The Rangers Are Coming (59 page)

              “The Rangers!” exclaimed the Sultan, “that’s the best military force in the world.

              Here are some other reasons to pull out of the Balkans.  As you do so, you make sovereign nations of Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia, Dalmatia, and Montenegro.  You make a lasting peace with Greece, by giving them Thrace, Albania, and most of the islands of the Aegean Sea.  You give independence to Cyprus.  If you do this before the Europeans have a chance to rush in and take over these countries themselves, they will then find themselves threatening other nations.  If we admit these countries to the United Nations, then that adds more security.  We pull the fuse out of the coming World War in Europe, and continue to share all our technology with all, as long as they don’t violate the charter of the United Nations.  America continues to be the big neutral country it is, and everyone wins.”

              “I’m sure there are unknown problems to what appears to be a perfectly brilliant proposal, but, at the moment, I can’t see what it is, “said the Sultan.

              “Then let me continue to be the neutral, fair broker we are, and tell you what the biggest problem, socially, you are going to have.”

              “I’ll be glad to hear that,” said Abdul.

              “We know you are planning on giving up Sharia Law in favor of Secular Law.”

              “Absolutely, religious law is not compatible to the way most of us live,” said Abdul.

              “You need to read the entire charter of the United Nations.  Among the rights it guarantees is equality for all people, which mean, no slaves and the voting franchise for women.”

              “I would imagine the Europeans are having a lot of trouble with that,” said Abdul.  “For us it may be less of an issue, than you might think.  The women of the Harem are very active in politics.  Making it official is not such a big step.”

              “As a good trader,” said Carter, “this is the time when you ask for the sale.  Will you approve this proposal?”

              “How much money for your land along the Mediterranean,” asked Abdul?

              “How about $10 million in gold?”

              “This is valuable land and seems to be critical to your planning.  We will need at least $20 million.”

              “Will you split the difference and accept $15 million?”

    51

Europe to America

When the videos started playing in the great capitals of Europe, the people poured in to see it.  One the same day, 100,000 men and all of their heavy equipment came off the big, waiting cargo ships in European ports, and went to work like possessed men.

              The first thing they built were more air strips in England, west of London, in Hungary, outside of Budapest, and in Germany, north of Munich.  This made the commute to an airplane departure point a lot more convenient.  The engineers and contractors then turned their attention building a starter steel mill in each country, and pre-assembled power plants.  They also built the beginning of modern rail transportation, and a small network of roads around the big cities.  Nothing was finished, except the landing strips, but the people turned out by the tens of thousands to watch the work.  The Americans hired many thousands of new workers and put them to helping.  They had no skills, but they were eager and the Americans paid well in silver coins.

              When the time came for the delegates to the new United Nations to come to America, almost all the same people came to the landing strips as before, but there were many new additions.  This time Franz-Joseph decided to come.  Particularly since Victoria was already in America.  Wilhelm of Germany gathered Bismarck and his family.  The Greek Monarch came.  All the heads of state of Norway and the other Scandinavian counties came.  This time it took three planes to bring the group.  They were not all full, but the size of the delegations had grown from 320 to well over 700.  The people, who’d made the flight before settled in, fastened their seat belts, and relaxed, which made it much easier on those for whom this was a new experience.

              Still, the thunderous take off made all catch their breaths and put their noses to the windows to see the earth falling away.

              Eight hours later, the planes came skimming over Washington, doing two passes to let both sides of the plane see the gleaming city of Washington, before landing one after another at the airport.

              William, Charlene, and Henry Gladstone looked anxiously for their son.  They spotted him standing next to Cary, and rushed forward for a happy reunion.  “Have you actually grown, Herbert?” said his mother. 

              “I’ve been working out with Cary,” said Herbert, “so I’ve gained a few pounds of muscle.”

              The routine for gathering luggage, getting the guides assigned to the new people, and giving them their badges went smoothly, even though there were twice as many buses.

              They made the grand circle of Washington getting to the Resort and the Gladstone’s got their old rooms back.

              “Where’s the Queen,” asked the Prime Minister?

              “The last I heard, she’ll be in on the afternoon train.  She’s been out west visiting Yellowstone.”

              “Really!” said Gladstone, “I would not have thought her up to such a trip.”

              “A word of advice, Prime Minister,” said Cary, “Don’t offer to wrestle Victoria two falls out of three.  You’d lose.  We’re very proud of your Queen.  She’s in the picture of health and having the time of her life.  Very nice lady.”

              “She comes sometimes to watch Cary and I practice,” said Herbert.  “She laughs when I get splattered, which is every time.”

              “How’s the video running in London,” asked Herbert?

              “Jam packed audiences around the clock,” said Gladstone.  Everyone is anxious to start having all the things on the video, but, of course, that takes time.  Nobody is complaining about how hard the Americans are working, however, and they have hired ten thousand Brits to work with them.  A few of them can keep up.”

              That night was the first dinner of the bigger group.  It was cafeteria style.  The crowd was excited.  The returnees were happy to be back and have all the luxuries.  The new people were overwhelmed with the luxuries.  Seeing them on a video was a poor substitute for the real thing.  The crowd was in a jovial mood.  Even Bismarck had softened a little, and chatted pleasantly to the others at his table.

              A big hit of the evening was the entry of Queen Victoria.  She was actually wearing blue jeans, a sort of light shirt, and baseball cap.  She shrugged her shoulders and said, “I would have changed, but the train just got to Union Station.  I’ve been traveling to see more of this wonderful country.  No matter what you see while you’re here, just know that it’s the very tip of the iceberg.  America is the most modern country in the world, and is capable of doing anything.  After all, if you can send men to land on the moon, it just tells you that unbelievable things are coming to the members of the United Nations, of which Great Britain is proud to be a part.”

              President Gallagher came to the stage as the meal was ending.  He welcomed all the newcomers and greeted the returnees warmly.

              “As you know the opening session of the United Nations is the reason we are here.  For the observer nations, this will be your chance to watch as we wrestle with the problems of peacekeeping in the halls of diplomacy.  We consider this infinitely better than wasting the lives of your sons in a series of never-ending wars and tension.  The members of the United Nations have pledged not to engage in any hostile action with any other member, but to bring grievances and disputes to Washington for resolution, or in the case of a lack of agreement to accept the arbitration of the United States, as a fair and neutral broker.  You also know we’re keeping our word of bringing the many improvements to your countries as a part of this United Nations charter.  We now have over 100,000 men, engineers, and contractors in all your countries, working to establish the infrastructure for a better quality of life for all.”

              “For your information, we’d already been working on a new headquarters of the United Nations, even before your last visit.  I’m happy to announce this is now complete and we will have our first session there beginning on Thursday morning.  Please have your prepared matters of discussion turned in to my vice president Tony Carter before then.”

              “In the meantime, we have a few days to let the newcomers see some of the very things that are being built in member’s countries right now.  Tomorrow we will be travelling to one of our industrial sites to view what a complete complex looks like.  We also want you to enjoy Washington, so that will be a tour we schedule as well.”

              “One last item of business, in our initial organizational meeting, the delegates voted to extend the voting rights to all persons over the age of 21.  I certainly hope you women have been doing your homework and getting educated on international politics and economics.”  With that, a large number of women stood up and cheered.  Otto von Bismarck looked disgusted.  Wilhelm pretended not to notice.

              “Excellent,” said Gallagher.  “I’m sure you’ll make a valuable addition to our discussions.  Now before I stand aside and turn it over to the band, I am happy to introduce formally the vice president of the United States and my successor.  I’ve served this country for 30 years.  Tony Carter has served as my deputy for many years and is more than qualified to take over.  He will be active in the debates this session.”  Carter, came to the stage, and bowed and waved.  He received a healthy round of applause.

              “Time to relax and enjoy yourselves,” said Gallagher.  “See you in the morning.  The buses will pull out at 9 AM.”

              Herbert brought along Andrea Marie and her parents to the dinner, and they were the first couple on the dance floor.  Gladstone thought they made a handsome couple.

              The next morning, after a delicious breakfast, the big group got on buses.  The smaller children and young people were excused from the work trip and were separated to spend a day at the National Zoo, and the new amusement park.

              The convoy of buses pulled out and sped south toward Three Rivers.  The visit was a repeat of the first time.  They saw the huge steel mill, the power plants, the oil fields, and a tour of some of the assembly and construction buildings in a wheel around the mill.  One of the assembly plants was building heavy machinery to be used for putting down asphalt paving.  There were ten of these machines in progress and as they walked along, they could see them in more and more completed condition.  Outside a fleet of 20 machines was lined up in a huge yard and being prepared for transfer to the cargo ships for their journey to Europe.  All the Europeans, new and old, just shook their heads at the amazing ingenuity of the work.

              Part of the next day was devoted to seeing Washington.  It was a beautiful city and the big group was broken into smaller groups to tour the Capitol, The White House, the Washington monument, and the Arcadia memorial.  They also saw the National Museum and the Archives where the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution was housed.

              The afternoon was open and all the women descended on the big Emporium and its companion exclusive shops with their magic badges.  They wondered back to the resort and many of them tried the swimming pool or at least sat in the hot tub.

              During the day President Gallagher, Vice-President Carter, and Arcadia were in Georgetown putting the finishing touches on their two year plan, Carter had negotiated with the soon to be, former Ottoman Empire, and the new country of Turkey.

              Carter had made several trips to Constantinople to consult and negotiate with other decision makers in the Empire.  A good many of them were brought to America to see what they were going to get.  An ever growing flood of goods, products, technology, and advanced medicine was flowing into the capital and people were getting very used to having electricity, indoor plumbing and especially air-conditioning.  Every shipload made the original deal Carter had struck with Abdul Hamid I more secure.  The now much healthier Sultan was regarded as a modern hero.

              Super-secret deals were made with all the new countries, which would emerge from the stunning announcement planned for the session of the United Nations, by the Ottomans.  Small, but effective governments had been formed.  These included Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Cyprus, Syria, and Kurdistan.  Croatia and Dalmatia had decided to join as one country with the name Croatia.  The Greeks give up claims on Cyprus in return for the territory of Albania, and a number of disputed Aegean Islands.  All ten new countries had delegations in Washington, ready for the UN assembly.  Greece was already a member, and was ready to support the Ottoman proposal.  The Ottomans were also present with a delegation representing the new country of Turkey with its proposed boundaries.  All the delegations were told, in no uncertain terms, that unless this secret agreement stayed secret, the United States would withhold large portions of trade.