An Explanation from the Author:
Some of my readers have questioned the use of some foul language in
this book. In explanation I must say that the rapture has occurred - we
now have only the unbeliever in the world. If you have comments after
reading this short selection - or the entire book please e-mail the Author:
This story was written for the secular world!
E. Forrest Hein
To The Reader
This story is true - events will unfold that will prove its veracity.
The names of the characters and places are fictitious.
Any resemblance to living persons is purely coincidental.
Dates have been chosen arbitrarily to coincide with the days of the
week and time of the year and are not meant to be predictive of future
events.
1 - Crisis - 1
Sunday Morning 0548 Hours
YOU MIGHT SAY THAT CRISIS was Emanuel Burgarino's middle name.
He thrived on it. But today, as his short legs negotiated the back
stairs at the White House, one too many crises had surfaced. Clearing the
first floor landing a voice stopped his descent to the lower level and the
passageway that led to the West Wing Situation Room, located in the basement.
"Hey Mannie, did you get the Pres?" The questioner was Emory
Prescott, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, a four star general.
"Yes, I caught him in his jogging suit," the portly press secretary
replied, breathlessly. "He said he'd join us at 0600. Did
you get hold of Quince and Adams?"
"The Vice President is on his way, but Adams didn't answer his phone.
I've got the operators trying to track him down at State." The General
joined the press secretary on the stairs, "Jesus, would you believe it,"
he scoffed, "Old Donny Boy wanted me to brief him on the phone, he said
he had an early morning golf game and wanted to know if this thing was
really important. The whole world is falling apart and our VP wants
to know if it's important."
"It's a good thing you didn't say anything. He'd probably spill
the beans to Madelyn and before long; Papa in Evansville would have it
all over the front page. It's best we keep this quiet until we really
know what's happening." Mannie's reporter's instincts told him, this
was not a routine story.
Neither man thought much of John Barry's choice for Vice President.
Donald Quince's grasp of the obvious was often less than spectacular and
his inability to communicate verbally at times left both of them speechless.
Yet, somehow he had managed to catch the imagination of the President,
a man who had known the humility of the second-class position when he was
Vice President. As a result Quince was included in every important
presidential meeting, and occasionally was given responsibilities that outreached
his talents.
Quince was blessed with a wife of exceptional capability. Madelyn
was only daughter of newspaper publisher Howard Preminger II, heir with
her brother to the Preminger fortune. Her father was the great-grandson
of the original founder of the Evansville Star Tribune, a Midwestern daily
that became the cornerstone of the Preminger Empire, a nationwide network
of conservative radio stations and newspapers. Whether by genetics
or otherwise Madelyn was dealt a full deck of cards and she had the good
sense to know how to play them. Without Madelyn, Donald was nothing,
and he knew it.
John Barry thoroughly enjoyed his job. With almost boyish enthusiasm
he relished the pomp and ceremony that surrounded the office, the helicopters,
Air Force One, and the attention of the press, that institution that could
turn on you with a moment's notice, pouncing on every inconsistency or
impropriety. Occasionally a childish giddiness would overtake the
chief executive that was difficult to conceal. Even during the most
serious moments, as he faced the television cameras and the two hundred
fifty million viewers and voters they represented, a slight smile would
appear at the corners of his mouth, betraying the innermost fact that he
was a like a kid on the throne, the President of the world's most powerful
nation. It was in one of these playful moods, early in his presidency,
that he attached the moniker "Donny Boy" to Donald Quince. It was
not unusual for him to enter a meeting room singing a tune that reflected
his optimistic attitude towards life, the world and circumstances, and
on that particular day he had entered a meeting crooning "Oh, Donny Boy,"
to the tune Danny Boy. From that time on John Barry referred, affectionately,
to the Vice President in that way. The White House staff members were
quick to use that name in their private references, and out of earshot of
Donald Quince.
The book is available from the publisher using this toll free
number 1-800-381-2665 or order The Ruach Project from
Barnes
& Noble.
An Explanation from the Author: and 1 - Crisis - 1 -
Any comments please e-mail the Author