The Major thought about it. “I take your point,” he said reluctantly. “And the truth is, yes, I would think that you should report to me. It’s our way. The American way. The Army reports to the civil authority, because in the end every officer will someday be a civilian unless he or she is killed while serving. Give me your advice. Should I report to this government of kids?”
“Respectfully Sir, yes, because it is the fastest way that I can think of to get them to accept your advice and guidance, but there would have to be conditions.”
“Conditions?”
“American governments are elected, Sir, not imposed.”
“Ah. Another good point. Let’s head down to the dining hall. I’ll have to think about this.”
The conversation at dinner that night was pleasant until Lieutenant Kennedy and Yuie got into another heated argument. He and Yuie began arguing back and forth about the morality of war. Yuie insisted that wars usually resulted from aggressive behavior by military machines. Kennedy countered, saying that wars fought by the United States were always defensive.
Finally, the Lieutenant demanded, “Name one war that America fought, in which we were the aggressors. Name one.”
“The Mexican-American War,” Yuie answered.
Kennedy opened his mouth, and then he shut it. Furious, he got up and left the dining hall.
“I guess you win that round,” Kathy said.
Yuie said nothing. She did not feel like the winner. Major Collins and Lieutenant Kennedy went to the track the next morning. Yuie and Mike were running. The officers stripped off their shirts and ran a lap. When they finished, Yuie and Mike were waiting for them.
“I love these high ankle moccasins Jean made,” Collins said.
“Yeah, they’re cool,” Mike concurred.
“LT, Yuie, I wonder if you would excuse us for a minute?” the Major said.
As Kennedy and Yuie walked away, Mike heard Kennedy sat to Yuie, “You were right about the Mexican-American War. It was a war of aggression.”
Yuie sighed. “And I see what you mean about the atomic bomb and the people who were still living under the Japanese occupation. That doesn’t mean that I like the military though,” she said stubbornly. Kennedy laughed.
When Mike and Major Collins were alone, the Major said, “I’ve thought about what you said. I have decided that I am willing to report to the government of Petersburg provided you agree to certain conditions.”
“Which are?” Mike asked.
“The Lieutenant pointed out that, in America, governments are elected not imposed, even by the most decent of people. I would be willing to report to an elected government.”
“I see,” Mike answered slowly. “And the other conditions?”
“Just one. I want the title of Chief changed to Mayor.”
“That’s certainly not a problem,” said Mike. “Those are the only two conditions?”
“Yes, Mike, but I do have a strong piece of advice for you,” the Major replied.
“What’s that?” Mike asked.
“Step down, Mike. Step down, and let someone else run the government for a while. It would be the clearest signal you could give to the rest of the people in this village that you mean it when you agree to change to an elected form of government.”
Mike looked up at the Major. He looked around the village that he had been instrumental in developing. He thought about the people he had protected. He decided.
“Major, the year before I came to this camp, my social studies class studied the Presidents. My favorite President is George Washington,” Mike said.
“Ah,” said the Major as he nodded his understanding.
Mike presented the Major’s conditions to the Council later that morning. Some were troubled by the implications. Some were enthusiastic. Only Yuie was adamantly opposed.
“It’s a trick,” she insisted. “You can’t trust them. We are doing just fine by ourselves. Mike,” she pleaded. “You’re the Chief.”
In the end, she was outvoted. They agreed to form an elected government and to elect a Mayor.
“One more thing,” Mike said. They waited for him to speak. “I am not going to be the Mayor. Someone else will take that position.”
There was a chorus of protests at his announcement, but he was firm.
“I’ve been your leader for two years now,” he said. “Now I’m asking you to follow me one last time. This is what I want.”
With glum hearts, the Council agreed to honor Mike’s decision.
Later, when one of villagers grumbled about it, another said, “We had to do it that way. He’s the Chief; at least for now.”
By the time that Meeting arrived, everyone had heard about the changes that were coming to the village of Petersburg. It was a quiet group of people that listened as Mike explained the situation. Then he announced that nominations for Mayor would be made the following night. The election would take place on July the Fourth. The following morning, Major Collins told Mike that he was leaving that very day.
“I’m leaving Lieutenant Kennedy as my liaison. But it will be better for Petersburg, if I’m not around when the nominations for Mayor occur. I assume that you have your choices in place, and that you know who will be elected?”
“Yes,” Mike admitted.
“Good. There’s nothing wrong with good old fashioned politicking,” said the Major. “Good luck, Chief, and come see me sometime. I promise, you will always be welcome. And by the way, Washington is my favorite President, too.”
Major Collins left the village. The guard was changing at the RV guard post, so he rode to the post, sitting behind the next guard. Collins hiked up Logging Camp Road to Davis Brown Farm Road, and soon after the sun went down, he arrived at the Brown Farm. Mary retrieved his rifle from her gun case, and Ralph promised to deliver Lieutenant Kennedy’s weapon to Petersburg. Mary offered him a late supper, and the Major gratefully accepted. Mary and Ralph were very interested to hear about the changes that were coming to Petersburg.
When Ralph heard that Mike would no longer be the Chief, he only grunted, but later that night he said to Mary, “Yeah, right. I don’t care who the new Mayor will be, Mike will always be the Chief.”
The next morning, Major Collins found that Mary had hitched her horses to the wagon. Ralph and the male members of the guard post were ready to go with him. He protested to no avail.
“Just for two days, you understand,” said Mary. “That will get you as far as the lake. It’s another fourteen or fifteen days walk from there, according to Jacob. You can catch fish in the lake, and then, with the food that you take in the wagon, you’ll be well stocked for your journey to your post.”
“You guys be careful,” Mary admonished Ralph and the male members of the guard post. She kissed Ralph goodbye, and she waved as they rode off. She kept a firm grip on Comet’s hand.
As the Major was having dinner at Davis Brown Farm, Mike opened the nominations for Mayor of Petersburg at Meeting.
“I nominate Howard,” Yuie said, just as Mike had instructed her, but she was glum as she said it.
“I second the nomination,” Jean said.
“I nominate Eric,” Desi said.
“Me?” Eric exclaimed.
“I second the nomination,” Ahmad said.
“What?” Eric said.
“I move that we close the nominations,” Rasul said.
“I second the motion,” Hector said.
The motion was voted on and passed, and the nominations were closed. The election for Mayor of Petersburg between Howard and Eric was officially set.
The month of May came to an end, and June began. The weather was warmer this year, and the grain was growing tall. Desi was also growing. John was worried about her, but Diana pronounced Desi fit and in good health. The baby was kicking. There were only two months to wait until she was due.