Capital Punishment

Chapter 2

Landon

This was the first time Landon has ever gotten a letter from a fan about that book. He'd typed that up when he was bored in the mid-seventies, but he didn't think that he would ever receive something like this. Damn his curiosity, he wanted to know if this was true. Did his book accidentally find a possible capitol? Of the United States? That is a momentous claim, but this lad wasn't claiming it, instead he was asking if Landon could prove it. Of course Landon wanted to prove it, if he finds the capitol of America before the country himself, this could be great publicity to London—oh but he can't do that. Not to America.

This boy is a capitol, and capitols are supposed to be protected. Most countries just assumed that America had a capital representative and was just very good at protecting him or her. But Landon knew the truth, and so did Canada, England, and France. America hasn't seen his capital since the war of 1812.

If London has found Washington D.C. then America should be the first to know and quietly. He doesn't want to put this boy in any danger of another country taking advantage of an unknowledgeable young capitol. Then he would be putting the whole country in danger, and Landon couldn't do that to America. He felt as if he owed the U.S. for helping him out of the Blitz.

But that's only if the lad really is a capitol. It could be a trap to catch the capitol of England, and that would be absolutely awful. Then he would be the one in danger, and Landon wanted safety first, but his curiosity was certainly coming in close second. He also wanted to leave no stone unturned.

This Daniel had sounded so sincere in his letter, like he had been mulling these feelings over for a while, and some criminal would have to be really creative and educated about the topics of countries and capitols to come up with something so telling. He also sounded so sad. It angered Landon, if this lad was really a capitol and his government was keeping him away from America, then they were the real criminals here. The bond between capitol and country is sacred, a friendship that lasts for ages, and it certainly should not be obstructed by human intervention. It's almost sacrilege. Landon couldn't imagine the pressure Daniel must have been feeling throughout the ages without a country to relieve some of it.

A capitol was a safeguard. A buffer between the tremendous tension of a ruling body and the country. Representing an entire country, the land, the people, the economy, and the personality, was already hard enough for a country personification. Holding up an entire system of government, the politicians, the leaders, the political parties, the policy, the organization, the tension was often too much for a country to handle. So when nations became too complex, capitols started to appear. But capitols were weaker, and a country has the ability to relieve the pressure that a government can have them, just as a capitol has the ability to relieve the pressure that the people had on the nation. It allows them both to think clearer, and it gives them a friend to depend on when they need one the most. But it's also a responsibility for a nation, like protecting a charge or an apprentice. This also changed the nature of war, but that's another matter altogether.

London has a very good relationship with England. They love the same food, tea, and sense of humor. As close friends, they often consult for advice each other on serious issues, or even good literature. They certainly love to exchange wit, because they both believe that a good argument is great exercise for the brain and it's always good to have a new insult on hand to be stored for an emergency. London is proud to say that England has used a few of his insults on France.

So for Washington to have missed out on such a friendship with America for two centuries was very disheartening, and London felt for the poor lad. And he wanted to do something about it.

But should he tell England?

Even if he told England he wanted to go to America to research something, there is a big possibility that England wouldn't let him go. Allowing a capitol to leave a country, in any case, was a huge liability that many countries didn't allow. Also, he wasn't sure how comfortable he'd feel if he told England about Washington before he told America. He still couldn't even know if this Daniel was Washington until he could meet him.

Landon also kind of wanted to do this for himself and help guide Daniel, just like England had done with America before his independence. He'd always wanted a student, and he wanted to satisfy his curiosity for this mysterious case. It was almost like a mystery, and Landon was a die-hard Sherlock fan. Who knows, maybe he'd get a Watson out of this.

So no, for once, he wouldn't consult England on this. He was going to the U.S.A.

To a person of interest,

I am coming to meet you. I already have a reservation in a hotel downtown, and a flight to the States. I will meet you at that Starbucks on Pennsylvania Ave. on Thursday at 13:00. Get excited and a cup of tea.

Sincerely,

Landon King

Danny laughed. Ha. Like I'd buy a Brit some tea.

But he would because he was raised to be diplomatic, and he was actually kind of curious to see a real live Englishman drink tea.

And Danny was already excited. Somebody was coming to see him. Somebody wanted to see him. Somebody actually wanted to meet him. He wanted to plan a day. Like a play date. He hadn't had a play date since Andy. What should he do? What do the British like to do? Would he want a tour of Washington?

Yes, that's what they could do together. Danny was sure that Mr. King had never been through the area, and he wanted to show off his home. It's pretty enough, and it's usually a nice walk when there isn't anything political happening. Then they could have lunch, or run around the national mall, or see the Smithsonian's, or—

Danny took a deep breath and sat up on his star spangled bed. This wasn't just a walk in the park, this was an investigation. He needed to be serious here. That and he read on the internet that the English don't like showing emotion. Maybe he could use that as a goal. Make the guy smile? Yes, that sounds nice. A fun day and a smile.

Wait, wait, wait. Serious here. He doesn't need to make people smile—yes he does, Danny loves to make people smile. But he also needs to figure out who he is, and Mr. King is going to help him.

He took out his phone and texted Rachel, his boss at Starbucks, telling her that he wanted off Thursday to be with a friend from out of country. She was always lenient with him, because she knew that his schedule was unpredictable. He was practically a charity case there, only working because he wanted to have a hand in his community, not because he needed the money. But she knew from her grandmother's will that he was special, and she was always very kind to him, like the older sister he never had.

Sure thing, Dan the man. Do you want me to provide flowers as well?

WAT WAT WAT NO WHERE DID YOU GET THAT IDEA

LOL you are so cute

RACHEL WHAT DO YOU MEAN

RACHEL

RACHEL COME BACK

RACHEL

DO NOT BRING FLOWERS

What country?

ENGLAND. THEY ARE EMOTIONALLY REPRESSED FLOWERS ARE NOT A GOOD IDEA

Then roses are perfect.

RACHEL DO NOT

RACHEL

GOD DAMN IT RACHEL

ASDFHJKLG

Danny threw the phone down on his bed. Yeah. Like the older sister he never had.