I was just pushing my chair in, when "... - ..." SOS It was so late... that didn't seem right. Was it Shelby? "-.-. .-" cw I replied. "-. . ... .- ...- . .- .-. .-. -... .-.. . -" we have a problem. defiantly not Shelby. "-.- .-. -.." QRZ-who am I talking to? "... .-. - .- - -. . ..." Sargent Jones suddenly, General Jones was cut off by a loud screeching, as if he had changed stations. "-.-. -.-" CQ-calling the operator beeped the machine. "-.- .-. -.." QRZ I had no idea what was happening. "-. . -. .. ...- .- -." Genaral Ivan That is no American name. ".- ..." AS-please stand by. " -. - .- .. .-.. .-.. ... - - -. .- - - .- -.-. -.-" no, i will soon attack. what?! did he think he was a Russian ! suddenly, the station was cut off. There was a crash... A bomb had gone off in the distance. I had to alert the station! I woke Miss Elizabeth up. "HEY!" i whisper screamed "WE NEED TO GET OUT! THE RUSSIANS JUST BOMBED STATION 3!" Miss Elizabeth, calm but quick, got all of the operators up and out. Suddenly i remembered... THE RECORDS! all of our broadcasts! "Miss Elisabeth. The records are too important... Telegraph my..." tears wielded in my eyes. "my husband. Tell him I love him, and that... I know he'll take good care of Shelby..." Miss Elizabeth was the fastest operator, without doubt. She quickly signaled Francis. As I ran back into the station... I heard him signal "- .- - - .. . .-" Mattieu
I got to the station. I found all still intact... but there was a tall Russian man grabbing the records. He looked at me and said "one more step, I blow building up, da?" and smiled. "you are sick!" I shouted. Inching back. My hand came across something sharp. Miss Elizabeth's desk... had... a knife taped under it? I ripped it off, throwing it toward the russian. It hit his hand, he dropped the documents. I dove to catch them. He lit a flame. I smelled gas... He coated the station with fuel!? I don't know what happened after that. I thought about my daughter. I thought about Francis...
I opened my eyes in a hospital. I had minor burns on my hands. I was confused. I turned my head. "daddy?" "Shelby?" I still couldn't see very well. "oui. We're here, Mattieu." I felt a feather light kiss on my lips. His familiar stubble tickling me. "Francis... What happened?" "Madamosail Elizabeth signaled the police. They came in right when you saw flames. The records are not lost. You shielded them with your hands. It is why they are burned. Also, you have a visitor." "Hello, Mr Williams? I'm Alfred F Jones. President of the USA. I am, for the first time in history, giving a telegraph operator a metal of honor." "I'm sure Miss Elizabeth will like that" Francis chuckled. "Mon Amore... You are getting the metal." "what?" "you not only alerted the army, but saved your station, and the documents. My good sir, you more the deserve this." Alfred handed me a pin. "also, No need to be so far from home. From now on, spend time with your family. The government will care for your expenses. you fully deserve it." "wow... sir... Thank you. Just one question..." "yes?" "can I go home now?" "mon deiu! stay the night. we will leave tomorrow." "promise?" "Promise!" "yay!" shelly hugged her fathers. they where finally together.
