Imprint of War by Phil Huddleston

Author:Phil Huddleston [Huddleston, Phil]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781734221510
Publisher: Empress Hecate Publications, LLC
Published: 2019-11-07T22:00:00+00:00

Rome

All warfare is based on deception.

- Sun Tzu, The Art of War, Earth, 6th Century B.C.

City of Aronte

14 January 2207

Andrea and Jake sat on the stone bench. In front of them, on a patch of green grass, a blanket held the twins Alexander and Ligeia, gurgling at each other. Empress Hecate sat on the blanket with them, trying to get Alexander to hold on to her pinkie. Hecate looked up at Andrea and laughed.

"Oh, Andrea, thank you for entrusting them to me," she said, a smile in her eyes. "I'll treat them as my very own, you know that!"

Andrea nodded at her. "I know, Hecate. I know you will."

Andrea glanced at Jake and rose. "Let's walk."

Jake looked up at her, and then nodded. He got up and waited as she turned back to Hecate.

"We're going to walk for a bit, if that's OK."

Hecate nodded. "No worries. Have fun!"

Andrea started away, Jake following. They went down the path toward the Guard barracks that Jake remembered, from all those years ago. Past the barracks, they came to the semi-hidden gate that let out into the public street. Jake paused and looked at Andrea, but without hesitation she pushed the gate open and walked out. Jake followed, a bit puzzled by Andrea's mood. Together they walked along the street, mixing with the townsfolk and the tourists staring at the Imperial Palace. Andrea walked with her head down, not looking at Jake.

"Just so you know, Jake...," she began, and paused.

Jake waited, well used to Andrea's moods. He knew this was a serious matter, so he did not interrupt. Andrea reached out and took his hand as they walked.

"Just so you know, I've updated my will," she finally got out. "If I don't come back from this war...well, the twins go to Hecate. I knew you would approve, but I'm sorry I didn't talk to you first."

Jake walked silently for a bit, then nodded. "That's the way I would want it," he said. "You did well."

Andrea walked, head still down, not looking at Jake, but holding his hand.

"It seems like yesterday, when I saw you on the Paris," she said.

"I know."

"And when we were at Strategy School."

Jake nodded silently.

"And when we got married."

Jake continued to walk beside Andrea, holding her hand, keeping his counsel.

"Jake, do you believe in the Creator?" Andrea asked.

Jake thought for a while. "Yes," he said. "Maybe not like the churches say, but I believe the universe was created. And that something - someone or something - created it."

Andrea nodded beside him. "So, what happens when we die?"

Jake considered. "I don't know, Andrea. I can only puzzle it out up to a certain point. Our lives leave an imprint on the universe. Maybe that imprint is good, or maybe that imprint is bad. It's not a very big imprint, when you stop and think about it. But it’s up to us to make the very best imprint we can. After that, it's up to the Creator."

Andrea thought for a while. Then she glanced over at Jake.

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