The warmth and familiar surroundings inside the diner was going to be a

welcome change to the harsh and unrelenting weather outside for Steve and

Sherri. Nearly two feet of snow had already fallen in the Denver Metro area

since right before rush hour and snowplows tried desperately to keep up with

the extremely fast accumulation of snow. In the past the crews usually always

kept up with plowing the snow and keeping the streets clear and safe, even

during massive storms like the current one. But tonight the excessive high

winds causing excessive blizzard conditions and huge snowdrifts had made it

unusually difficult to keep up with, indeed.

As Sherri and Steve quickly opened the door to the diner, they were

greeted from behind the counter by Charlie remarking jokingly, “Well, long

time no see, how are you two doing this wonderful evening?”

“We’re extremely cold and hungry, Charlie, but doing just fine under the

circumstances. How about you?” they inquired?

“Can’t complain, as it wouldn’t do any good, I’m afraid. And I just love

the whiteness of it all anyway.”

Although not at all sure what Charlie meant by the ‘whiteness of it all’,

Steve answered back, “Yeah, know what you mean Charlie.”

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

38

“I saw you two on the evening news tonight. What a night, huh? The

world is going to hell in a hand basket, isn’t it? And the terrorists, well we

definitely need to get a handle on them, as they certainly continue to find

ways to circumvent our national and local Homeland Security’s system and

continue to get access to explosives and other weapons again and again, don’t

they?” insisted Charlie as he came around the counter to shake their cold,

trembling hands.

“I’m afraid you’re absolutely right Charlie. You’re so, so right. You’d

think that after all these years since ‘911’, that somebody could figure out

how to eliminate terrorists from getting access to and procuring explosives,

weapons and the like by now, wouldn’t you?”

“Yep, someday hopefully before we’re all blown to ‘kingdom come’!”

replied Charlie as he frustratingly shook his head in disgust and

bewilderment.

“Not to change the subject, but have you got some hot coffee brewing for

starters, Charlie?”

“You bet, coming right up!”

“Cream and sweet' n’ low for me, please, Charlie, if you don’t mind.”

“Not a problem for you Sherri, anything to keep you in that sweet and

darling figure,” he remarked flirtingly as his eyes blinked at Steve.

“Why, thank you Charlie, you’re so sweet,” Sherri replied as she reached

out and touched him gently on his arm, “Someday you and I are going to have

to sneak off together, if you can ever sneak away from that workaholic wife of

yours,” she jokingly added, knowing that his wife was somewhere close by

and probably overhearing her remarks.

“I heard that!” came a faint voice as the door from behind the counter

gently opened and revealed Charlie’s wife of 40 years coming to greet them,

“Please, don’t wait for him to sneak away, take’m right now out in the open,

please!” she laughed, “And how are my two favorite news anchors doing this

cold and dreadful evening?”

“Just fine, just fine,” Sherri remarked, “Good to see you in good spirits,

Maggie.

“I’d be in better spirits, if you’d sneak off with Charlie and dump him

somewhere south of the border tonight,” she laughed as she walked towards

them.

Laughter filled the air in the diner as they all chuckled together, as

Maggie placed on their table two steaming hot cups of coffee along with

Project Tag Chapter Two

39

leaving them a full pitcher of hot coffee as well.

“I heard you guys come in while I was in the back room, and that you

wanted some nice piping hot coffee. Here you go,” remarked Maggie as she

placed the cream and sweet n’ low on the table, “What else can I get you two

tonight?”

“The usual for me.”

“And the same here, Maggie.”

“Coming right up in just a few. Meanwhile, you two go ahead and enjoy

your coffee and we’ll be right back with your breakfast.”

Steve and Sherri were in the habit of stopping by after work often and

eating the same breakfast over and over, so Maggie knew their usual

preferences.

“Come on Casanova, you got to clean yourself up first, before you go

away on any secret rendezvous, not to mention first scrambling some eggs for

our customers,” chuckled Maggie as she grabbed Charlie by the arm and

ushered him behind the counter to the flat top grill, that was fired up and

ready to cook some of the finest hash browns that could be had this side of the

Mississippi.

“I love’em both, don’t you?” Sherri announced smilingly.

“Oh yes, I absolutely do too,” agreed Steve as he stirred his coffee while

staring into Sherri’s sparkling blue eyes.

“So, tell me about last night, Steve, my curiosity can’t wait any longer,”

she uttered as she reached across the table and touched his hand momentarily.

“Sherri, I don’t even know where to begin especially after what has

happened tonight and all.”

“Well, just start wherever you want to, but please just start!” she

impatiently demanded as she sipped on her cup of coffee.

“Well, last night after the evening broadcast was over, I was headed home

and suddenly being interrupted he heard Sherri interject, “Yeah I know where

it is.”

A little annoyed at his being interrupted Steve continued, “And then I saw

this medium sized guy standing along the roadside shoulder, shivering in the

cold and snow, with one hand in his coat pocket and the other hand just barely

hanging out of the other pocket, seemingly signaling for a ride. Hitch hiking,

you know? Usually I never pick up hitchhikers, especially at night, but as I

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

40

glanced over at him, I just felt compelled to stop and see where he was

headed. I mean it was really strange. At first as I was slowing down for the

red light, and I didn’t initially see anyone there on the shoulder at the red

light, but after I glanced in my rear view mirror to make sure that the car

behind me, who was following me really, really close, didn’t slide into me at

the red light, because you know the roads were dangerously slippery, and

there he was. It was like he just appeared all of a sudden from out of

nowhere.”

“Oh, you probably just didn’t notice him because of the blowing snow

and the dark,” insisted Sherri.

“No, I don’t think so, Sherri, the wind wasn’t blowing that hard at the

time and the visibility was actually exceptionally good there, under the

streetlights. But maybe so, I guess you possibly could be right.”

“And what do you mean, you were compelled to pick him up?”

“Well, for lack of a better excuse, Sherri, I simply felt obligated to stop,

pick him up and give him a ride.”

“Gee Steve, that’s not a good thing to do, you know. He could have been

an ‘axe murderer’ or something even worse!”

“Something worse? What could be worse than being axe murdered?”

Steve replied as he looked at her in a funny way. Sayings like that is where

she got the reputation for saying silly and childish things at times.

“The world is full of crazies, as the news we report all the time will attest

to, don’t you think?”

“Yeah I know Sherri, and that is where this episode really gets bizarre!”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, he told me these explosions would happen tonight!”

“Wait a minute,” Sherri insisted, “He told you that tonight?”

“No o o, no! He told me last night, that they would happen tonight.”

“What!!” she inadvertently screamed as she accidentally dropped her cup

of coffee spilling it onto the tablecloth.

“Shu u u ush!” Steve calmly insisted, “Be quiet, not so loud, Sherri, this is

serious business and no one should know about this but us. This could be

dangerous, especially for me. Please keep your voice down and don’t tell

anyone what I’m telling you, ok?”

“Ok, ok, I’m sorry, Steve. Please go on. He told you the explosions in

Project Tag Chapter Two

41

Atlanta, New York and Washington would happen, and before they actually

did, right?”

“Well no, not exactly.”

“What do you mean, not exactly?”

“Well, he didn’t say that…,” Steve quickly paused from speaking, just as

Charlie came out from behind the counter with two huge plates plied high

with food just reeking with the mouth watering aroma of scrambled eggs,

sinfully smelling bacon and sausage, and the decadent smell of hot melted,

butter drenched hash browns, along with sweet smelling sourdough bread

resting on top, and accompanied by freshly picked smelling strawberry

pancakes.

“This ought to do the trick,” suggested Charlie as he sat the plates down

on the table along with the silverware, with a huge smile of satisfaction

written all over his wrinkled and hardened face which was covered with a day

old hard salt and peppered beard, “And lots of fresh melted butter for the

exquisitely prepared grits that are on the way, just like you like’em, Steve,” he

added.

“Charlie, you are the best,” commented Sherri as she made room on the

table for her plate, “Isn’t he, Steve?”

“There ain’t no better,” agreed Steve as his mouth began to water just

looking at his huge plate of perfectly prepared to order breakfast feast, and

thinking of the soon coming hot, creamy bowl of grits, which was his favorite

breakfast side dish in the whole world.

“You’re both so kind,” replied Charlie as he turned and began to walk

away to retrieve the promised bowl of grits.

“What the hell is grit, anyway?” asked Sherri curiously as she had an

intense distain for the gooey, mushy ‘crap’ as she frequently referred to the

white lumpy stuff.

“It is the perfect breakfast food, he answered as he comically shook his

head as his tongue simultaneously fell from his opened mouth and his eyes

gently rolled around in their sockets, “The breakfast of Kings,” he smugly

added, “Pass the salt, please ma’dam.”

“You’re so funny Steve.”

“Yes, and delightfully happy too boot.”

While they were having fun at the expense of each other, Charlie had

quickly returned with the steaming hot bowl of grits layered with tons of

‘cholesterol building’ melted butter oozing from all directions inside the bowl.

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

42

“Grits, my King,” announced Charlie as he bent over from the waist

having overheard Steve’s remark to Sherri, placed one hand over his heart and

gently placed the bowl of grits upon the table and slowly slid them over in

front of Steve, who was earnestly awaiting them like a little kid.

“Anything else my lord or my lady?”

“I think not, that will be all, Charles,” Steve jokingly responded in the

usual smug and English aristocratic voice and mannerisms, all the while

chuckling within.

Charlie then bowed to each one of them, then straightened himself up, lay

his white towel gently over his lower left arm, slowly turned away and

retreated behind the counter all the while genuinely depicting the mannerisms

of a dutiful and proud English butler and cook like he knew the drill firsthand.

“So hurry, tell me more. Finish what you were saying, before the smelly

grits showed up, Steve,” insisted Sherri as she took a bite of the creamy, fluffy

scrambled eggs laced with very tiny bits of diced onions and green bell

peppers, as sounds of ecstasy could be slightly heard eking from inside her

mouth, “Like what do you mean “not exactly?” referring to his comment

about ‘E’ not exactly telling Steve where the bombings would take place.

“Oh yeah. Well he didn’t exactly say where the explosions would take

place, but only said that there would be three explosions scattered across the

United States, and that one of them would not be nearly as destructive as the

others, and also that the bell would not ring in New York the following day!”

“What do you suppose he meant by that?”

“Well, I didn’t have a clue then of course, but now after the fact, I

suppose he was referring to the traditional ringing of the bell at the New York

Stock Exchange signaling the commencement of trading and the halting of

trading at the closing of the trading day, and that it would not be rung, due to

the collapse of the building, as a result of the explosion!”

Sherri inquired further after a confused look settled on her pretty face,

“How on earth could he know such a thing, Steve?”

events that would take place during this time period!”

“What time period, and what three books?”

“I don’t know what he meant by “this time period” and he didn’t give the

name of the any of the three books. He only called them the ‘3 Secret and

Sacred’ books. He did say, however, that one of the books dealt with

Project Tag Chapter Two

43

economics and money, and that another book dealt with geopolitical matters,

but didn’t mention as to what the other book’s theme was.”

“He sounds like a ‘kook,’ to me,” Sherri quickly asserted with conviction.

“I know this may sound odd, Sherri, but he didn’t have the mark or look

of some ‘kook’. He seemed very polite, intelligent, well mannered and I

suppose reserved. He came across to me as being a very educated man;

however, he did dress a little strange and had this weird looking birthmark or

something like that on his upper forehead,” Steve tried to convince Sherri, as

he took a huge spoonful of grits and shoved them into his mouth.

_____________________________

Meanwhile back in Pittsburg the President after boarding Air Force One,

the President’s “mobile bunker” as it is oftentimes referred to when all ground

positions seem vulnerable to attack, was being briefed by his advisers and

other cabinet members by secure internet connections in the conference room,

while flying around the country in Air Force One, until it was determined it

would be safe for him to land.

Air Force One is a specially configured Boeing 747-200B which has an

extremely long flying range equipped with aerial refueling capabilities, should

the President have to be in flight longer than the fuel capacity could hold out

in emergency situations like the current one which was unfolding tonight.

Not only does the Presidential plane have “state of the art”

communications systems located on the upper level which include 87 phone

lines of which 28 are secure and encrypted with unlimited range, it also has

cutting edge and highly classified defense capabilities such as antimissile

devices.

This mammoth plane, taller than a five story building and as long as a city

block, can travel at speeds over six hundred miles per hour and is considered

to be the safest plane in the entire world.

Just as during the ‘911’ disasters, the Vice President and Speaker of the

House of Representatives were also whisked away to undisclosed secure

military destinations, in case the President could not serve for any reason.

Because they as the next in line to succeed him as acting President, would

then be safe to make Presidential decisions, which was established as part of

the Presidential Succession Act of 1947, if they were constitutionally eligible,

such as being a natural born citizen.

Meanwhile the weather had begun to lighten up a bit back in the East in

places like Pittsburg, New York, and Washington, etc., when the President

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

44

leaned back in his recliner and turned to his National Security Advisor Bill

Bates and asked, “When do you think it will be safe for us to go to New York

to the UN building? I really need to be there, to speak.”

“I’m afraid, not yet, Mr. President, it is still way to early with the still

continuing drama unfolding at the Stock Exchange building and all, and

anyway the airspace in New York is still restricted due to an ongoing possible

or perceived threat, Sir. And as you well know, Sir, something else may still

be in the works by whomever is responsible for the explosions. It is still way

to dangerous in my opinion, Sir!”

“Perhaps you’re right, Bill, just keep me informed on the status, please.”

“Yes, Mr. President, I will.”

“General,” the President then summoned, “Get the UN Secretary General

on the phone, please, it is urgent that I speak with him.”

“Right away, Sir!”

“And Bill, is there anything new on the news channels about the CDC, or

the Stock Exchange scenarios that I should be aware of?” the President asked

as he thought of the nineteen televisions scattered about on Air Force One.

“Nothing new, Sir, except reports are that the fires at the CDC have been

totally contained and just about completely out. And the situation in New

York looks to be under control as well.”

“Ok, but I still don’t have a good feeling about the situation in New York

though. I don’t know why, but I just don’t. But thanks Bill.”

“You’re welcome, Sir.”

“Secretary General Cohen at the UN is on the line, Sir, shall I put him

through now?” inquired Gen. Perez.

“Yes, but wait just a few minutes though, I want to take the call in my

private quarters. If there isn’t anything else pressing at the moment, I think

I’ll try to get some rest and sleep if possible after speaking with Mr. Cohen.

Just notify me only in case there are any major changes or developments that I

should be aware of, please.”

“Yes Sir, Mr. President, you can count on me to do so. I’ll put the

Sec.Gen. through on your notification, and you try to get some rest, Sir. It has

been a trying day and you will need your rest and fresh mind tomorrow, I

think.”

“You think? Yes, I do as well and I know I can count on you, General,

thanks, and I will try to get some much needed rest.”

Project Tag Chapter Two

45

The President then, slowly rose up from his recliner in the conference

room on the middle level of the plane and proceeded on the long journey

through the massive plane to his private quarters located in the front of the

plane, beneath the cockpit above.

This “flying oval office” as it is also commonly referred to, has over

4,000 sq.ft. of interior floor space that includes conference and dining rooms,

private quarters for the President and the First Lady when she is aboard, an

office area for senior staff members, and another office that converts into a

medical facility when needed.

There are also rest and work areas including a gym for the president’s

staff, crew and media representatives from the various chosen, news and

other media types.

And last but not least, this beast of a plane has two galleys capable of

providing up to 100 meals at one single setting, which impresses the invited

guests more than anything else, if you can believe that!

Immediately upon making his way up to his quarters, the President picked

up the phone with the green flashing light, indicating to the President that the

UN Sec.Gen was on the secure line awaiting him.

“Put the Sec. on the phone, please General,” he spoke in a realitively tired

voice.

“Done, Sir.”

“Good evening Mr. Secretary, thanks for taking my call so quickly.”

“Good evening Mr. President, hope you are well, and I wish to give my

condolences for the grievous loss of the lives of some of your citizes, as well

as the damage to property, Sir. What can I do for you George?”

“Thank you for your concern, Nehemiah, it has been a difficult night as

you know.”

The President and Secretary General Nehemiah L. Cohen, the youngest

ever to be the UN Sec. Gen. at an extremely young age of 29 years, had been

friends for about six years, and were on a first name basis. Nehemiah was also

the yougnest person ever to graduate from Yale University in Connecticut

with honors at age seventeen. He also was the youngest member of the

secretive, but well known faternal organization, the Skull and Bones, and he

has a photographic memory and unilatterally considered by most, a genuis on

many fronts.

Additionally he was a highly decorated high-ranking officer in the U.S.

Air Force during the American Invasion of Iraq in 2003, who then retired

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

46

after six years at an early age of 23 to pursue a business career and test the

murky waters of politics.

Being an extremely handsome man, relatively tall at 6’1” with average

length black hair and a medium complexion, (the preverbial tall, dark and

handsome) he has the eye of many a lady, as he is also a bachelor, having

never been married before. His speech has oftentimes been referred to as

“mesmurizing” as he speaks in a deep, yet “eerily” soft voice, with a great

command over the English language, as well as being fluent in Hebrew,

Arabic, German, Spanish and French.

Some of his accomplishments include being the Former Assistant

Degree Mason, former Board Director for Chase Manhatten Bank, and former

board member of Wells Fargo, as well as Boeing, Exxon Oil, DuPont, not to

mention Monsanto, Merck and the Sox News Network.

Many of his purported aquaintances, even though he tries to keep a low

profile, include, Ronald Trepe, a New York real estate tycoon and

international investor, David Rockingham, another muti-billionaire,

international banker and current CFR Chairman (Council on Foreign

Relations) multi billionaire and heiress Tarise Holiday and notable Hollywood

big screen actors such as Sherry McClaine, Don Cruiser and Tommy Revolta.

The Secretary General continued, “Yes, George, I know it has been a very

trying night for you. Are you ok?”

“Yes, I’m fine, and just a little exhausted. Can you update me on what

went on at the UN meeting? But …um….first of all, I’m sorry Nehemiah,

how is your mother (Sarah Cohen) in New York?”

“Thanks for asking George, as a matter of fact, I just spoke with her a few

moments ago, and she said to tell you hello. She is a bit frightened though,

because of the Stock Exchange explosion, but she’ll be just fine. I also talked

to Dr.Roth a little earlier tonight, and he mentioned he had hoped you had

“distanced” yourself, concerning the matter.”

“Of course, I took precautions weeks ago,”replied the President, “I should

be covered financially.”

“Good George, then you should have a great retirement, when it comes

your turn!”

“Yes, and thank you for the warning weeks ago,” thanked the President,

“And so what transpired in the Secuity Council meeting that I missed

tonight.”

Each of the five permanent members of the United States Security

Project Tag Chapter Two

47

Council, which first met in 1946, which by charter is for the maintenance of

international peace and security, have the power to veto any resolution

brought before it, which the United States is one of the five along with Russia,

China, Great Britian and France, all being nuclear powers, which is one of its

major criticisms in that they have created an exclusive nuclear club whose

powers are unchecked, along with veto power. The Security Council, unlike

the General Assembly, does not have true international representation.

“Well, we were waiting for your presence and input of course, but the

general concensus until hearing from you, is we should wait further before

taking any formal economic or military actions for that matter, against Tehran

at this time, if you know what I mean, George? And no resolution was in the

process of being drawn up as yet, either.”

“Yes, Nehemiah, I understand.”

“Well hopefully we can re-adjourn at your presence tomorrow, George.”

“Yes, I’ll look forward to seeing you tomorrow, Nehemiah, and please

give my regards to your mother and to Tarise, would you?”

“Tarise who, George?”

“Why, Tarise Holiday, of course. You didn’t think I knew or what,

Nehemiah?”

“Hard to keep anything from you, Mr. President,” chuckled Nehemiah.

“Good night, Nehemiah.”

“Good night, George.”

After hanging up the phone with Nehemiah, the President continued to

think about the lovely Tarise. She was indeed a very beautiful and stunning,

blue eyed and petite redhead, who ran in “high society” circles in Australia

and South Africa where her businesses were located.

Tarise was the sole heiress to The Holiday Jewelry Company and

“Kangar Aussie’s” Restaurant fortune of her father’s. He controlled one of

the largest “gourmet” restaurant chains in Australia, specializing in kangaroo

meat “delicacies”, which is estimated at being worth over 2 billion dollars

along with the jewelry company that was worth about 6 billion dollars.

She oversaw her bustling businesses, as Chairwoman of the Board of

Directors of The Holiday Jewelry Company, which is one of the largest

jewelry chains in South Africa and The South Africa Diamond Mining

Company, which is the largest diamond mining operation in South Africa,

estimated to be worth over 40 billion dollars, and she just loved being in

charge.

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

48

“Could you bring me a plate of ‘kangaroo tips’, a slice of lemon pie and a

glass of my favorite wine, please,” asked the President as he placed his finger,

which bare his wife’s wedding ring, which was given to him personally by

Tarise’s father, on the direct line to order food from the galley.

The President couldn’t wait for his nuggets.

Kangaroo tips, are deep fried nuggets of kangaroo tail meat, which was

the President’s favorite food along with lemon pie as his favorite dessert.

They tasted similar to fried chicken, but with a much, much more exotic

flavor, and ever so slightly gamey, and the galley crew made sure they were

never on short supply of them, as the President continually snacked on them,

which didn’t account for his lanky build.

“Yes Sir!” replied the chef on duty as there was always one chef

maintaining the ‘graveyard’ shift, just for such an occasion as this.

After just minutes of ordering his lake night snacks, they had arrived and

President Rodney sat comfortably in his chair beside his huge and lavishly

covered bed and then began to scarf the ‘kangaroo tips’ down as fast as he

could, occasionally taking a sip of his favorite wine, only to find himself fast

asleep fantasizing of Tarise without getting to taste even one bite of his

favorite lemon pie that was waiting for him.

____________________________

“What type of birthmark did this hitchhiker have,” inquired Sherri as she

stuffed a huge portion of scrambled eggs into her mouth and uttered while

looking at Steve’s reaction to her frenzied eating, “I’m sorry, I’m hungry.”

“I never would have guessed that. Not! Anyway, I really can’t describe it

very well, you know. It just kinda looked like a ‘chicken’s foot’ or

something, and it seemed to be extremely light bluish in color. And you

won’t believe this, but it almost seemed to glow!”

“Let’s see, glowing chicken foot like, birthmark. Is that right?” she

laughed without missing a bite of her food.

“I know it sounds really ridiculous, but that is the best I can describe it,”

Steve apologized for not being able adequately describe the mark on ‘E’s

forehead.

“Was it a large birthmark?” inquired Sherri.

“No, it was really quite small and hardly even noticeable. I only noticed

it when the overhead light came on when he opened the car door to get in, and

it shined directly on his forehead. After that I could hardly notice it at all, it

Project Tag Chapter Two

49

being dark inside, you know, except for the ever so slight glow or maybe it

was just a reflection. I never got another good look at it, because I had my

eyes on the road due to the dangerous conditions out there!”

“What nationality, do you think he was? Tell me more about what he

looked liked.”

“Well, he looked to be in his 50’s, with almost shoulder length, reddish,

brown stringy hair, medium build and he was on the short side for a man at

about 5’7” or so. Hard to tell what nationality he was. He looked like he was

of Middle Eastern descent, maybe Arab or even Israeli, but I can’t be certain

for sure of even that. But what was noticeable and interesting was the way he

dressed,” Steve went on to describe his weird hitchhiker.

“How so?”

“Well his clothes seemed to be a mixture of Arab garb and contemporary

American. He wore what looked like an extremely loose fitting white “V

necked, pull over shirt, kind of Arab or Mexican looking maybe, with colorful

embroidery trim. His shirt came down to about halfway between his waist and

knees. It was extremely long. And underneath that was just plain ole blue

jeans and sandals with socks.”

“Sandals with socks?”

“Yeah isn’t that weird. Sandals with socks in the middle of winter in

Colorado during a snow storm,” Steve continued describing him while

laughing inside.

Fitted over his shirt was light brown corduroy sports jacket hiding a huge

leather belt of some type, like I’ve never seen before. I mean it was huge, so

huge in fact it wasn’t even ran through the pant belt loops as it was four or

five times larger than the widest belt you have ever seen. It looked like some

WWF world wrestling champion belt or something like that!” Steve tried to

accurately describe the belt as best he could.

“That’s a little wild about the belt, but I don’t see anything so strange

about the rest of his attire. Did he tell you his name or where he was from?

Inquired Sherri.

what his name was.”

“And?”

“And he said “his name was ‘E’. ‘E’ I questioned? Just to make sure I

heard him correctly. And he replied ‘yes, ‘E’, which is short for Eli’. I said

oh, ok, and where are you from ‘E’? Are you from around here, and all he

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

50

said was that ‘yes, I am from here’. I then asked whereabouts around here,

and he said ‘just here’.”

“I can’t believe he wouldn’t tell you where around here he was from,”

asserted Sheri as she continued to whittle away at her breakfast.

“Yeah, and I asked him if he had a last name, and he said no! I thought

that was a bit unusual and mysterious.”

“Mysterious, or he has something to hide,” suggested Sherri as she lifted

the coffee pot up to pour herself a refill.

Everything seemed to be mysterious about ‘E’, not only just his

nationality. No one knew anything much about him at all. They didn’t know

where he was from, who his parents were, who his friends were, what he did

for a living, where he lived exactly, except that he lived somewhere up in the

mountains west of Golden, Colorado, or most of all, what his intentions were.

It was like he just appeared one day without a trace of a past, which couldn’t

be further from the real truth, which they would someday find out.

“Could you make out what kind of accent he had?”

“No, I couldn’t. It was indistinguishable to me, but it didn’t sound like

anything American or anything else that I’m familiar with either. He was just

short and to the point. That’s all I really know.”

“Well, you know, I’m just curious, Steve. How did he get on the subject

of the explosions and the so called 3 sacred and whatever, books?”

“Secret. Sacred and secret books he called them.”

“Ok. Well?” she answered annoyingly wanting him to hurry up and

answer her questions.

“Well I was just driving down the road, and after I asked him where he

was from and his name and all, I then asked him what he did for a living.”

“And what did he say?”

“He said he was in social work, and I asked him, ‘what kind of social

work’, and he paused for several long seconds before he responded, which I

thought was a bit strange.

Then he said, “I show people the truth”.

“Truth” I said inquisitively, and he said,

“Yes, the truth. I tell them the truth and then what will happen to them.”

“I asked him if he was a psychologist, and he waited several more long

seconds, like he didn’t even know what a psychologist was, and then he

Project Tag Chapter Two

51

replied, ‘No’, and I just left it at that.”

“You just left it at that?” she irritability burst out.

“Yeah I did, it was really none of my business in the first place, and

secondly if he didn’t want to tell me, that was his prerogative. I mean I was

degree.”

“No, I suppose not, but what about the explosions, when did they come up

and how?”

“Well we just continued down the road a ways without really saying

anything at all. He just stared straight ahead, and said nothing at all. Hell, he

didn’t event twitch a muscle. He just sat straight up in the seat and didn’t

move. Not even his eyes blinked. But when I stopped the car at the red light

Boulder at the intersection, he looked over at me and said, ‘There is a lot of

strife with people these days, isn’t there?’ I thought for a moment and asked

him what he meant, and he said, “Seems like everyone is fighting all the time.

Wars and all, you know. People blow things up, you know. Big explosions,

too. People seem to be mad at each other for meddling in each others affairs.”

“I then asked him, ‘what explosions are you talking about’ and he said,

‘Like the three explosions in the U.S. tomorrow night, and the bell won’t ring

in New York.’ ‘How do you know this,’ I asked him, and that’s when he

the deal about the bell not ringing in New York. ‘New York?’, I echoed back.

‘Yes, New York City’ he said, and then quickly he said, ‘pull over here,

please, this is where I get out’. Then I asked him if he lived here, and he said,

‘No, but this is where I get out. I live there,’ he said as he pointed westward

up in the mountains.”

“Where did you pull over? Where were you?” asked Sherri as she was

very intrigued as she had already stopped stuffing her face with food, finally!

And just about the time Steve was about to answer her, Charlie came

strolling around the counter heading over to them, while drying his hands with

a wash towel, and asked, “Can I get you two anything else, maybe another pot

of coffee, or a cinnamon bun for desert?”

“No, I’ve had plenty, I’m fine. Thanks though, Charlie,” answered Sherri

being appreciative.

“No, I’m full as a tick in a dog’s ear Charlie, but thanks anyway,” replied

Steve in his usual comical way.

“Ok, then,” murmured Charlie as he slowly placed their individual checks

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

52

down on the messy table, scattered with food droppings and spilled coffee,

“I’ll take this when you two are ready, not that I’m trying to rush you or

anything. We’ve still got about 15 minutes until closing, so take your time,”

he added as he slowly walked back towards the kitchen, as Maggie was

calling out to him from behind the kitchen door.

“So, back to where you pulled the car over with “E”, just where was

that?” repeated Sherri.

“At the traffic light there on Hwy.92 where Golden Gate Canyon Rd., or

Hwy.46 as it is sometimes called, runs into it!”

“Yeah, I know where it is, and there is nothing out there, but Hwy.46 that

runs up the mountain. There isn’t anything up that way for 15 miles or so,

until you get to all the way Golden Gate State Park. And where you dropped

him off, there is nothing but a couple of apartments on the east side of the

intersection, which is assisted living apartments” remarked Sherri as she was

familiar with the area.

“Yes, I know. And he definitely pointed westward up to the mountains.

As I let him out, he thanked me for the lift and gently shut the door, and stood

still beside the car, as if patiently waiting for me to pull off before he

attempted to cross the street westward. So I pulled out while looking in my

rearview mirror to make sure I wasn’t pulling out in front of anyone, as it is

really busy and very dangerous on that portion of the two lane highway, with

all the people going to and from Golden and Boulder, you know. And I

wanted to see if he crossed the road safely, but when I looked back he wasn’t

even there. I mean he simply just vanished!” insisted Steve.

“What do you mean vanished?” Sherri asked, as she unconsciously likes

to repeat what someone else says.

“He simply wasn’t there!” Steve adamantly repeated himself.

“You just didn’t see him in the dark!” she reasoned.

“Whatever!” Steve replied in a real irritable tone.

“Wow, what a story, Steve. I don’t know about this so called “E” person.

And I don’t believe in those so called “3 Sacred and Secret Books” he

purports to have either, and their supposed foretelling the explosions tonight.

I think he actually has something to do with the explosions, myself,” she

asserted as she picked up her check and glanced at the total, and then

slammed it back down on the table.

“What’s wrong Sherri? You seem a little annoyed or maybe even pissed a

little bit.”

Project Tag Chapter Two

53

“No, I just think this ‘E’ guy is a freak'n murderous terrorist!”

“A terrorist?” Steve asked surprised at Sherri’s comment.

“Yes, a terrorist!” she at once barked back at him, “How else could he

know those things in advance? Either he is a terrorist or he knows of them

and they confided in him, their evil plans. He must be part of one of those

“sleeper cells”, we’re always hearing about from the government and other

terrorist experts. You really don’t buy that line of crap he is throwing at you

about those 3 sacred and secret books, do you Steve?”

“I don’t know what to believe, to be quite frank with you Sherri. I’m not

exactly sure what I believe about him, but one thing is for sure. There is

something extremely odd about this “E” character, and he definitely seems to

have access to information about events in advance of their happening. That

is certain, and I hope I don’t run into him again, either. I know that too!” he

angrily replied as he picked up his check, glanced at the total as well, and

reached into his wallet for the money to pay his bill and then suddenly

glanced over at Sherri, who was still rummaging through her purse. He then

reached out to grab Sherri’s check that she had placed back down on the table

and said, “Here, let me pay for yours, Sherri.”

Sherri instantly stopped thumbing through her purse and quickly reached

out and grabbed her check before Steve could get his hands on it and

answered, “Thanks Steve, but no, I’ll get it, you always get mine. Come on

it’s late. It’s almost two o’clock in the morning. Take me back to my car, as I

need to get home and get some rest. This has been quite a long day and

tomorrow will be to, I’m afraid. We could be at war with Iran even before we

wake up in the morning. I just can’t believe what is going on!”

“Yeah, me neither. After all the progress our countries have seemingly

made in the past few years, and with others as well in the Middle East, Tehran

has to go and do something stupid like test a freak’n nuclear bomb, knowing

full well it would tick off our government as well as other governments

around the world. And what if Iran is found out to be linked to, or responsible

for the explosions as well? Shit could really “hit the fan” and quick, and

that’s not to mention the possible negative fallout from the New York Stock

Exchange disaster, either!” he worried.

“Yeah, I know, come on let’s go! Bye Maggie, bye Charlie, see you

soon,” Sherri yelled out as she put her coat on and walked towards the exit

door.

“Later tater!” exclaimed Steve with his own silly farewell.

“See ya, and thanks for the business,” yelled Charlie as he came through

the door of the kitchen, “And please be careful going home, it’s still

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

54

treacherous out there, you know!”

“Please take him with you!” Maggie pleaded with Sherri as she reminded

her as she looked simultaneously over in Charlie’s direction.

“Maybe next time,” answered Sherri as she and Steve exited through the

diner door, “See ya later.”

They then crawled in the cold snow covered Mustang parked out front

and headed back to the news station parking lot, after wiping the heavy snow

off the windshield.

“Goodnight, Sherri,” replied Steve as he dropped her off back at the news

station parking lot next to her car, “I’ll wait to make sure you leave safely and

I’ll see you tomorrow, if we’re still here, that is,” he jokingly added as he

stared over at her.

“Thanks, Steve, you be careful as well and I’ll see ya tomorrow.

Goodnight.”

The drive home for both Sherri and Steve despite the continuing winter

storm was thankfully uneventful. Steve who had a much longer drive home

than Sherri, probably around 25 miles further, as he had to go all the way to

Boulder, Colorado where he resides.

He owns a beautiful, but small suburban old Victorian home on a quiet

street, with a beautifully landscaped backyard, filled with lots of exotic plants

and numerous trees. And amidst them are winding pebble filled walkways

meandering through the tropical like atmosphere, which reminded him of his

beloved Hawaii.

Steve lived just a mile or so from Colorado University at Boulder,

complete with the backdrop of the beautiful and foreboding Rocky Mountain

Front Range with it’s massive red boulder cliffs that are unique to the area,

reaching high up to the sky oftentimes pushing through the low-lying clouds

that come through the area.

But Sherri on the other hand, had only a mile or so to go from the news

station in downtown Denver to her home. And she was the first to go to

sleep, just minutes after returning to her loft condo in LoDo (lower

downtown), just a couple of blocks from Coors Field, which is the home of

the Colorado Rockies baseball team located on Blake Street.

Her cozy loft condo was an expensive, yet modest condo, extremely well

decorated by her with a definite southwestern flair to it. Her close proximity

to the baseball stadium and magnificent views of the Rocky Mountain Front

Range, made the medium sized condo, very desirable and extremely

expensive as well. Even though it was modest in size, about seventeen

Project Tag Chapter Two

55

hundred square feet, the numerous upgrades including her water jetted bath

tub with it’s gold plated faucets as well as the highly sought after imported

Italian tiled floor coverings adorning the bathroom, not to mention the antique

crystal chandeliers, all but tripled the price of similar sized lofts in the area.

Additionally her oversized balcony sported a magnificent hot tub and

outside infrared heat mounted in the covered balcony ceiling, over looking

some of the hottest sports bars and restaurants in LoDo. LoDo was where it

was happening in downtown Denver, as numerous parties often went into the

wee hours of the morning, as the sidewalks and streets bustled with tons of

party goers and plenty of out of town sightseers to add to the mix.

Usually Sherri was part of the after hours scene, her being single and all,

even though she was engaged to Arnold Childers, but tonight it was already

way too late and she was both physically and emotionally exhausted when she

got home from the diner.

Her fiancé Arnold Childers, who had legally changed his name from

Childs to Childers, to distance himself from his father’s reputation and

notoriety, which was of the utmost priority with Arnold was the only son of

Dr. Roth S. Childs who is a well known and powerful international banker in

London, England.

His father was an extremely intelligent person, as he was a Rhodes

Scholar graduating from the famous Oxford University in England, with a

doctorate degree in both World Finance and International Business.

Dr. Roth, as he is normally called, as well as Dr. Childs too, is a person of

incredible wealth, prestige and influence as he currently is a high-ranking

member of the famous and powerful political think tank, the Council on

Foreign Relations, yet many of his personal and business affairs are clouded

in secrecy, as he is extremely distrustful of publicity.

Dr. Roth frequently visited New York on business, but getting the chance

to spend some time with his son, as he and Arnold were not on good terms

with each other, despite his numerous attempts to make peace with his son

and hoping to have a somewhat normal relationship with him, was a much

cherished event for him when he was working in New York.

Arnold’s father was a very dignified, and somewhat conceited individual,

exceptionally firm in his humanist’s beliefs and oftentimes had showed an

intolerable distain for the uneducated and the extremely poor. Having a top

quality education and exerting great influence topped his list of enviable and

to be earnestly sought after accomplishments, which is where trouble and

dissent first began to be a contention that divided he and Arnold.

Arnold attended Harvard Business School in Boston, against the advice

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

56

and admonition of his father, who implored him to attend Oxford University

in England, for which he had been offered a full academic scholarship, or at

least attend Stanford or Yale. After Harvard Business School, he also

attended MIT in New York where he met Sherri and fell in love with her.

Arnold never liked the aristocratic and rich influence of his father and his

acquaintances, as he liked the more “down to earth” people like Sherri, which

was one of the reasons he fell in love with her in the first place. That along

with her good looks! And he loved the outdoors as much as Sherri, and not

the “indoor “parlor” politics and the mind games of his father, nor the

influence that his father wielded.

He loved the game of golf immensely, which his father greatly despised

and had often remarked that Country Club members and owners were those

who only had a facade of being wealthy, and that they were only “wanta be”

persons of influence. Arnold took offense to his remarks about golfers and

their lifestyle. Golf was always one his greatest and dearest life long, and

current unfulfilled passions. Arnold, carrying an extremely low handicap of

3, still had aspirations of being a professional golfer, if only to be on one of

the few PGA “mini tours”, as the regular PGA tour always seemed to be out

of the reach of his abilities.

It wasn’t the lack of money that prevented him from being a professional

golfer; to which huge amounts are needed to hone your golfing skills, as well

as to nourish launch a successful professional golfing career, because he had

plenty of it.

Even though he didn’t love money, like his father did, he did know that

the possession of it, could substantially up the chances of him having a

happier life, allowing more time for him to do that which he was passionate

about, instead of working incessantly to obtain the money necessary to do the

things he loved to do! “I only work to gain financial independence, so I won’t

have to work,” was his famous and often quoted remark, which is

undoubtedly a paradox in itself.

And Arnold unquestionably knew how to make money, seeing he was a

successful New York banker with Chase Manhattan Bank and all, following

the career choice of his father. He also was a highly successful businessman

owning the well known and respected CCC, (Childers Construction

Company), which specialized in golf course development and construction, as

well as golf course condominium communities, and high rises in New York

and Hawaii.

Being much better looking and personable than his father, he had better

luck with the women, as his relationship with the beautiful and sexy Sherri

attested to the fact. And he was very well liked and respected by his

Project Tag Chapter Two

57

associates, peers and employees as well. The loyalty of his employees was

unmatched in an oftentimes cruel and backstabbing construction industry.

Arnold at the age of 45 was born in New York City while his father and

mother, Barbara Jennings Childers, were on a 18 month business trip to NY,

leaving their 25-room mansion in England behind. He was born just three

months before his parents were due to return to England, and his mother

decided that she wanted to raise her son in New York, where she was born

and raised, rather than in England.

Even though she loved their countryside mansion in England, she always

yearned to move back to her beloved NYC, and this was her chance to do so.

So, much to the displeasure of Dr. Roth, she remained at their Manhattan

condo with her son, and Dr. Roth returned to England, extremely disappointed

and very angry.

Much of Arnold’s younger years were spent jockeying back and forth

from NYC to England, mainly in the summer months when school was out,

until his mother suddenly passed away when he was seventeen. Arnold loved

his mother much more than he did his father, Dr. Childs, and he resented

spending his summers in England away from his friends in New York, whom

he had grown up with, but the agreement his mother made with Dr. Roth, was

that if Dr. Roth would let her stay in New York and raise their son, then she

would have to promise and see to it that Arnold would spend his summers in

England with Dr. Roth.

Even though much of Dr. Childs banking obligations were done at the

stately mansion, he never seemed to have much time to spend with Arnold.

Dr. Roth was the CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of England, and fulfilled

whatever his duties were mostly by phone at the mansion. He occasionally

had to drive to the bank, for meetings, but that was about the extent of his

conducting business personally at the bank. And occasionally he would take

short business trips to New York, Israel, and Australia as well as other

international destinations, but remained in England for the most part in the

summer while Arnold was visiting.

Dr. Roth held many social gatherings at the mansion, both business and

non-business alike, and oftentimes it was difficult to distinguish the difference

between the two. Arnold was pretty much while at the mansion, looked after

by the huge staff employed there by Dr. Roth. He liked most of the staff, of

which several of them lived onsite in their own private quarters on the estate,

but Robert, who was the man in charge of all the other staff members, was his

favorite and he lived in the mansion with Dr. Roth, so he could be called on at

any time, as he was the man in charge, as designated by Dr. Roth .

They took a liking to each other very early on, and remained very close

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

58

even till this day, as they continued to stay in contact with each other on a

weekly basis, if not just only by email. Arnold looked more to Robert as his

father, than Dr. Roth, and Robert in turn treated Arnold as his very own son,

as he had no children of his own.

Most of all their love of golf, was their common bond on the massive

1,500 acre estate, and Robert with the approval and blessings of Dr. Roth, had

a nine hole golf course built on the west end of the estate, just for Arnold, and

of course himself as well. Many a sunset were enjoyed by the two, as they

loved to finish their round of golf just before sunset, as Arnold’s dad was

usually hosting one of his numerous and fashionable house parties he threw

back at the mansion.

Arnold was not a religious man, as no one else in the family was either,

especially his father who said that religion was an aphrodisiac for the masses,

especially for Christians, who used religion as crutch, because they had no

faith in their own abilities. Even though Robert did attend church

occasionally, he never tried to push his religion off on Arnold, but did

however, instill in him many of the desired positive moral characteristics

cherished by Christian doctrine.

But when Arnold’s mother died unexpectedly from some mysterious and

unknown illness, Arnold developed a strong distaste for religion in general.

And being only seventeen when his mother died, he was expected to move

back to England to live with his father, and attend college as demanded,

which didn’t help matters either. But Arnold refused to do so, and threatened

to run away, as he was capable of doing so because he had plenty of his own

money by then, so his father reluctantly agreed that he could remain in New

York, but to do so, he must agree that Robert would be sent to New York as

both Arnold and Robert were greatly pleased and overly ecstatic. And Robert

stayed in NY actually until Arnold’s nineteenth birthday and then returned to

England to resume his duties and position there at the mansion.

Just within minutes after falling asleep, the ringing of her cell phone

awakened Sherri, and she groggily answered, “Hello.”

“Hi baby,” she heard on the other end.

“Oh, hi baby,” she replied.

“I was going to call you earlier tonight before I went to bed, but I knew

you were at work, the two hour time difference you know. So I got up early

this morning at 4:30, just to try to reach you before you went to sleep, but by

the sound of your voice, I guess I’m too late for that!”

“Oh, that’s ok baby, I just fell asleep only a few minutes ago, I think.”

Project Tag Chapter Two

59

“Well, I just wanted to know how you were doing, and if you were ok. I

heard on the news here in New York about the awful storm in Denver last

night, and with all the terrible explosions here and in Atlanta, and elsewhere, I

was wondering how you were taking it all?”

“Well, it really hasn’t all sunk in yet. Way too much all at once to digest,

and I suppose that I’m a little bit frightened. And it’s awfully scary with Iran

doing what they did in testing a nuclear bomb, and then with all the other

explosions to boot. So what’s happening in New York at the stock exchange,

Arnold?”

“I haven’t heard anything more, since I went to bed early last night, and

haven’t turned the TV on yet this morning to get any updates on the

situations. I thought I’d do that after I hang up the phone with you. But, at

any rate, I think there could be severe economic repercussions due to the

destruction of the stock exchange building, and it will most likely have to be

to be shut down for a while, just like after 911, if you remember back? But,

we will definitely know the results in the coming days and weeks ahead.

Anyway, I won’t keep you up any longer as I know you are probably

exhausted, I just wanted to tell you that I love you, and to see how you were

holding up.”

“I love you too, Arnold, and I can’t wait to see you soon, and I’ve got

something important to tell you later after I wake up, though.”

“What is it honey?”

“Oh, it can wait till later, it’s just in reference to a conservation I had after

work last night with Steve at breakfast over at Charlie’s Diner.”

“Ok baby, let’s discuss it later today after you get some rest. I love you

and sleep tight, ok, and tell Steve I said hello.”

“Oh, I will, and I will talk with you later. I love you too baby, night.”

“Night.”

Immediately after hanging up, Sherri fell asleep and Arnold began getting

ready to go to work early at the bank, knowing there would be meetings all

day concerning the New York Stock Exchange bombing, and decisions that

will need to be made on what precautions might be needed in order to prevent

a possible precarious situation with the depositors.

_________________________

Meanwhile back in Air Force One, President Rodney was sound asleep,

as both General Perez and National Security Advisor Bates continued

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

60

collecting vital information and working on their reports to be given to the

President in a briefing that would take place shortly after he awoke later on in

the morning.

“Mr. Bates?” asked the pilot speaking over the intercom to him while he

was in the conference room.

“Yes, commander, go ahead’”

“The control tower at La Guardia has informed me that the restricted air

space order over New York has been lifted, and it’s ok for us to land there.

Should I change course and head to New York, Sir?”

“Where are we now, commander?”

“Just now flying about 100 miles west of Detroit, sir.” Answered the

pilot.

“Yes, commander, change course and head to New York, and keep the jet

fighter escort until further notice, or check back with me when we get near La

Guardia Airport, please.”

“Affirmative Sir, and our estimated time to land at La Guardia will be

approximately two hours and fifteen minutes, sir.”

“Thanks commander, talk with you then.”

In such cases as this during a national red alert, the protocol required for

the President’s plane, is always such as to be escorted by a squadron of F-22

jet fighters, until the ok from the President’s head pilot is given to abort or

discontinue the escort mission.

“Ten four,” replied the escort squadron commander after speaking with

the pilot of Air Force One about changing the route and heading towards New

York.

__________________________

The next morning came in Denver and the front range with much warmer

temperatures, as the major storm system had left the Rocky Mountain region,

giving way to bright sunshine and the earlier accumulation of fluffy white

snow glistened and sparkled as beautifully cut diamonds would act.

And early in the morning somewhere up Hwy.46 in the foothills several

miles up from Golden, Colorado at an elevation of just under 9,000 ft., ‘E’

could be seen tromping around the “compound” in two feet of the freshly

fallen snow.

Project Tag Chapter Two

61

“I need to get and store up some more firewood,” he thought to himself as

he came upon several hundred plied up 25-foot logs, left by the previous

owners. They were piled near the “guest quarter” building, as he called it,

even though there were no guests as yet, at this 52-acre massive complex in

the mountains. ‘E’ was the only one besides his father that was currently

residing there at the complex, but hoped that in due time there would be many

others joining them.

The “complex” or the “compound” as ‘E’ called it consisted of four huge

buildings comprising a circle of about 5 acres of the 52 acres, surrounded by

another ten thousand acres of pristine forests, lakes and snow covered

mountain peaks, full of high country wildlife like deer, mountain lion, elk and

others. The adjoining land was owned by the State of Colorado, and it was

called Golden Gate Canyon State Park.

The views of the valley and nearby rocky and tall peaks could be seen

from almost anywhere on the premises and they were magnificent and awe

inspiring to anyone who had the pleasure of taking it all in. The facility was

nestled on the top of a plateau overlooking the northern entrance to the state

park. You actually had a 360 degree panorama view of the valley, making it

possible to see anyone who may be attempting to access the property,

especially via the ¾ mile driveway leading up to the compound, which was

the only access for vehicles to the ‘compound’, once you made it past the

gated entryway to the compound. It was also fully equipped with closed

circuit TV cameras and motion detectors equipped with sensors that would

turn on the exterior lights mounted all around the buildings, when set off.

It was the perfect location to hide out and conduct any type of operations

all the while in total secrecy, unbeknown to anyone except those present at the

compound.

‘E’ lived in the 6,000 sq.ft. Residence building that the previous owners

resided in, that had close to 40 windows on the top floor that extended

completely around the entire building, giving one an undisturbed view of the

entire valley for miles as well as the other buildings on the premises. No

obstructed views at all.

The closest building to ‘E’s residence building and the next one in the

circle was the “dining hall building” which sported a wooden deck completely

surrounding the 4000 sq.ft. top floor, which included a commercial kitchen of

which all the appliances were purchased from the mess hall at the Ft. Carson

Army Base in Colorado Springs, by the previous owners, which would indeed

feed an army.

Way back when President Clinton closed down many of the U.S.’s

military facilities and severely reduced others in the early 1990’s, most all of

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

62

the contents of the bases were sold at auction at ridiculously low prices.

Alongside the huge kitchen was the dining hall that could seat 200 people,

which was way larger than was needed for ‘E’s mission. And beneath it on

source as the kitchen and dining hall was above, along with another meeting

room.

Next in line in the circle of buildings was the “lodge building”, which was

the largest building of approximately 14,000 sq.ft., which contained ten rooms

on the middle of three floors, which had beds and dressers to accommodate

was the highest point of any of the four buildings. It was absolutely perfect

for any “lookout” or “observation post”, again with windows encircling the

entire space looking similar to a control tower at any airport, as it was also

complete with communications equipment, including computers, two way

radios, a short wave radio which went along with the short wave 150 ft. radio

tower just a few yards from the building, and the main switchboard for the

intercom system and telephones, as well as what looked like a closed circuit

television system, to view various points on the 52 acre complex.

And next to the “lodge building’ was the 8,000 sq.ft. two stories

“gymnasium building”, which included not only a full court basketball court,

but a separated area with pool tables, weight room, air hockey and other

recreational items, rounding off the circle of buildings. It was the perfect

place to stay in shape and have a little fun too, after putting in a hard day’s

work, for anyone who stayed there, which at this point was only ‘E’ and his

father.

Not that ‘E’ needed anywhere near all the space or accommodations

available at this compound, for his “cause”. But it was all there anyway

along with the secluded 52 acres he needed for privacy, etc. and at a

ridiculously low price that a regular sized home would normally cost. The

former owners needed to liquidate their assets immediately and unexpectedly,

so they took the first legitimate offer that ‘E’” presented, and since they owed

nothing on the complex, they accepted ‘E’s” offer of only three hundred

thousand dollars, which he paid them in hard cash. The owners received their

much-needed monies extremely quick, and ‘E’” got the perfect place for his

endeavors at a bargain basement price, so both parties were extremely happy

with the transaction.

“And I need to check the underground water tanks, too,” thought ‘E’ as he

continued to think to himself as he methodically walked around and inspected

the property for the first time, since purchasing it only four days earlier. The

underground water holding tanks held nearly 40,000 gallons of fresh cold

water that was pumped into it from the four on site wells.

Project Tag Chapter Two

63

“This will be plenty of storage for water needed for an extended stay,

should the power fail for any reason not allowing for the pumping of

additional water into it,” he reasoned, “And it’s great tasting too!”

As ‘E’ continued to explore the area in and around the compound, he

came upon a huge “semi-underground” bunker behind the dining hall

building, that was exposed only in the front where the entry door was. He

opened the 12-inch thick wooden door and attempted to glance inside, but it

was pitch dark and much colder compared to the 60-degree sunshine heated

outdoors.

Blindly running his hands along and up and down the wall to the right of

the opened door, he searched for a light switch should it have one. “Ahhhhh,

found it,” he remarked out loud with surprise as though he was speaking to

someone, as his fingers made contact with what he believed to be the light

switch.

“Wow, this is perfect,” he again remarked out loud as the newly found

source of light lit up the space in the bunker, “We can store lots and lots of

food, here!”

What ‘E’ had stumbled across was a huge “root cellar” of several hundred

sq.ft., the largest he had ever seen, he thought, complete with rows of metal

shelving. With it being completely underground except for the small

entrance, and with concrete walls over 12 inches thick, the temperature

remained a constant 52 degrees in the summer. Back in the day before

refrigeration, root cellars are where potatoes, carrots and such were kept.

“This is perfect for storing canned food, potatoes and the like, guarding

them from spoiling should the electricity fail as well as extending their shelf

life,” he thought to himself.

As he continued to explore the cellar, he came across a large rectangle

shaped wooden crate at the back of the cellar almost completely covered with

dirt setting in the corner with several old “tote sacks” over it as well, almost

completely concealing it from view. But since “E’s” eyesight was perfect, he

had almost no trouble seeing it when he was standing nearly on top of it.

“Hmmm, wonder what this is? It looks like an ammunition crate,” he

whispered aloud as he attempted to open the crate to unveil its contents, when

suddenly he was startled by the sudden sound of what he thought to be a car

engine. He immediately released the top of the crate before he could open it,

turned and quickly ran to the entrance of the cellar only to notice an old olive

drab colored, military looking 4x4 vehicle come from around the corner of the

dining hall making its way towards the front of the cellar.

The old beat up 4x4 that was sputtering and spitting all the way up the

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

64

steep driveway, came to a stop directly in front of the cellar where ‘E’ stood

at the entrance. Then immediately the engine ceased running as a somewhat

tall, average weight and nearly bald man in his middle 50’s, with what looked

to be a week old beard on his face, exited the vehicle and slowly walked

around the front of it and said, “How’d, neighbor.”

“Hi,” replied back ‘E’ to the stranger who had just arrived.

“Sorry, hope, I didn’t startle you,” the stranger apologetically replied.

“Well, to be honest, you may have surprised me a bit,” answered ‘E’.

“I heard that someone had recently just purchased the property, and I

thought I would be neighborly and introduce myself to them. Oh, by the

way,” he said as he turned back around and proceeded to walk to the

passenger door and open it, “I have a housewarming gift for you, hope you

like jerky,” he asked.

“Well, thank you very much, I do like jerky as a matter of fact, I used to

eat it all the time where I came from,” ‘E’ answered back, “What kind is it?”

“Why, elk of course. This place is plum full of roaming elk, you’ll see!”

exclaimed the stranger.

As the stranger retrieved the elk meat in a container from the front

passenger seat, and brought it over to ‘E’ who was standing just a few feet

away from him away from the cellar entry, he offered his extended free right

hand to ‘E’ and introduced himself to him.

“My name is Jeffery, glad to meet you.”

“Glad to meet you too! Neighbor, you said?”

“Yes, I just live a few hundred yards from your property line over that

way,” he remarked as he pointed in a westward direction, “I’m not too far

from the pond on the south portion of your property.”

“Oh, I’m sorry, my name is ‘E’”, he apologetically replied as he then

extended his hand to greet Jeffery. “I didn’t know this property had a pond on

it, nor any neighbors either, for that matter,” a confused and bewildered ‘E’

pointed out in a friendly manner.

“E,” that’s a short name.”

“Yes, it is short isn’t it? It’s short for Eli.”

“Well, that’s an easy one to remember,” he replied jokingly, “Oh yeah;

you’ve got a nice pond about two and a half acres worth, nestled down in the

valley to the south. Lots of fish and big ones, too,” informed Jeffery as he

finally handed over the elk jerky. “Did you do a lot of fishing where you’re

Project Tag Chapter Two

65

from, ‘E’?”

“Yes, I did a little fishing when I could find the time.”

“And where did you say you were from Eli?”

“I didn’t,” fired back “E”, “And please, please call me “E”. And I’m

originally from the Middle East.”

“Where in the Middle East?”

“Oh, I don’t think you would know of it, it doesn’t matter.”

“You’re not one of those terrorists, are you?” asked Jeffery in a jokingly

manner all the while sporting a serious look on his face too.

“Of course not,” quickly replied ‘E’, “Isn’t that terrible what happened

last night in New York and Atlanta?”

“And at the Pentagon too, you know. Yes, it is terrible and I think

“Yep, seems like it to me. Hope they catch the infidels!” exclaimed ‘E’.

“I’m just kidding about your being a terrorist, you know. I have a

somewhat dry sense of humor, as you will find out as time goes on.”

“Oh, I know you were kidding, I think, and there’s nothing wrong with a

dry sense of humor I guess. Better that, than none at all, don’t you think

Jeffery?”

“That’s what I say, damn it ‘E’, I got what I got!”

They then stood quietly for a few more seconds eyeing and checking one

another out, each in their own unique sort of way.

“So exactly where do you live, Jeffery, and how did you get to here. I

mean I don’t know of any other roads around here for miles, I don’t think,” he

tried to explain to Jeffrey.

“Oh, like I said, just next to your property line on the west. And yep

you’re right, there are no other roads nearby. But if you go about 3 miles up

the main road, Hwy 46, you’ll find a dirt road turnoff on the left. Go about

two miles west on that road and you’ll see another dirt road off the left. And

if you go down it another two miles south, my place is off the left way back in

the trees. It’s just a little two-room cabin, hardly noticeable in the trees and

hidden behind the rocks. I live by myself, you know, I like it that way. Those

women as you know, can be a real headache. My ole lady left me years ago.

She didn’t like it up in the mountains, a city gal and all, you know! And good

riddin’s too, hard to get along with and a real pain in the ass!”

The “E” Chronicles Project Tag

66

“Well no wonder she left you, living in a two room small cabin in the

mountains out in the middle of nowhere! It’s hard on a lady,” ‘E’ theorized

about Jeffery’s divorce.

“Oh no, we didn’t live here in the cabin, I bought this place after she

divorced me. We lived in a nice big place. And she wasn’t no lady either. So

what do you do for a living, ‘E’? What do you have planned for this huge

place?”

“Oh, I’m retired now. I was a social worker. And I really don’t have any

definite plans as yet, for the place. But we’ll figure it out someday. I’m

really in no hurry.”

“Awfully big place for just one family, ‘E’, you must have some idea of

what you want to do with it?” Jeffrey asked him noticing that he said “we’ll”

figure it out, like there was more than one person at the place!

“Oh, no I’m not married. I’m single and I like it just fine! It’s just me

here.”

“Hmmm! I thought you said “we’ll” figure out what to do with the

place?”

“Well, my father is coming out to live with me. That’s what I meant.

Just dad, no wife,” was his response, not feeling comfortable about telling him

his dad was already there.

Jeffrey pondered his answer and added, “Hell me too, like I said. I see

we have something in common. No wives. Hell I’d drink to that, if I had one,

but I drank all I had. This reminds me why I got out today in the first place. I

was headed down to the liquor store and decided to stop by on the way and

introduce myself to my new neighbors, you know. Well I must be on my

way. Just thinking about a drink makes me thirsty, you know!”

“No, I wouldn’t know. I don’t drink myself,” replied ‘E’.

“Well, maybe I can fix that in the future. You don’t know what you’re

missing out on, Eli!”

“Please call me ‘E’,” he replied, “Miss’ in out on a hangover, I imagine”.

“Sorry, ‘E’, I’ll have to remember to call you that, but you might have to

bear with me for awhile, though. And that’s funny. Miss’n out on a

hangover. Yep that’s funny! Anyway, nice to meet you ‘E’, hope to see you

again, soon.”

“Yes, me too, Jeffery,” replied ‘E’” who was anxious to get back to the

crate and the rest of his exploring, so too speak.

Project Tag Chapter Two

67

They shook hands again, this time bidding each other farewell, and

Jeffery slowly returned to his beat up 4x4, started it up, turned around waving

to ‘E’ and then he slowly disappeared around the buildings and back down the

long dirt driveway.

As Jeffery left, ‘E’ thought to himself as he returned to the entrance to the

cellar, “I have to go find and check out that pond Jeffery was talking about,

fish sounds good, and a great source of food if you need it in a pinch,

especially if the food runs out for some reason.”

Already forgetting about the crate in the cellar, ‘E’ turned the light off and

locked the door and continued exploring the rest of the compound and

grounds for the rest of the gorgeous day high up in the Rockies, tromping

through the fluffy white sparkling snow and enjoying the remarkably warm

sunshine as well