The Magnificent Escape: A Matt, the General and Ashley Book

By Harry Katzan Jr.

This is a book of fiction and is intended for the entertainment of the reader. The Iranian students are real, although their actual lives are not known.

The reference to Bill Donovan is true. He is the attorney that negotiated the release of Gary Powers. He did become the President of a well-known university in Brooklyn, New York. All refe

• Language: English
• Publisher: Authors' Tranquility Press
• Release date: Jun 27, 2023
• ISBN: 9781961123717

Harry Katzan Jr.

Harry Katzan, Jr. is an AI consultant and formerly a professor, department chairman, and computer consultant. He has been the CEO of his own AI consulting company and has worked for Boeing, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and IBM. He is the author of more than 90 books of which 32 or more are on computers and service science, plus 239 peer reviewed papers. He has developed systems in LISP, Prolog, and Mathematica, and a large banking investment system based on AI. He and his wife have lived in Switzerland where he was a banking consultant and visiting professor. He holds bachelors, masters, and doctorate degrees.

Book preview

Part I

The Monarchy

Chapter 1 Getting Started

Chapter 2 Serious Problems Emerge

Chapter 3 Ashley

Chapter 4 Matt and the General

Chapter 5 The Problem and the Plan

Chapter 6 Project Escape

Chapter 7 Matt Does It Again

Chapter 8 The Plan Unfolds

Chapter 9 Travel to Iran

Chapter 10 The Game Changes

Chapter 11 The Trip Home

Chapter 1

Getting Started

"W ould you like a cup of coffee?" asked Matt to Ashley, who rolled over and looked at him standing at the edge of the bed.

Sure, I would love a cup of coffee, said Ashley, Matt’s wife. I thought you were going golfing this morning with the General.

He canceled out at the last minute, replied Matt. I have no idea about what is going on. He called this morning at 6:00 AM and said he was too busy. He asked about an afternoon time. I said okay.

Both he and Anna have been acting strange lately, continued Ashley. Maybe it’s old age.

Ashley and Matt are married and long-time friends. They had met in Dr. Marguarite Purgoine’s creative writing course when they were students. Marguarite Purgoine was referred to as Anna for some unknown reason. Matt was Anna’s favorite student, and the rumor was that she had saved all of his homework. She was married to Les Miller, known as the General, a former P-51 pilot during World War II, who had retired from the Army as a four-star general, hence the nickname, ‘the General.’ What else would a decorated officer be called? Matt Miller is a well-known mathematician at a prestigious university, and Ashley teaches drama at a local community college. Both are tenured full professors with a liberal amount of academic freedom. The General was wealthy through a political polling company he had formed. He liked to use his wealth to help people and organizations through his governmental connections.

The General is Matt’s grandfather, and they share a love of playing golf. They play a round of golf at least twice a week. Matt was an intercollegiate golf champion and had played remarkably well at the Masters as an amateur. The two couples have luxurious homes near their universities, business affiliations, and country club, where they usually engage in their favorite pastime. The General owns an expensive restaurant named the Green Room, where Ashley, Anna, Matt, and the General meet with associates for business and pleasure.

The General met Anna through Ashley and Matt. They hit it off in a short time and were married. They had similar interests and were in similar positions in life. The team had collectively solved several important investigations based in the U.S. Governmental arena.

Matt is extremely intelligent and employed his intellect to lead the team on several episodes that involve others, such as Sir Charles (Buzz) Bunday, the General’s P-51 wing man, the Queen of England, Prince Michael, and several other prominent people, such as the U.S. intelligence director and the President. In particular, the General has a good working relationship with Mark Clark, former chairman of the military’s joint chiefs of staff, and President Kenneth Strong of the United States. Clark’s wife Ann is a retired combat colonel and provides assistance to the team and also other government people.

The General is regularly engaged in assignments that involve various aspects of life at diverse points in the States, Europe, and Asia.

Back to the situation at hand. Matt and the General enjoyed their afternoon of golf, but the General had very little to say. Finally, after the ninth hole, Matt asked what was going on.

What is so special about the ninth hole? The course is 18 holes, and the ninth is half way. That is where the bathrooms are. There is nothing special about that.

That wife of mine is trying to make a writer out of me, said the General in a despondent manner. She says I have writing talent.

You do, replied Matt. It’s evident in how you think and choose your words. It’s how you express yourself.

Matt just looked at the General, who recognized that a serious conversation had just started.

There is more to our conversation than just that, General, said Matt bruskly. Something is bothering you.

The General just looked at Matt. You’re right, he said. Something has come up. Something that is very important, and the President wants us at the White House as soon as we are free. I told him that you and Ashley were exhausted and needed some time off from your extra-curricular work. I told him that you and Ashley were out of town and couldn’t be reached. I said that was possible because you and she are on sabbatical. I said you might be hiking in Grand Canyon.

Does he know that I now have a wrist satellite phone? asked Matt

I don’t think so, answered the General. You didn’t get yours until after we last saw him.

This wrist satellite phone is the world’s best invention, said Matt. I will have to thank General Clark for getting me one.

That ended the conversation. Neither Matt nor the General knew what to say next and didn’t feel like talking anymore.

Let’s continue the discussion this evening at the Green Room, said the General. That is, the four of us.

Sounds good to me, said Matt. I don’t feel like talking about anything important at the moment.

The dinner at the ‘the Green Room’ was exceptionally pleasant, and the subject of serious problems was not even mentioned. Anna didn’t even say a word about the General’s writing.

As they left the restaurant, a lady at an adjacent table said to her husband, I wonder what those people do to pass their time. The older couple does not even have a wrinkle on their faces, and the younger couple looks like movie stars. They are all slim and tanned. The man replied, They must be pretty wealthy, they didn’t get a check and the younger man left a tip of fifty dollars. They also have an expensive Tesla parked in front.

END OF CHAPTER ONE

Chapter 2

Serious Problems Emerge

Early the next morning, Matt and the General had their usual round of golf. When Matt got home, Ashley was waiting at the door.

I received a call from Ann, and she needs to talk with me this afternoon, said Ashley.

Must be important, said Matt. What’s it about?

Don’t know, replied Ashley. She’s taking the White House jet to the Newark International Airport, and I have to pick her up from there. She said she will be at the airport at 11:30 today.

I’ll take off and be at the driving range, said Matt. It is not my business, so send me a text message when she is gone.

Why are you leaving? asked Ashley. We know each other’s business.

No, she wants to talk to you, replied Matt. Otherwise, she would have mentioned me. Something has come up. I’m glad we are on sabbatical. I’d bet someone has something for us to do.

At exactly 11:30, Ann arrived at the airport as planned. She had a serious look on her face that was unusual for her. It was a short trip from Newark to Matt and Ashley’s home. Ann loved the ride in Matt’s Porsche Taycan electric vehicle.

I can’t hear the engine, said Ann.

That’s because it has an electric motor, replied Ashley.

Oh, I didn’t know, said Ann. It’s hard to keep up with cars.

There’s a lot going on these days, replied Ashley. With global warming and the tense international situation, there is always something new. Conflict feeds invention, just like in World War II.

They continued to Ashley and Matt’s house engaging in friendly conversation. When they got there, Ann dug right into the business at hand.

I’m sorry to be abrupt, said Ann. I’m here on very serious business. My message to you is directly from Mark as an order from the Director of Intelligence.

It must be really serious, said Ashley.

Prince Michael is gone, and so is the son, the Prince of Bordeaux, named Philip George William Charles. Continued Ann.

Again? said Ashley with a surprised look on her face.

Again, answered Ann, The whole British Emprise is worked up just like in a major war. The U.S. Ambassador to Britain called the President at the White House and the White House intelligence chief called Mark. They have no idea who took them and where they are.

Does this have anything to do with the pandemic?’ asked Ashley. Michael worked on a vaccine in England that is widely administered to the world-wide population.

The Intelligence people think that it is Iran, China, or Russia, said Ann. But it’s not related to the pandemic.

It is Iran, replied Ashley. "The easiest solution is always the best