#757
"Hey, wait a minute," Woody sputtered, "the service is much different now. I'm not bragging, but I do run a tight ship. The lax excesses of yesteryear are gone for good.
As for your demands, I can guarantee the paper work back in your name, it's already being processed as we speak. It will be delivered by courier this afternoon. As for the general, he was the main objector, and he has been retired. The only thing I cannot guarantee is the congressional hearing. That is unpredictable at best, and dangerous un the least. You have my protection and that of the president; for what it's worth."
Woody looked old and stressed. He closed his eyes and rubbed his face.
Clora touched Mark on the arm and said a few low words.
"Let me try the prince right now; he will either say yes or no." Mark opened the screen and scrolled down a list of numbers. He hit dial, and listened to the voice that answered. Speaking in Farsi, Mark identified himself and asked for an audience with the prince.
The voice ordered him to wait, and Mark sat back down.
"What language are you speaking ?" Woody asked, almost impressed that Mark had such an important man on speed dial. No one else had been able to directly contact the prince, and here this man just pressed a button.
"I speak Farsi, enough to speak with the prince, he is multi-lingual, and understands English very well." The voice interrupted Mark.
"American, the prince sends greetings. He is most curious to know why you seek an audience,"
"I wish to speak to him about the land transaction, preferably out at the old retreat." Mark replied in English, as the secretary spoke in English.
"A moment please," and the line went silent. The man was back in a few moments.
"The prince will have time to see you at 5pm. your time, he asked if this concerns the sale."
"I have ownership and am willing to sell, if he is still interested after the shameful way our government has responded." Honesty was the only way he could conduct business.
There was silence on the other end, and then the secretary spoke. "It is agreed, his highness will be there."
Mark replied in Farsi, "I am in the prince's debt, I will be there."
The line went dead. "We will meet in the late afternoon," he told Woody." There won't be anyone else there but Clora and myself. There had better not be any snooping, drones, eavesdropping or self important toadies hoping to get in on glory."
Woody grimaced, he had really hoped he could attend, just to be able to give the all important assessment report to the president.
"Woody," Clora addressed the man who was her son-in-law, not Mark's boss. "We need you to tell us what is happening with Tess."
Now it was time for Woody to squirm. He didn't know how to tell then the not so good news.