The first novel in a three-part story by R.M. Dolin
What Is To Be Done – SYNOPSIS
It’s Hard Running a Revolution When You Keep Getting Interrupted
JAKE (60’s) is a retired Los Alamos National Laboratory scientist who owns New Mexico’s first legal distillery. He doesn’t consider himself a rebel any more than a recluse but after Emelia dies from a human engineered virus, the only time he’s at peace is when riding his bike, working in his distillery, and going to ARMANDO’s bar, the Al Azar, to play poker with former Mind’s Eye Project colleagues who worked with him on the super-secret Los Alamos effort to develop technologies in the aftermath of 9/11 to track suspected terrorists. Diabolically, politicians and the Oligarchs who control them nefariously perverted Mind’s Eye technology to spy on citizens and political opponents. Burdened by guilt these intellectuals, calling themselves ‘Americans for a New America,’ (ANA), decide to make amends by plotting a virtual coup. To outside observers they seem like the same complaining old men you’d find in any bar or coffee shop anywhere in the world, but two things set them apart; the lengths they’ll go to make amends and their ability to achieve desired outcomes. Their quixotic plan’s proceeding on schedule until it’s suddenly and unexpectedly diverted.
The Governor has mandated no one is to violate quarantine unless to attend her sanctioned events, but true Northern New Mexicans don’t give a shit about what she wants, especially on Cinco de Mayo, including the ANA who’ve gathered at the Al Azar to both play poker and go over pre-launch measures for their virtual coup. When the bar’s calm quiet suddenly explodes, in flops a disheveled young woman and it’s clear to everyone who she is and what she’s fleeing; just as they know whomever she’s fleeing will be here soon. MIGUEL and his entourage arrive in minutes intent on taking the woman, but when Jake threatens to unleash cyber hell one thing leads to another and Jake winds up wagering twenty-grand on one card game for the woman’s freedom. When he wins, Miguel warns him things are far from over.
The woman doesn’t respond to English, and the ANA aren’t equipped to provide what she needs so the following morning Jake takes her to PADRE (50s), but rather than help, Padre insists God’s given Jake this burden for a reason. Reluctantly, Jake takes her home and names her Sympatico, after Padre’s parish, Our Lady of Infinite Sympatico. Jake runs to Española the following morning and when he returns, Sympatico’s not home. That’s when Miguel shows up unannounced welcoming the opportunity to find and reclaim his property. Jake’s tasting room salesclerk, THERESA (40’s), who’s in the US illegally, mobilizes the shadow immigrant community. Eventually Jake finds Sympatico’s hiding in his tool shed, too afraid to trust anyone. Happy she’s safe, he hosts a barbecue celebration for everyone who helped in the search. DARIO (30’s), a former Navy Corpsman, lingers after the party to share a quiet drink. The events of the day combined with over-drinking lead Dario to his latest PTSD episode that worsens as he retells the story of a Marine who died taking a bullet for him in Iraq.
The ANA hold a special meeting to debate what to do about Sympatico; the challenge is returning her to Bolivia without drawing attention to themselves or their ambitions. They’ve intercepted a federal memo describing a seditious cell operating in Northern New Mexico and the Feds are sending a Watcher, named Alvarez, to investigate. Unsettled by this news, Jake has a quiet bourbon in his courtyard that leads to several others. When Sympatico ventures into the courtyard things quickly devolve, with drunk Jake confusing Sympatico for Emelia.
A reasonable man would apologize but Jake spends the next day making Mula, an illegal southwest prohibition era whiskey he’s obligated to make for the Quintana brothers. Theresa reminds him today is interview day for his assistant distiller position. After summarily dismissing the first applicant, a Harley rider randomly stops by to sample whiskey. The last thing CHANCE (30’s) needs is a job, but Jake’s so impressed with his knowledge of spirits he offers him the position. Chance declines until spotting Sympatico and can’t help but imagine the romantic possibilities.
When Padre leaves a note telling Jake to bring Angelica to church, Sympatico assumes that’s Jake’s girlfriend and worries, Angelica will make Jake kick her out. She’s relieved to learn Angelica is an alter wine Jake makes for Padre’s communion. Padre delivers a powerful sermon on perseverance while assuring Sympatico God’s placed her on her path for a reason. He shares his history of growing up in Venezuela, of protesting with Bolivians for worker’s rights, and being sent to seminary in Poland.
Because it’s poker night, Jake leaves Chance with a list of chores and once done, Chance decides to charm Sympatico, what he gets instead, is the wrath of Sympatico’s mistrust in men. Jake arrives at the Al Azar where Miguel’s waiting with an offer to buy Sympatico for considerably more than the twenty grand Jake initially wagered. He warns Jake that the people he works for prefer quiet resolution but have other means at their disposal.
In a panic, Jake notifies MARCOS (50’s) to activate the Albuquerque ANA and stays at the Al Azar to plan how best to deal with Miguel’s threat. While protecting Sympatico at home, Dario and Chance engage in a competition for who’s better suited for her. When Sympatico gets wind of their competition, she lets them both gently know there’s no possibility for romance. She reveals her Bolivian past, hinting at reasons why the cartel wants her back. Marcos arrives with an App his team’s developed to not only watch the Watchers, but to track Miguel as well. Everyone assembles at Jake’s, dividing the night sentry shifts. Jake’s abruptly awakened after midnight with the dire news that a man’s been stabbed at Miguel’s ranch and a woman’s dead. According to Marcos’ App, police are descending on Miguel’s compound. Jake rushes to Sympatico’s room to find her missing.
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In part two of the trilogy, “Trophic Cascade – The Rise and Fall of Quiet Acquiescence,” the story picks up with a murdered woman at Miguel’s ranch and Sympatico missing.
Background short stories
Cowboy Coffee – Importance of doing what needs to be done
Jake and Emelia – Tale told from loss to life
Dominic and Denali – A story of love and loss but not lost love
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