Koradonda: Chapter 6, More Koradonda: Part 1

More of Jones' people make themselves known, complicating and already complex situation.

chapters: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

The State Department man, older than the men he had been working with, sat on his patio. Two very alert Marine guards stood behind him.

“Mr. Jones, my name is Steven Carter,” the man said, standing up and extending his hand. “You’ll likely only be dealing with me for a week or so. They’re trying to put together what they consider the best ambassadorial team for dealing with such a unique situation. I hope you understand, for reasons of State, they will not give you full diplomatic status as ambassador for a foreign people until we assemble the team to talk to you. At the moment, we cannot afford the embarrassment of having an ambassador for a foreign people, and no one for them to negotiate with. There are enough questions of competency without adding something else for people who do not understand the situation to point fingers at.”

“Actually, the delay suits me fine,” Jones said, shaking that hand. As he sat, he continued, “If you could find a way of delaying it even longer, it would be even better.”

Carter paused, and a thoughtful frown crossed his face. He sat before answering. “There’s a faction that wants to delay it more. Most, however, feel it is time to move into real negotiations and to get some form of legal recognition in place. Give me a powerful reason I can take to them, other than you wish a delay, and a delay may be possible.”

“I want official recognition for my kind. But if it comes too fast, the backlash from those opposed to giving us any rights at all, will come at an inopportune time.”

“That has been considered and found less important than pushing through some preliminary agreement of at least establishing safe zones, so-called consulates, for those of your kind that choose to, to take advantage of. Also, negotiations need to start soon for some sort of special Visa that those of you that wish to claim, can. That will get them at least some rights and protections, something that is already needed.”

The man took a deep breath. “You see, I just received a call. We have made no move, but believe we have pinpointed two of your kind. As I said, there has been no attempt to approach them. One is on a nature preserve in the Everglades. The scientists there were having trouble understanding certain inconsistencies in the actions of some animals.”

He locked eyes with Jones. “That is, until you revealed yourself. The scientists have no doubt that these inconsistencies are the action of one of your people. After finding out about just how well you can camouflage yourselves, they even pinpointed what they believe is the member of your race. These men can, now that they have resolved why there were inconsistencies, be trusted to keep that knowledge from getting out.”

Carter consulted his phone. “However, the second is a problem. A farmer deduced, and pinpointed, the existence of one of your kind that’s been on the land since before he was born. Terrified, and fortunately for us, he went to a military base instead of the police, or newspaper, to get it off his land. We can hold him for seventy-two hours. Then he’ll be released. Even if he takes no further action against the being of your race, the public will flock to see when he tells others, and he will.”

Jones knew who the one in the Everglades was. They should be safe enough.

“Have no one mention, either here or elsewhere, the one in the Everglades again unless it gets out and I need to know. I need transport for me and the goddess to where this other is.”

“Oklahoma.”