SKYEYES by Edward Es

Author:Edward Es [Es, Edward]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-12-14T18:30:00+00:00

Kirshner sits on his desk, tapping a pencil, watching through the window as the audience disperses in pockets of conversation. An FBI agent stands guard at the closed control room door and Bud sits at another desk, defiantly in control of the situation. The door to the office opens, President Stamp walks in, and Bud dutifully stands. Stamp looks at the agent, then at Bud.

“OK, Meyerkamp, the standoff’s over. I want your men out of here. We need to stop interfering with the Doctor’s work.”

“Oh, I see. It’s work, now. At what point did we skip from the conspiracy stage, hurdling over federal offenses, directly to ‘work’ without passing Go?” He glares at the Doctor. “And don’t bother with the Get Out of Jail Free card.”

“I beg your pardon?” asks Kirshner.

“What are you talking about?” asks Stamp.

“Never mind. I’m just kind of confused about the chain of command here. I realize you’re the President and all, but I wasn’t under the impression I took orders directly from you. I’ve got a crime scene here.”

Stamp walks over to Bud, puts his arm around his shoulders, and leads them both over to the door. He speaks quietly, between them. “Commander in Chief, Bud. That’s another name for my job. I send armies out all over the world and do really big things. Somehow I think I can tell you to knock off this pit bull mentality you’ve gotten over all this, and ‘sit down, shut up, and take it ease,’ as my Italian grandmother used to say. You’ve done your work, and you were right all along. Now I’m ordering you, as your beloved President, to take a few days off. Besides, I talked to Herlihy and he said we’re not pressing any charges, against anybody. Yet.”

He slaps Bud on the back and walks toward Kirshner. Bud looks at the both of them, then motions for his man to follow, their exit punctuated by an exclamatory slamming of the door. Stamp breathes a sigh of relief. “Boy. Who needs a few good men when you have just one of those? Now, let’s go downstairs and have a little talk.”

Kirshner and the President enter the control room to find a Secret Service agent who stands to attention. With a gesture from Stamp, he leaves without a word. Kirshner falls into his chair and pushes another toward Stamp. On the screen is the view of Earth, the soundtrack now faintly playing Come Together.

Stamp listens. “Is he... playing that from up there?”

“He insisted on it being a, how shall I say... business venture, on paper. A remote broadcast booth, so to speak.”

Stamp nods in admiration. “I see. Sort of a world crisis and tax deduction, all wrapped up in one. Yes siree, that’s Tommy for you.”

“I think it had more to do with giving something back to his viewers. He always believed that the common man, the citizen who paid for the space program, never got enough back from it. Personally, that is. Never really was able to enjoy it.

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