Fallen Rubies

By J.L. Shiloh

About the Book
In this research study, former Defense Department consultant George Refuto traces the technological evolution of USAF long-range strategic nuclear bomber aircraft during and after the Cold War, as well as the development of their missions and utilization of US nuclear bombers in 21st century regional and global military threat scenarios. Five distinct periods are covered in this study: World War I (1914-1918), the Interwar Period (1919-1939), World War II (1939-1945), the Cold War (1946-1991), and the Post-Cold War Period (1991-present), with an emphasis on the latter two.
In his writing, Refuto focuses on developing a model that encompasses bombing and air defense for each period, and showing how concepts, technologies, and implementations of strategic bombing have changed and influenced the current level of development of the USAF strategic nuclear bomber force and doctrine, and what is projected for the future.

About the Author
George J. Refuto is a former Defense Department consultant who has extensive academic and professional experience in the fields of military history, weapon systems technology, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance systems, and US national security/defense policy. He has worked in both the defense and intelligence communities, and holds a master’s degree in International Affairs from Columbia University, with specializations in US/USSR strategic and theater/tactical nuclear forces, undersea and airborne naval weapons systems, and Russian-Soviet politics. He has previously published Evolution of the US Sea-based Nuclear Missile Deterrent: Warfighting Capabilities and is working on a third book on the US ICBM deterrent.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dorrance Publishing Company
• Release date: Apr 24, 2023
• ISBN: 9798886836509

Book preview

Chapter One:  Once Upon a Nightmare

Sir I do not wish to speak out of turn, but a messenger stopped by inquiring today about payment for rolls of silk in different shades. I called for Gus to come and pay him, but I am afraid that we had just enough to cover it. We delivered the rolls to Lady Scarlett after, and she said they were for her daughter’s new dresses. I know it isn’t my place so forgive me…  the housekeeper Gertrude paused for a moment, notably fearful to continue.

Gertrude, you can speak true, my dear, as I have always welcomed. the lord of the estate coerced tenderly.

Grace doesn’t ever get anything with the other girls. No lessons nor kind words. It breaks my heart. That coupled with looking at two weeks without money if extra provisions are needed worries me terribly,  Gertrude finished as she looked toward an ornate framed painting in the hall close by and shivered.

Gertrude, are you cold my dear?

No sir, just a chill I suppose.

An older gentleman meandered behind her and as he touched her shoulders, she gasped deeply and looked at him scoldingly. Gus, don’t sneak up on me like that you devil,  she said while trying to catch her breath and slapping him playfully on the arm.

Both men smiled at her for her spunk. Gus, I am heading into my study. Could you please ask the lady of the house to come there and see me as you go back downstairs? Gertrude, do not worry over this. These things haven’t slipped my attention, but I fear I’ve waited too long for Scarlett to start doing right by Grace and this house. I will correct it and I appreciate your honesty,  Lord Ren of the estate said and then turned to enter his study.

Gus watched his master go down the hall and into his study. He smiled for the wonderful man that he served and could call friend. When he turned back to his wife, his smile waivered as he saw her intently looking at the painting on the wall in somewhat of a trance and rubbing her arms as if she was cold. Darling, what is the matter? Gus asked sweetly.

Something about this painting just gives me the shivers Gus. I don’t know why but sometimes when I’m dusting it; it seems to have warmth coming from it like a summer day. Other times it’s as if I can feel a light draft through the hall.

Gert, I believe you just need some rest. Let’s get through dinner and I’ll draw you a nice hot bath before bed. Now you go and check on Beatrice and I’ll attend to Lady Scarlett with Ren’s request.  They both walked hand in hand down the hall to complete their tasks.

After a short time, the lady of the house came into the study where her husband sat at his desk. Scarlett was a tall, slim woman with a chiseled hardness to her shape. Her face was very pronounced and proportioned and if there were any flaws in her beauty; they had yet to be discovered from outside appearance.

Her dark black hair was always immaculate, in a twist in the back with a golden broach holding it in place. Lady Scarlett however was truly ugly when it came to the inside. Her only kind words were to her daughters or anyone who could possibly help her title. However, even with members of court and neighbors there was a hardness that seeped out even through her smiles to them; letting them know she was always in charge of every situation. You asked for me? she said to her husband, Ren.

It has come to my attention that your spoiling nature for your two daughters is at an alarming rate. Not to mention that there is never anything for Grace.

Ren, this highly extraordinary. Our mission for our children must be to secure them a future. For women, it takes money in order to help them stand out and be noticed by a good prospective family to marry into.

Ren reclined slowly in his chair staring at her as if contemplating his next move. He was a calm man and always discouraged controversy when possible. He rarely wore any expression on his face other than a gentle smile to all he met. However, he never shifted his stare at his wife before him. She herself had never known of her husband to be this forward. If not for the fact he was using it against her; she’d be impressed.

Scarlett, we have been blessed by the creator to live in a rich kingdom such as Illusia. An estate this size earns a proper and generous allowance from the kingdom, but you are spending through it leaving too little for provisions needed. At this rate, we will not be able to pay our people their wage and I cannot ask the palace for more when we should have more than enough.

Oh, hang the servants! They’ll get paid; they are just going to have to be patient. Our family is more important,  Scarlett said dismissively.

Ren stood up and slammed his hands on the desk while beginning to yell at her. Dash it all woman! You will heed what I am saying to you. You will mind your spending, or you will not have it to spend. As for Grace, she is our family as well and you will treat her as such.  Scarlett began to lose her temper and was about to interrupt when Ren raised his hand, silencing her. He continued. You will also spend more time with our son, Ambrose. Gertrude is practically raising him at this point in your absence.

I have no use for a boy. He is yours. And as for Grace, the best we hope for her is a spinster and allow her to burden us with her presence for the rest of our days. She is unspeakably plain,  Scarlett declared.

It is time for you to earn your keep and be the mother and wife that is expected in this household or so help me Scarlett, you will not have a household to be in. Do I make myself clear? Scarlett glared at him for a moment before answering.

Certainly, my dear. Thank you for allowing me the grace to improve upon my situation. I guarantee you that the sun will rise on a better day for me tomorrow,  she purred while trying to fight back the fury. She turned and just as she was about to exit the study, he spoke once more. And Scarlett, I will be watching you. Any retaliation against Grace and you will be on your own.  She walked out without a word and shut the door.

Scarlett marched down the hall. Who does he think he is? She thought to herself as she headed up the curved staircase. She could barely control her breathing from the anger she felt inside. Her body was trembling and numb. She could feel a faintness in her head and her lips tingled. She was sweating faintly, and her body was hot and cold at the same time. As she passed Ambrose’s room, he came out and said hello to his mother. She breezed past him without a word. She neared the large painting that hung just outside her chambers. It was a large painting of a castle entrance covered in ivy and light pink flowers.

There was a path from the castle to the frame of the portrait of hewn marble stone. It was quite striking and looked very inviting. Scarlett waved her hand in front of it and the few loose strands of her hair swayed from a wind that was breathed to her as the painting came to life. Scarlett stepped inside and strode through a magnolia grove pathway that led to a cherry wood door, then into the immaculate castle itself with golden furnishings and velvet tapestries. Ambrose had secretly followed through before the painting entrance closed magically since he could tell his mother was upset.

Scarlett went to a very ornate and lavishly large mirror on the wall. Looking glass, looking glass, do as I tell. Help me avenge myself and daughters as well. Show me Ren! she spoke confident and firm. The mirror swirled with a red vapor and as it cleared; revealed Ren still in his study, but not alone. Gertrude! she said through gritted teeth. She witnessed the conversation they were having. Gertrude was apologizing for how she spoke against the lady of the house earlier.

Ren assured Gertrude that he would see to it that this did not continue to happen. Scarlett lost herself completely. Ambrose had hidden just outside the door of the parlor where his mother was. He jumped back and hid for a moment when she started screaming with fury. He slowly peeked back around the door frame to see what transpired next. She took a knife and cut her palm. Then she grabbed a sprig of wilted plant next to her, crumbled it in her hands mingling it with her blood, and said an enchantment. Blood and death go hand in hand, claim the life of this man.  

Flames consumed her hands and as the flames retreated, a smoke formed, and she blew it into the mirror. Ambrose watched as the smoke snaked in the view toward his father on the other side of the mirror and entered his nostrils. He started coughing and choking. Gertrude ran to him and started patting him on the back to try to help. He leaned over the desk from lack of oxygen. When he reared back a bit, Ambrose could see the vessels in his eyes bursting from the strain. Ambrose took off running to try to help his father.

Scarlett began laughing with a crazed shriek. When she saw that Gertrude was about to scream, she reached out her hand toward the mirror and clenched her fist causing Gertrude’s throat to constrict, strangling her. She slowly slipped to the floor from lack of oxygen herself.

When Ambrose got to his father’s study, he ran to him. It was too late.

Ren had died and lay face down on his desk, eyes wide open in terror. He then ran to Gertrude and started crying. As he shook her, she started breathing finally in small gasps. He instinctively looked up at the angle from which the view was coming from through the mirror. Scarlett saw him glaring at her through tear rimmed eyes and wondered if he knew somehow.

The workers mourned once they heard the passing of their kind friend, Lord Ren. The cook, Beatrice, attempted to console Grace after informing her of her father’s passing. The grounds keeper, Gus, of course was preoccupied with watching after his now voiceless wife while making arrangements for his master’s funeral. Grace! screamed a voice from down the hall. Grace cringed and hesitated to go and face her stepmother but knew the longer the Lady Scarlett waited; the worse it would be. She left the kitchen where she had been with Beatrice and made her way toward the dining room where the voice was coming from. She glided quickly through the dining archway when a more intense scream was unfurled for her. Grace girl, where are you?

I am here stepmother.

I’m glad there wasn’t an emergency,  Scarlett scolded and then continued, We will be burying your father tomorrow child and you will need to go and pick as many tulips and lilies as possible so we can make a nice parting bouquet for his service.

Ambrose looked up from beside his mother at the table and requested they ask Gus to do this so Grace could mourn.  She clutched his chin in her hand and looked almost through him.

"You are right that we are mourning my dear boy, but Grace is the best to for this task. She was so close to her father that it only stands to reason for her to create the arrangement in