Solomon's Private File #308
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 29 in this story, in the Winter of 2055-2056.
Solomon's Private File #308 "In Kazakhstan"
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I said in the Baptist leader's office, "You wanted to see me. I'm
here. So?" He said, "Many of our church leaders are asking what they're
supposed to do about what's been revealed about the life of Jesus." I
said, "In order for anybody to answer that question intelligently, one
would need to know why they're are asking, and who they're asking. A
little help?" He smiled, and said, "They're asking me, probably with
the assumption I would get the word from you. They haven't actually
said why." I said, "Well, one reason could be they're being asked by
their assistants or their victims. There would be different answers to
them. If it's just the preachers asking, then it's their choice what to
do about it. If it's their pew warmers, then you need to hold a
national meeting to make your own policy about that, before some other
people force the issue. My opinion is, I don't have one. It's not my
issue. I didn't create the lies. Be grateful you aren't Catholics, who
have their whole year planned in detail around mostly nothing real,
which many have known for years."
He grinned, and said, "Yes, I see." I said, "If a church wants to
keep doing what they've been doing, what's wrong with that? It's the
message that counts, not the picky historic details. People SHOULD be
as Jesus wanted them to be. Of course it's not going to happen to
everybody, but the journey and the goal is a good one. Better than not
doing it. Have Jews changed how they worship, after my Father published
a few lives? Buddhists, after the full life story was published? Not at
all. Religion isn't just about faith, or worship, or obeying rules and
commandments, it's also tradition, and more than people usually
realize. A familiar ritual is very comforting in the changing world
full of uncertainty. It's a community, held together by tradition, with
a shared will and goals. An identity. Clearing up a few factual errors
doesn't change that, and shouldn't."
I said, "Some people might want to use this as an excuse to abandon
their religions." He nodded. I said, "And that's what it will be; just
an excuse to do what they were already going to do. The eternal blame
game. They never understood or accepted the basic message in their
worship, and their lives show that. God is real. His Major Prophets
were real, and that includes Jesus. That there were many obvious
discrepancies and contradictions, and at times, foolish writing, in the
Bible, caused many people to not believe. Now there can be much less
doubt. All people know God directly, at least four times a year. Much
of what's in the Bible is now known to be true, if not completely
accurate in detail. The important messages are there, and still true.
Religion is even MORE real than it ever has been in two thousand years!
I don't think that's a bad thing. If it's not used to justify being bad
to people. Or people being bad to themselves about this."
He said, "You MUST share this with the world!" I said, "I don't think
trees would care about this." That mixed him up a little, and I
grinned. He chuckled, and said, "I understand. Diffusing my emotions
you felt uncomfortable with." I said, "Did you think that by announcing
that, you helped?" He said, "Not from what I see. Will you?" I said,
"Yes. As a requested discussion with you?" He said, "Please."
I played it back, with an intro first, explaining why we were
meeting, and then with the comments, starting after the Catholic
comment, and ending before my trees comment, audio only. He said, "That
will work." I said, "You know I'm going to get some important calls
about this." He grinned, and said, "Nice calls." I said, "Ha, I hope."
We hugged.
I dropped a recording and crystal on CNN's desk. Pres read it, and
said, "I know you hear me. Thanks. Good one. We'll repeat it, and with
text, too." I sent him a ghostly thumb's up sign. He grinned. Of course
it happened. I received the expected gratitude calls from the religious
leaders. It even made headlines; "Solomon says religions don't have to
and received pokes and chuckles.
In his office, the President of LDS said to me, "You're not going to
do Smith?" I said, "I advise you to not request that." He grinned, and
said, "Noted!" I said, "But Warren Jeffs?" He said, "All of it?" I
said, "Rapes included." He said, "With my blessing. My I write an
introduction?" I said, "Absolutely! Will I have to wet down the paper?
He grinned, and said, "Figuratively, maybe." We composed it together. I
gave him a crystal, and said, "I think you shouldn't read it this way.
Here's a digital file, so you aren't forced to memorize it." He said,
"Oh. Good thought. Thank you." We hugged.
I walked into very dirty room in an isolated village in Kazakhstan. A
man was tied to a chair, and was being questioned roughly. I was
dressed in old army clothes, like his captors, but a little better
looking. I looked a lot meaner, too. I said, "Have you found out
anything yet?" One said to me, "Who are you?" I went up to him, and
lifted him with one arm by his shirt front, to be level to my face, so
I could snarl into it, "I ask the questions here! You don't ask ME. Do
you understand!" He said, "Yes, SIR!" I said, "Well?" I put him down.
He said, "He claims to have no knowledge of the missile facility, but
he was seen there." I said, "Being there, and knowing something useful,
are not the same. Why was he there?" He said, "Contract labor." I said,
"And how long employed?" He said, "I didn't ask that." I backhanded him
on the face, and he fell to the floor. I said to him, "Fool! You've
been at this for hours, and you've learned nothing! Bring him some
water." He went out. The other questioner was showing me a lot of
"Do you want to keep yours attached?" He untied the prisoners hands in
a hurry. The first man came in with a canteen of water. I gave it to
the prisoner to drink, which he did.
I said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Dimitri Yanov. What's
going to happen to me?" I said, "I will decide that. With your help.
How long have you worked there?" He said, "17 days." I said, "And that
work is?" He said, "I guard offices at night." I said, "Boring?" He
said, "Eh, you won't tell my supervisor?" I said, "Of course I won't!"
He said, "Very boring. I am mostly alone." I said with a grin, "I think
I know something. Reading material? Interesting pictures?" He grinned,
and said, "You DO know!" I said, "How did you come to be here?" He
said, "I was in the village to get some different things to eat, and
some men captured me. They put a hood over my head, and took it off
here. They won't tell me why! All they do is ask me stupid questions."
I said, "I can't disagree with that part." He chuckled.
I said, "Why do you work there?" He said, "It's a job. Not much I'm
fit for. I send money home to support my mother and younger brother." I
said, "All they need?" He said, "No, but it's all I can do." The
questioners saw where I was going, causing them to have a LOT of
respect for me. I said, "I understand. Family is VERY important. To
support them is necessary. Would you be interested in a second part
time job that pays well, but involves little work?" He said, after a
moment's thought, "I would!" I said, "Their stupid questions. We would
like some not so stupid answers. We feel we should know what is is
happening in our country." He said, "Oh! Now I understand! How much?" I
said, "That would depend on how much you can find out of interest,
without being caught, and can get it to us." He said, "Discovering that
is easy. How will I bring it to you? I said, "That is simple. She who
sells you food, will do more than that. All know that we need to eat,
I said to one of the questioners, "You will arrange that. The
customary payment, to increase with the value of what we receive." He
said, "Yes sir!" I said, "You will treat our new friend well." He said,
"Yes I will. I see now I was stupid. You were correct to call me that."
The other man nodded in agreement. He said, "Sir, may we know your
name?" I said, "I can tell you any name, and it will be mine only until
you no longer see me. I watch these things, and correct what can be
done better, as I choose. You know my loyalty. Never question it." They
nodded. I said, "Maintaining secrecy, you will return him to where he
was taken. You will report to your superiors what was done, but do not
mention me. I am more effective when I cause the unexpected." Grins and
nods. They hooded the man, and left with him.
I was waiting for him in his room on the big Russian space base,
wearing a familiar Russian Army General's uniform, when he entered. We
did a back pounding hug, and sat, both trying not to grin. I said, "The
problem with spying, is when they are stupid." He said, "No doubt at
laughed. He said, "I didn't know you were here." I said, "Recently
arrived. Even more recently was I informed that you were here. I was
going to arrange a way to speak with you, when you left the base. I
followed." He said, "And none saw you." I said, "And most so, the
unconscious naked man who didn't know he gave me his clothing." He
grinned widely, and said, "Just as I remember you, and the way you tell
the story. Are they really local patriots?"
I said, "Most of them think so, but they have no real use for the
information. The Chinese." He said, "They were one of the assumed
possibilities." I said, "We are personally limited in that area. Makeup
can only do so much. Demon yes. Asian, no." He nodded, and said, "Are
there other spies here for them?" I said, "Yes, but much less than they
could have." He said, "Oh! That's why you're here. Some were missing,
and it was assumed they found better work." I said, "As fertilizer. One
was recently dug up and identified. You should have been told. Things
will change. I want you to know I had every confidence in your
competence. You would have succeeded. I think you were about to." He
said, "Yes. I was planning on leading them to it, but they were so
stupid! Oh, so you had some other objective." I said, "Yes. I will do
more of this with them, as time passes, so they will have respect and
fear of me." He said, "Not at all difficult for you." I said, "You are
too kind. I think." Chuckles. I said, "When they are sure of me, I will
guide them into more of an understanding of who they truly work for,
and make that more unpleasant than they will be comfortable with. True
patriots will not continue with them. The remainder, will run in fear."
He said, "You suspect this base is important?" I said, "Some
countries are entering the space race. Our superiors wish this base to
compete well, and without sabotage caused by other countries. Well, one
other LARGE country." He said, "Will they ask me to do that?" I said,
"If they think you will agree to it, and while they have you where they
can kill you if they doubt you, possibly, but only after they have
enough to blackmail you. A fine balancing act for you then." He said,
"Yes. I understand. My handler is briefed?" I said, "Yes, and with some
extra convincing." He laughed. I showed him on a map where he was
questioned, and where the spies were roosting, and told him about some
individuals, and their equipment.
I said, "I think you will know what not to tell him of my doings." He
said, "Yes. You choose, master manipulator!" I said, "I have started a
rumor among the local people about somebody known only as the
Commander, a very hard and dangerous patriot, who comes as goes as he
pleases, and knows no master. In support of that, I will be doing er,
things. That also means I can't be seen here like this, often, even
though I will be looking a little different, just to be sure. I'll be
living out there. Your handler and the Base Commander I trust not even
as far as I can kick them, so that means you are my usual contact
here." He said, "But you can still kick them, anyway." I laughed, and
said, "Good one. I just might." Grins. I said, "Also, one of the cooks
will help if asked. She likes me." I described her. I said, "This will
be one of our ways of communication, if needed." He said, "Ha! Another
music player!" I said, "Yes. Can act like a mobile, and if it can't, it
will use a satellite. Best out of buildings, and with the earpiece.
Powerful signal." He said, "I understand." I said, "Your handler knows
something about it, but was told it was above his classification level.
Which it is. Everything should be. No, he's not totally incompetent. He
doesn't do anything totally." Chuckles.
I stood, and so did he. I said, "It's getting late. My friend in the
cafeteria will have saved my meal. I should respect that service with
my presence. What we must do for our country!" He tried not to laugh. I
said, "You know that's not working." He laughed, and I smiled. He said,
"It's good to see you again." I said, "I feel the same." We hugged, and
I left.
My Commander persona became known in the community as a hard man, but
fair and just. The venders loved me, because no thief was safe from me,
and I took no money or favors for that service. Sometimes I intervened
in the spy network's business, but in a way they thought helped them,
when it mostly didn't. Some of them tried to find me, but couldn't.
That caused some venders to smile, but only in secret. I kept the
former major informed. He grinned a lot.
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Grant
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