Second Putsch

By Aaron Pery

When their airplane crashes, the parallel worlds travellers arrive in a post World War II realm where they quickly attain eminent social and corporate position. They uncover and then ruthlessly quash a plot by the escaped former Nazi leadership to regain control of Germany and the entire world through reviving the Third Reich and its old horrors.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aaron Pery
• Release date: Aug 13, 2010
• ISBN: 9781452359229

Aaron Pery

As most authors might claim, I was always been a natural storyteller and voracious book reader. Somehow, I also knew that some day I would sit down and write a book, which I did quite recently.When I finally sat in front of my computer monitor to do just that, the words literally came pouring out. Before very long, I had written many books in various genres.At first, my prolific writing was mainly for the pleasure and self-entertainment involved, until I discocered Smashwords and ebooks, and here I am, a published author with a long list of books to my credit. And many more to come.

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Second Putsch

By Aaron Pery

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Smashwords ebook Edition

All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 by Aaron Pery

ISBN: # 978-1-4523-5922-9

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This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. It may not be resold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or if it was not purchased for your use only, please return to smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

Also by the same author:

The Centaurs

The Royals

The Patriots

Second Putsch

Playmoney

Pogrom Progeny

The Queen's Legacy

Phoenix Bloodline

Abduction Revenge

SECOND PUTSCH

Prologue

Though she had promised to release them from their duty to help her run the country after the horrendous carnage as the result of terrorist Moslem states and individuals during their attempt to take control of the United States, President Nancy Palmer did not do so after the promised six months. Instead, Alicia Johnson and her small cabal of corporate executives headquartered in Las Vegas had remained by her side for four years to assist the former Vice President, who succeeded the murdered president into office.

Now, right after her swearing in as the newly officially elected president, they all sat in the oval office and raised a glass in congratulations to her. She looked around the room at her most devoted friends, and smiled.

Well, buddies, we had come a long way since you'd rushed over here to save my bacon and bring the country back on course, for which I thank you profusely.

Bullshit, Nance. You'd strong-armed us to stay here in Sodom-on-the Potomac for over four years when we were supposed to go back home a long time ago. Alicia Johnson, her best and most devoted ally, said. So, kiddo, before all the inaugural balls go into full swing, I want your assurance that we can all go home permanently.

That's unfair, Ali, President Palmer tried to put on a fake hurt look but quickly burst into laughter. Okay, I did keep you here much too long and it's time to let you all get back to running your big company and do nothing but make money. But I did need you by my side all this time to help me get us all back on track, so I won't apologize for it. But enough's enough and I need to let you go, especially now that I've been elected rather than appointed and must establish a new cabinet that'll be approved officially by Congress.

Hear, hear. Judge Albertson, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court said with a laugh. As of when, Nancy?

As of now, since all of you had trained your deputies to take over until my selected new Secretaries are appointed and properly approved.

The supposedly temporary Secretary of Homeland Security, Wilma Fields, gave the president a mock salute. That'll be appreciated, Madam President, so I'll repeat the judge's question--when?

I think there's been a conspiracy against me here. Okay, you all, take a week to transfer all pending issues to your deputies, and get the hell out of Dodge.

Thanks, Nan. Alicia, now the former Secretary of State, said. And the truth is that I'll miss you and the crazy stuff that you kept dropping on me almost daily. But thanks anyway.

A week later, after a literally tearful farewell from President Palmer and promises to keep constant contact, Alicia and Wilma were driven to the airport for their flight to Las Vegas. Their husbands had departed the previous day but Wilma, who was the CEO of a large civilian and military aircraft manufacturing company, wanted to fly the newest and fully tested luxurious four-seater corporate jet back home and had persuaded Alicia to join her on the trip rather than join the men. A few minutes after inspecting the airplane, both boarded it and were soon airborne. They spoke for a while about their remarkable experience as an integral part of the president's cabinet and the fateful events that had lead to it.

That was a real crazy thing we did here for the last four years, Ali. Wilma said with a chuckle.

No crazier that our life in the ten years or so since we were hit by the lightening while in Los Angeles, which ultimately brought us back to DC to serve as Nancy's savior.

Well, no just her but the US itself.

Yeah, that's for sure.

Both fell silent as their minds returned to that fateful night when they had celebrated their anniversary during a huge storm that prevented them from flying to Hawaii, which was to be their final destination. Alicia stretched in her comfortable copilot seat and as her mind returned to that point in time.

Chapter 1

Martin Sherman’s early years were ordinary and uneventful as an only child of a loving middle-class family who grew up in Miami Beach could have been. His education had been usual for this environment as well, an Economics undergraduate degree at Miami University and then a Master’s in Business. He accepted a management entry position at the big family bank owned by his future father-in-law and had been quite happy at age twenty-four, poised to live the kind of lifestyle as did most of his friends and family around him.

Nicole Kalin came from similar background, yet despite her education and an advanced degree in history, she did not plan on setting a career for herself. Her only wish was to marry Martin as soon as both graduated and then become a devoted wife and mother to their future children.

Their expectations for a shared comfortable life were assured, and both of them felt fortunate on the day they were married. Martin was already working at the bank and was set to advance to a more responsible position within the bank’s management hierarchy. After receiving her advanced teaching certificate, Nicole taught history at a nearby high school for the time being, until their first child came along.

It was an ideal life to their minds as everything proceeded according to their plans, until North Korea invaded the South and Martin was called by the Marine Corps reserves. When he had received his draft notification in 1944 during his Freshman year at college he had no difficulty receiving a deferment as a student. And then, after his parents’ finances suffered a setback, he signed up for the Marine ROTC and was easily accepted. Both their parents were quite upset when they found out, but Nicole was proud of Martin and encouraged him to join since she knew how much he was looking forward to undergoing military training.

He was very pleased on his senior year when he made a second lieutenant. And just as he had told his family would happen as the Marines, their ranks inflated after World War II and lacking in funds, did not insist that he fulfill his obligation. Everyone was happy when he was able to complete his education and forgot about his rank in the Marines, which he kept while serving in the reserves. To the families’ frustration but not to Nicole’s, Martin was called in on the first draft and was shipped to Korea as platoon leader after he completed an infantry officer refresher course.

Martin quickly discovered that he enjoyed soldiering in a manner that made banking seem utterly dull. He rapidly made a name for himself as a highly skilled natural fighter and leader whose subordinates were willing to follow him without question. At the war’s end, he was a brevetted colonel in command of a full battalion. He dreaded returning to civilian life to continue his previous career track, and when his commanding general suggested that he consider remaining in the service he wrote Nicole and asked for her advice. She sent him a cable the day she received it, telling Martin that it was agreeable with her if that was what he wanted to do. He accepted the general’s offer even though he would be reduced back to captain, which was his permanent rank.

Neither ever regretted Martin’s decision to become a professional soldier, nor did Nicole mind turning into what she jokingly called a camp follower, for life. Which was not the easiest way for a loving and devoted couple to live since it meant moving constantly, even an occasional long separation. Their only regret was that Nicole could not conceive despite seeking medical help several times.

Martin was sent to Camp Lejuen, Louisiana, for further training as field grade officer, and he was disappointed that his first posting was to the CIA in Washington DC as a covert operations expert. He understood why it happened and accepted it graciously because of the special talents that he had exhibited in Korea. His assignment lasted for five years and earned him a promotion to major after two, which gave them the ability to stay together most of the time until Martin was transferred to Special Forces. From then on his career was spent half in command of troops and the rest in planning and then executing various highly secret types of operations.

Nicole spent all these years earning many degrees in subjects that she had been highly interested in such as biology, chemistry, and history, which she taught in the various military post areas that Martin was assigned to. Both retired at the same time, planning to spend the rest of their life travelling to remote places and driving around the country at leisure to locations that they had always wished to visit. This was their first such trip, after which they planned on visiting Greece since Nicole had always wanted to see it, and particularly the historically rich island of Crete.

As befitted their fiftieth anniversary celebration, they sighed with the pleasure of their bodies’ joining, after which they began to make love with very slow, deliberate motions. Then, just as they climaxed, they were startled by a thunderous reverberation that shook the room so violently that Nicole screamed with fear. Martin was startled as well when he felt as though he were hit by something—a tingling surge that flowed throughout his entire body, which felt as though he had touched an exposed electrical wire. This very strange notion was quickly forgotten as he lost all other awareness in the ecstasy of their great shared pleasure.

Martin became concerned when he noticed after regaining his normal senses that their room was filled with a pungent smell as though something had recently burned in it. And though he could not see any smoke, he became concerned about their safety when he suddenly realized the reason for the strange smell. He tried to look at Nicole to verify that she had not been hurt by the blast of lightening that had struck the room. He became alarmed when he turned to look for her and all he could see was a blank wall rather than her face on the pillow next to his.

His line of vision, he discovered, seemed very peculiar since he realized that he could see all around him as though he possessed a three-hundred and sixty degree sight without turning. And the angle was odd as well as it was centered on the middle of the room from a height that he guessed was near the ceiling. Then, without even consciously doing so, he looked down at the bed and saw two immobile figures lying in it holding each other as if in a final embrace—himself and Nicole. He had seen many dead people in his long violent military career to be certain that both were definitely lifeless

He began to shake and shudder internally once the realization of what he was seeing penetrated his mind, and all his senses seemed to suddenly shut down. Then, with utter shock, he recognized another fact that was just as bizarre as seeing himself and Nicole dead.

How is it possible that I can see, hear, and smell everything around me when I'm supposed to be dead? He cried out aloud.

Because maybe what we had always believed was utter nonsense about life after death was wrong, because it looks to me like we were both hit by a lightening strike and are physically dead. So, my darling, what we must've become is a pair of souls floating above their dead bodies and awaiting the judgment of where we go next—up or down.

That’s bulshit and you know it. Martin burst out and stopped when he realized that he had just responded to Nicole’s statement in the normal banter style that they had developed throughout their long life together. Oh shit, Nikki, it feels like you and I are still alive despite what our bodies look like. I think. Can you see me?

Nicole did not answer immediately. Yes, Marty, I think I do. It’s kind of eerie but what I can see of you is a pulsating globe-like object floating in mid-air. Which I’d say is about the size of a basketball.

Where?

Somewhere between the windows and above the bed.

That’s where I’m positioned. And I can see a similar globe which must be you, by the door. Wait, don’t move because I want to see if it’s possible for me to reach you.

Sure. That’s where I am, and I’ll stay here. And I can clearly see you floating in my direction. How are you doing it?

I don’t know, but it seems like we can move around by wishing it to happen. And for your information, I just passed by the big mirror and it did not show any reflection.

Probably because the room is somewhat dark.

But I can see you as clearly as though the light was on.

Yes, that’s true because I can see you as well. A moment later, when Martin reached Nicole, she was startled when he extended an insubstantial appendage that looked like an arm with a hand at its end, and touched her. I can actually feel it, Marty. How did you do that?

The same as moving—I wished to touch you and I did.

Nicole responded by doing the same, after which they held hands silently for a while before she finally spoke. Unbelievable. We know that we are both dead, and yet we act as if we’re alive—speaking and touching each other. How can any of it be possible?

I have no idea. Maybe you, being the scientist in the family, can figure it out.

It’s entirely possible, you know, that we’re undergoing a shared delirium caused by a pair of old and sickly people who’ve been wishing for a while now to be rid of their infirmities.

Could very well be, so since it’s your idea maybe you got an answer.

I just might. Nicole said after thinking for a moment. I wish, though, that I could have a cigarette right now.

Same here, a wish that can be easily granted. Martin floated over to a small gym bag, opened it with two pseudo hands and took out a pack of cigarettes and a lighter and gave them to Nicole, who had by then floated out to the living room and sat by the fireplace.

She took out a cigarette for each and lit both up. Gosh, it feels great after ten years of abstinence. How come you got them?

It was the result of a weak moment a week ago. Martin blew smoke with pleasure. And now I don’t give a damn about any possible ill effect of smoking on me, not an iota of guilt as I did last week when I lit one up, nor any concern about you either.

I’m just as happy about it. It’s odd, though, for me to exist as a disembodied blob, smoking through a nonexistent mouth and lungs while holding a cigarette with an imaginary hand.

Yeah, the thought just crossed my mind as well. And even stranger is the fact that we’re doing that while in the next room lie two dead bodies that used to house our minds. And here we are, having been turned into ethereal entities from what we know for sure so far, smoking and talking like nothing's changed.

That was well put, I mean about what we’d turned into. In fact, what you said about showing no reflection in the mirror as you passed by it also makes me think that we are communicating mentally rather than verbally.

Makes sense. Like reading each other’s mind?

I doubt it. It’s more like sending thoughts to one another in a way that I don’t yet understand. Call it mind-talking if you wish, but it’s a silent communication mode just between the two of us.

Interesting idea. Then you think that the outside world is oblivious to our existence? I mean once we leave this room, or if anyone comes in?

Except for the burning cigarettes and the smoke we’re blowing. Hmmm…. Nicole mumbled as she floated over to the outside door and then, to his amazement, suddenly vanishing. A moment later she reappeared, popping back in through the brick wall by the balcony door.

Jesus, Martin exclaimed. What was that all about?

Nicole chuckled. You’d called me a scientist and told me to think like one. So I did, thinking through the few evident facts that we are aware of, so I just ran a test to verify another one. First and foremost is the fact that we no longer possess a corporeal, physical existence, and that we'd been turned into two strange looking blobs of energy. Would you agree with that?

Of course. A realization which should’ve driven us both instantly insane, yet quite surprisingly we remain calm and rational.

I didn’t think about that but you’re right. Anyway, despite turning into two ghostly apparitions we can still function as human beings do by retaining all of our previous sensory abilities—seeing, hearing, touching, and feeling. All of which we can turn on and off at will, even enjoy a smoke like we just did. We can also move around without any problem, which made me wonder about what we’d turned into in this disembodied state of ours. That’s why I left the room through the glass door without opening it, then returned through solid masonry wall.

Which means that in this shape we can walk through brick and glass walls? This is getting stranger by the moment.

Even more so was the fact that once outside, in the freezing storm that's howling out there, I could easily turn the frosty cold feeling off. It was an excellent beginning for our search for answers about why and how we became two such bizarre beings.

I’m sure that if we talk this through like we always do when we are confronted with something complex, we’ll be able to come up with answers and conclusions.

Very much the way I see it but I feel very uncomfortable sitting here next to a room where our dead old bodies are lying stretched out while we talk about why they are in such a state.

I feel the same way. So what should we do?

Leave here.

That’s crazy. What about all our stuff?

Come on Marty, in the condition that we’re in none of our old material world exists any more—not our money, clothes, personal belongings, or anything else.

So we just leave it all here as though we’d never existed? Yes, I guess we'll have to do that. Where would you like us to go?

To our apartment in Washington DC, where we’ll feel more comfortable while discussing everything that we need to.

I’d like that, but how do we get there with the airports being shut down?

By wishing ourselves to be over there, just as we learned to move around in here initially.

You mean think about the apartment and express a wish to be there? Not a bad idea, even if it's three thousand miles from here.

I doubt that distance makes a difference as long as we know exactly where it is that we want to get to and are familiar with it. Besides, it’s another important test that we should perform.

And what if we’re wrong?

Then we’ll go out in a blaze of glory.

Yeah, so let’s do it.

They extended hand-like appendages to one another and wished themselves to translocate themselves into their apartment across the country. Despite their almost certain knowledge that they could do it, they were startled to find themselves in their living room a mere second later.

Amazing, Martin mumbled as they broke contact with each other.

It sure is. Nicole responded, then looked at the clock over the mantle in the living room. And it took no time at all to get here despite the huge distance and bad weather.

Neither of which seems to affect us adversely in any way.

So it is. And, quite surprising, you were able to grab the cigarettes and bring them with you.

I don’t know what possessed me to do that, but I’m glad that I did.

Which tells us that there are many more abilities that we possess which we don’t know about yet. Like speaking into each other’s mind without any need to verbalize our words.

Then let’s sit on the couch and get going on trying to explore them.

Sounds reasonable. Nicole said after lighting another cigarette. Let’s start by talking about the big lightening display that went on while we made love.

I agree because I know it for a fact that we were hit by one of these bolts. And the reason I know there’s a connection is that just as we climaxed I felt as though I was hit by something on my back.

Must’ve been at the same moment that the room shook like we were in the midst of an earthquake, but I wasn’t aware that you were hit until now. How sure are you about it?

Totally, which I confirmed when I looked at the window and found a tiny hole on top of it—in a direct line to where my head was positioned at the time. It was a new hole because I could easily smell the burn odor around it.

And what conclusions did you reach as a result of your discovery?

None except more of a puzzle since, rather than killing us outright, the ray of lightening didn’t have any adverse effect on either of us.

Aside from ending up as floating spheres.

That’s what I meant. Got any ideas why this insanity happened?

I haven’t got a clue…. Nicole stopped. Oh, God, yes I do. In fact, I'm suddenly sure about what happened and why we’d turned out the way we did.

Then please explain it to me.

Chapter 2

It’s kind of complicated, so let’s reason it out by starting at the moment you were hit by the lightening.

Which should’ve killed us both but didn't.

True, and you would’ve been correct if you weren’t the unique person that you are.

Unique in what way?

To understand that you need to go back in time quite a bit. Remember the colossal storm that had raged while you were having your final brain surgery after you were hit in Vietnam when your helicopter was shot down?

Oh, shit. Another storm and a lightening strike?

Exactly, except that this particular one was absolutely random.

Are you saying that the second one was not?

"I’m beginning to