1856 Revisited - PART ONE
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It's been just over seven months since I fell off the roof
I'd never believed in miracles, but they happen I'm proof
Apart from a limp when walking I was feeling quite well
And that I'd suffered a horrific injury you just couldn't tell.
Life returned to normal, and my physio was pleased with me
She said, "It can take years to recover from a brain injury
But you've somehow managed to overcome all adversities
I'm more than happy to discharge you and your doctor agrees".
I'd also been placed under the care of a top psychiatrist
And for some unknown reason they had kept me on his list
I didn't pay it much heed, but my wife thought it was strange
I said jokingly "Maybe they don't want me to get out of range".
But strange it certainly was when we got home about four
Three men in dark suits were waiting at our front door
"Can I help you?” I said "And who is it you want to see? "
One said "We're from the CIA paranormal section at Langley”.
I said" Well you'd better come in and tell me what this is all about"
I thought this isn't going to end very well, of that I’d no doubt
They said that they'd like me to return, a man needs assassinating
An evil man called Jen An Salah whom mankind needs terminating.
I couldn’t help but laugh and said "Well, who the hell is he?"
John who seemed to be in charge explained it all to me
"He is long believed to be the father of terrorism worldwide
And because of his twisted ideology, thousands have died".
"Just one big problem" I said, "I banged my head, and I fell
I had a strange experience, was it a dream? no one can tell"
John said "Your blood tests showed traces of the virus sera
That could have only come from someone in the Victorian era".
I said "Wow, you’ve certainly done a thorough research on me
And if you don't mind me saying this but it's all pure fantasy
Another problem you might have overlooked that I can foresee
Is how I could get back there and that's assuming I agree”.
John added "We can trick the front part of your brain
Telling it that you've fallen from a height; you'd feel no pain
A laser fires tiny electrodes and pulses in quick succession
And for the good of mankind, I hope you undertake the mission”.
He added" We'll leave you now but please think it through
Talk it through with your wife and decide if this mission you'll do"
They left and I said to my wife “Let’s discuss what’s been said
It seems like it's not just me that's had a knock to the head".
I googled Jen An Salah and it was just as John had said
That because of his twisted ideologies thousands were dead
My wife looked at me and said "Pete, I won't tell you what to do
But wherever decision you make then I'll fully support you".
I lay in bed tossing and turning all throughout the night
And thought Salah was garbage and to kill him would be right
I'd been in the Afghanistan war, and I'd killed quite a few
But assassinating someone to me was something quite new.
I phoned John the next day and told him I'd made my decision
And said " Yes John, I'm in and more than ready for this mission”
" Okay " said John" Someone is on their way to pick you up
But as I said yesterday, you'll be on your own without any backup".
I was taken to Langley and John was at the front waiting for me
Then he took me into a private room and told me all the history
Salah had visited England in 1856 and broke his leg in a fall
And was taken for treatment in London at Saint Jude's hospital.
"Wow" I said" That's where I worked on a Monday and Friday”
Then noticed he had my psychiatrist's notes, so he knew what to say
He said "You'll hear of his arrival then make plans to see it through
You won't be under any suspicion as everyone there respects you”.
Then I said" If I fail and don't manage to get back home to my wife
I want an iron guarantee she'll want for nothing for the rest of her life"
John said "I'll transfer a hundred thousand dollars into her account
I'm sure you'll agree that it is a very life changing amount".
Written 29th October 2024
CONTINUES IN PART TWO
Copyright © Tom Cunningham | Year Posted 2024
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