The Safehouse. Washington DC. USA.
"Some news got to us, Sir."
One of the officers standing before the president of the USA said. He had his chest up and some of his right hand fingers to his temple in salute.
The other man standing beside him did the same. He seemed to be of a lower rank to the captain. He was a lieutenant.
The president was seated over a cup of coffee. He looked at his time. Twas just 9:00am. That was quite an early call.
He was in his suit though, but he wasn't ready for any news yet.
"Sit."
The president said to he captain. The captain eased himself and made his fellow do the same.
He took his seat in one of the two chairs opposite the table of the president. The fellow sat next to him.
"Quite early for the news. Bad good or Bad bad?"
The president had a swig of his coffee. His eyes seemed lit but you could tell from the lines across the tip of his eye, he'd been given away easily as a fellow citizen who was weary of the whole mess.
"Bad bad, sir."
The captain said.
"Go ahead, Russell. Got some conference call with the international leaders in 30 minutes."
The president urged.
"There's a revolt in the East. And the rumor had been spread all across the states. All the citizens are now taking after the so called examples which are at the detriment of both your interest, sir, and those in the safehouses."
The president took a swig again.
"Straight to the point, Russell."
He said, tucking his palms into each other. The president seemed moved and unmoved, but he was sure ready for the gist. His eyebrows were damn knitted.
"Information from a very reliable source has it that, many citizens as a result of not getting access into the safehouses, have began to destroy the safehouses. They have been using sharp tools, like daggers, axes, hammers etc in cutting out and down the safehouses. But no success of their effort has been recorded yet. But believe me, sir. They are so bent on achieving it."
Russell stopped talking. The president called one of his attendants and sent him away. The fellow, dressed in an Italian suit as though he was going on a date, returned with two cups of coffee.
One for Russell and the other for the lieutenant.
"Sounds ugly."
The president said finally.
"The next news?"
Russell wanted to touch his drink but he didn't seem to have the grind. The president noticed and waved him to,
"It's more like it. They already are aware of the underground passage and where it is connected to. They threaten to break the water supply pipes and stop the food carriage by stopping the delivery. There slogan was, 'All in this, no exception'."
He stopped talking. The president took the last swig of the coffee and tapped the bottom of the cup on the table.
He sighed and said,
"What'd you suggest, Captain Russell?"
Russell gave the lieutenant a very casual look. The president didn't try to understand.
"The cops had tried in vain to stop them. And many cops are being beaten and killed too. We request the immediate deployment of our men to the street. In no time, we'll restore order."
Russell stopped talking. The president threw his face sideways and looked at him again,
"That's tyranny."
The president's breath was rough. Russell seemed moved but wasn't touched.
"With all due of respect sir, the lives of officers are at risk. They are being killed. The deployment is the best thing you can do, Sir."
The president stood up and so did Russell and his lieutenant in salute.
"No tyranny, Russell and that's final. It's not fair on them outside there. They have all the right to do whatever they want to. The government has failed her duty."
Russell cut in.
"With all due of respect, the government has tried. She has done her quota. They are just being ungrateful. Deploy us Sir, and let's ensure a genocide, if I may say the word, sir. By that, no one will revolt any longer."
"Enough! Enough! Russell, Enough! This is not a jungle. It's a human settlement. I respect my subject if you don't. If you were a civilian and helpless, would you had said that? Genocide."
He tapped the table and walked away from his chair.
"There will be no deployment. Give them few days. And by the way, Soldiers are not allowed in the street."
The president walked towards his room,
"But, sir..."
Russell called, but the president wouldn't let him the words.
"That's final, Russell!"
Then the president began to walk towards him again,
"And Russell, a bunny should stay in the cage. His feces are not meant for neither the room, nor the street but the forest or the cage."
He smiled at Russell and walked away.