Chapter 47- Sleep Of Reason

Chapter 47

Sleep Of Reason

Washington, D.C

He’d always loved the Senate building a little bit.  It was a grand, gloating building and in its own way it was even more American than the Whitehouse was.  Hayden’s career had begun over at the Sam Rayburn building, working as an intern for congressman Jeffrey Haynes of Florida but it was as the Senate Minority Whip’s chief of staff that he’d made his current reputation.

Hayden walked past a pair of Airborne soldiers who were sat on the ground.  They both looked utterly stunned and young, far too young to be carrying assault rifles and body armor.  Hayden felt awfully sorry for them.  America had lost its identity in the last week but for the army, they had lost all their faith in the chains of command.  These airborne soldiers were guarding a largely empty building from a crowd of protesting citizens.

Elsewhere in the district people were throwing petrol bombs at the “pigs” that were in charge of the coup.  Already there were calls from rival commanders who wanted to remove General Pierce.  But Hayden couldn’t see what difference it made now. The die was already cast; the game was already played out.

He walked the empty corridors, still strewn in discarded paper work and blood stains, still riddled with broken glass and chaos.  Hayden shook his head.  They were in the end of it now, the final sands drifting to the ground.

“Sir?” he asked at the door.  Senate Majority Leader Dustin Long turned around from window and looked over at him.  As ever the old man looked untouchable in an imaccualte coal grey suit, with stark white hair and a black tie.

“Mr McDonald.  It’s a surprise to see you.  A welcome one,” said Dustin, his Southern accent still strong even when no cameras were on.  Hayden smiled weakly and entered the room.  The room was tidy but bare.

“I’m sorry but my staff are all at home.  I sent Jenny back to Atlanta,”

“How is she?” asked McDonald.

“Terrified, of course,” replied Dustin.

“I’ve come from the Whitehouse,” There was no point beating around the bush.

“I assumed as much.  As ever was the case with you son.  What does the damned usurper want now?”

“He wants us to legitimize him.  He wants you to reconvene the Senate,”

“He does?  He’s got another thing coming,”

“Other Generals have turned against him Senator.  The pack of dogs is utterly out of control,”

“Jesus wept.  Cant say I’m overly surprised though.  It got like that when I was in my days in service,” Dustin waved his hand to the medals in a frame above his desk.  A bronze star earned in Vietnam.

“War is the sleep of reason,” said McDonald, forgetting where the quote came from.

“The sleep of reason produces monsters,” replied Dustin.  “You always were smart for a yankee,”

A wry smile reached Hayden’s tired face.  “We’ve got to do something.  I think it may be too late for anything that isn’t just symbolic,”

“Symbolic, like old glory coming down.  Was that your doing too?”

“I wanted people to know that America had little or nothing to do with what was going on anymore.  The General has the reigns so he gets the responsibility too,” replied McDonald.

“Symbolism indeed.  The whole nature of a flag is symbolism.  But people fight and die for it.  I’d have gladly laid my life down for old glory a number of times.  But that was before the Iran-Contra affair, before the eighties and the rise of Reagan and the neo-cons.  And before those lunatics brought down the towers.  I don’t think the America I grew up with is alive anymore,”

“Senator, if we don’t take action, there may not be any America left at all soon,” said McDonald starkly.

“I know.  What do you recommend?”

“Speak to the people Senator.  I’ll get a camera crew here and as many Senators as are still in D.C  We’ll fill the Senate chamber and you’ll address the nation,”

“I’m not the President,” replied Dustin curtly.

“No one ever said you were sir.  But you are the Senate Majority leader.  You’re the symbol I want to show them.  That there is still an America if the people want it,”

“You still believe we can survive this damned insurrection?” asked Dustin.

“I don’t know.  But I know that hope will keep us going.  That’s what I need you to do.  That’s what America needs you to do.  Give us hope again Senator.  Speak like you did back in the seventies, speak like you did at the convention in nineteen eighty eight,”

“They didn’t like my speech much at the time,” replied Dustin.

“This is a time for American legends to be made, this is a time for American legends to be unmade,” quoted Hayden McDonald, aware he was crying a little bit again.  “I know that speech off by heart,”

Senate Majority Leader Dustin Long stood tall and straight backed and he looked back out his window.  Somewhere in D.C, a fire was raging out of control.  There was the distant hollow crack of rifle fire as America ripped itself to pieces.

“Get the cameras.  I’ll do my best to give them hope,”

“I will. Thank you,”
“You know that hope alone isn’t enough?” asked Dustin Long.

Hayden couldn’t bring himself to reply.  There was nothing left but hope.