Work parties have been on the Socotra property most of the recent daylight hours. Chairman Socotra was a little lethargic the other morning, and the Comptroller and some HR functionaries managed to pump him up with enough coffee that he scrawled signatures on a couple rectangular pieces of paper and the workers cheered.
The Production meetings have suffered with the diversion of attention. Two fine articles slumped off the schedule, since they dealt with numbers and the way numerology is being used to support what otherwise would appear to be irrational policy decisions. The numbers were used for justification of all sorts of things: pandemics, elections and inflation are just some of them. It is too complicated to have much mirth in the presentation, and the Chairman announced we should just save it for a book deal. In the meantime, he held a small sheaf of paper in his left hand and waved it over the cooling mug of coffee at the head of the table.
“I am not going to publish this stuff about the Defense Intelligence Agency having secret Chinese sources that reveal the COVID outbreak. The DIA Director says he can’t share access because the CIA and State Department are penetrated by Chinese spies.”
“That sounds like Curveball,” said the only Legal representative at the long table. “You know, that Iraqi who claimed to know about Saddam’s mobile biologic warfare capabilities and the justification for the invasion a while back.”
There was some scattered nodding around the table from those who were around for the infighting in the Intelligence Community at the time. But mostly rueful, since another internal war seems to be starting. That is coincident with the general engagement in progress about the whole history of the nation. One of the interns who seemed to be enjoying herself had been pressed into a research project designed to enhance the Socotra brand. She was wearing a smile as she stood with her own sheaf of papers.
“You know the Marquis de LaFayette was here? That line we have featured about Socotra ancestors helping to dig the cuts and lay tracks for the Alexandria and Orange Railway in 1850 is quite true. The O&A was chartered by the Virginia General Assembly on May 28, 1848, to run from the seaport at Alexandria down to Gordonsville in Orange County. So, the publicity line that Socotra shovels have been in this soil for 170 years is quite true. But there is more.” She had an air of triumph as she paused, took a sip of some clear liquid and continued. “My research indicates that in 1781, General Washington ordered the Marquis to link up his 1,200 New England and New Jersey troops with Gen. “Mad” Anthony Wayne’s 800 Pennsylvania soldiers to unite here in Central Virginia and proceed south toward Albemarle County to intercept British troops headed for Charlottesville. And Yorktown.”
The Chairman blinked his rheumy ayes open. “I was born in Wayne County, Michigan,” he said, clearly interested. “Mad Anthony was a rambunctious fellow and liked a fight regardless of where he was.”
“The Marquis had to wait for Wayne’s Brigade to arrive from camps in Maryland before he could advance in decisive force. He set up camp here at Stevensburg, near the old Racoon Ford, just down the road on the Rapidan River. It was this week in 1781, 240 years ago.”
“If our Revolutionary War vet was in the 3rd Pennsylvania Regiment of Foot, he might have camped right here on the farm.”
The Intern nodded. “Here from the beginning,” she said. And sat down, pleased she was done and her speaking part over.
The Chairman smiled at the idea of a family musket on the property for longer than there had been a country. In fact, he decided the new information would be useful for a new marketing campaign he was considering to expand the revenue base. “In order to better consider it as a fully integrated informational unit…” He paused as the work crew dropped that irritating little pine near the Loading Dock with a fusillade of chainsaw-generated whine. “I propose senior staff adjourn to the Copper Fish in town for a working luncheon.”
The junior staff smiled. They would have lunch in their cars as usual. And the drinks were cheaper there.
Copyright 2021 Vic Socotra
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