America's Galactic Foreign Legion - Book 4: Demilitarized Zone Read Online Free Page A

as
possible,” I said. “But there will always be rumors. Do not discuss
this with anyone.”
    “Don’t worry,” said Carter. “I won’t. Thank
you so much for your cooperation and help in this matter.”
    As Carter left, I turned to Captain Lopez.
“What next? I feel like I have been appointed Mayor of Tammany
Hall.”
    “You are the Military Governor of New Gobi
City,” replied Captain Lopez. “I am the mayor.”
    “Whatever,” I said, rising to greet the next
person through my door, and to shake his hand.
    “I am Pastor Jim. I hope to be the first to
build a church in New Gobi. I have already picked a site on a hill
overlooking the whole valley,” announced Pastor Jim.
    “What denomination?” I asked.
    “The Church of Scientology,” said Pastor Jim.
“Being leading citizens of New Gobi, I expect both of you to attend
my first services.”
    “I’m catholic,” announced Captain Lopez,
crossing himself. “It would be a sin for me to attend. I can’t
afford any more bad marks, if I expect to get into Heaven.”
    “I do my praying at the casino,” I replied.
“And I make my donations there, too.”
    “There are no casinos in New Gobi,” advised
Pastor Jim. “Until one is built, you will attend services and be
prominently seated in the front pew. There is a whole lot of moral
rejuvenation that needs to be done around here, and I will start
with you. In spite of what I have heard, I believe you are
basically good and have unlimited capability for good. I will work
to help you attain brotherhood with the universe through the
technology of the mind.”
    “Yes, sir,” I said, feeling trapped. What
did I do to deserve this?
     
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    Chapter 4
     
    “Do you know anything about an E. coli
outbreak?” asked General Kalipetsis, during my weekly report. “The
spider governor personally asked me about it. He says there are
rumors of thousands of casualties, and that the Legion is doing a
massive cover-up.”
    “No,” I said. “Something that big could not
be covered up. Everything is normal here.”
    “I thought so, too,” said General Kalipetsis.
“The governor also complained about that new lighthouse you had
built. He appreciates the new lighthouse, but is complaining about
the flashing neon sign that says, ‘SHOP WALMART. Only 435 MILES
NORTH TO NEW MEMPHIS.’ The governor claims it looks tacky and is a
blight on the landscape.”
    “We are supposed to promote trade and
economic activity along the DMZ,” I explained. “Technically, the
New Mississippi River is part of the DMZ. And Walmart built the
lighthouse for free.”
    “Quite right,” agreed General Kalipetsis. “We
are well within the terms of the peace treaty on that. I’ll tell
him to stuff it if he doesn’t like the sign.”
    “The governor would gripe if I hung him with
a new rope.”
    “What is the latest on that fossil dig?”
asked General Kalipetsis.
    “I’m working on it,” I replied. “Patience.
This will take time.”
    “You don’t have time,” said General
Kalipetsis. “Military Intelligence says the spiders are sending
reinforcements. I want that fossil dig destroyed. Make it look like
an accident.”
    “I’m still trying to confirm it is really
fossils under the tent,” I said. “Anything else?”
    General Kalipetsis checked his list. “Ah,
yes. Did you threaten to shoot someone from the McDonald’s
Corporation?” he asked.
    “McDonald’s? The aircraft people?”
    “I’m not sure,” said General Kalipetsis.
“Have you threatened to shoot anyone lately?”
    “Not recently,” I said. “We really need to
get a handle on rumor control. It seems I spend half my time
putting out fires that don’t exist.”
    “I know how you feel,” said General
Kalipetsis, dismissing the rest of the complaints, obviously
satisfied that all was going well. “Call me as soon as you get an
update on that fossil dig.”
     
    * * * * *
     
    Satellite photos showed spider