Manuscripts Burn


MANUSCRIPTS BURN

"Manuscripts don't burn"
- Mikhail Bulgakov

Hi, I'm horror and science fiction author Steve Kozeniewski (pronounced: "causin' ooze key.") Welcome to my blog! You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Amazon. You can e-mail me here, join my mailing list here, or request an e-autograph here. Free on this site you can listen to me recite one of my own short works, "The Thing Under the Bed."

Monday, November 9, 2009

The Last War: Chapter 73, Part 9

"Hello, this is Tricia Marsden, reporting live from Athens where the final touches are being put on the surrender of the Eastern Bloc to the Alliance. Discussions are still in progress between the Eastern commander, Supreme General Dimitri Igoumensita, and American Brigadier General Paul King who you will recall was instrumental in routing Eastern forces through the Eastern Bloc countries. Also present is General Bruno Olensheim, who led the retaking of Germany. General Igoumensita specially requested to surrender to these two gentlemen for as yet unknown reasons. Now let's take a look at where the negotiations are going on."

Tricia wiped away the sweat from her forehead as she turned to watch the holomonitor. It was hot in Greece, damn hot. There was the Greek Igoumensita now. She couldn't understand what he was yelling, but he was turning red and seemed about ready to explode. It must have been about something exceptionally important, like the breakup of the Eastern Bloc or the disarmament of all the armed forces. Then the translation appeared at the bottom of the screen.

It read: WE WILL HAVE CHAMPAGNE AT THE PEACE CELEBRATION, OR NOTHING!

"Oh, god," muttered Tricia and placed her right palm on her forehead.

"I said, we will have beer. Beer is the drink of America, damn it!" yelled out King.

"I believe Germany had something to do with beer as well, general," Olensheim said.

WE SHALL HAVE CHAMPAGNE, OR THERE SHALL BE NO PEACE!

"I'll die before I drink wine at a party!"

"Americans," muttered Tricia.

She was still in pain over Aubrey's death. She had barely been able to move for a day after she received the news. Gradually she returned to work. Reporting was a means to leave the sorrow behind, for a short time, at least. Burying the grief that attempted to well up in her during the brief pause, she turned back to the camera with a smile, and indicated to the cameraman to begin filming again

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