Double Eagle
Headquarters
M Street Georgetown
Washington, DC
June 19, 2018
Dan awoke and felt stiff and sore all over. He remained strapped to the metal chair for the entire night. His legs were cramping, and he needed to stretch but more important, he needed the bathroom. He yelled to see if there was anyone within earshot. There was no response.
Confined in a ten by ten foot square box with concrete walls and a ceiling covered with thick rigid insulation panels to keep any sound inside the room, the quiet reminded him of a deep dive he'd once made where the only sound at 200' was his own breathing. Deathly quiet, just like this room.
Within a few minutes, a guard with a machine pistol of European origin slung across his chest came in carrying a paper sack advertising a well-known fast food restaurant. He also brought a towel and a packaged chip of soap. He left and returned with a bucket of fresh water joined by a second guard, empty-handed but armed in a similar way. The first guard spoke to Dan with an authoritative tone that could have only been developed within the military.
"I'm going to release these straps and your hands and legs are to remain in place, understood? Here's some breakfast, and there's a bucket of water for you to wash with. The floor drain in the corner is your toilet. Any sudden moves and my partner will shoot you. We have been ordered to keep you in good health unless you do something stupid. I'm certain the doctor will discover some medical conditions you were not aware of that he will need to explore with some razor-sharp instruments."
Both men laughed loudly as they left the cell. They'd obviously observed similar interrogations in the past and probably had to clean up after them. This was not the time to try an escape. He hobbled over to the drain and relieved himself and then stripped and washed as best he could with water in the bucket. It reminded him of the stories he'd read about Vietnam POWs and how they'd been treated at what they called the Hanoi Hilton.
Returning to the chair, he noticed blood stains on the frame that were never completely scrubbed off. It had been used to question others in the past. He ate the breakfast sandwich knowing he needed all the energy he could get into his body, regardless of the source. Both men returned within what he estimated was thirty minutes, and Dan was re-strapped to the chair. As the two were leaving the room, he spoke again.
"Hey, do either of you know whether I'll get frequent flyer points for this stay?"
The door closed without a response. The same routine was repeated for two long days.