197 Ezine 197

CASA JUILLET
Ezine 197 EXCELLERE


By Alfredo Juillet Frascara. Chile.
English.
February. …2018
                                                       

Science Fiction Tale written by Alfredo Juillet Frascara.

Saga Kenate comprises 16 books.
Written by Alfredo Juillet Frascara.
From 2015 to 2017.-.

# Title Year C.E. Pages Language

1.- Woge Inhibeo 5.686 493 English
2.- Segnen Fidicen 5.687   98 Castellan
3.- Loral Duver 5.689   99 English
4.- Fatifer Perpugnax 5.701   67 English
5.- Pocher Gerant 5.710 105 English
6.- Adipalis Praefoco 5.715 191 English
7.- King Millonavon 5.738 "
8.- Klahay 5.852 "
9.- Chrego 5.867 "
10.- Dimotus 5.880 "
11.- Roldán 5.906 Castellano
12.- Arborio 5.937 English
13.- Hefe Lowe. 5.959 "
14.- Zulage Prolet 5.999 "
15.- Lorfan 6.120 "
16.- Professor Shulz 6.125 “

0000000000000

“Adipalis Praefoco”.-
14 DECEMBER 2015.Monday. Chile.
Typing time: 30 October 2017 to:
Number of pages: 191

Epoch: Year 5.715.

Cast of Characters.
Adipalis Praefoco
Wilber, owner of Wilber Associated (Lawyers).
Manager Forgon Rungar, lawyer “B3 Associates”
Lawyer. Gorfodenko, Assistant Nugacitas.
Dugal: Lawyer.
Dumus: Cousin to Adipalis. Derfra: Dumus fiancée.
Falinga: Adipalis girlfriend.
Aringa: Secretary of Director Rungar.
Clonotengo, lawyer.
Doctor Rutogorgo, inventor.
Armaron, male, transient Tignuma lover.
Mr. Globen, Director and President of the National Communal Party (N.C.P.)
Treasurer: Mr. Borojuil.
Minister of Health Mr. Zuñica, Minister of Public Works Mr. Voiture, Minister of Interior and Public Security: Mr. Segel, Minister of National Defense: Mr. Abwesend, Minister of Finances: Mr. Treasurer Mr. Borojuil, Minister of Education Mr. Vorurteil, Minister of Health: Mr. Zuñiga, Minister of Agriculture and Mines Mr. Figelein, Minister of Energy Mr. Obervoll, Minister of National Women Service Miss Tignuma.
General Director of the Army Forces: General Pinorto.
Ruler of Ashar city: Gorfiri Perrigot.
Steamship Captain: Rufus.
Steamship Captain: Mampidu.
First officer Vorweg, Machinist Mr. Kiefer, Second machinist Mr. Eitwaig, Gunner Mr. Monch, Lieutenant Mr. Keuchan, Sergeant Mr. Gasse, Helmsman Mr. Steuer, and Plotter of Courses: Vorher, Chief of Boats Mr. Nikerur, Farmer: Oeno, Afinna: Oeno´s daughter, Zorga: Truck owner.



110.
THE ARRIVAL TO GAZA  CITY.
Of course, he never speaks- in that voyage- about that secret project. It was a very dangerous theme to speak among those rude people.
Weeks later, a very tired Adipalis, several kilograms less, and coughing (a cold obtained on the damp fogs of the nights) walked by the pier, among cries, yelling and laughter of hardened seamen and merchants avid for a profit.
Adipalis saw big trucks coming and going by the paved road, he have no problem being carried to Gaza, because drivers were generous and loved to hear strange stories of people coming from so far away.
“Hey, guy! You seem not much talkative! What’s wrong with you?”- The truck driver asked with a blink of an eye.
“Oh, so many memories that comes to my mind! To return is similar to die a little bit.”- Adipalis said, looking at the green trees, growing now at the sides of a road that has changed the environs with strength.
“Oh? Seems we have here a poet!”- The driver said, mockingly.
“Yes, a poet. Look at my hands! Plenty of scars and callosity, due to the cords of a ship! It has been hard to return.”-Adipalis said, and the driver looks at the hands and then the road- that have trucks similar to the one owned by him- and said: “Destiny, my friend! I bet you have no trouble when going out of here!”
“Right! I traveled happily, idling aboard ship, resting in a cabin, just looking at the waves through a window!”- Adipalis conceded.
“You see? But, my friend, you are only thinking in the hard part, forgetting the sweet one! But think in this: the two parts are one. Your whole trip- whatever happened in it- is just one and only circle. Beginning and end touching each other as the head and tail of a snake! Think of it! Now the circle is complete! You can travel by the circle, remembering things onward and backwards! It’s all in there! Just like that old bag your mamma uses to have when sewing. Right’”- The driver said.
“Yes. Looked in this way, you are completely right. A good experience! By the way, which is your name?”- The traveler asked, very thankful of the providence that pts that sage man on his path.
“Yures. My name is Yures.”- The driver said, giving him a short look, while smiling: he knew these guys, burned, scorched souls coming back home without many hopes…
112.
Arrived to Gaza without money, Adipalis knocked on the door. A secretary opened and looked with mistrust at the disheveled, ill clothed man in front. Adipalis said:” I am Praefoco, the lawyer of Senator Ketar. “
The face of that woman looked at him with scorn, saying:” You, a lawyer of the Senator? Well, the Senator is not here.”- And her tone was adamant… waiting for him to leave.
“Look here, Madame… what is your name?”- He asked. She thinks it over before replaying:” I am Zobeida. What do you want?”
“I have news about the Senator. The trip he did, everything! Who is in charge of his affairs, now?”- Adipalis asked.
“Nobody but me. And I am wasting my time with you. What, exactly is what you want?”- Zobeida asked.
“Money. He owes me money- several months, actually, without receiving my due.”- He said; Zobeida produced a harsh sound (her laugh?) and said:” Wages? But how do I know you are really a lawyer?”
“Search in his payroll archives. My name is Adipalis Praefoco, recently arrived to town, having been working for the Senator all of this time. I could give you my papers, if needed be.” Adipalis said, thinking in that he was going to need them, only available after several trips to the Lawyers guild offices.
113.-
The woman was not convinced at all, but to get ride of him, she said:” Give me your name again; I will write it on a piece of paper, and I will revise documents. Return in five days.”
“Impossible! I am recently arrived to town! I need money for to rent a room, get a bath, and buy me some clothes!”- Adipalis said; she gets scared and closes the door on his face.
Adipalis went out of that building with an angry face… he guided his steps towards his old job, and asked to see his old chief, Mr. Rungar, who makes him wait one hour before receiving him. Rungar was expecting a Adipalis in his old attire, but was shocked when seeing him with a beard, long hair and very old and wrinkled clothes… not to mention a torn out pair of shoes.
“Mr. Praefoco! But, what happened with you?”- He said, standing up from his armchair.
“Good day, Mr. Rungar! It’s a sad story.”- Adipalis said, seating as tired man could do.
“You leave your host here, to search a new future elsewhere. What happens? Liquor, drugs?”- Mr. Rungar said, going back to his seat, after sensing a bad smell on Praefoco.
“I traveled with Senator Ketar to a far city on the coast; it all ends very badly; he is dead, and I have been traveling ever since to arrive back to this city. Actually I am penniless, no home, no clothes.”- Adipalis said.
Director Rungar replied:” Sorry, but here we are already full! No option to use your services.”- Rungar said, looking at him not really believing what he has just said.
“It was hoping to serves here as before. My ambitions lead me to disaster. At lest borrow me some money to pay a hotel room. I will pay you back as soon as I get a decent job.”- Adipalis pressed his re3quest... The director Rungar knew the potentials in this man, but his bump present state gives a lot to think. He decides that 2000 sopes was the least he could bestow on him- a generous gift he could comment to his friends later, to boast over his own generosity toward lost causes… He takes his wallet and said:” I will give you 2.000 sopes, honoring what you have been in the past. Hope you don’t waste it in liquor!”
A reddened Adipalis thanked him and at the way out, he gets a glimpse of Tignuma working at a desk. He went out panting. He wishes not to appear as a beggar to her, possibly receiving her help but also diminishing his self respect…
He seats at a bench on a square, thinking in what to do next… if he pays a rent, half of that money will be lost… but if he buy nice clothes, with a shave a nice haircut he could get a job… And that was he did. The money that was not spent he retains at his pocket.
He presents his affidavits at every lawyer study in town: in two of them he was accepted immediately, and he begins to look at the bigger now, in a complicated case of default.
At night, he slept at a park, hidden in the bushes; a dog and a bump appear at different hours, but both were gone every time he scares them with threats.
For a week it was like that, and at the last day he asked for an advance in money. The owner, a certain Mr. Wilber, knitted his brow at his fine office and said:” you are working with us but only recently. Please explain why the hurry for the money.”
“As it is true that I am working for your company only recently, but I also need to rest at night at a better environ. The money is for a nicer hotel room.”- Adipalis said.
“I see. Where are you, lately?”- Mr. Wilber asked.
“At the Green Palisades Park.”
“”Oh, expensive but old building! Well, I assume you will need forty thousand sopes, no less. I will advance you 50.000 sopes. Are you satisfied?”- The man asked.
“Totally. And I thank you for this.”- Adipalis replied, half believing he was awake…
“I see. Well, keep on working as you go. Here! Fifty thousand sopes, and have a nice week end.”- Mr. Wilber said, handling him the money. Adipalis takes it and went out of that office with a smile.
116.
In one hour he was already renting a flat with part of that money, and he slept free of bugs, dogs and bumps sniffing around.
At the next day he takes a shower and went out for another suit, shirts, trousers, underpants, shoes, socks, perfume, soap, towels… and a bed, because the flat has no furniture.
The 50.000 sopes were now diluted unto 12.000 sopes, and all he has in his possession was those clothes and a bed. He wonders how much was going to receive for his services at Wilber Associates at the end of the month…
That afternoon he ate at a third rate canteen, and walks by the Green Palisades Park until midnight, smiling how Mr. Wilber mistakes the park for an old hotel near-by…
At the next day, after worked hard through all the morning at “Wilber Associates” offices, he visits “Lawyers B3 Association”, where he searches for Tignuma.
“She is out for lunch. Who are you? - A worker asked him.
“His fiancée.”- Adipalis replied.
“Wow! Guess it will be trouble here, mate!”- The man said, looking at him.
“Why? Are they forbidden to talk in here to females, or what?”- Adipalis asked.
“Oh, just wait for half an hour, and you will see her.”- That man said, and he returns to clean the office dirty basked and ashtrays…
117.
Minutes later, the clerks and lawyers begin to appear, seating at their desks, a pair, taking by the hand, appear smiling to each other- a man and a woman. The woman was Tignuma, and Adipalis felt a fiery pang on his heart, to see how fast- and easily- she have forgotten him…
Nearing, she saw him and stop, opening her mouth while her eyes widened.
“Adipalis! You… really here?”
“Of course and not thanks to you! I waited for help, but nobody arrives to the rescue!”- He said, closing up.
“Who is this man, darling?”- The man who was with her asked.
“My fiancée… I lost him in another city… I send for help, but perhaps the man I sent just pocketed my money… Sorry about that.”- Tignuma said, touching Adipalis´s hand.
“Now you have another lover?”- Adipalis asked her.
“Oh, he… Armaron, helps me when I must need! But now you are here, if you want me again, I am ready to finish with him!”- Tignuma said, embracing Adipalis much to the surprise and embarrassment of Armaron…
“I accept, but you will quiet this job! “- He said. She hesitated but then said:” Well, guess I could find another job… somewhere.”
118.
THE RETURN OF TIGNUMA.
“Wait a minute, Tignuma! You will not get ride of me so easily! You own me!”- Armaron said, grabbing her by one arm. That was enough for Adipalis, who punched the man in the face, throwing him to the floor, where he stays moaning…
“Guess we have nothing more to do in here. Let’s go.”- Adipalis said, walking out with Tignuma by the hand.
At the street, she laughed and said:” Guess you grow strong working at
Ashar!”-
“Yes, but also as a sailor, that is a job with nothing to laugh on.”- Adipalis said, kissing her mouth.
“Pardon me! I was so in need when I arrive here!”- Tignuma said, after the third kiss. He gives his address, saying:”- Take your things there. I will be arriving later, as I am in working hours right now.”- And handled her the keys.
“Yes, dear.”- Tignuma said, walking away.
Adipalis returns to his job, working hard, so hard that Mr. Wilber noticed it while walking around, and make a gesture of approbation.
Before the arrival home, he bought a bouquet of flowers with what begins the evening with his woman. He arrives to the flat, rings the bell for her to open, and when she did, he said: Surprise! And offered her the flowers. She was with a kerchief over her forehead and smelled, saying: “How nice!”
“Flowers for a beautiful woman!”- Adipalis said, embracing her. She returns the kiss and said: “Sorry I am not in proper attire! But I am rearranging everything here! I brought all my things.”
“I see.”- He said, looking at the mess of furniture.
“I am here to stay.”- She murmured.
“As it must be, darling. Tomorrow I will present you to my manager, prepare a good affidavit.”- Adipalis said.
“Oh, my skills are unique!”- Tignuma said, kissing him some more.
119.
At the next day, Mr. Wilber accepts her as another worker at his firm, shrugged expressively:” A nice person, recommended by you, and with an extensive affidavit. I am sure she is a valuable resort to my Company.”
“She is, Sir. And I must have your permission to say we are husband and wife.”- Adipalis  said. Wilber extend his hand, saying: So much the better! Her husband with us will make her more reserved.”
“Of course. And I thank you again.”- Adipalis said, handshaking his boss…
A month later, their financial problems were forgotten: Wilber paid them with huge wages, because several difficult cases were solved with their help, and money was received by the Company.
At their apartment, they enjoy privacy and their love for each other; Adipalis have not forgotten the fact that she replace him, (whoever temporarily) for another man, and that fact was like a nail in his brain: when he was thinking it was gone and forgotten, it hurts again… but he was now more interested in politics; using the political party of the deceased Senator Ketar, now the National Communal party (NCP).
In it, the people have heard of Praefoco “lawyer” and how he survives a trip where several Senators find death after a dramatic event. He was famous, and with that advantage he opts to become a Senator.
“If we help you, we need certain compromises. We pay for propaganda, advertisings, time in radio programs, trips… you compromise to repay us when help is needed for our party.”- Mr. Globen said, that was the president of the NCP.
“I cannot repay with much favors! I am poor and my scope of action and decision will be small.”- Adipalis commented.
“You know what I meant! But I will explain you with examples: some of us need to sell firecrackers. But it’s forbidden by some silly law. You present a text trying to modify the law, trying to lessen the harsh corners of it. Perhaps you could work in it. Some other Senators will help. In the end, rest assured you will serve our purposes. In other occasions, you will create laws. Our party will talk about your fine capacities! As long as you serve us we will help you without a doubt.”- Globen said.
To all of this Adipalis accepted, and months later, he become a Senator; his life changes. Now he cannot work with Mr. Wilber as before, but helps when he have the chance. So, his woman Tignuma keeps on working as a lawyer and he as a Senator.
“The wages are very similar! The work is mostly visiting places and groups of persons; sessions are long and tedious.”- Adipalis explains to his woman. She always said:” Certainly you are a famous important person now, but still you are not rich.”
He coincided in that, but told her nothing about mysterious “donations” he was receiving each time he comply with the Party orders; in that way, in five years he was the owner of several mansions and a huge amount of money, among them, an Institute (half paid by the government) to teach laws to future lawyers- she quits her job at Wilber Associates and become General Director and co-owner of that Institute…
In a reunion with the Director of the NCP, he was offered the opportunity to run for President of the Twin Towns. He accepts, money flows towards the campaign, and Adipalis was elected President, much to the joy of his woman.
“Oh, now we will be in History books!”- Tignuma said, embracing him with proud. Adipalis was not so proud of the way he was selected to be a President, but now that he was in power, he was certain that he will work to change his ways towards honesty, decency and all the good things a representative of the people should be.
122.
ADIPALIS BECOMING PRESIDENT.
Adipalis visited every sector of the Two Towns promising this and that, especially what the people ask. Speeches everywhere and his speeches were written by specialist in the field. The day of the election he waits at the NCP headquarters, and at 21 hours he was confirmed as the new president of the Two Towns, with duration of four years, renewable.
Mr. Globen and the other four Senators pay him a visit at his presidential palace.
“We come here to congratulate you, firm column of our party! Now the people finally have a real support for their needs. We will help you in any way possible! Our list, where you could choose your loyal Ministers, is here.”- Globen said, and Adipalis receives it, and read the names- all of them corresponding to people already known to him. He smiled and said:” I thank you, Mr. President of the NCP for all of your efforts, and to you, Senators, and to every member of our party. You have here a comrade, a friend and an ally.”
They all smiled happily and Goben said:” It is not enough being elected! Now you must give signs to the people that things are about to change, furthermore, they expect changes made and happiness knocking at their doors! So here is another list of things to perfect, buildings to enhance, bonus to give!” – And he handled him another carped. He leafed on the volume, finding numerous good ideas, some of then high cost.
“Indeed, I will need those Ministers to go forwards with all of these projects!”-Adipalis said, staring at them, who laughed. Mr. Globen touches one of his hands and said:” Rest assured we will cooperate until the end!”
After that conversation, he interviewed each one of those future Ministers and give every one of them the documents with his decisions to enhance their areas of expertise; suffice it to say it was the NCP directives, worked out by experts in each area.
123.
Two days later, Mr. Globen calls him by phone:” And how are thing going, Mr. President?”
“Our Ministers are working and everything seems to be fine.”- Adipalis replied.
“Oh, yes? Well, you need to expel every non member of the NCP now, or later will be more difficulties. You need advisers, the one you have there do not correspond to our line of thought.”- Mr. Globen said.
“Guess I must talk with the Minister of the Interior, not to at personally.”—Adipalis said, half scared.
“Of course, Mr. President. See what we will do: I will send there a group of persons to work near your office-a sort of loyal court! They will handle things, problems, and projects for you. The only thing you must do it’s to choose on the alternatives.”- Globen commented.
“Seems fair.”
“It is fair! And think on the Army Forces! You are their commander in chief! Have you met the general Director of the Army?”- Globen asked.
“General Juborto?”
“The same. But first, you must hear what he have donned in the past, how he reacts, and most important, what he expects of you.”_ President Globen informed.
“A lot of information is needed.” Adipalis recognized.
“Yes, but aided by us, you will be just saying the correct line of action, the necessary phrases. Not commitments of any kind in a rush! You receive the questions and petitions from their part, we study it, we discuss it, and you choose from our alternatives.” Globen informed.
“I am the chooser? Nothing more than that?”- Adipalis said, half in regret.
“Of things important and dangerous to your public image only! Listen! If you do things correctly, you will get elected once and again!”- Globen said.
That evening he talks about this with his wife, Tignuma, who said:”- I find them very useful! You just do the correct thing and people will love you!”
“As you do?”- He asked, embracing her fondly.
“Yes! But the necessary to be their leader for many years to come!”- Tignuma said.
He kissed her and said:”- I have an idea: a Ministry for the women. You could be the Director in chief. Helping the women in need, the ones that get pregnant without no means to feed their children, buy medicines, clothes, the little bed.”-
Tignuma puts a finger on her cheek and said:” There are many ones that have no house. Their parents sent them away and if they have not a generous relative, an aunt or grandfather, they amble from one man to the other for protection, paying them with sex that occasionally brings more babies to their misery.”
125.
“And what would you do in such a case?”- He asked, benevolently speaking.
“First, a building with many bedrooms, then, I would select them with a staff of professionals, seeing each case separately, and then housed them there, but hear me one more thing: They will need a work, a job to earn their living! Possibly some Institute for the women, where the clever ones could get a specialization! Lawyers, medics, dentists, what else!”- And she looks very interested.
“Right! The post is yours! I will see to ti1 Money will be required. Tomorrow I will talk with our Treasurer.”- He said, smiling.
At the next day, he attends a celebration in a Syndicate of Shoemakers, several persons asked for help in different ways, and the Secretaries takes note to resolve later.
At noon he talks with the Treasurer at the General dining room of the Presidential Building. In a corner, they seat and while eating, they meet ends.
“My project is a secretariat for the women. Where help to the young mothers, as well as poor women without home, will be given.”
The Treasurer, a fat big man in his sixties, said: “But we have two such Agencies! The Agency supporter of Women, and the National Care Association. This last receives money from the government, and help people. It’s controlled by Inspections twice a year. “The Treasurer Borojuil said, and Adipalis realized his brilliant idea was not new and not brilliant.
“And how many people work in those projects?”
“I have not the minutia with me, but I will say some 800 persons.”
“In all?”
“Exactly, although the NCA has less people at work.”
“Very well, I have those numbers for tomorrow afternoon, and who is who, from top to bottom, how much is the expense, number of buildings, that sort of things. When ready, I will visit that place.”- Adipalis said.
“Of course, Mr. President.”- The Treasurer said. Later, he works on a speech to deliver at the University of Gaza, ceremony commemorating the fifteen years of that Insituti0on. The speech was ready made, and after the delivery of it, he receives applauses and gives some medals to the best qualified students.
At the next day, he has lunch at the Casino of the Presidential Palace, with Treasurer Borojuil, who handled him two archives, saying:” There it is! All what you want to know. I am at your service.”
“I see. Well, now we will see if my little project could come across bureaucracy!”- Adipalis said, eating from the beans and eggs in a soup with a lot of chili, one glass of wine and a fruit as desert.
127.
MR. ZUÑIGA, MINISTER OF THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
When at his office, he call for his Ministry of Health and said:” Here we have, in these documents, two different organizations. Yes, one of them is not of the Government, but perhaps we could convince in to join forces… I mean, to forget being private in view of the big money they are receiving, I could almost swear that they will be happy to deliver their organization to us if we wave a big wd of money in front of their noses.”
The Ministry of Health heard his speech and could not believe a guy like Adipalis was now his President, but thinking again, people always vote for the handsome of them all… he remember the other two candidates: the old and twisted Miss Llendea, and the equally old and crooked Mr. Gosla… both old Senators that were sucking money since they were elected- dozens of years receiving wages, bonuses, lunches , dinners for free, charged to the governor cars to the door, more dinners… a long list of free meals, boozed, trips, everything paid by  the so called Republic…
“I think I can convince them to sell, Mr. President. What? Is young going to take the entire burden into the State? They are…”- Minister Zuñiga was saying, but Adipalis interrupted him.
“390 millions per year. I know. Possibly we will be asking for more. And hear this: is the best part: my wife will be the Director in Chief. She will command the whole operation! I will send her to talk with you about this.”- Adipalis commented.
128
“Perhaps you should ask the Senate about this, you know? They usually raise or diminish the money for these organizations.” Zuñiga informed him.
“Really? –well. Hope that you could help in what is needed. I mean, try to show this change as a good idea.”- Adipalis said, dismissing him, who handled and carried away his ideas…
That night he told about this to his wife, who said:” There will be no problems! Usually the Senate accepts every change made in the first two month of government of the new President, and you know why?”
“Out of pure generosity?”- He replied, smiling in a very innocent way.
“No! Of course not! They expect you to make bad changes, bad projects, and wrong decisions so they could eat you alive in the next five years! And I am sure they will never forget your mistakes! They will rub it over your nose every time you open your mouth!”- Tignuma said, embracing the amaze President of the Twin Towns… that were, in fact, three…
129
THE WOMEN HAVEN.
After some misunderstandings, Tignuma gets what she wants after several reunions with Minister and also the Senate puts a green light on that project, fearing if not, women would not vote for them.
The new organization was called “The Women Haven”, with new logs and working at the same offices than the National Care Organization, while the private company was used only as the Administration Center; Adipalis order the construction of a building for the women haven, and it will take nine moths to be build.
“In fact, it’s like a dream come true!!- Tignuma said, that night.
“Really? Why?”
“Because to see the happiness reflected on those young faces its something that fills the heart with a nice sensation! And we already have 182 women in the old building: guess we could keep on using it when the new one it’s finished.”- She said.
“Remember my period in office last only five years; if reelected, good and well, but if not, we must pack home and leave our projects behind.”- Adipalis said. She looked at the floor for a moment and said:” Well, seems we could begin using days to the fall!”
“Of course, darling. And don’t forget that nights are only for us.” Adipalis said, embracing her tenderly: he was proud of her.
Now the ceremonies and reunions occupied six hours of his daily work. The rest were used to talk about problems on the different projects. The Ministries were also very busy; notwithstanding the fact Adipalis doubled the personnel aiding the administration to go forward.
“Money is running short in every project.”- Adipalis said to her.
“Dear! We are reducing expenses as much as it is possible! But in wages it goes the fifty one per cent of our income.”- And I really need every one of those persons.”- Tignuma said.
“I can grasp that! Pity we could not expend as we would like.”- He remembered.
“No, it’s enough as it is! Remember this is your first year, and you are in your first month.”- Tignuma said, smiling gently.
At the end of that month, he traveled to Karme and Depugno, specially looking on the roads; In certain sites the jungle have swallowed the road, and he write a memorandum to the Ministry of Public Works, asking his ideas about repairs on the road, and the possibility of to build a railroad to communicate one city with the other.
Same thing he did towards the Ministry of Transport, asking for information about trains, railroads and the implementation of those.
He visits his parents and brothers; he stayed two days with them, and to then they give half the money earned in a month’s work, saying: “My title as president is more honorific than profitable.”
131.
LIST OF STATE MINISTERS FROM THE NEW GOVERNMENT.

His father, Arepago, who now has grown a white beard, said:” but we always have notions about politicians receiving money from the side!”
“Possibly true, but up until now, I haven’t heard anyone bribing me! “- Adipalis said, and they all laughed, although his father’s eyes scanned his face twice. In fact, Adipalis has already signed compromises to buy goods to rich members of his political party, but he knows it was only for to pay a small portion of the money the Party has spent trying to get him elected! So, money indeed was flowing in, only not into his pocket.
Adipalis seats at his office in the airplane, looking at the list of his administration principals.
Minister of the Interior and Public Security: Segel.
Minister of the National Defense, Mr. Abwesend.
Minister of the Finance, Mr. Borojuil
Minister of the Education, Mr. Vrurteil.
Minister of the Public Works, Mr. Voiture.
Minister of the Health, Mr. Zuñiga.
Minister of the Agriculture, Mr. Figelein.
Minister of the Energy, Mr. Obervoll.
Minister of the National Women Services, Miss Tignuma.
General Director of the Army Forces: General Pinorto.

Two days later, Ministry Voiture visits him with a big satchel, where he have photos and drawings, to explain better what he have to say.
132.
Voiture said:” 147 kilometers of railroad is needed! We also need more locomotives. As of now, we have only two, small machines, working on the mines!”
“You mean, the nation moves the merchandise by the river only?”- Adipalis asked.
“Yes, Mr. President. We have trucks, but as you know, their payload is small. People come to Gaza by boat.”
“We must build locomotives! Powerful ones! We must cross the land with locomotives! It is the only way to become more powerful as we are. The breech between us and the people of the “Associates” is great. But they could catch up with our technology in time. So we need to be always ahead of them! Have you some inkling about how much it will cost?”
“The railroad needs lots of steel and logs: trees are many, steel is not. Our machines must be enhanced on the road! First one model, then the other, to make improvements we must go step by step.”
“The cost of this?”
“Three million eight thousand sopes. Workers must be hired, protection must be provided, and trucks must be had to move materials to the sites. “- The Minster said, perspiring…
“Time? In how many time do you think that this could be donned?”- Adipalis asked.
“”From three to six years, Mr. President.”- Minister Voiture said.
133.
THE LOCOMOTIVE.
“Oh! Inside my term? This will crown my period in office! And perhaps it will boost my re election!”- Adipalis said.  Cunningly, Minister Voiture said:”- You only need one workable locomotive to astound the people! They will be happy to travel in comfort of a seat looking out the window, in a trip that will last … well, several hours.”
“If not days!”- Adipalis commented.
“A boat takes four days from the vicinity of Karme to Gaza city. And the double to make the trip up river.”- Minister Voiture said.
“I will be for ever remembered for this! Prepare the engineers! Prepare the mines of charcoal! Tell people it will be work, a job for everyone with a need to earn wages!”- Adipalis almost yelled.
Treasurer Borojuil comes two days later, saying:” Mr. President, you can only use 32 million sopes without authorization from the Senate! But if you want more than that, the Constitution said you must obtain the acquiescence of the Senate.”
“The authorization of the Senate? More than fifty per cent of the votes?”- Adipalis asked.
“Yes, it’s the rule.”- Treasurer Borojuil commented and added:”- And it will take time. Historically when a President ask for money in order to complete a project, the Senate discuss the matter for weeks to several months!”-
“Bureaucracy!”- Yelled the President.
“They will get other things from you, to accept the request! An increase in their salaries, extra days for vacations, use of public places… for starts!”- Minister Borojuil said.
134.
“Amazing! Well, let’s start with what we have. I will talk with the Senators of our own Party: it’s for sure that they will back me up in this magnificent project!”- Adipalis said.
Four months later, he throws more millions to his project, by taking money from other initiatives.
“But, Director Globen! I need more support from our party! The difficulties at the Senate are getting worse every day it passes! My railroad idea is fainting more and more!”- Adipalis said, in a visit he made to the NCP headquarters.
“I told you, Mr. President that the idea was good, but ahead of our time!  Certainly railroads will cross not only from our town, but to the whole of this continent. But hundred of years will have passed before that. You already advance some dozen kilometers of railroad! We could support smaller locomotives, traveling to the end of the steel road, and building there some vacation colonies for the poor! They will love you just the same!”- Director Globern said.
In view he could not press matters anymore, Adipalis calls for the Director General of the Army Forces, general Pinorto: he was a stout man with a moustache that arrives at his presidential office at eight hours in the morning.
135.
GENERAL PINORTO SERVER OF THE COUNTRY.
“Good day, Mr. President. Nice day, eh?”- General Pinorto salutes. Adipalis was already seated at his desk, and offering a chair to his guest, he said:” Hot days are the norm in summer. Yes, it will be a sunny and hot day.”-
“Tell me, Mr. President, the object of this meeting.”- Pinorto asked.
“I am working in a new project: a railroad between Karme and Gaza city. Some of my advisors are telling me it’s impossible to realize such a thing in our present state of things. They say that in the future, and only in a far future, such a thing will be feasible. But I want it now! The Senate keeps discussing the matter, and there is no end in view to their debates. Also their answer for my request to get more funds keeps on being delayed.”- Adipalis said.
“It’s a nice project. I have heard of it: it will take a lot less time to travel between the two cities, and in a vehicle with every comfort in it.” – General Pinorto said with a fiery look.
136.-
“I already use all the money I could bestow in this project. Now, for more money, I need the support of the Senate but not even my own Party is willing to help.”- Adipalis commented.
The eyes of general Pinorto were affixed on Adipalis, trying to guess what he was going to ask him…
“And I am thinking in a plebiscite. Where the people could force them to accept my request! But of course, the Constitution should be modified, if again the Senate said no.”- Adipalis said.
“A pity, Mr. President. Bad politicians come here just to stuff their pockets with the nation’s money! Not your case, and others, of course.” The general Pinorto exclaimed.
“I could help my project making a coup d´Etat, a strike. With the Army backing my actions, I could declare the Senate in vacations… then I could appropriate money for the railroad, and when ready and working, I could bestow powers to the Senate once more! And they could cry and yell, but there, crossing the jungle, our railroad will be working in behalf of commerce and passengers.”- Adipalis said, the general Pinorto twisted his moustache with two fingers and said:” Your proposition is very interesting, Mr. President, but what will happen to us when the Senate goes back to decide things?”
“Perhaps the end of my political career, at the least!”- Adipalis replied.
“Well, I was asking about my position as well, Sir. I would be deemed responsible too, and possibly a court marshal could be the less punishment I could get!”- Pinorto said, reddening before the grave consequences of the proposition Adipalis was throwing to the table…
“I see. Well, possibly I will end burying my project for the future generations to make it happen.”- Adipalis said.
“You must consider I could be facing dishonor and degradation!”- Pinorto said, gravely.
“Of course. Guess I will wait for our Senate to say yes or no to my request for more money. Until then, no more talk about this matter.”- Adipalis said.
“Yes, Mr. President. Call me when you need it.” – Pinorto said, walking out of the office. But the idea was planted in his brain: a dictator ruling the country without a Senate…
Two months after this talk, the Senate gives the verdict: no money increase for the railroad project, saying it was not the time to do it. This waiting to receive a negative was all Adipalis needed to work with the General Pinorto in the dissolution of the Parliament.
“I will govern with my Ministers!”- He assured to the General.
“But, what to do with the Senators, wealthy people, friend of wealthy entrepreneurs?”- General Pinorto asked.
“I assume they could get back to their homes to wait for me to decide when they could come back in office!”- Adipalis said, while the general was denegation with a movement of his head…
“No, Mr. President! As the wasps, they will for ever search where to bite! It is preferable to send them all where they will be far from their friends: Depugno!”- General Pinorto recommends.
138.-
“Remember it is the people that elected them! And uproar would be despicable!”
“No uproar if you act with cleverness! First, you send them home, Second, I put spies on them: sure thing they will begin to plot against us! Then I discover their plans , we take them into jail, the news are giving by us, and people will believe they are traitors of the worst kind… you put them to trial, condemn them to exile in Depugno city… where I will keep on spying on them! The one who keeps on trying to overthrow you, we will put again into trial, and they will be demoted, and threaten than the next intent against you will mean they will be not able to step into the streets!”- General Pinorto said.
“Imprisoned in their homes?”- Adipalis asked.
“”Right! People will notice our … your generosity!”- General Pinorto said, blinking one eye…
“So be it.”- Adipalis said, and once with the Senate gone for good, he begin expending on the railroad; two teams working at each side of the way; a bonus for the team with more kilometers of rails, in weekly measurements.
The making of the first new locomotive was also under way: more than 30 wagons were being in the make: four for to use as cargo wagons, and the rest to transport passengers…
The city of Ashar changes of ruler, and immediately begins the attacks on the cargo ships smuggling merchandises, not only between Ashar and the Twin Towns, but also from the rest of the “Associates”.
139
GORKIN PIRRIGOT, NEW LEADER OF ASHAR.
Adipalis sent for his Ministers, now fat and shiny, and also for the high command of the Army forces.
General Pinorto said:” Our spies in Ashar get the information: the new ruler is Gorfiri Pirrigot, son of Lurtugo, a judge. That family suffered, years ago, from our bombing of Ashar, and the grudge has been maintained hot among the members of that family! So now it is their opportunity of to revenge!”
“Certainly in us as a whole, because many of us were babies when all of those happened! – The Minister of Health, Mr. Zuñiga, said.
“We must do something drastic, Mr. President! Or else our flourishing economy will collapse!”- Treasurer Borojuil exclaimed.
“We should send a delegation to talk sense into the mind of ruler Pirrigot! And presents him something valuable for his own.”- Minister Vorurteil recommended.
“A bribe!”- Ministry Overvall said, looking at them.
“Volunteers?”
“Nobody in his right senses will volunteer! But I have three clever officers that could pretend to be you, Mr. President, and two of the Ministers. We have heard the Ruler Garfiri Pirrigot loves cats. We could send him a dozen!”- General Pinorto said, and someone laughed.
“But: is it danger in that mission!”- Adipalis asked.
“Certainly. But I guess he will not kill them: he is of a noble family and he will not stain their reputation as just people by tuckering strangers in front of their people.”- General Pinorto said.
“Certainly Justice is like a naked person: everything must be shown before a judge could discern!”- Vorurteil said, twitching his moustache.
“Se, we risk three lives?”
“Four: a driver must be had! The man will use a motorboat-cum- automobile! That will cause commotion and they will be not ignored!” – General Pinorto said, eagerly.
“But… I understand a boat mobile cannot reach such distances!”- Adipalis said, in amazement.
“Of course not, Mr. President! We must stay at the harbor in Ashar! Waiting for the smaller vehicle to return.”- General Pinorto said.
“And if the Ambassadors didn’t return?”- Minister Obervoll asked, worried at the maximum.
“By a loudspeaker the captain of that steamboat will ask for their return. If no answer or a negative answer is perceived, it is for you, Mr. President, to say the last word!”- General Pinorto said, with a fiery expression.
The groups was carried but before they could disembark, battle ships from Ashar begin attacking the steamboat, that comes back to Gaza river port with seven deaths and three injured sailors.
141.
“War! “- Was the battle cry. Adipalis understood that they will never become friends to those Asharians, and the solution was to conquer the city and rearrange their society in favor of the Twin Towns policy.
He calls the high command, and General Pinorto said.” We have only three steamships capable of to reach Ashar and fight. Our Army forces have but 2000 soldiers, and our Airships are only 38 bombers and 12 fighters.”
“The people at Ashar are 1.200.000 persons. It’s very difficult to reign over them by force.”- Minister Abwesend said.
“We could find ambitious people to govern Ashar: the enemies of a ruler are like spiders in the night; gone their sun-leader, they will swarm out. We just want to interchange goods, and at the mines we will ask for a percentage of the production.” – Adipalis commented.
“A govern of puppets! Well, we must leave them do as they wish, with law and order; we only need free commence and tokens.” – Minister Figelein said.
“If they give us much battle, our financial status will suffer. You, general Pinorto, should target the centers of their wealth: gold, silver, goods must flow here after the battle is won.”- Treasurer Borojuil said.
142.
NEVER UNTO HOUSES.
General Pinorto said:” Wish I could have your help when the time comes. To be at Ashar with your staff will provide us with a valuable asset.”
“I am ready to serve wherever is needed.”- Treasurer Borojuil said.
“Start the war! General gets ready for the attack but I don’t want to see our planes throwing bombs on granaries, docks and places where wealth is storage, on our war would be just barbarian bloodshed!”
“No airplanes, sir?”
“Airplanes could use machine guns and bombs against enemy ships, enemy columns of soldiers, never unto houses, buildings, bridges, docks, presidential palaces! Fight the enemy, the Army, not the common people! “- Adipalis said, and afterwards he repeat it over and over, to install the idea on everyone around.
A week later, the airplanes departed in a recognizance flight; they fly around Ashar, taking pictures of everything, specially on the docks; the ships anchored , others coming and going , showing Ashar ahs huge commerce with the other cities of the Associates conundrum…
At a table on the headquarters, general Pinorto and his staff studied the photos, deciding what to do best.
“We must destroy their Army, disband their formations! We must give an ultimatum! We cannot lose the opportunity of to win without a fight! We will call them to surrender their weapons using the airships! To all those commercial ships on the sea, advice them we are going to sunk every military ships! We don’t want to kill civilians if we could make them run.”- General Pinorto said.
143.-
The airplanes flew to Ashar city with the message, and then, for three days, the steamships travel towards Ashar carrying soldiers.
The time for the attack comes and goes without any sign of belligerence. The ruler of Ashar, Gorfiri Pirrigot looked at the sky and said:” The flying men scare me not! See? No signs of them!” And laughed. His aids laughed but without any conviction…
The cause of the delay was the steamships: two of them have problems with the engines and the third waits…
“This is laughable! The Navy returns to port!”- Adipalis said, in bed with Tignuma.
“The ships weren’t ready, dear! Let them be repaired!”- She said, coiling at his side.
“Those in Ashar will think I desist!”- Adipalis said.
“No matter what they think! I am sure the merchants flee from the docks, and at the ruler’s court everyone lost their sleep! Sent airplanes to summon them to surrender!”- Tignuma suggested.
“To scare them? I am sure they trust in their Navy and in their soldiers! They outnumbered us big time! I think that all of this will be hard to deploy in a good form!”-  Adipalis said.
144
BEFORE THE BATTLE.
“Do things without haste! If it fails, you will learn why, and for the next time you will not err on the same items. “- Tignuma said, yawning.
A week later, the steamships were repaired, and General Pinorto was on board of the newest of them, built four years ago.
“This time we will fight!”- Pinorto exclaims.
“Yes, general! Pity on those men aboard old ships!”- Minister of Defense Mr. Abwesend said.
“We give them a fair warning! Of course, no military man will give up without a fight.”- General Pinorto conceded…
Seven hours later, they were turning to the right, now traveling over the sea… eight more hours and they were in full view of Ashar city port.
“20 hours of the day! Too late.”- General Pinorto said, at the main cabin.
“Perhaps it’s better this way, commander!”- Captain –Rufus said, stiffly.
“Why? My men will hardly see a thing in the dark!”- General Pinorto growled.
“Neither would them!”- Rufus replied.
“Perhaps in the early dawn… we will wait!”- Commander Pinorto said: captain Rufus takes the ships out of sight of the Asharians…
That night almost nobody slept as usual, with a battle in their vicinity… nobody have fought in a war before, so they were all very nervous…
145.-
At dawn, the three ships approach the docks, and disembarked the soldiers that run to the Presidential building: a fiery battle; from the inside arrows were thrown out, and soon the bullets produced the desired goal. The building was taken, the ruler taken prisoner: this was providential, because Gorfiri Pirrigot was almost out of the building, using women clothes, but a solider realize the supposedly woman was using a moustache!
He was taken prisoner and stayed at the palace under surveillance: the officer in charge didn’t risk taking him to the ships, because many people were now on the streets, alerted by the many shooting and smell of gunpowder.
At eleven hours, Pinorto arrived to the building with a scout group of 30 soldiers; many people shouted against them and also thrown some stones.
“Where is the ruler?”
“At the boardroom, Sir. We manacled him, and his legs are tied to a chair.”- Captain Rufus informed.
“Good measures! Now let me alone with him! We have things to discuss!”- General Pinorto said, closing the door.
The room was an office, with several shelves at the walls, three mahogany desks with their armchairs covered with red leather- one of the side of the room have a wide window, at next to it a wide table.
“Here I am, defeated and humiliated! You must feel happy!”- The ruler said, from his chair.
146.
NO GOLD IS TO BE HAD.
“We told you to talk, to open your ports to our goods, to trade. You refused.”- General Pinorto said.
“And do you know why I am in charge of this city? Because I obey the will of the people!”- Pirrigot replied.
“We need you to inform us of many things in your administration; help us in this, and I could assure you a long life.”- Pinorto said.
“Not for me.”- The ruler said, and added:” I will not become a traitor to my people’s traditions!”-
“Pity for you. But I tell you one thing: your life will end in a prison cell.”- Pinorto commented.
“Commander! People are gathering outside! We are encircled!”- Captain Rufus stomped into the room.
“Fire at will! We must instill terror, if they are so stubborn!”- Pinorto said, clenching his teeth.
The machine gun barked outside, while a group of soldiers begin searching for treasures on the Presidential building; many walls were perforated trying g to fid safe boxes or hidden doors; in the under floor they find a heavy door made of iron and strong wood; not able to open suing tools, and officer puts a charge of dynamite and blow it, but the ceiling collapsed and after the cloud of dust was dissipated, a group of soldiers worked there taking rubble out of the wait. In a chamber they found boxes containing medals to use honoring remarkable soldiers… and a couple of savers. No gold, no silver was found there.
147.
PIRRIGOT IS TAKEN PRISONNER.
General Pinorto was looking at the mob by a window, and then sent for the leader Pirrigot and said:” Hear this: we come for the gold! Where it is?”
“There is no gold! We trade things! You should know that!”-
“I know the currency is bartering! But you must have jewels, things made of gold! Where are they?”- Pinorto asked, with a fiery face.
“Sorry! No jewels!”- The leader Pirrigot said, almost happy of it…
“Guards! Take him to the ship! And make him yell until he says where there are jewels!”- General Pinorto ordered.
He also ransacked other government places finding many goods, but not gold. At the docks, he saw merchandise and put some guards to protect it from pillage.
A general revolt ensued. People and soldiers alike, fighting with lances, arrows, even stones, makes them retreat to the docks. While some soldiers defend a perimeter, others hurriedly take everything they could to the boats and then into the steamships: the perimeter broke when bullets were no more available, and butchery ensued. The steamships return to Gaza docks at the river Depugno. Everything was carried to the Army warehouses.
Commander Pinorto, head bandaged and limping after being hit b more than a stone, presents some valuable artifacts to Adipalis in presence of his Ministries and the Army high command.
148.
“Here is part of the treasures taken from the enemy, Mr. President. We have to flee, in view we were outnumbered and because of the lack of ammunition! Many dead and wounded soldiers we have, the dead ones repose now on the sea, and the wounded are being treated at hour hospital.”- General Pinorto said.
Adipalis said:”- Outnumbered? Ammunition wasn’t enough?”
“Yes, Mr. President! The people, common civilians, rejected our presence, hatred on them makes them bold and without the fear to die by a bullet! Many of them died, ammunition was not wasted in shots to thin air! But, sorry to say, political reasons were totally absent. They see no reason to accept our rule! Perhaps propaganda must be had; some leader from them must be bribed to serve our purposes!”- Pinorto said.
“Excuses for a defeat don’t fit me fine, general Pinorto1 But what was done was done! Now we are pirated, taking treasures ad running out!”-Adipalis said, staring at the general, who said:” My post is at your disposition. If you think somebody else could do it better, welcome he is!”
Adipalis sighed and made a wave with his right arm, saying:”We need to change our strategy! You keep on in your post! No need to blame you, because you stand valiantly until the end.”-Adipalis said.
149.
DISTRIBUTING THE BOOTY.
Distributing the booty.
“Thanks you, Sir. I invite you to our warehouse, so you could saw what was brought.”- Commander Pinorto said.
They debate on the filed invasion, and drew some conclusions; first, that they could make raids unto Ashar but not for long; secondly, that not burn and bomb the city was fructiferous because the city become restored in goods and merchandise after every time they hit; they could also become pirates in the sea, capturing goods from merchant cargo ships- never to sunk ships so they could keep on trading…
“It’s not an ethic thing to do. We will be robbers.”- Ministry Voiture said.
“And we will help our people to thrive!” – Adipalis said, not very happy to hear what he have become…
When at the warehouse, he saw dried food, clothes and many utensils. He said:” We will split this in half: the Army will retain one half and common people the other half. I will tell the people we are going to give this for free to the ones who come here; two days more and you will give things away!”-
“Yes, Mr. President. We will do as you say and in your name.”- General Pinorto replied.
That same day the military men receive their share on the objects, while the food was in storage for to give meals to the soldiers.
Two days later, a throng of people arrives there, to see if the rumors were a true thing. An officer stands in front of the warehouse, saying:”- In the name of our President Adipalis Praefoco, we will give goods and artifacts to everyone of you. Two bags for each person!”
The people applauded, gates were opened, and soldiers begin to give out the bas to happy people. More people begin to arrive, called by the ones already gifted. Later, the whole town was mentioning these facts…
“People in Karme city are asking for a share!”- Commander Pinorto said, by telephone.
“Pity ! I see you give out everything we had.” –President Adipalis said, thumbing on his desk.
“Perhaps a ride against commercial sail ships could end with this quarrel?”- General Pinorto suggested.
“Yes, see to it! Not mentioning to the people. They will believe it is from our first strike.”- Adipalis said, taking his head with both hands…. He has become a pirate!
General Pinorto calls the captains to his office, closing the door and saying:” We have a new mission, gentlemen! One ship will seize a cargo ship from our friends the “Associates” and will take everything they could have on board. See that the ship is not sunken! Then return to me. We must send those treasures to Karme city, where we are going to give away goods to the people, by orders of our President.”
“We seize the whole ship and tow here, or as I am to understand, the cargo is all what matters?”- Captain Rufus asked.
151.
THE NEW MISSION.
“Only the goods. We will leave them keep on trading: with luck, they will be not boarded from us the next time.” – General Pinorto said, twitching his moustache… smiles flourished on those faces.
“I volunteer!”- Captain Hizarana said, followed by Captain Mampidu, who said:” I also volunteer, Sir! My men are anxious for battle.”
General Pinorto stared at Captain Rufus, who said:” Sorry, Sir. I am not volunteering this time, because half of my crew is dad or injured, and to train new sailors requires time.
“I can permit only one team at the time. Here is what I’ll do: I’ll throw a coin to the air, and let’s fortune chooses for me. Choose, Captain Hizarana.”
“Heads. “ Hizarana said; the coin flies and fall showing tails.
“Better luck for the next time, captain Hizarana. You go, captain Mampidi: see that you take extra sailors and lots of ammunition: you are going to need it.”
“Yes, sir. Thanks.”- Mampidi replied.
“Don’t thank me, captain! Perhaps you will never come back alive.”- General Pinorto said, ending with the smiles on those gentlemen’s faces…
Mampidu receives 200 soldiers, 20 tones of ammunition plus 200 carbines and two extra boats with iron reinforcements not to be damaged by the enemy ram ships.
152.
The ship departs from the docks and leaves the site amide farewells from the personnel’s relatives- those at the dock do not know where they were heading.
Captain Mampidu calls his officers to his cabin and said.” Gentlemen, we have sealed orders. First to know is this: we are going to the open sea.”
Rumors of excitement were produced by the eight seamen presents there; first officer Mr. Vorweg, machinist Mr. Kiefer, Second machinist Mr. Eitwaig, Gunner Mr. Nonch, Lieutenant Keuchan, Sergeant Gasse, helmsman Me. Steuer, Plotter Mr. Vorher, Chief of disembark Mr. Nikerur.
“Are we expecting fight, Sir?”- Vorweg asked.
“Most probably, yes.” – Mampidu replied.
“Secrecy is not good for the nerves, Sir. Why to wait? Nobody could leave the ship right now, Sir. No news is like to say “tension!” You better told us now what is our mission, captain.”- Lieutenant Keuchan said.
Mampidu said:”- Orders are to attack enemy ships without hurting the vessel. We go for the cargo.”-
“Oh, just like a pirate does?”- Gunner Mr. Nonch asked.
“Guess the name is corsair.”- Captain Mampidu said, reddening.
“Not even that! A corsair is a private captain hired by a nation. We belong to a nation, so we could not be named that.”—Plotter said, who have read about these matters…
“The name doesn’t really matter right now. I am worried by two things: fire from the enemy, and bravery of our soldiers. The thing is that we cannot lose a battle. The thing is that we will go jumping unto enemy ships, firing while others throw grips unto the sail ship not to let it go. We stuck to them like ticks!”- Captain Mampidu said.
“A dangerous situation. And with only one ship to do the fight.”- Second machinist Eitwaig said.
153.-
“But our ships moves faster than a sail ship: a pair of shots from our guns and those sails will go tumbling down. And of course, I will ask them to surrender before the barrage: we are not demons.”- CaptainMampidu said, although he was not sure if following these orders they will not end being murderers…
“Then, we need to exercise our men! And there is no way how! We need a sail ship to practice.”- Keuchan said, waving his hands frantically.
“Perhaps I our way downstream we will find a sail ship good enough to do that.”- Captain Mampidu said.
“Yes, it is impossible to practice without another ship! Cords must be hanging from poles so our men could swing themselves overboard like fiery spiders!”- Keuchan said, vehemently.
“Pity we have not enough planks to aboard ships! Seems to me we put the cartwheel before the Lycorhinos!”- Gunner Monch said, much to the chagrin of captain Mampidu, who said:” All was decided on the nick of the hour! But nobody is hurrying us now! So, pleas take your time to make whatever is necessary: the banks of this river have many trees, and we could make planks with that, no matter how rustic it may look afterwards.”
154.-
The reunion lasted another pair of hours, as everyone gives opinions and ideas for the best performance they could devise.
Two weeks later, they still were at the river, while practicing to aboard a sailing ship. The decoy was an old cargo boat, one beam only, but similar to the ones the Associates have in use. Many broken arms and twisted foot were the detriment of those maneuvers…
Machinist Kiefer said:” At this pace, fifteen more days to have a decent group of swinging pirates.”
“Not pirates, but warriors!”- Second machinist Eitwaig corrected.
“Yes, whatever. Are you to stay here a little longer, captain?”- Kiefer asked.
“Of course! I have no gains in a fast fight with null results- or worse, carnage.”- Mampidu answered, while eating a watermelon recently recovered from the near by jungle.
Kiefer munched on a mango, saying:”- Yes, it is better to be well prepared. Let Karmenians wait! Politicians always thinking in the will of the people!”-
“There are few politicians now, remember that the president sent them all Senators to Depugno city!”- Mampidu said.
“But he is also a politician! At least, being one is how he rules!”- Kiefer laughed his on phrase…
“Of course: fight the people, and see how you could stand in office. A day or two at the most!”- Mampidu commented.
“More, if you have the Army Forces backing you up.”- Eitwaig said, looking at the river Depugno.
“Not enough! Terror should exist! And I don’t think our President wants that.”- Mampidu said.
“Of course not.”- Kiefer replied, not willing to be seen as a rebel.
155.
THE LIGHTS IN THE SEA.
Seventeen days later, the steamship traversed the last kilometer and went into the open sea, having seen seven commercial ships going up river from Ashar.
“See? Smuggling keeps on! The orders from the Ruler has been ignored!”
“Or the new Lord in there realizes that only poverty comes with stupid enmities brought to extremes!”- Captain Mampidu commented.
“And we are going to damage the lines of commerce with our attack!”- Kiefer said.
“We will see! If talking we get ransom, all would be less violent.”- Mampidu replied.
The captain arrives at night in front of the seaport.
“Put on every light on the steamer! We must be noticed! Let them know we are here!”- He said, and the brilliance reflected on the sea adds to the light on deck and beams, so from the shore the ship was noticed.
“Sir! The flying men have return! They have a strange vessel in front of our port!”- The first Assistant of the newly appointed Leader said.
“What? Those devils here again? Let’s see that!”- Popogogo, the Leader, yelled and in underwear he jumps by the stairs and from the upper terrace of the Presidential palace he saw the menacing glow.
“A powerful vessel! Strange lights, but my spies already told me how they work! A strange force runs by wires… well, I must see these people never returning here! Call the Admiral! The General of the Army! The chief of guards! If I must release eerie crock and murder from jail, I will, so they fight crookedly against those flying vermin!”- Leader Popogogo said in haste.
One hour later, they were talking on the subject…
“Seems its only one ship, my Leader!”- Admiral Kitipong informed.
“We must be sure of that! Send boats to the recognition! Admiral! How many warships did we have in operation?”- Popogogo asked.
“Six, and could be eight if we find more rowers!”- Admiral Farrun said eagerly.
“Send four to the battle! We ignore the kind of weapons they have!”- Leader Popogogo commanded…
“We have big javelin throwers, arrows, and three of our ships have spurs!”- Admiral Farrun commented.
“Very well, at dawn you present battle! They must leave our waters!”- Leader Popogogo said, scratching his beard…
When sawn come captain Mampidu saw four big sailing vessels approaching from the docks. At 200meters, bit javelins were thrown, landing on deck and at starboard, killing three sailors and maiming four others. The steamship swayed with the impact…
“Full ahead! Fire at will!”- Mampidu said, and the guns sent a cloud of shrapnel on the nearer sail ship, killing many of the sailors, that were seen falling down from the mast and rope ladders.
157
THE NAVAL BATTLE.
The sail ships were faster than the steamship, thanks to the morning breeze, and soon one of them hit the left wheel, who broke and stop the axis; grinding noises ensued until machinist Kiefer stop the main pulley and reduce steam by releasing a cloud of vapor that engulfs both ships in a second. Cries of anguish followed, as many sailors get burned by the hot water.
The enemy was on the steamship, falling from the air, through ropes and ladders. The bullets sweep many of them to the sea or on deck. Another sail ship banged unto the hull and gripped the other side of the steamship, while a swarm of Asharians warriors drops on deck, savers at the ready.
Captain Mampidu was fighting from the turret, sending volleys of bullets towards the incoming enemy warriors, another sail ship banged unto the steamship: blood was a slippery sea over deck and filtered inside the engine room by the stairs.
Sensing all was lost, machinist Kiefer geared the central axis, and the big wheels tried to rotate; suddenly the left wheel broke, sending several enemy warriors sky high: all possibility of escape was then lost.
“We are doomed, captain!”- Gunner Monch said, without more ammunition to spare.
“Let’s fight to the end!”- Mampidu growled.
“Let’s escape in the motor boat! It’s our only way out of this turmoil!”- Second machinist Eitwaig yelled.
“Let’s try!”- Captain Mampidu said, after a couple of minutes fighting the enemy with his pistol.
158.-
They descend to the tunnel and opened the gate looking from starboard, a sail ship was posted very near the entrance, captain Mampidu starts the engine, that begin chugging in the small enclosure, filling lungs with fumes, making the men start coughing.
“Inside! It will slide over the inclined platform!”- Kiefer said, moving a lever. The small boat slides, splashed on the water. Pieces of debris fall over the small cabin; packed inside with his closest officers, Captain Mampidu accelerates the machine that rushed pat the sailing boats and the immobile ship. Soon all sounds ceased, except the gasoline engine.
“We are out of danger, now! Pity on my sailors! But we cannot help them.”- Captain Mampidu expressed.
“Yes, this boat is too small to house 200 soldiers! Next time we should have more small boats like this aboard.”- Gunner Monch commented, looking at the controls.
“Pity on lieutenant Keuchan, Sergeant Gasse and many others!”- Mampidu said.
“Affairs of war! Don’t feel bad to be alive, captain! We will explain what happened when we reach Gaza!”- Gunner Monch said.
“Explanations are what they don’t need!”- Captain Mampidu said, looking pale as a cadaver. Over him the guilt will drop as ten tons of steel…
The boat swayed and moved above the now big waves like a mad cork- the propeller goes out of the water here and there,  moving the boat in a jerkily way.
Four hours later, the engine stops.
“What’s going on?”- Mampidu asked.
“The fuel is over, Captain. We must paddle to the coast.”- Machinist Kiefer informed.
159.
AT THE PORTALS OF DEATH.
“What time is it?” – Captain Mampidu asked.
“Noon, Sir. Seems it will be a long day to remember.”- M. Kiefer replied.
“How far are we from the beach?”- C. Mampidu asked.
“Guess about forty five kilometers, Sir.”- Kiefer said, staring at the others.
“Well! Let us reach the beach!”- Captain Mampidu ordered, searching for the oars. Soon four of them were working while the next shift waits. At sixteen hours thirty minutes the keel touched the sand. They all jumped down, leaving the boat unattended.
“Well, lads, let’s see how much could we salvage from the boat and then let’s prepare to march away from here! If the enemy saw the boat, surely they will try to catch up with us, and I tell you, they will be not smiling.”- Captain Mampidu commented.
While they were working carrying what they deemed necessary, Mampidu counted them and recognized it was a small group of sailors: Vorweg, Kiefer, Eitwaig, Monch, Steuer, Vorher and of course, himself…
“Forty eight kilometers to the river Depugno! But we could make a detour: no need to reach the river by the seaside! We just cut through the forest! - Captain Mampidu said.
They walked towards a small hill and looked to the west- jungle and occasionally some mountain. Eitwaig breathed the air, saying:”Oh, the air is so good!”- But in fact, what he wants to say was: “Oh, life is good! I don’t want to die!” Because they were at the portal of death and escaped by the width of a needle…
160.-
They walked by the shrubbery, alerting birds that fly giving sounds of alarm. They find some eggs and before night come, they eat them. The place was an open space among the trees that topped the site with their long and strong branches full of green leaves.
They heard a powerful rumor and suddenly an airplane passed over their stretch of sky. It was enormous and painted in a brilliant pale blue color. And it was gone- the droning of it lost in the distance.
“Did you saw what I saw?”- Helmsman Steuer ask to plotter Vorher.
“A giant airplane nobody as seen before!”- Vorher said, eyes brilliant because he comprehends the effort engineers and workers have made in order to build that magnificent airship—
“Not ours.”- Machinist Eitwaig exclaimed. and he made a draw, with a stick, on the dust of the ground…
161.
THE SMALL CREATURE.
“It must be some country that we still don’t know …around here everything is possible.”- Mampidu exclaimed, and from then until they get asleep, the theme was on their minds.
But must be very far: mines at the near mountains are only our pertinence.” Monch commented.
“Of course. Pity there is no way to land over here!”- Vorweg remarked.
That night the site was very peaceful, and at dawn the first going up was Captain Mampidu, who walked among the bushes to release organic fluids; then he seat at a stone to think and after some moments he realize that in a branch there was a small queer creature, the size of a human hand. It has a pair of wings- like a fly- and it has something in its legs… Soon the creature fly away, leaving him wondering what could it had been… he, of course, didn’t mention it to his men, beware not to be had as a lunatic seeing visions…
162.
That day they marched decidedly by the wood, trying to advance as much as possible: they were very tired when the night comes, and after they were comfortable on the bushes, they heard a couple of fiery roars. The captain Mampidu ask to move away, but Vorher said:” We cannot even move in the dark, captain! How do you think we will find a better site?”
The captain Mampidu did not wait for them to follow, so only a few went with him. They found another place, some 500 meters away, among soft bushes.
When dawn comes, they realize the place was covered with spider webs. In fact, they realize they were bitted everywhere the spider gets a hold, and begin to yell and searching for a stream- they found a water pond, where they bathed and clean their clothes of more smaller spiders that felt those smelly clothes were better than the bush to rummage…
With their yelling, Vorher and some others arrive at a run, and when looking at them naked and full of pock marks, they begin to laugh.
“Order! We are in the middle of nowhere! It could be some beast in the vicinity, and you are calling him with your bellowing!”- Captain Mampidu said, and perhaps to remark his words, a distant roar was heard in that precise moment…
“Do you hear that? “- Captain Mampidu murmured, looking scared. The roar makes them all stare at each other- memories of wild things happening in the woods come rushing to their brains…
“We better get going.”- Captain Mampidu said, starting walking – naked but carrying his clothes on his hands, while the boots hangs by the threads around his neck- the rest of the spider –beaten members of his group follows suite.
Minutes later, they heard that roar again, but this time nearer.
“Or is he following our smell, or what?”- Vorher said.
164.-
“Seems he is trailing on us! Let’s run!”- Eitwaig said, doing so. The rest followed and some 20 minutes later, they stumbled on the grass, exhausted.
“Oh, I am dying of thirst!” – Steuer said.
“Me, too! But fortunately we left the beast away!”- Vorher said. A roar, this time deafening, clears his doubts.
“Can’t be so close! We have been running all the time!”- Eitwaig whispered, not to be heard by the beast.
“Well, some of them beasts outrun a man threefold!”- Monch assured them
“Let’s seek a site where he cannot follow us! See that mountain? That´s where we must climb!”- Captain Mampidu said, changing course. The mountain was three and a half kilometers away, and when reaching its slope, they could see down to the forest where a pair of Achillobator was hurrying after them.
“Let’s surprise them! Let’s throw rocks unto those beasts! - Monch said, and between them begins rolling stones down the slope. Some of the rocks fly twenty meters above ground, tumbling and bouncing in the air, hitting the amazed beast to a pulp. They yelled and went down to see the carcasses.
“We should eat these beasts!”- Monch said, and after some time they indeed begin roasting big chunks of meat until darkness come.
They slep5 a thousand and six hundred meters high on that mountain, that they called “Achillobator Mountain!”
In the next morning, they look to the valley, but a dense fog forbids it until 10.10 hours. They could see, in the distance, another big hill, and captain Mampidu said:” See that mountain? We will be heading towards it! As I assume, behind that mountain is Gaza Town!”
“Good! Only thirty five more kilometers of open jungle.”- Steuer said, spiting to the ground.
They eat meat and at fourteen hours they were already walking under the shade of the tallest trees they every see.
“These trees must be hundreds of years old! Look at their width! More than twenty meters across!”- Vorher said, but the others weren’t interested in trees, except if they have edible fruits…
A stream was crossing their path, and they walked two hours before they could pass to the other side, using an old half rotten tree trunk; the stream roared below, with foamy waters.
“Seems there are no fish in it! Too quick and furious creek I have ever seen!”- Monch said, walking on the tree trunk. The last in crossing was captain Mampidu, who saw a Pteranodon coming from the sky, ready to catch him.
166.-
He jumped to the bushes, while the old dinosaur passed over him trying to grab his body with its powerful claws.
“Here, captain! Hide behind this tree!”- Eitwaig said, heaving him from the ground.
“Thanks! Wow! That was real close!”- Captain Mampidu exclaimed, with a hard thumbing heart.
Later, they find some fruits and keeps on walking- now bushes weren’t as many, so to see around was easier. They saw many rodents, some of them half a meter long that looked like rats.
They heard a far thunder, and then another. In minutes the sky darkened and begins to blow a strong wind. Half an hour later, it has become a gale; every tree was loosing branches, throwing down myriad of leaves and pieces of wood. A giant tree curved and went down with a mighty thud, not a hundred meters away of the group.
“This forest is not safe anymore!  Let’s find a shelter among rocks!”- Captain Mampidu said, trying to find a secure place. A dozen Lycorhinos galloped close to them, hurrying to some ignore safe haven.
The rain begin to pour, and soon the water was twenty centimeters high; soaked, the group finds an outcrop of rocks; over them they seat, bearing the rain over their bodies as best they could all through the night and half of the following morning.
At noon the sun appears and a humid fog covered the air, while the water covered the ground up to a meter high.
167.-
PHYLODON WALKING.
They saw a Phylodon walking around: perhaps searching for something to eat: at 15 hours , three Retosaurus throttled on , and at seventeen hours they descend, finding the water was descending to a mere thirty centimeters deep.
They crossed three creeks befor3e night come; they haven’t eat in the whole day.
“How I wish to find a fruit! But perhaps the season is over for fruits.”- Gunner Monch said.
“Don’t mind about that! There are always bugs to be eaten!”- Machinist Kiefer commented dryly.
“Don’t go around kidding with me! I cannot eat bugs; they are so disgusting!”- Monch reply.
“Yes, but seasoned with real hunger, you will find them very palatable.”- Kiefer said.
They saw another,- or perhaps the same that they saw before- herbivorous dinosaur, a brachiosaur iguanodontian, this one measuring one meter long, forty five centimeters tall that was chomping on a white root.
“Perhaps we could eat roots, captain! I have a big hunger right now!”- Monch proposed.
“We need to hunt! If there are no fruits, we must kill our lunch from now on!”- Captain Mampidu said, and they cut branches, to use them as lances. They search for that vegetarian creature, but it was gone and with it the daylight.
“Wish we could start a fire! I’m trembling with cold!”- Steuer said.
“No way! Everything is wet right now!”- Captain Mampidu commented.
They spent another frigid night in the darkness; no stars were to be seen because of the black clouds overhead.
That night a cold wind blows, numbing their limbs, so they need to walk and move from time to time, not to freeze to death. Captain Mampidu begins to realize they will die before their arrival to Gaza town if he doesn’t think in a solution.
At the next day he begins to walk looking for a place where to stay for the winter: weather was going to be worst by the week…
At the fourth day they were near a couple of hills, with a stream of water between them- the faces of those hills have rocks, caves, trees- most of them were fruit trees but now without them because of the time of the year… animals grazed around, most of them coming to drink.
Without telling them his idea he made them rest in a cave, and later slept in it. At the next morning he said: Today we will hunt! Many days eating less than we need are no good!”
And they sharpened their lances and the blows were really louse made, so the lances were, for them, the best option.
169.
HUNTING TO EAT.
They get four rodents and a bird; they roasted it after taking their hides and plumes.
“Nice! Salted are not…!”- Eitwaig commented.
“You cannot expect to find salt in a jungle!”- Vorher said, thinking that it was not as tasty an Achillobator meat, but they could be not choosy, having not real weapons at hand…
They explore around, finding small tubercles, that looks as potatoes- they cook then but the taste was not good.
“We must hunt! And make traps!” Captain Mampidu said, and they realize he was willing to stay instead of to keep on walking.
They made cords with liana.
“This vines are strong enough1 Seems we will eat rats for quite a while!”- Vorweg said.
“Oh, no!! I expect to hunt Lycorhinos!”- Kiefer said, adding:” Next time I will buy a fine rifle and I will almost sleep with it! So, the next time astride in the middle of nowhere I will shoot for my meals twice a day!”
“Good for you! Hey! Seems our captain gets sick of walking!”- Vorher said.
“Yes, perhaps he is trying to harden us all before the next leg!”- Kiefer replied.
170.
That day they catch 8 rodents and 2 birds; as there were no practical way to preserve the meat, they eat it all in one dinner.
“Nice catch! But tell us, captain Mampidu: when do you think we will keep on walking?”- Vorweg asked.
“Why the rash? Are you feeling bad in here? Remember all those days of hard march and no food enough!”- Captain Mampidu said.
“Of course I remember, Sir! But I am thinking in my family and friends too! Perhaps half a day of marching could be better than to stop completely! “- Vorweg said, looking at his companions for support. Kiefer said:”- “He is right, captain! It’s better to go slow than to stop! Hear: we could use half a day to hang and half a day to walk! In that way we improve our possibilities!”
“Yes, I adhere to their proposition, Sir!”- Vorher said. Captain Mampidu realizes he was in the minority, so he said:” Very well, tomorrow we march. Let’s rest for today and in the next early morning, we march!”
And by the smiling faces, he realize he have donned the correct thing. That night they heard roars but as always, darkness was so absolute and so they cannot see the animal that was producing such a bedlam…
Early in the morning, Mampidu descends from the cave to find foots prints and now that was an easy thing to do as mud and clay was abundant. The footprint found, it shows a big size: 60 centimeters long, 27 centimeters wide, showing the indenture of three large claws.
“Spinosaurus!”- He muttered for himself. That only tells one thing for him: a river should be near or perhaps a lagoon of some sorts… Vorweg approaches and said:” Quite a brute, captain?”
“Yes, must be the mating season! As I cannot believe that he was our hunting with all of that hollering!”- Captain Mampidu opinioned.
“And he has gone the same direction we hare heading.” – Vorweg commented, doing a noise with his tongue.
“Nothing to do about it! This place must be teeming with ferocious beasts; I am sure it will be required a big lot of luck to walk out of this jungle alive!”- Captain Mampidu said, marching now to the cave.
“Up, up! Everybody up! We must depart before a rain or something worst gets in between! – Captain Mampidu yelled- he was ill tempered because now he will be doing what the majority wants and not him! His idea of to wait in the cave was hard to erase from his mind.
They marched for three hours and then the rain start and they seek refuge under three trees very tightly located.
“Wow! Seems it will never stop!”
“Well, I told you to wait for another warmer season!”- Mampidu said.
172.
They don’t reply, but ascertained they were that to stop could be like surrender to their destinies. Four hours of waiting and three animals captured were the end result- every animal was chased by Vorweg and his lance, he devel9oped a fine marksmanship because he keeps on practicing when everyone else quits to rest.
They advanced 12 kilometers before night come. Captain Mampidu lit a fire where to heat their bodies and dry their soaked clothes. The wind makes dance the fire while he was saying: Tonight we have no roof upon our heads; let’s find branches and let’s build a thatched roof to be under cover!”
And they work on that in a dry place next to some rocks, seat under the roof and after the rain falls for several hours, night come and they try to sleep in a seat position that was not an easy thing to do.
When night was over, they saw two rodents sleeping next to them, and they didn’t hurt them out of comradeship- and a lot of smiles...
173.
COMPANIONS OF THE NIGHT.
They start walking by the water soaked ground, under a grizzle that lasted until 16.40 hours; they hunt 2 rodents- wishing they weren’t the same “partners” from the passed night- and they roasted them with much effort as almost every branch was wet.
After eating, they walked another 20 kilometers , reaching a ravine 30 meters deep and densely forested; they need not to build a roof because that night rains didn’t fall at that particular spot.
“How far from that mountain we saw from here, captain?”- Vorher asked.
“Less than ten kilometers! But with this rain and clouds, difficult to spot it easily.”- Captain Mampidu said, munching a root.
“I will climb a tree! Surely we couldn’t be too far!!- Eitwaig said, and choosing a very tall tree, he begins to climb. When at 20 meters high, a ray fall from the sky, cutting the tree in half; he grabbed a branch and saw the ground coming towards him. So he jumps at the last moment.
“Eitwaig! Where are you?”- His compani0ons yelled; he raise a hand from a pool of mud, spitting dirty water- one of them saw him and said:” Look, there he is!”
174.-
Half stunned, he walks a few paces and fall over the branches of that half burned tree. Captain Mampidu and others carried him to higher ground and clean his face with water.
“He is alive but obviously not too well!”- Kiefer said, noticing that Eitwaig was now shoeless...
When the night come, he recover his senses and said:”- What a fall! That was close!”-
“Yes, and you were lucky! Sorry, but your shoes are somewhere below that tree trunk!”- Mampidu commented.
“It’s better to lose a pair of old shoes than my life!”- Eitwaig said.
That day they repose and slept under a roof made with branches and wide leaves; it rains half of the night, and the sun (star Kenate) shines bright at the next morning.
Captain Mampidu said:” Let’s try to hunt a bigger animal! Our friend Eitwaig needs a new pair of shoes”.
Up until then, only one bigger animal was captured (the Achillobator) so they stayed trying to kill some animal big enough to make a pair of flips flops…
The handy Lycorhinus appears and was stabbed to death, and after running seven kilometers after the bleeding animal, captain Mampidu ends the life of the creature using a stone 6 kilograms in weight.
75.
A GROUP OF FRIENDS.
“Wow! It cracks like a nut!”- Monch said.
“Yes, I am an assassin… help with those sharp stones, we must skin this beast before flies comes!”- Captain Mampidu said.
After two hours, they were eating roasted meat and trying to make a pair of loafers. Eitwaig said: “I thank you all for this you are more than a crew lost in a jungle!”
“Oh, yes? And what are we, then?”- Vorweg asked.
“A group of friends!”- Eitwaig exclaimed, and more than one of them laughed, to hide their embarrassment.
The pair of shoes serves him nice, and more than one of them considered the idea of to abandon the old shoes and make one of those leather flips flops… but stick with the old ones.
Four days later they arrive to the foot of the giant mountain: its summit was lost in the clouds, and about 100 meters high, on a platform, they saw a monolith; they climb there and at the base there was a sculpture five meters tall, of some kind of creature with round eyes and a hand handling a wooden artifact, now eroded by the time and the weather.
“Look some humans did this! I wonder how old it is!”- Eitwaig said who was the first arriving there.
176.
“Seems to me that he is pointing at something- and it’s at the same point we must go, if we want to find Gaza city”- Mampidu commented, and using his lance, he detached the object from that sculpture.
It banged on the ground, broking in pieces. From the inside a metallic rod clanked on the ground, and Steuer takes it, saying:” Gold!”
In fact, it was made of gold and it weighs around five kilograms: captain Mampidu grabs it and said:” Folks! Now we have something valuable that could ease our pains at our return to civilization!”
They move to the side of the mountain, and stayed there by night: a distant glow shows indication of human presence.
“See? The fiery lights of Gaza city! Folks! Just a few more days and will be there!”_ Captain Mampidu said, and they all looked very happy.
At the next day, early in the morning, they descend from that slope and walked by the woods. Not two kilometers away from the mountain, they saw several Sanpasaurus that were near some big ferns. Two of them- the males- charged over the group, that respond throwing lances- one of them stumbled to the ground, and Captain Mampidu runs there with a huge rock, stumble and breaks a leg of that Sanpasaurus. The yell scared the rest of those Sanpasaurus, that went away in a stampede that chooks the ground.
177.
THE BIG SNAKE.
I’m looking at a big banquet! Bring me sharp stones! Kiefer: start the fire!”-Captain Mampidu said, rubbing his knees- as he stumbled to the ground after throwing that rock…
Two hours later, the meat was being roasted, and the hides were being scrubbed to retire all the grease it has.
“Seems we could preserve this hide to make us some new coats!”- Vorweg said.
“We will look rather strange when stepping on those streets! Like a bunch of savages! I wonder what our wives will say about our external appearance!”- Eitwaig commented.
“I am beginning to think in our first night together- me and my wife! I am pretty sure I will find her the most beautiful lady in town!”- Steuer said, laughing.
They eat and then search refuge to pass the night- they walked for two more kilometers, finding a small ravine, where they hide the roasted meat not eaten yet.
That night they kill several snakes, that possibly lives there and roamed by night; the bonfire catch on the rest of that ravine trees, and the smoke makes run away several dozen spiders the size of a knee, and more than a dozen snakes, the bigger of them some 4 meters long, 45 centimeters thick, with a very ugly triangular head that have protruding horns in black color.
178.
Early in the morning they climb out of the ravine, commenting on the already extinguished fire.
“Really a big fire! Fortunately it didn’t catch on the rest of the forest! It could have been a real ecological disaster!”- Captain Mampidu said.
“Yes: we humans easily forget how harmful some of our actions could become.”- Vorweg replied.
At 16.00 hours of that same day, they found a dirt road.
“Look! Our friends have reached up to here! Soon we will arrive to Gaza!” – Captain Mampidu said, kneeling to see pneumatic signs, but the lines were of a cartwheel…
They trod by the dirt road, and before sunset they saw a farm with many animals in pens, fruit trees in line, and two or three persons working at a field; they shouted and the men approaches, timidly at first- as our friends have lances and bows.
“Hi! Who are you, people?”- A fat big farmer asked them.
“Oh, honest farmer! Our story is large but suffices it to say we crashed our plane in the jungle and we have been walking back since then!”- Captain Mampidu said.
“You look like you go through a hell of a time! Come inside the house! It’s early for dinner, but I assume you are starving after your ordeal by the forest!”- The farmer said, and guided them to the house; inside a woman prepared them a hot meal, looking afraid of those bearded men so suddenly appeared from nowhere…
Other men approaches, looking at them and eager to hear their tales.
The owner of that house said, while they were eating:”- I think you are extra lucky guys! Because person that get lost in the jungle, sure thing he does not come back anymore!” - And some others nodded hearing that phrase.
The woman at the kitchen and four children were also there, looking at those savage looking men eating as in a race…
Captain Mampidu takes several mouthfuls of food and said:”- We kill dinosaurs, eat eggs, roots and even worms in our trek! We make weapons from the branches of the trees, we walk until exhausted! And here are we, asking you some means of transport, to reach Gaza city!”-
Oeno, the owner of that cabin, rubbed his chin and said:”- You must wait for the engine truck to appear! It will come to fetch some animals into town! But don’t you worry! You will have a room where to sleep and I will give you some old clothes of mine- you cannot smell worst with the ones you are using!”- And after his phrase, everyone laughed- even Captain Mampidu and his men!
“Thanks you and we all appreciate your gesture!”- Captain Mampidu said, looking at Oeno´s children that were staring at them in wonder. Later, they did receive old clothes from the patron of the house. Shoes, shirts and even trousers.
Ratakerna, the wife of Oeno, takes some courage and said:”- You are looking a lot better now! I will cut beards and the hair from your heads, but first you must bathe!”
Everybody went under those pair of scissors, as Ratakerna wishes to see civilized men around, and not savages with pestering clothes!
180.
OENO, FARMER AND RESCUER.
There were laughter and rubbing of hands they cut hairs and beards. The master of the house looked at them when the operation ends, and said:” Well, now you look as teenagers ready to attend School!”
“Thanks for your hospitality, Sir! And we want to serves you in the toils of your farm- at least while we wait for that truck!”- Mampidu said, saying it in representation of his team.
“Of course, but don’t overwork: you are recovering and must take things in a slow measured manner.”- Oeno said.
His wife was happy because, at the next morning, they help learn a farm’s job, amid jokes. A pair of young women arrives, to see the strangers, and in two days the love begins and kisses resounds in the night corners. The third day come and goes without a truck arriving to the farm.
“What is happening with the truck? This was the third day! - Captain Mampidu asks at dinner time.
“Well, possibly tomorrow it will arrive! We have never been itching about schedule! Are you in a hurry, or bad treated here?”- Oeno asked, knife in the air.
“Oh, no! Of course not! Just asking.”- Captain Mampidu said, realizing he was molesting his host with his questions…
181.
AFFINA.
Monch said:” And tell me, Mr. Oeno, if any of us wants to stay here and work for you, are you going to accept him?”
Oeno changes the stare from Mampidu to Monch and said:” You can stay and work for me for a wages, but bear in mind I am not a wealthy man, and my wages amount to 230.000 sopes a month.”
Monch was in love with Afinna, one of Oeno´s women relatives recently visiting the house, and after a look at her, who was smiling near the group, he said:” Count me as your new farmer! I will work as hard as the next man!”- Monch said, smiling to Afinna, who blinks an eye in his direction.
They finish their meal without any other point of importance to write on, and at their dormitory, Mampidu said:” Well, folks, we are almost ready to depart. And you, Monch, why do you want to stay in this forlorn kind of place?”
“I am having a romance with Afinna! She is a delicious kind of woman and my heart begin to drum as soon as she is near me. I guess that is a good sign of love!”- Monch replied, and several men laughed.
“Yes, I know the heart advices us when our mate appears! Be happy and take good care of yourself… and if you ever need a helping hand, search for me at Gaza City.”- Captain Mampidu offered.
“Thanks you! I will remember.”- Monch said, smiling.
182.
Later, Monch saw his lover in a field, where they embrace each other and she said:”Oh, my love! I was so afraid my uncle could refuse your request for a job! Now we could be together!”
“Yes, be mine and I will stay here for evermore!”- Monch said, hugging her. A soft rain begins to fall, and she said:”Come to my house! I live with my mother in a small house, and I know she will accept you there, as I have been talking very well about you.”
They run towards that house, and it was like the first day of a honeymoon that will last for many a week…
That night goes very quickly away, and at the next morning, a bit truck appears next to Oeno´s shack, chugging and clacking by the road. It was a veritable iron monster, spitting smoke and sparks of fire by a chimney 3 meters tall. The wheels were made of solid steel, and were towing a big iron wagon behind.
A pair of men descended, saluting the farmer that invites them to have breakfast. Meanwhile, Captain Mampidu revised the truck with his team.
“Alas! A steam truck! Must be a hundred years old!”- Kiefer said.
“35 kilometers per hour, as the indicator reads!”- Vorweg commented.
“Forget it! This locomotive cannot surpass the 15 kilometers per hour!”- Eitwaig said, looking at the furnace, where a chunk of charcoal was burning red hot.
“Well, we cannot be choosy. At least we will be seated and enjoying the view!”- Vorher said.
183.
THE STEAM TRUCK.
That afternoon everyone begin working in the cargo of that wagon, and at 21.30 hours the labor ends. Several tons of vegetables and some animals in pens were inside the truck. The driver, a dark man with black bulging eyes, said to Captain Mampidu:” We will depart right away. Tell your men to climb unto the machine! There is room on the coal wagon- sorry about that.”
“It’s of no importance for us, Sir! We have slept on mud before.”- Captain Mampidu replied.
They said goodbye to Monch, who was very nervous… he was facing the consequences of his love affair…
“Bye, captain! If you ever come this way, please come to see me.”- Monch said. The men looked at him in compassion, while captain Mampidu was saying:”- I will be here visiting you before you know it!”
They climb on the truck, and with the enough steam pressure, it starts and giving an ample curve, it begins to dwindle in the distance. Afinna presses Monch´s hand to comfort him of the loss…
The lights from the truck makes a clear path in front of them- the engine puffed, the wheels turns, and the driver said:” We don’t stop for anything! So you must do your things out of the machine! No bathroom in here!”- And he chuckled.
Captain Mampidu helps the stoker with the shovel, and they were accepted as companions of the route.
184.
THE ADASAURUS ATTACK.
Some two hours later, a big Aelosaurus appears, running directly towards the truck; the driver said: “Hang to something!”
But the beast passed by a side, at the last moment.
“He was on the run! What could have been chasing him?”- The driver asked. The reply to his question appears seconds later: a huge ferocious looking Adasaurus appears at a trot; this one attacks the truck, moving it slightly to a side, broking his bigger horn unto the main wheel, that cracked it to pieces; soon the beast was lost in the darkness  of the night. The driver, Mr. Zoarga, said:” And some guys speak in a derisory way of my truck! I would like to see them in a smaller truck when big dinosaurs come running to ram the vehicle!”
“Yes! This is a veritable Destroyer ship on wheels!” – Captain Mampidu said.
In the morning they drink hot coffee (ersatz) and bread; the driver said:” We will be at Gaza tonight! So, a little fast will not harm anyone!”
“Don’t you worry, Sir? We are accustomed to these hazards in life!”- Captain Mampidu said, dismissing the lack of food as a trifle thing. Of course, not everyone was of his idea, but kept their thoughts for themselves…
At noon, a group of Inosaurus were blocking the dirt road, but with a hose, the driver throw ardent air unto the beasts, that soon were galloping away, all of this without stopping the iron machine.
The day ended with the truck parking near the outer wall of Gaza City, among warehouses.
“Thanks you, Mr. Zoarga, your truck has been a great help for us.”- Captain Mampidu said.
At the street, the group walks by the streets looking at people with delight- no dinosaurs in here! They arrived to Headquarters half an hour later. The arrival raises a big turmoil on the Base, and soon general Pinorto and Captain Rufus appears in front of them.
“What happens with your expedition, captain? And where have you been?” – General Pinorto asked.
“We lost the ship in a terrible storm and without other means of transportation; we walked by the forest until arriving here.”- Captain Mampidu said.
“So you lost the steamship?”- General Pinorto looked desolate.
“It’s on the bottom of the sea! Sorry to say, it was too heavy to withstand a gale like we suffered in that opportunity.”- Mampidu said.
“Heavy? My engineers build it water proof! I cannot believe this!”- General Pinorto signaled to Steuer, and added:”- Tell me what happens with the steamship Wait! Think it very carefully before giving any answer! I want the truth!”-
Steuer looked at Captain Mampidu and said:” Sorry, captain! But I must tell our general the truth!”
“What? Why are you asking captain Mampidu about this? Tell the General the truth of what happened!”- Captain Rufus said, reddening.
“Well, the truth I will tell you now. But don’t think badly on captain Mampidu.”- Steuer said.
“Come on, man Say what you have to say!”-General Pinorto growled with blazing eyes.
“Well, there we were, when the big wind and the big waves come around us! They the ship was sunk under that fiery storm! And we went ashore half naked, and then we walked for many days among dinosaurs and things until arriving here.”- Steuer said, much to the annoying of the General, who was supposing to hear a different story.
Captain Mampidu said:” We fail in our mission, General. I present my resignation right now, if you think we were careless! “-
General Pinorto stared at him and said:” Oh, no, it will be not so easy for you and your crew! You will stay on the Army Forces until I decide about this”- And with a final stare, he leaves the place with big strides.
187.
PRESIDENT ADIPALIS RECEIVES GENERAL PINORTO.
“Really, you lost the ship?”- Captain Rufus asked.
“Of course, are you deaf?”- Mampidu answered. Rufus looks at them and went away.
The group walked out of that room, and at the inner street captain Mampidu said:”- Well donned guys. Especially you, Steuer: you really make the general beginning to think you will be telling him different than mine!”
“Yes, that joke on him was very good!”- Steuer said, and they all laughed.
At the next day, General Pinorto was received by President Adipalis Praefoco.
Adipalis was seated at his new mahogany desk, with a secretary near him, to take notes of the meeting.
“Good day, General Pinorto. Please take a seat. What is the news you brought me now?”_ Adipalis asked.
“Bad news, Sir. Do you remember the special operation with a steamship towards Ashar city?”
“Yes, we were going to provide with cheap goods to the citizens of Karme city.”- Adipalis said.
“Our mission fails. The steamship was sunk by a tempest, the crew returns yesterday. They look harassed, thin and haunted. They have been walking by the jungle since their ship goes underwater.”- General Pinorto explains, with a twitching side of his lips.
Adipalis pressed his nose with his right hand and said:”- Well, pity on that steamship. But happily, the crew comes back intact.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”- General Pinorto said, not willing to say that more than 200 men were lost.
“I guess there is another way to make Karme city become happy in some form. Thanks, General. And thanks those braves in my name, too. It wasn’t their fault, and I excuse myself: being a secret mission, I cannot give them some medals of honor.”- Adipalis said.
“Of course, Mr. President. I will transmit your words to them; I am sure they will understand.”- General Pinorto said, smiling in an innocent way. The truth was that he was going to extract the truth of their failing in any way possible, because he just cannot believe a steamship could sunk just because a tempest.
Adipalis sent for his Ministry of National Defense, Mr. Abwesend, and said:” The missions we sent towards Ashar have failed.”
“Yes, Mr. President, I knew about it just minutes ago. Do you want to send the other steamship towards Ashar?”- Abwesend asked.
“No! I desist of such a thing! But I need a stronger Navy. See to it.”- Adipalis ordered.
“We have five men o´arms, each with 20 cannons, and one steamship capable of to fire 6 cannons towards enemy vessels at the same time.”- Abwesend said.
189.
INCREASE THE NAVY SHIPS.
“Increase those numbers! 15 sail ships properly armed and 5 steamships it is were I require! I am thinking on the “Associates” and their Navy. I am sure they have 30 gunship! I tremble when I think on them, arriving by the river with 30 armored sail ships and hundreds of soldiers on board! Not even with our superior armament will be enough to stop them!”- Adipalis said.
“But, Sir! You have 20 air bombers, 20 hunter airships! Surely we will be able to defeat that supposed enemy force, if they come!”- Abwesend replied.
“Hope you are right! But work in what I am saying: more ships, more guns, trained sailors in a combat at close range!”- Adipalis ordered, not telling from where money will be extract to pay for all of these…
Later, he calls on Tignuma to tell about the aborted failed mission.
“Dear: destiny decrees you were not to become a pirate! Now our prestige is unpolluted! I prefer things like this.”- Tignuma said, gong to the bathroom. Adipalis waits for her to return to bed and said:” General Pinorto was acting queer today! Something is amiss, in his general behavior. He is not telling me the whole truth.”
Tignuma stared at him, stark naked, and said:”Do you like what you are seeing?”
“You look like a twenty years girl!”- He said, very interested in her body.
190.
“Oh, you fool! No, I mean, in that situation: soldiers returning empty handed! “- Tignuma said, getting into bed.
“Well, I am relieved. If they come back alive, we know why they fail. I am glad to think nobody gets hurt in the process!”- Adipalis commented.
“It’s your duty to know if there is some trick on what General Pinorto told you. But I guess it’s not of importance! About the missing steamboat, just make another and the people will ignore the matter absolutely! Although it’s not of their concern, either!”- Tignuma said, embracing him tightly…
Adipalis soon forget all about the missing steamship and the doubts on General Pinorto´s briefing, because Tignuma was in his arms…
Captain Mampidu was sent, days later, to command a rescue boat in the river; his mission was to rescue people that could crash or sunk their boats while traversing the river. His crew was of five sailors, and among them just one was of his former crew: Vorweg. This situation lasted for eight months, and ended when his letter of resignation was finally approved.
“Well, Vorweg! I am going out of Service! You keep on in this small boat!”- Mampidu said.
“Yes, captain! I detest life on solid ground!”- Vorweg said, embracing his chief. Mampidu leaves the city of Gaza and went to live the rest of his life at Karme city, where he opens a Book Store, where he preferred to read seafaring stories…
THE END.
Wednesday 13, January 2016.
Typed: 20 November 2017.