COURTING A COURT MARSHALL

 

COURTINGCOURT MARSHAL

‘They areangry because the truth you speak contradicts the lie they live.’

- Sentient

 

A terriblelurching sensation swept through me. Everything was still obscured with swirlsof dancing coppery snowflakes. Yet, I had the disturbing sensation of walkingon legs that I didn’t control or even fully feel. This continually waking up blindwas downright frightening.

How farinto the future had Sentient taken me this time … and to what crisis to which Ihad no clue how to handle?

‘Hush! I havesaved your life countless times and you whine about going into the unknown? Youare a thankless child … though I do admit that this time my inability to mesh efficientlywith human flaws and  foibles may haveled you to a firing squad.’

‘Again?’

‘Which iswhy I am now yielding full control of your body back to you. At least you are human… more or less. Perhaps you can Ulysses your way out of this presentpredicament.’

‘Thereare no words that can adequately express my gratitude.’

‘Sarcasmis the resort of little minds. Now, if I cede control back to you, will youstumble?’

‘Metaphoricallyor physically? ‘Cause the answer to both questions is yes.’

‘Dolt!’

‘I likeit when you talk dirty to me.’

‘Mūrkha!’

‘What?’

‘It isSanskrit for” an unlearned; foolish, stupid human” efficiently encapsulated inone word.’

‘Oh, I knewthat.’

Iflinched as it seemed an ice pick dived deep into my brain. ‘Now, you do …along with the rest of the Sanskrit language.’

I stiffenedas the world blossomed around me like the lights coming back on in a dark movietheater.

Footstepsechoed hollowly all around me. I was walking down a long corridor, drearilypainted in gray. Even the marble underfoot was gray.  Obviously, the architect had been in the Armyor in some military branch.

OfficerHansan was heel-stepping in anger in front of me. Sgt. Savalas walked besideme. Someone unused to stealth was trying to walk up unnoticed behind me. Fat chance.St. Marok’s taught me early to not let that happen.

Sgt.Savalas was speaking low, “Rick ….”

When hadhe started calling me ‘Rick?’ But then, Sentient had been in full control for sometime now. All sorts of merriment had come and gone probably … for which I wasnow about to be called upon to pay the tab.

“Rick,are you ever going to forgive me for what I said out in the channel?”

“What areyou going on about?” I whispered.

“You’rehuman again!”

Rememberingwhat Sentient had just told me, I said “More or less.”

“Man, you’vebeen so cold … like some robot. I figured that you washed your hands of me, thatyou would never forgive me.”

“Forgive?Friends don’t forgive. We overlook.”

Hansanspun around having fully lost it. “Would you two stop whispering like lovers! Officersdo not fraternize with the enlisted troops under them.”

A flurryof steamy images that I would have a hard time unseeing filled my mind, and notfor the last time, Sentient broke her word and took back control, and Not-Mespoke.

“Tellthat to Eisenhower. Though of course, his driver, Kay Summersby is a captain.Once a model I believe.”

Hansantotally lost it. lunging and seizing me by the front of my blouse. “You takeback that filthy inuendo!”

He yelpedin shock and sprang away from me. I watched in amazement as his left blouse pocketbulged out as quite a bit of something filled it. Hansan plucked printed pagesand one photo from it.

“BloodyHell!” came from behind  me as I supposedthe inept creeper got the same treatment.

The photoand pages dropped from Hansan’s fingers to flutter to the marble floor.Sentient turned to Sgt. Savalas in an uncharacteristic display of consideration.

“No doubtyou are wondering what those pages and photo are, Sergeant-Major. One is apersonal letter from General Eisenhower to General of the Army George C.Marshall, saying that he wanted to return from Europe to the United States toget a divorce from his wife, Mamie, and marry Miss Summersby.”

Hansenbacked slowly away from me as if I were contagious with some foul disease asSentient continued through me, “The other page is the response from GeneralMarshall who threatened to run General Eisenhower "out of the Army"and prevent him from ever drawing a peaceful breath."

Ishivered as control of my body was restored after Sentient had made a fine messof things.

Sgt. Savalascroaked, “And the photo?”

“GoodGod, man!” came from the person behind me. “Don’t tell him.”

I shookmy head. “I know Sanskrit, Sergeant, and even so, words fail me. Just use yourimagination.”

I was roughlyspun around. Oh, why the hell not? Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st ViscountMontgomery of Alamein.

I forceda smile. “Love the beret.”

Hiseyebrow shot up, and I added, “General.”

He flungphoto and letters to the floor. “What is this bum fodder? Captain Summersby isno Officer’s Mattress. How the bloody hell did you do this?”

“It’s akind of magic, General.”

He noddedso hard that the black beret almost slipped off. “I read Cloverfield’s report. Somekind of voodoo, is it?”

“You’renot that lucky, sir. Voodoo depends on belief. This kind doesn’t care if you believeor not. Reality is like that.”

Hestabbed a long forefinger at the door some paces ahead. I noted with dryamusement that Hansan was just going through it.

“If you showthis … filth to the generals in there, you ….”

“Whatfilth, general? I see none.”

Montgomerylooked down at the marble tiles. His face went tight. The pages and photo weregone … even the ones Hansan threw on the tiles. He grew pale.

“I cleanup after myself, General.”

Montgomeryhusked, “I am considered somewhat unorthodox among those inside. But even so,if you pull your ‘kind of magic’ with the men waiting for you in there, Ipromise you that you will be shot.”

I forceda calm I didn’t feel. “How exciting.”

I turnedto a very pale Sgt. Savalas. “Don’t worry, Theo. You’ll find generals behave justlike Boy Scouts …but without the adult supervision.”

Montgomeryshoved past us and huffed his way to the door and followed Hansan to where thegreat and mighty awaited us. I smiled drily. I failed to ask Sentient what theywanted from me.

‘I addedto those samples you took a detailed report on their suitability for sustainingthe weight of tanks and transports. Those reports were more accurate than thosesupplied by their so-called experts. The generals in charge of Overlord wish toknow how you could do that ‘on the run’ as it were. I believe your mantra of “It’sa kind of magic” will not suffice.’

As thesergeant and I walked through the door, he looked first at Montgomery andHansen talking to an increasingly angrier Bradley, then up at me. “Our goose isfully and truly cooked.”

I lookedat an angry Montgomery filling in General Bradley and felt a little sad. I hadliked the man though he had earned his reputation of being unbeatable and unbearable.

What had Iread he once said?

“Thefrightful casualties appall me. The so-called ‘good fighting generals’ of thiswar appear to me to be those who have a complete disregard for human life.”

Besides,he named his fox terrier “Hitler.”

 

“The moreknowledge, the less ego. The less knowledge, the more ego.”

– AlbertEinstein