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as soon as the other drug lords were confused and trying to figure out what was going on. He was also going to be legitimate. He was going to take every damn thing over and then be called king.
     
    Oh, that’s right, Manny thought to himself as he felt the sweat drying on his back. It may sound outrageous, but when the rest were trying to figure out whether to duck or run, he was going to take over. He was going to be king over a green and rich country and control all the cocaine, something that other people would give the last of anything they had to get more of. People were going to come crawling to his country, and the other Columbians were going to be proud of him and be glad to have him as a king.
     
     
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
     
     
    “The peasants are expecting too much.”
     
    “Yes, they are getting too much information.”
     
    “The last time we interfered overtly with their internet, they rioted. We were the laughingstock of the world. The arrogant Americans threatened to stop buying our products. So what can we do now?”
     
    “I am not going to let those dirty men in rags take over my business and run me out. I say damn the Americans. We have to cut all, I mean ALL, access to the internet.”
     
    “Yes, we can put our own websites out there as the only ones that they will be able to reach. We must re-stress how patriotic it is to have only one child, to work and do your duty. We must get them back to where they were fifteen years ago.”
     
    “We will pay heavily for this, the Americans will try to affect our trade.”
     
    “Yes. Yes. But we cannot let them rule us! Our country is huge. We will be fine, perhaps a few villages will starve out. It will not matter. No one will know, because no news will get out except the news we put out.”
     
    “Sounds fine, but you know there is always someone who sneaks in or out and takes pictures.”
     
    “I don’t care! We are not going share our illustrious positions with worthless peasants.”
     
    “I am not. I say, Premier Xi Jintao is correct. We must disable the internet and crush the peasants and ignore the Americans. It will cut into our trade, but we will make sure that hurts only the rebellious peasants.”
     
    “We must decide then. Let us speak to disable or appeal to their patriotic feelings.”
     
    “Disable.”
     
    “Disable.”
     
    “Disable.”
     
    “There is, then, no need for me to speak. I will contact our leaders in the People’s Liberation Army, while each of you must prepare your new websites and ensure all your people will act in accordance to our agreement.”
     
    The five old men bowed to each other and left the lush room. The sun was slanting in the only window. The warm sunbeams bounced off a rich mahogany desk that was inlaid with a matching mother of pearl dragon and phoenix. They were curled around each other in an eternal battle.
     
     
     
    ~ ~ ~
     
     
     
    “Andrei, my friend, I know you think I am a strange old man. I appreciate that you have given me some time for afternoon coffee.” Gennadi smiled at his younger friend. He had called a few days ago, asking for a small meeting. Now Gennadi was finding it hard to get the words out.
     
    The men were sitting on an outside deck of a local hotel, enjoying a summer afternoon and looking out over the Caspian Sea. Insects were creating a soothing white noise in the background.
     
    “My friend, now that I have nearly reached forty, I am much more careful whom I call old.”
     
    A low chuckle was his answer.
     
    Andrei could sense how important Gennadi felt this was, so he was not going to push him. Besides, Andrei had cleared his schedule and had nothing the rest of the night. As the head of the Russian Federation Air Force, he was constantly busy. Constantly being called on for worthless public appearances or decisions that could cost lives. His assistant was always having to push him to get him to those handshaking events. He deserved the occasional evening to