Page 10 of A Hero Comes Home

“Wow! The Pentagon has an interest in little old me? How many phases are there, exactly?” Jake asked, unable to hold back his sarcasm, which was probably a violation of another Army Code of Conduct rule.

Two checks against me. Big deal!

Man, I am in a fighting mood. Gotta get myself under control.

Undaunted, the major said, “Three. Phase One is ‘Breaking the News.’ Phase Two is ‘Reentry.’ Phase Three is ‘Guided Media Opportunities.’ There may be other phases, to be determined, as needed.”

Jake turned to Izzie, who was seated on his right, and he gave him a stare that pretty much said, “Can you believe this butt-inator?”

Izzie just shrugged.

“So, are you one of my facilitators, too?”

Izzie shrugged again.

He hated Izzie’s shrugs.

“We all are, Jake,” Dr. Sheila said, patting him on the arm.

Jake hated being patted, like a kid.

Back to the clueless major, Jake asked, “Are any of these phases called ‘Tail Wagging the Dog’?”

“This is serious business, Captain,” the major warned, his voice clearly pulling rank on him. “You’re already aware that the president is in volatile negotiations with the recently elected Qadir government in Balakistan.”

It took Jake a moment, but then the major’s words, already aware, clicked like a light bulb in his brain. Why would the major be so certain he was aware of current news regarding Balakistan? Son of a bitch! They must be monitoring my TV watching habits. Probably my computer, as well. Too bad I didn’t hit some porno sites.

“Any adverse publicity about your treatment at the hands of the rebels would reflect badly on the new regime. Yes, you have reason to be upset about your long period in hiding, but for the greater good and national security, discretion is called for,” the major continued. “Caution is the key in media relations from this point out.”

“Long period? How about three years? And what’s with the ‘in hiding’ nonsense? I was a prisoner, pure and simple, not roughing it in some cave, like a crazy-ass spelunker. As if I had a choice!”

“I’m familiar with the details, Captain. But here’s the situation. As a Special Forces operative, you’re well aware of the term collateral damage. Unfortunately, whether in battle or government, sometimes innocent parties are harmed. It’s the price of freedom.”

Me? Collateral damage? Oooh, I do not like the sound of that. He turned to Izzie with disbelief. “Are you okay with this propaganda?”

“Shhh. Calm down, Jake. He’s only doing his job.”

“I don’t like your tone, Captain.” The major bristled, pulling rank on him. “Keep in mind that I’m here to facilitate your return. That kind of attitude is getting you nowhere.”

“You may be my ‘facilitator’ or ‘handler’ or whatever the hell you want to call it, but I’m still an American, and I have the right to speak my mind.” He inhaled deeply to tamp down his temper. In a surprisingly composed voice, he said, “Number one, excuse my language, Major, but bullshit on the ‘elected’ government you mentioned. There is no such thing in Balakistan. Number two, bullshit on differentiating between the rebels and the new cabinet. They’re one and the same. I had an up-close-and-personal acquaintance with the Qadir tribe and with Nazim bin Jamil, with or without the title of minister of defense, more like minister of torture. Number three, bullshit on sugarcoating my treatment at the hands of those Taliban assholes. Number four, bullshit on ‘guided media opportunities.’ The only opportunity the media will have with me is what I grant, and, frankly, I have no interest whatsoever in talking to the press.”

“See, those are the kind of messages we can’t have you portraying in the public sector.”

“In other words, you want me to lie?”

“No, no, no! But there are ways to tell your story in a way that accomplishes our purpose without offending other parties. You have to think long game here, not what happens in the first or second quarters.”

“Oh, now I get it. You’re a spin doctor.”

The major sat up straighter and flashed a glare at Dr. Sheila. “You said he was ready.”

“I never said he was ‘ready.’ I said he was well enough emotionally to handle going home.”

“And I never said he was ‘ready’ for the physical stress of some kind of promotion tour,” Dr. Muller added. “This boy needs another eye surgery, and the rod in his leg will have to be removed at some point. Rest in a peaceful environment would be my recommendation, not some media circus.”

“How about you, Izzie?” Jake asked. “Don’t you have an opinion?”

“I’m more concerned about your phone call to Sally, which is going to take place roughly an hour or so from now. Do you have any idea what your wife has been told? Before you talk to her, you need to know what intel she’s been given, or not, so you have your ducks in a row.”