Story Grace, Mercy and Blessings

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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#756

Mark sat down next to Clora and stared at Woody; waiting for the man to break the silence.

Woody cleared his throat and pushed the badge toward Mark. "I need your help." he began slowly. "The oil embargo starts tonight; and I'm not able to talk or convince the prince to talk to me. He has said he will only talk to you; and I made it a condition; that you would be allowed to resume being a Marshal. There are some very foolish people in out government; to choose such a hill to die on."

Mark took a drink of coffee and didn't speak.

Woody had a moment of concern. Mark didn't look all that interested in putting himself back in the hot seat. "What are the conditions?" he finally said.

"You have my word and the permission of the President to calm this misunderstanding with the Prince, sell him the dammable ground with the cave, and stop the oil embargo." Woody was frank and all business. "Do you think you can get it done?"

"I don't know?" Mark said honestly. "The prince is a proud man that has been insulted before the world. That usually doesn't end well for a lot of people. I guess my first question is; who made the decision to withhold the property and are they still in charge?"

"A certain general that has been removed and retired," Woody answered.

"Ok, second question. If I go into this, is some fool going to flex their muscles and stop the deal halfway? It's like this Woody; if I put my neck on the line and get negotiations started and going well, if someone shuts down the deal, we have lost big time. The prince will never trust me again, and if I get hauled before some congressional committee; he will consider that the same as a declaration of war."

Clora noted that Woody rubbed the back of his neck.

"Why would he consider that war?" Woody frowned in curiosity.

"Because I'm going to set it up that way. That's protection for me; I'm not going to go through another assassination attempt." Mark was playing hard ball.

"I'm not sure I have any credibility with the prince, we would just have to try. Ok, third question. I want the property put back in my name; so I'm dealing one on one with the prince. I'm going to sell him all the property. No more firing range controlled by the government. No land going to greedy developers. Just a land sale between me and the prince." Mark was in total control.

"I was afraid you were going to be difficult." Woody muttered.

"Can you blame me?" Mark snapped. "We have been pretty damm shabbily treated by the Marshall's service, the government and a couple of agencies I won't name." Mark had to get up and stomp up and down the kitchen.

"I value my good name and I do not intend to be discredited again."
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#757
"Hey, wait a minute," Woody sputtered, "the service is much different now. I'm not bragging, but I do run a tight ship. The lax excesses of yesteryear are gone for good.
As for your demands, I can guarantee the paper work back in your name, it's already being processed as we speak. It will be delivered by courier this afternoon. As for the general, he was the main objector, and he has been retired. The only thing I cannot guarantee is the congressional hearing. That is unpredictable at best, and dangerous un the least. You have my protection and that of the president; for what it's worth."

Woody looked old and stressed. He closed his eyes and rubbed his face.

Clora touched Mark on the arm and said a few low words.

"Let me try the prince right now; he will either say yes or no." Mark opened the screen and scrolled down a list of numbers. He hit dial, and listened to the voice that answered. Speaking in Farsi, Mark identified himself and asked for an audience with the prince.

The voice ordered him to wait, and Mark sat back down.

"What language are you speaking ?" Woody asked, almost impressed that Mark had such an important man on speed dial. No one else had been able to directly contact the prince, and here this man just pressed a button.

"I speak Farsi, enough to speak with the prince, he is multi-lingual, and understands English very well." The voice interrupted Mark.

"American, the prince sends greetings. He is most curious to know why you seek an audience,"

"I wish to speak to him about the land transaction, preferably out at the old retreat." Mark replied in English, as the secretary spoke in English.

"A moment please," and the line went silent. The man was back in a few moments.

"The prince will have time to see you at 5pm. your time, he asked if this concerns the sale."

"I have ownership and am willing to sell, if he is still interested after the shameful way our government has responded." Honesty was the only way he could conduct business.

There was silence on the other end, and then the secretary spoke. "It is agreed, his highness will be there."

Mark replied in Farsi, "I am in the prince's debt, I will be there."

The line went dead. "We will meet in the late afternoon," he told Woody." There won't be anyone else there but Clora and myself. There had better not be any snooping, drones, eavesdropping or self important toadies hoping to get in on glory."

Woody grimaced, he had really hoped he could attend, just to be able to give the all important assessment report to the president.

"Woody," Clora addressed the man who was her son-in-law, not Mark's boss. "We need you to tell us what is happening with Tess."

Now it was time for Woody to squirm. He didn't know how to tell then the not so good news.
 
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PacNorWest

Veteran Member
#758

"Clora, may I call you Clora?" Woody was respectful, serious and concerned about his information.

"That's fine," Clora replied, "Woody, we know Tess is having trouble with a past ftiend, and how to explain something we can't explain. You understand Tess and I have ESP, and we can't explain . We can tell you, and you can determine yourself how it fits into life as we know it today. Sit down, "

It took three hours to tell the story. To his credit, Woody listened with out laughing, or any 'I don't believe that' comments.

Mark listened, added information when necessary and observed Woody carefully..

"That is what Tess was trying to tell me; but I simply couldn't get the jist of it, she was trying so much. Evidently this Wyatt person had threatened to kill both of you, unless Tess cooperated. He also included the boys in his threat. We are close to pin pointing his calling location, and I have a special team ready to bring him in."

Mark nodded his acceptance of the situation, getting up to refill the coffee cups.

Woody's phone had been buzzing, and he discretely muted the incoming calls. When there was a break, he activated the list and listened. Most of the calls, he texted answers, except the last call he answered. "Yes Sir, the prince has been contacted and has agreed to meet at 1700 hours. No Sir, I am not invited, No Sir, I'm not going to insist; it wasn't easy to get the prince to agree, except it be aprivate meeting." Woody did a few more yes Sirs and another no sir.

Clora looked at Mark while Woody was busy, and Mark shook his head no. They qould be the only two to meet with the prince.
 
Texican

Texican

Live Free & Die Free.... God Freedom Country....
Pac,

My DW had shingles in her left eye years ago and has undergone injections every 3 months in her eye to stop the swelling and improve her sight which the shots have helped. The DW also had the shingles vaccine once the main shingles infection was cured.

Find an excellent eye doc that is experienced with shingles in the eyes.

Texican....
 
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