(Ten Months Later)
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 1948
The jungle drums registering concern over the latest developments in the fastrising world of anti-Communist campaigning are beating more loudly. The tide of the public’s growing fear of the spreading threat of Communism is rapidly rising.
Jacques and Mike, the European and American Sentinel leaders, via transatlantic telephone, have been exploring possible corporate agendas in play and the evidence that a new Power-Cycle type threat may be forming.
Mary Wheeler Clarke’s sources—former generals now consulting with military contractors—continued to give her reports on the ramped-up plans for increased defense spending.
Marco Tancredi has reported on the situation from his unique vantage point: Members of his late-night office cleaning staff have been separating the discarded executive notes of the members of Manuel’s Club they have discovered in the trash they are required to remove each night.
Walt Matthews, the nationally syndicated columnist for the New York Times, has been reporting the activities of the House Un-American Activities Committee with increasing frequency . . .
Natalie’s transatlantic casting program, “Natalie’s Bridge,” widely regarded as a brave effort to identify English employment for out-of-work, blacklisted Hollywood personalities, has caught the attention of the American public.
It had been decided that an all-hands meeting of the Sentinels was needed to organize a plan of opposition. The scheduled dinner in the Stones’ spacious Upper Eastside New York apartment represented the first time all 14 would be called together.
By seven o’clock on the appointed evening, everyone had arrived, been offered their drink of choice, and had sampled Cecelia’s magnificent array of Oriental hors d’oeuvres. With drinks in hand and nibbling on the marvelous finger food, the battle-hardened Sentinels stood around talking. The affection, admiration, and respect they held for each other was apparent.
As involved in their own conversations as they were, they couldn’t help but notice that Mike and Jacques had made their way to the outside balcony. Trying not to appear obvious, the others would periodically steal quick glances through the big plate-glass window. Judging from the body language of the two leaders and the intensity of their facial expressions, the other Sentinels concluded that their leaders were having a serious, do-not-disturb conversation.
* * *
JACQUES WAS TALKING. “I’M GUESSING THIS SITUATION WITH THE military budgeting represents a serious threat to the congressional appropriations process and demands our attention. When the Founding Fathers set up the checks and balances of your remarkable government, I wonder if they anticipated that these concentrated pockets of wealth and influence would become so dominant. Unfortunately, it’s not just a problem for American citizens. Many people in other countries are depending upon the generosity of the American people to help them reconstruct their local economies. Already, they’re starting to worry about how the cost associated with rearmament might interfere with their own needs.”
Responding, Mike said, “We may not like what McWilliams and his cronies are attempting, but at least we know what it is. Now that we have two sources of confirming information, I wonder if we really have any alternative to becoming involved.”
Jacques was about to respond when Cecelia announced, “All right, everyone, dinner is served!”