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End of chapter 18
He has everything we need, blond, blue eyes, good looks and American. With my training and direction, he can be the perfect puppet. He will be the one to turn this country around to our way and once we have the United States - it will be a Muslim world. We will have avenged the Crusades. We will have a new Islamic world Empire with him as Sultan, but you and I will be the real power behind the throne."
Chapter 19
"So we are in agreement then? You will run for the Lieutenant Governor's spot. You will not challenge the Governor in the primary and you will support the Party," Dan said.
"I will have to talk this over with Jess. I know this will be a great disappointment to him. He was looking forward to living in the Governor's Mansion. However, I do know he is against my running in a primary. In fact, whenever I talked about the possibility, he was vehemently opposed to it. Along with other reasons, he thought it would be fruitless and would only make more enemies than friends."
"He was right about that. Besides costing millions, primaries do not weed out the weaker candidates but they do hurt the party unity. In the old days candidates were chosen by party bosses who knew who could win. And winning was all that mattered. That kid of yours has a good political mind. We will have to watch him and be careful with him," the Party Chairman laughed, "or, he may wind up becoming the puppet master and pulling our strings."
"That's why I'm training him. And why I need you to also help me train him. Like I told you before - by the time we are ready to make our big move -- he will be 'one of us'. He will be a secrete but loyal member of the Army of Islam. And, as such, we will direct and control him," the Judge assured his relative. "I can almost see it now. He is going to be the Al-Mahdi (savior) who will avenge our an-Nakba (Catastrophe). With him in the White House and you and I right there behind him, we will not fail this time. We will change the whole country to the ways of Allah. We will institute our law and rule by the will of Allah. There are times when the soldiers of Allah must ally themselves with the enemy in order to win the ultimate prize. This may be one of them. As far as the deal which you just offered, I will talk to him and let you know our answer as soon as possible."
"No, Yethro. I'm sorry, but that is not good enough! This is one of those times when we act now or lose the opportunity. I must have your answer tonight. The Party has to have the time to arrange the change. There must be some political inducement for the present Lieutenant Governor to give up the position."
"Does he know about the cancer?"
"No, aside from his doctors, family, you and I, no one else knows and it can not get out or we lose everything."
"What little tidbit are you going to dangle before the present Lieutenant Governor's eyes to get him off the ticket?"
"A seat on the State Appellate Court has opened up and we must fill it right away. It should be enough to make him happy and I know that he will prefer that, rather then having to run in another political election," Dan said. "After all he is a lawyer and this will give him a chance to rewrite the law as we want it."
"That should be enough to seal the deal. Okay, I'll tell you what. You go back out to the pool and tell Jessie to come in here. I'll talk it over with him. While we are doing that, you and the guys can change into swim trunks and take a dip in the pool. After Jess and I talk it over, we will join you and let you know our decision. Is that fair enough?"
"It sure is and Yethro, believe me, this is the best deal you are ever going to get."
Yethro sat down and finished his cup of tea as Dan went back to the pool where he found that the other members of his committee and Jess were already in bathing gear and splashing around in the pool. Jess did a Jackknife dive off the board and when he came up Dan signaled him to come to the side of the pool. "Your father would like to talk with you in the library. He wants your opinion on what we just talked about. If I were you -- I would make him see the logic of the situation and I hope you can convince him to work with us."
"Sir, as a relative, you know that once the Judge has his heels set in the ground, there is usually nothing anyone can do to change his mind. I love him -- but..."
"Yes, I know that streak of stubborn 'Bedouin' in him, but if anyone can change his mind, it is you! Go, he is waiting for you! Just dry yourself off and go right in. Not being a full Bedouin myself, I can not understand what you have that makes him so receptive, but as long as you can make him see the light, you have my seal of approval. Try anything. Use your charms. I'm sure that once you think about it you yourself will agree that it really is a good deal and the only chance we may have. Now, be a good boy and show me where the trunks are. The pool looks real inviting. I'm going to join the boys. When you and Yethro are finished come join us."
Jessie showed him where the extra suits were and then wrapping himself in a large towel he went into the Library where he found Yethro sitting in the big overstuffed chair behind his desk. "Quick, close the door! I want to get your opinion on this offer. It is better than I expected. I don't even have to fight for the job. They are giving it to me on a silver platter." Yethro swore him to silence and then explained the deal. "Well, what do you think of it?"
Jessie went over to him and asked, "Is it permitted to kiss the next Governor? I think it's a great deal. Even, if by some chance the man lives out his entire term in office, you will still be in place to replace him in four years. You get almost everything -- without having to battle for it. It will give you a foot in the door of power. Once that door is ajar -- we can kick down the door and take it all! Yes, lover, take the offer and take it quickly, before they realize what they have given away and change their minds."
