“i really appreciate this, al.”
“you should. it’s just because i am such s sentimental slob. but even so, i can only give you twenty minutes, so let’s get with it.”
rebel roussel had her phone ready, set it to record, and put it on the coffee table between herself and capone. they were seated i the “red room” of the imperial palace, which capone’s predecessor, john dillinger, had converted into a library, mostly containing old books about western gunslingers, samurai warriors and world war flying aces. capone did not use the room much.
two secret service men were the only other occupants of the room. they stood stoically at the window, looking out at the night, and not expressing their annoyance at this slight extension of their long shift, which had begun eighteen hours ago in the south pacific.
rebel also took out a small old fashioned paper notebook and a pencil. capone noticed this and snickered.
“i just like to jot a few things down,” rebel said. “makes me feel like a real reporter.”
“like in the good old days. is that what you want to talk about, the good old days? like a human interest story? if that is what you want, i am happy to oblige.”
“no, not at all.” reb checked the phone to make sure it was recording, and raised her voice slightly.
“i am here in the red room of the imperial palace, with president al capone. thank you for seeing me, mister president,”
“it is always my pleasure, reb - ms roussel.”
“i would like to ask you, mr president, about the rumors that have been circulating in the empire, and in the world, about attempts by entities from other galaxies or other universes - aliens, if you will - to contact the peoples and the governments of this world.”
“well, reb, i have always known you as a hard nosed reporter with a passion and an instinct for hard facts, so i am a bit surprised to hear such a question from you. but i will answer the question as best i can. as i am sure you know, such speculation has been around for centuries, at least since the time of mr wells and monsieur verne, and has spawned a kind of industry that has its ups and downs - like bike riding or football or other things that keep people amused.”
“that is all very well, sir, but it is the case that these ideas have suddenly taken hold and taken on a new life. not just here in america, but all over the world, most particularly in europe and the middle east, and with a somewhat new twist.
“well, reb, it does not surprise me too much that such ideas are floating around europe, as i know from my own experience that chancellor hitler is somewhat partial to entertaining them. but tell me, what is this somewhat new twist you speak of?”
“the new twist is that there is more than one set of aliens, and that they are attempting to play the empires of the earth off against one another.”
“i have absolutely never heard of such a thing. our tireless and patriotic intelligence services - the finest in the world - have never so much as hinted at such a thing to me. i repeat, i have never heard of such a thing, not even in the movies.”
“so you do not think it possible that we might see war break out among the empires, each of them fighting side by side by some army or other from outer space?”
“what a question to ask! especially to someone like myself, just returned from a peace conference in paris, where great and hopeful strides were made toward finally reaching the eternally elusive goal of world peace.”
“would you ever consider sending american troops into battle, against any of their fellow humans, with creatures from the depths of outer space as our allies?”
“never! the thought is totally repugnant to me. i wonder at the sort of mentality that could even conceive of such a thing.”
“thank ypu, mr president. no one can accuse you of giving a wishy washy answer. i think we can move on. since you have so graciously allowed me a bit of your valuable time, may i ask you how your children and grandchildren are doing.”
‘very well, thank you, reb. thank you for asking.”
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