The men and women gathered in the room were elated about the prospect of seeing the new capital and going there as guests of their leader. After the meeting, President Beaulieu pulled Al Augustus aside. “This is the moment I’ve been waiting for, Mr. Secretary. I know that, as secretary of defense, you want world peace as much as I do. So you will be pleased to know that immediately after the dedication of my new capital, a portion of the armed forces of all the member nations will be placed under the command of leaders chosen by the Parliament of the Union for Peace. Through limitation of the very possibility of armed aggression, we will be able to proceed with our plan to destroy weapons of war all over the world. The remaining military forces of all nations throughout the world may then be demobilized. We will enter a new millennium of peaceful coexistence.

“Mr. Secretary . . . Al, my friend,” he said, warmly, “your excellent work in crisis management and your sage counsel concerning military affairs and the deployment of our forces during these difficult days have been invaluable to me. I’m now giving you the task of fulfilling our mission for peace. I have every confidence that you’ll accomplish this task as you did the other.”

Al Augustus knew now that he was dealing with a demonic megalomaniac. Al realized that somehow this man had been blinded to his defense secretary’s true loyalties. The appearance of cooperation was essential now, so he clasped the president’s hand warmly and bowed from the waist.

“Mr. President,” he said with feigned deference, “I will carry out your wishes in a fashion that even you will not believe possible. Now, sir, what is your pleasure? Shall I stay here and begin my mission now, or would you prefer that I join your party in Babylon?”

The president paused for a moment. “The work here is very important, that’s true, but you’d be missed at the ceremony. And you’d be sorry not to have seen the spectacle that Bishop Haddad and I have prepared for this occasion. Perhaps you should go ahead and begin your work now, but then rather than coming in the larger plane with the official party, you can fly to Babylon on my smaller personal Global Express airplane. After a brief stay at the capital, you’ll return refreshed and better able to finish your mission here. Does that sound agreeable?”

“Mr. President,” Al said, “it will be done precisely as you have described.” Gratified by the exchange, Mark Beaulieu turned imperiously on his heel, and the two men parted company.

AS SOON AS HE RETURNED to the Pentagon, Al Augustus called for an emergency meeting of the Joint Chiefs plus all of the service secretaries.