh, it was a special lottery. It is quite legal. Our attorney, Mr. Santos took care of it for us. We asked him to be certain that it would be okay, you know, that no one would get into trouble. He did a good job." Jesus answered confidently. "He arranged for a panel of three federal judges along with the Navy's Judge Advocate General to review the plan. It's their opinion that it is quite legal."

"But how did they win the lottery? What is this company?" the General asked, still a bit grumpy.

"Each winner had to have four digits in the last part of his service number. It was an amazing, yet very happy coincidence that each man won. It's possible that it was a Divine Plan that things should have worked out this way, don't you agree?" Jesus was now entirely nonchalant. "The company is a small holding company that Mr. Santos threw together just for this purpose. The dividend on one share of stock should be about five hundred dollars a week. The Marines won't receive all of that because taxes will be taken from the checks before they get them in the mail."

"I would like to know the names of the Marines You spoke to while You were putting this plan together." General Tower was being a general again.

"General Tower, please consider that you were unaware of the situation of your men. Isn't such an awareness a top priority for any commanding officer?" Jesus asked, staring deeply into the General's eyes.

"Well, I guess it is. I used to be known as an enlisted man's general, someone who would look out for the men in my command. How could I have come to this? How long has it been since I even spoke to one of them?" Tower grew pensive.

"Are you pleased with your life, General?" Both men fell silent. "I shudder to think of how difficult all those memories must be for you, much less all of the enemies who fell under the influence of your professional activities. And now, even your own men?" Jesus asked pointedly.

"Sir, you are sending an old warrior into his memories. The life I chose has been dedicated to honor and service, but it is filled with tears not shed and fears hidden from the light. Everything must be held in delicate balance such that it will make sense on a given day." The General realized that he was experiencing a very unusual sensation. One that was difficult to describe.

"General, you need an interlude in your life. A time when you can remember your men downstairs, In fact, a time when you can possibly even remember yourself." Jesus said softly. "Do you think you can experience such a time of rest and peace?"

General Tower was becoming agitated, but found himself quite unable to rise and leave the penthouse. "You're going to make me laugh myself to death like Ortiz, aren't You?"

Jesus laughed cheerfully. "No, this is worse. I wish to give you a gift. I wish to give the gift of this moment when you will have no need to seek to dislodge those memories or glorify them. It is this moment that is important, General. This is the moment in which we live our lives. Perhaps this will give a brief taste of freedom from yourself. Then you will understand what you have the power to work toward in your own life."

At this point the General was clearly afraid. He sat with an ashen face on the great sofa opposite Jesus. Juan and Beatrice seemed unable to notice what was happening in the room.

Jesus went on, "If human people could understand this, or even experience it, they would begin to be true to themselves, to their own mortal lives."

General Tower's uniform jacket was stained with tears. Wordlessly, he looked down at the evidence of his own crying, then up again into the warm and friendly face of Jesus.

"Pay attention, General. This is freedom!" Jesus spoke softly.

"Then, these are truly tears of joy?" the General asked.

A sweet breeze -- only a small one -- seemed to drift through the room. Jesus made a simple nod. It seemed to have all the power of the universe behind it.