The American Empire: The Plan

Chapter Eleven: His Love

America let the stack of mail fall from his hand, clapping to the counter with a short lived echo. He hung his bag on the back of a chair and went to the fridge. He pulled open a drawer, taking an apple that reflected the light. He closed the fridge up and sunk his teeth into the fruit, juice squirting from its insides. He listened to the crunch of the apple ground between his teeth.

America stopped in front of the counter and leafed through the mail. He set the apple down when he spotted a particular hand-writing. He carefully cut the envelope open and pulled out the crisp paper folded inside. He carefully unfolded the papers, his eyes scanning over the words. A smile came to his lips as he absorbed every word, analyzing each letter, each mis-scratch of ink on the paper.

He exhaled and set the letter down. He had to get him in a safe place. Nothing much would happen for the next few weeks. He'd have to wait for the election to finish until things finally sped up.

September 23, 2016 - Canberra, Australia.

The plane lurched over the runway as it came to touch down. A hand tightened itself around America's wrist in the same moment.
America looked to his right to see the man, his eyes fixed to the night time scenery outside the window, his hand clenched around America's arm, only releasing once the plane came to slow down and finally stopped at the gate.

America stood up, leading his companion from the aircraft and into the terminal where they retrieved his checked bags.

"Alfred!"

America turned around and saw Australia walking towards him. "Hey, Ralph!" America shouldered his companion's bag with a smile before walking to meet Australia. "Thank you for meeting us."

"Not a problem, mate." Australia looked around America and saw the man standing just behind him and to the side. "This must be Mr. Kaback."

America stepped to the side so his friend could see Alex better. He watched Australia hold out his hand. "My name's Ralph," he said with a smile. "A pleasure to meet you."

Alex shook his hand with a pleasant smile over his lips, his eyes bright, reflecting the artificial light from above. "Like wise. Call me Alex."

"Well, Alex. You and Alfred can follow me to the car and we'll be on our way."

The three men walked out of the terminal together, piling into the car waiting outside. Australia sparked the engine alive and they were off.
The terrain washed by in the night with the hour plus time passed.

America turned his body around to see Alex sitting in a back seat. His head rested on the edge of the door, his lips slightly parted, his eyes closed gently. America watched him for more than a moment, the car jumping over bumps in the pavement and slowing and turns.

"Who is he?"

America looked back to his friend at his sudden burst of conversation. "A human," he replied simply.

"Obviously. Where'd you meet him? What's he like?"

A smile appeared on America's lips. "It was just little things," he started. "Me saw each other a lot around town, but we never talked much." America remembered the hear of the small store contrasting with the cold outside. He remembered seeing the outside streets covered in snow.

"I don't suppose you could give me a ride," Alex asked. "My car's a little stuck."

"Of course." America gave him a smile. "Can't have a pretty face like yours freezing, now can we?"