Chapter 7

Part 1

Fear

Six years after the battle of Restum……

After enduring a sandstorm for the last five hours, the Belgarathians had gradually started to step out of their houses. The market place had started to get crowded as people poured in for making their living. The new America legation office stood tall amidst the village. It was a four storey building making it the tallest in the whole village.

In six years, the US had set up a military hospital and a school in Belgarath for the soldiers, but was also opened it for the natives. The soldiers frequented the hospitals as they were in constant conflict with the Sharia’s. The number of natives who attended the school and hospital set up by the foreigners increased over the years. Earlier, the Belgarathians had to visit the nearby village or the local physicians who relied on herbs and alchemy for treating their illness, but as the hospital was built and English medicine came into prevalence in Belgarath, the local physicians lost their jobs.

The same goes for the local teachers who taught foreign language like English and French as they were replaced by the foreigners. Those who taught the local history and languages survived, but those who were replaced by the foreigners, suffered. As the foreign language teachers and local physicians in Belgarath perished, they became a constant target for Owais as it was impossible for them to pay him money as they had lost their jobs. As a cobbler, Kamran was lucky enough to survive, but deep down he knew that one day his income won’t be enough to support his family and it scared him.

Six years under the influence of the foreigners, the number of children born out of wedlock to the soldiers also increased and they made most of the strength in the military school. Their mothers were shamed by the society, and those soldiers who made them an outcast in the society never cared about them. In other words, they suffered a lot, living as a single mother was not an easy task in Belgarath as their own family hated them for carrying foreigner's children.

Those children who were half Belgarathian and half Yankee was called as ‘ Mongrels' by the villagers. The Belgarathian women had no choice, they were being forcefully sent to the military camp and no one came forward to vouch for them. The soldiers took no responsibility for these women, they were thrown out like used clothes. This has now became a common scenario in Belgarath and everyone has gotten used to it. When a girl is being sent to the military camp, the villagers pitied her and then totally forget about her until she is found dead or gave birth to a ‘ mongrel'.

The construction of the new American Legation office was being wrapped up and now it was time to appoint someone as the new legation officer. Even though Belgarath belonged to another country, it has now became a colony of America. More foreigners came to work as doctors, nurses, teachers and librarians in Belgarath. Now more than half of the population were foreigners.

The country had bend all their foreign policies and rules for the States, as long as the US sent soldiers and ammunition to keep their Northwest borders safe. The person who was in charge of the Legation office was Minister Alan who was the foreign ambassador of US in the country. Instead of involving directly, he appointment his three representatives to oversee the activities of the Military troops, hospital and the schools. Things have somewhat calmed down between the soldiers and the natives as they were now used of being the submissive population . They no longer resisted, but accepted their fate as it is.

Lt. Colonel Persey Jacob Barnes , representing minister Alan was appointed as the first Legation officer in charge of the US military troops along with Dr. Amir Hussaini and Professor Edward Lee who were in charge of the military hospital and school, respectively. The trio were sent to Belgarath in the name of overseeing the activities of US militia and for the taking care of the complaints of the US citizens in Belgarath as more than half of the population in Belgarath was now the foreigners.

All three of them were veterans in their field of works. Colonel Barnes was in his late twenties making him the youngest in the group. The other two were in their forties. Col. Barnes was a young man who rose to his rank solely due to his skills in the battlefield, whether that is to make an attack strategy within minutes or to prevent an attack by being a good negotiator. The title of a Lieutenant Colonel was too much of a burden for a young man like him, but he bore it beautifully. He was a true soldier, a good negotiator, and a proud citizen of the States. He was unprejudiced and unbiased and happily accepted the post of a legation officer as he thought he might use some time away from war and bloodshed.

Dr. Amir Hussaini was talkative,kind an excellent physician, always willing to help anyone in need.

Professor Edward Lee was quiet, observant and keen, always listening to everyone more than doing the talking. They have first arrived at the capital, where they received a warm welcome from the Defence minister Asylkhan himself. Then they arrived in Belgarath after five hours in a helicopter.

At the legation office, Captain Eugene Carter was waiting for them and as they arrived, they were welcomed with a grant parade. After the parade, Captain Eugene approached the new legation officer in charge of the military and introduced himself.

‘ Captain Eugene Carter, in charge of the US troops, sir'. He saluted facing the two older men thinking one of them to be the legate and completely ignoring the youngest legate.

‘ Lt Colonel Persey Jacob Barnes, in charge of US militia in Belgarath. ‘ Col. Barnes cleared his voice and introduced him.

Captain Eugene was completely taken aback knowing his officer was younger than him and his first meeting itself was an insult as he ignored his senior officer.

‘ Oops, that was completely unexpected, right? We didn’t even believed at first that he was a colonel because of his age. It happens, even the minister said it was unbelievable. ‘ Doctor Amir said patting the captain's shoulder.

‘ My apologies, sir. Captain Eugene Carter, in charge.. ‘ Eugene tried to introduce himself again.

‘ I heard you the first time, captain Eugene. I guess you have a habit of jumping to conclusions easily.’ Col. Barnes said taunting him.

‘ Not good for a soldier. ‘ Dr. Amir said scanning the entire surrounding.

‘ This is Dr. Amir Hussaini and Professor Edward Lee, in charge of the military hospital and school, respectively.’ Col. Barnes introduced the other for captain Eugene.

‘ My pleasure, sir. ‘ Captain Eugene said extending his hand for a shake to both of them.

‘ So what about the colonel?. Is it not a pleasure meeting him?. ‘ Dr. Amir teased Captain Eugene.

‘ My apologize. It’s a pleasure to meet you too sir. ‘ Captain Eugene corrected himself.

‘ That’s two apologies in a row.’ Dr. Amir teased again and captain Eugene was totally flustered.

He was about to loose his temper as the doctor keep getting on his nerves. The meeting with the legation officers was not going as he had planned and it bothered him.

‘ See you both later. You may leave now. Let me know if you need any help from me. ‘ Col. Barnes said to both Dr Amir and Professor Lee.

‘ It’s a pleasure meeting you, col. Barnes. Hope we get along well. See you again. ‘ Dr. Amir said smiling.

‘ I enjoyed your company, colonel. See you again and good luck. ‘ Professor Edward Lee said.

‘ Good luck to you, captain. ‘ Dr. Amir again teased Eugene and he gritted his teeth with a smile on his face.

‘ Thank you, Doctor. ‘ He said masking his anger. As soon as they left, colonel Barnes turned to Eugene.

‘It has been a long and continuous journey to Belgarath and I need to rest. We will discuss further duties tomorrow. You may leave now, captain’. He said without any expression on his face.

‘ Yes, sir. Have a good day’. Captain Eugene said and left the office.

Col. Barnes stared at the retreating figure of captain Eugene as long as he vanished from his view. Wondering what the new post as a legate would bring him in his life, col. Barnes closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep after the tiresome journey.