Landing craft full of soldiers leave the U.S. Navy destroyer and head towards land as intense firing from both sides continues. Finally, they hit the beach in front of Maria's and Ben's cottage. One of the first soldiers to disembark is Private Harry Johnson from Syracuse. He and the others charge ahead looking for cover from Mexican gunfire. Once in the brush, the Americans wind their way towards the enemy. Finally, Harry comes to the area where the cottage had been. It is completely leveled. He is about to pass over it when he hears human moaning causing him to stop.
"Help...help."
Harry pulls off layers of debris until he discovers the blackened body of a naked woman. Underneath her he sees the tortured face of his uncle, whom he doesn't recognize. Realizing they are both injured, Harry calls for a medic and then continues on his way. After the medic arrives, he checks out Rita and then gently rolls her body off Ben's so he can examine him.
The medic asks, "Speak English, sir?"
Ben mumbles, "Yes!"
"American, sir?"
"Yes!"
"Your wife, sir?"
"Yes!"
"I'm afraid she's dead, sir."
At this horrific news, Ben's goes into shock. He's in too much pain from his bodily injuries to move. The medic gives him an injection. Tears run down Ben's bloody face until he passes out. As the battle continues, an unconscious Ben is placed on a stretcher and removed from the area, leaving Rita's body behind.
Some time later, Ben wakes up in a hospital ward on a U.S. Navy ship. He is still groggy as a nurse approaches.
"Hello, sir. I'm Lieutenant Anderson. What were you doing in the middle of a battle zone?"
"Where's Rita? Where's my wife? What are you talking about, a battle zone? I don't understand any of this."
"Didn't you know the president ordered an invasion of Mexico to stop them from making a super bomb they were going to use against us?"
Ben shakes his head in the negative. "My wife?"
"I'm sorry. I've no report of any woman found in the area. Please rest, sir."
She leaves. Ben starts to cry out, but his injuries limit his response.
"Rita...Rita."
Days later, Ben's been transferred to a U.S. Navy hospital in Key West, Florida. It's difficult for him to get around as his ankle was broken. Ben phones his brother Dave from an administrative area.
"Dave, it's me...I'm at a Navy hospital in Key West. I'm recovering from some injuries I suffered at Vera Cruz when all hell broke loose. Rita and I were there honeymooning. We had no idea what was about to happen. Now Rita's gone. The moment before was the happiest of my life. And now...I don't know what to do. The Navy wants to get rid of me and I've no where to go. Can I come up to your place to finish my recuperation? My ankle's busted...Thanks. I'll let you know when my plane'll arrive...Bye."
A week later at the Miami Airport, an attendant pushes Ben's wheelchair to his gate. Once there, with help, he transfers to a regular chair. Ben waits by himself for his flight to Syracuse. His foot is in a cast and he has crutches. Ben looks straight ahead without emotion. There's a radio nearby broadcasting news.
The announcer says, "The president has reported that Operation Segundo is a success. In a relatively short time, U.S. forces have crushed the Mexican Army and its government is in hiding. However, there appears to be a growing insurgency that's causing problems for our troops. As has been previously reported by Washington, the reason for the invasion was Julius Karchevsky, a notorious scientist who was working on the creation of a super bomb to use against the United States. Unfortunately, he has not yet been captured. However, President Roosevelt has assured the American people that he will be soon and this threat from the south will be over."
Meanwhile, in front of a house on Lyell Avenue in Rochester, New York, a short, elderly man with grey hair, a mustache, and a pot belly sits on his porch while interviewed by reporters.
Ben is still listening to the radio back in Miami.
"In another report, a man calling himself Julius Karchevsky, a salesman from Rochester, New York, claims to be the man the government is looking for in Mexico. He said he lived there before the war, but then moved to the United States. He says he knows nothing about any super bomb. Washington is looking into this report, but so far has discounted its authenticity. The War Department said that, even if it is true, we went into Mexico with the best of intentions, to protect the American people."
Ben sits and waits with no expression on his face. He wonders what happened to Rita's body, to Patricia, to Miguel, and to their beautiful house in Mexico City.
A smile then appears on Ben's face. He remembers when he first met Rita in the corridor at the hotel in New York.
Rita said, "Well, here I am. It was nice talking to you, Mr..."
"Johnson. Ben Johnson. The pleasure was all mine, miss uh..."
"My name is Senora Ramirez, Rita Chavez Ramirez. Good night."
"Good night."
Rita puts her key in the lock. She steps through the open doorway and turns to look back at Ben. She studies his face for a brief moment with a calm expression and then gives him a warm, friendly smile. Finally, she closes the door.
Ben's flight to Syracuse has just arrived at Hancock Airport. As an injured passenger, he's the last one off the plane. Ben slowly hobbles down the stairway assisted by a stewardess. An attendant with a wheelchair awaits him at the bottom. Ben sits down holding his crutches. He is wheeled across the tarmac to the gate. Ben looks for his brother, but he doesn't see him. Instead, he sees the silhouette of an unknown woman. As he gets closer, he recognizes his ex-wife. Ben sits straight up, starring at her, startled by her presence. As the wheelchair reaches the gate, Paula motions to the attendant that she will take over. She reaches over and touches Ben's left hand.
"I'm sorry."
Ben nods. Paula pushes the wheelchair into the terminal and down a long corridor towards the exit. The attendant keeps watching them until they turn a corner and disappear from his view.
__________
IN THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2004, SENATOR JOHN KERRY QUOTED RICHARD CLARKE, THE FORMER WHITE HOUSE TERRORISM CZAR, AS SAYING "INVADING IRAQ IN RESPONSE TO 9/11 WOULD BE LIKE FRANKLIN ROOSEVELT INVADING MEXICO IN RESPONSE TO PEARL HARBOR."
The End.
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