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Tsv-06-100 Empire America Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 5:	Empire America Chapter Four Jake was a 6 foot, light brown young man in his early twenties, with the handsome features of his father and the smile to go with it. He greeted Madkro at the door and welcomed him in.   “Mak, well what do you know,” he said, obviously pleasantly surprised. “You finally paid me a visit. You sure you can fit me into your busy schedule?”   “I’ve finally got the excuse,” Madkro admitted, with a short laugh, as he stepped inside.   “Well great,” Jake said. “Come on in and pull up a chair. How do you like it?”   “A little bigger than I expected,” Madkro said, “Nice.”   “It’s an old school structure,” he said, “when they built things bigger. Been renovated, of course, but they didn’t reduce it all. Plus, I got promoted.”  He stepped behind the desk by the window.   Madkro looked about. One wall was all book-shelves with dozens of books, videotapes, and manuscripts, the other had 3 filing cabinets and a table with a coffee-maker and microwave oven. Beneath the table was a small refrigerator.    “Promoted?  But I thought you were free-lancing?”   “I was, and I still am,” Jake said, “but after the first season I realized I needed a secure job, so I took a job as a language instructor. In 2000, they made me the head of the department.”   “Department head?” Madkro said, with surprise.   “Well, it’s a small department,” Jake admitted, with modesty. “There are only 3 instruc-tors,  and I’m one of them.  Besides,  when I found out it  paid an extra c-note a month,  I couldn’t resist.”   “Well, great,”  Madkro said. “What  about your free-lancing? How do you find the time?”   “Oh, I find the time, all right,” he said, with certainty. “What about you? The ASC still kicking you all over the states?”   Madkro stood by a chair by the bookcase, and glanced at some of the titles.   “Well, under the circumstances,” Madkro said, “they’ve got all the right excuses.”   “I hear that,” he said. “I was just about to make some coffee. Can I get you a cup?”   “Heck, yeah,” Madkro said, “I’ve been on the road all day, I sure can use it.”   “All day?” Jake said, as he stepped to the table and poured some coffee. “Where from?”   “DC,” Madkro said. “They took me off Ang-duty and gave me a lot of leg-work.”   “No way,” Jake said, handed him a cup, and returned to the seat at his desk. “Why’d they do that?”   “NSA orders,” Madkro said. “They found out I used hemp before 98. It was an excuse to ground me. They don’t trust me with Ang security-detail. I’m too smart for my own good.”   Jake laughed shortly and said, “Sit down, Mak, and tell me about it. You know I love a good story. Don’t tell me they gave you a desk job.”   “Not exactly,” Madkro said. “How safe is this office?”   “You mean does it have bugs? I just had it swept yesterday. It’s clean.”   “Okay. I’m on assignment with the ASI,” he said seriously. “I had to come to Algone for other reasons, and I realized it was high time I visited.”   “ASI?” Jake said, with intrigue. “Wow, that’s great! Can you give me the details?”   “Actually, I’ve decided I need a seconade, to keep records. Are you up to it?”   “You want me to keep records?”   “Under the circumstances, I do need someone I can trust. Are you interested?”   “Damn right I am,” Jake insisted. “This is the kind of thing I’ve wanted for years.”   “I thought so,” Madkro said, and took the ASI disk out and handed it across the desk. “Make a copy of this and hide it well. It’s the basic info you need for the case.”   Jake accepted the disk and went to work on it at once. Madkro drank his coffee while he did so. A few minutes later, he said, “Done,” and handed the disk back to Mak.   Jake studied the directory of files and said, “So, do I get to write the book on this?”   “It’s yours,” Madkro said, “as long as you give me credit as a collaborator.”   “This stuff looks hot,” he said, studying the list of files. “CIA?”   “Yes, it’s hot all right,” Madkro said. “Make sure you keep it under your hat. Keep your day job and not a word about this to anyone.”   “Right, I hear that,” Jake said.   “Like I said, hide that disk well,” Madkro said. “I’ve got to get some help with the leg-work and I’ll check back with you once a week, at night. Understand?”    “Yes sir,” Jake said, as Madkro stood to leave. Jake stepped up around the desk and accepted Madkro’s hand in a shake. As Madkro stepped across the room to the door, and took the knob, Jake said, “Thanks, Mak.”   “Make your father proud,” Madkro said, with a smile, and departed. [Back]     [Next]