Chapter 36

36
GOVERNMENT HOUSE, RIO DE JANEIRO

Beatrice brought a nice lunch of soup and sandwiches out to the pool, inquiring before her approach about their state of dress. "How did things go with the Minister of the Interior? What did he want anyway?"

"The President wants to control all of Jesus' money and direct everything He says in exchange for helping us. Minister Rimmer is not a very good crook or a very good liar. I can hardly imagine what he might mean by 'helping' us." Juan offered as an account of what had happened.

"We had fun tricking them, but these are powerful people, and I am concerned about their intentions. At least they think we are complete savages now. Perhaps that will throw them off balance a little." He smiled at Beatrice, "You know we aren't really all that savage. We are still having trouble with a lot of things in this world, but we're learning fast."

Beatrice smiled back in a caring motherly way. "Yes. I think You are learning fast."

Jesus broke in, holding a business card. "This is the name of our attorney, Victor Santos. We need to talk to him."

"It's time for You to learn to use the telephone. Here, now watch how I do it. It's very simple really." She held up the card, pointing at the number. "Just press the buttons in the same order as they appear on the card. Speak in here and listen up here. You can have a conversation just as if the other party were in this room with You."

Jesus placed the call, then waited. "A man told Me that no calls were allowed in or out of the Government House due to security precautions and to try My call later. Do you know how much later he means, Beatrice?"

"This is bad. I think events may be coming sooner than we planned. You two stay here and wait for me to return. There may still be a way." The woman left the room hurriedly, taking care to close the door firmly behind her. From the other side of the door she called back, "Now lock the door. Don't let anyone in but me."

At that moment General Rudolfo Ortiz, Commander of the State Security Forces, was approaching the mansion with two trucks filled with State Security troops. The President had just called, again.

"General, I just talked to Rimmer. He's got a tape of Jesus Robeles admitting, more or less, that He needs counseling to get over the island and to learn to fit into civilization. I think we can commit Him for his own safety on the basis of that -- Votri and Kastner are witnesses. We can count on them." The voice on the other end of the call droned on. "Whatever we do, we need to get it done fast. I've got a Judge ready to start our commitment hearing whenever we get there."

"I'm about twenty-minutes from the mansion right now. I have enough troops with me to secure the place against 'threats' and seal it off. I have already started routing all telephone service to my base switchboard. No calls are getting in or out, Mr. President." General Ortiz reported.

"Good. Good. We're ready to leak the press release. If we can't get Him to cooperate, we'll use the stock story that the guy is crazy from being on the island. The government has had to step in to protect Him, place Him in protective custody in a top-notch mental hospital along with all the other people who think they're Napoleon. We're going to say we had to move fast because some lawyer was trying to steal His inheritance. It'll work."

"Mr. President, have your people got anything on the name of the lawyer? If I had a name it would help. I'll arrest that son-of-a-bitch in a heartbeat. I don't care where he is."

"The name is Santos, and as far as we can tell he is sitting on a yacht off Ponta Do Arpoador. The ship moved out of Guanabara Bay last night and I don't think it was headed for a holiday in Copacabana. This lawyer's got some juice, General. You be careful of him. For your information, that ship is an ocean-ready two hundred footer with a chopper. They are ready to move our Man to international water if they get a chance."

"Sir, I plan to remove all the Interior Ministry security people and replace them with my own troops. I'm almost certain that Rimmer's got leaks in his organization. I agree with your assessment of Santos. I am certain that he has sources in the House."

"Count on that, General. My own people are sure Santos is getting information from operatives here, too. Get this done as quickly as possible, and keep me informed on this secure line."

Victor Santos adjusted his tie after he removed the headset. "One would think that the President would have taken greater care with his communications on such a politically delicate situation." He turned to the man seated across the helicopter's passenger compartment as he reached for his coffee. "Have you arranged for the rest of our people to meet us?" Peering out the window of the chopper he could see the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro moving by rapidly below.

"They will be right on time. We should all land at the same time -- about three minutes." answered his aide. The man returned to his conversation via head set.



After a few moments, Beatrice knocked at the door to the room. Jesus answered. She entered with a burlap bag, asking "Why didn't You lock the door as I asked?"

"We examined the door carefully, but neither of us had any idea what you were talking about when you asked us to do that. Everything turned out alright, though. The door is still here." Jesus answered sincerely.

"I have brought a special telephone which will be able to call Mr. Santos. Here, let me dial it for You." As she fumbled in the bag for the cell phone, a loaded MAC-10 and extra clips rolled out onto the table. "Don't be too concerned about the gun. Mr. Santos only insisted that we have that in the event we needed a little more time."

The call connected. "This is Jesus Robeles. I am calling to talk to Mr. Victor Santos. Is he there?" The device was clearly a little intimidating.

"Well good morning, Sir. This is Victor Santos and I am so very pleased to finally have a chance to speak with You."

"Will you help us with the agreement from the Interior Minister?"

"Don't worry too much about that agreement. In fact, I am on my way there right now. I am bringing some of Your people with me along with some other friends."

"Are you coming here? To the Government House?"

"Yes, Jesus. My chopper will be landing in just about a minute. Until then, though, I want to ask You and Juan to stay with Beatrice. She works for You and she is a very capable lady. This is very important. Please just stay with her and do as she asks."

As He finished the call, helicopters began landing all around the building. Armed men disembarked, rushing away from them in every direction. Just as suddenly, the helicopters were gone again, and the men seemed to have disappeared completely. Jesus and Juan watched in fascination from their balcony.

Beatrice now called them back into the house. "Get down low for me, will you?"

As his helicopter landed, Victor Santos could hear the rumble of the troop transports of General Ortiz's convoy. Two trucks filled with State Security troops was about what he had expected. He ushered the judge and clerk into the house quickly and sent the special troops he had brought directly to the room where Beatrice, Jesus and Juan waited.

Santos himself stood on the great front portico and continued to sip his coffee from a fine china cup and saucer.

Acting in the character of State Security, that is, in the character of this particular force or any other of a myriad of organizations like it from around the world, Ortiz and his troops could not resist the opportunity for a dramatic arrival. They drove their trucks onto the lawn creating deep gouges of mud and torn grass which would remain long after this affair was ended. Beatrice, watching from the balcony, clucked her tongue in a timeless and universal matriarchal disapproval.

Santos' people were good. Before the truck engines had fallen silent six of them with heavy rocket launchers stepped out of the bushes and took aim. Two dozen men with assault rifles filled in between the rocket launchers. Ortiz's soldiers complied with the order to toss all weapons, including knives out of the back of the trucks.

They were ordered to leave.

General Ortiz refused to exit his limo. With all weapons trained on the staff car, Mr. Santos strolled up to the General's open window. "Good afternoon, General Ortiz. I'm sorry to have interrupted your dirty business here. Perhaps you would care to join me inside. The trial is about to begin. Perhaps you will wish to represent the President's claim that my client is not mentally competent.?"

Ortiz, not being one to be bluffed, answered gruffly. "You are under arrest. You can't just appear here with armed men to take things into your own hands. I am under the direct order of the President."

"Actually, you are the one who has appeared here illegally with armed men. All these people you see are officers of the court, securing a calm and beneficial environment for the prosecution of justice, not that you would care much about that. It's all quite legal. Perhaps someday, when you run out of bullets, you will consider reading the statutory code you are always so willing to overlook." He continued. "Do come in. The competency hearing won't take but a moment, and I really would like for you to witness it."

The same sitting room had been transformed into a sort of court with the addition of a line of dining room chairs. The judge's bench was an overstuffed wing back set a little ways in front of the others. Jesus, Juan and Beatrice comprised Plaintiff and witnesses. General Ortiz represented the interests of the Brazilian Government. A video camera operated by one of Victor Santos' men recorded everything. The judge's black robe added credibility to the scene. The clerk quickly held up a Bible for swearing testimony.

"Do all parties to this hearing swear to tell the truth, so help you God?" the clerk rattled off rapidly. All agreed.

"I present my client, Plaintiff Jesus Robeles, who appears here to pray for relief from all attempts, both pending and anticipated, to establish His incompetence to manage and direct His personal affairs for any reason existing on this date." Victor Santos' voice was soft, yet direct. The effect was almost hypnotic.

The Judge leaned forward. "Jesus Robeles, has there ever been a time prior to this when a court with jurisdiction has found You to be incompetent or impaired mentally such that You were unable to manage Your personal affairs in a manner commensurate with other reasonable men?"

"No." Jesus answered simply.

The judge continued. "Are You now or have You ever been under the care of a medical doctor for any condition which might make You unable to manage Your own affairs?"

Jesus repeated His previous answer.

"Finally, because there is no medical opinion relevant to Your case in this hearing, the law requires a simple majority of three witnesses attesting to Your competence. Do You object to any witness present to testify in this matter?"

"I am not certain that General Ortiz really knows Me very well, but I am sure he is a fair minded man. I don't object to any of them, Sir."

"Juan Gemarro, in your long association with Jesus Robeles have you ever seen Him act in a manner suggesting that He was incompetent or mentally impaired?"

"No." Juan answered.

"Beatrice Fluez, during the time you have known Jesus Robeles have you ever seen Him act in a manner suggesting that He was incompetent or mentally impaired?"

"No, your honor." Answered Beatrice.

"Does anyone here speak against the granting of this relief injunction?" The judge was moving at top speed. but he was clearly avoiding eye contact with the General. Both the judge and the clerk were openly afraid of the military man.

General Ortiz stood and began to speak. "Your honor, this man, Jesus Robeles, is incompetent. This man believes He is Jesus Christ. He needs to be under care until His mental condition stabilizes. You would not allow a delusional man who believes He is Jesus Christ to wander the streets, especially when He is very wealthy. Such a vulnerable person will attract all sorts of unsavory characters with designs to take advantage of Him." still glaring at Santos, the General continued. "It is the position of the Government that. . . "

The judge interrupted his testimony. "General I saw two truckloads of armed State Security soldiers shortly after my arrival here. I think we all know what the, er, position of the government is."

"The Relief Injunction is granted. Anticipating this outcome of this hearing, I took the liberty of preparing the court order prior to my departure." The judge signed the injunction with an oversized fountain pen. The clerk immediately sealed the signature and handed the paper to Mr. Santos. "This hearing of the Federal Court is adjourned. Mr. Jesus Robeles, I have injoined any attempt to place You in any sort of custodial relation against Your wishes."

Santos stood up, placing the court order in his brief case. "Thank you, your honor. Now. Everyone outside. The choppers are here, and I suspect that this goon's troops are on their way back by now. Jesus, Juan, please come with me. Beatrice. Good work. Be certain that you hitch a ride out of here to safety. Take a rest and then report to your section chief."

Ortiz was on fire. "Santos, I'll never let you get away with this and you know it. Did you think you could make an armed threat against State Security forces on official business and then just forget it?"

"General, you should be on your knees saying a prayer of gratitude that you were facing my people. We only shoot bullets. If we hadn't been here in time, you and your men would have been facing the wrath of Jesus. Go back and tell the President to leave us alone. I have a video tape of more than the trial. I swear I'll put it all on El Globo. I'll let everyone in Brazil see you and your troops fall apart in front of Jesus' unarmed lawyer. I'll even throw in a tape of your telephone conversation with the President from your car on the way in here. The people of Brazil will be interested on how their government tried to sneak up on Jesus, take His money and lock Him up. Your buddy the President might not like that very much. It's death for elections!"

"That's extortion, Santos. I can convict you of that, and I may do it, too." General Ortiz threatened with a certain air of desperation in his voice.

"Leave us alone, Ortiz. You leave us alone, and tell Rimmer to leave us alone and tell the President to leave us alone. I think I've said everything I had on my mind." Santos turned away from the soldier and walked toward the last helicopter. Jesus and Juan were already on board.

As the helicopter lifted away, Jesus could see the general walking toward the pile of rifles laying on the lawn. Just before he was out of sight in the distance, he threw his hat on the ground and kicked it.

Jesus looked at his lawyer. "Mr. Santos, what is my wrath?"

The attorney gave a deep, good natured laugh. "I have no idea, Sir. I have no idea at all." Then he continued to chuckle. The laughter was infectious and cathartic. Jesus and Juan also began a hearty laugh. Spirits were high. The journey from Paraneho had finally brought them behind friendly lines.

After the helicopter had passed some ways over the ocean, a sizable yacht appeared not far ahead. Peering from his window Jesus asked. "Whose beautiful ship is that?"

"Its Yours, of course." Santos responded. "Let me welcome both of You to the Resurrection."

Within a few moments they were disembarking onto the heliport of the private yacht. The orange skies of sunset lit the bay as the city lights of Rio de Janeiro began to twinkle in the distance.