Free Santorini Caesars by Jeffrey Siger

can’t identify them.”
    â€œCan’t or won’t?”
    The Brigadier closed his eyes again.
    Now Andreas sat grim-faced and waited for the Brigadier to open his eyes. “If you knew terrorists were about to attack Greece, would you warn the country?”
    â€œOf course.”
    â€œThen why aren’t you speaking out now? Is it because the ones you’re reluctant to name are Greeks? Does it matter one iota whether a Greek or a Martian killed your daughter? She’s just as dead.”
    The Brigadier stared into his cup.
    â€œThere is a war looming here, Brigadier, and you’ve got to pick a side.”
    â€œWhich side is the right side?”
    Andreas shook his head. “If you have to ask that question, we’re already doomed.”
    The Brigadier rubbed his eyes with the fingers of his massive right hand. “They’re military colleagues.”
    â€œPlanning a coup?” said Andreas.
    â€œThe military tried that with tanks in the streets fifty years ago, and it didn’t work out so well. I don’t think you can harness the long term support of the Greek people with promises of better living through coups d’état .”
    â€œThen what are you saying?” said Andreas.
    â€œTo my way of thinking, a traditional military coup is out of the question.”
    â€œAre you suggesting there’s something ‘non-traditional’ percolating?” said Andreas.
    The Brigadier shrugged. “I don’t know. But any military man giving serious thought to coup possibilities would know that a coup could not possibly succeed without powerful outside benefactors.”
    â€œâ€˜Outside benefactors’?”
    â€œOur history is full of them. After all, only with Russian and Western European help did we succeed in our 1821 War of Independence.”
    Andreas stared up at the tree. “The more things change, the more they remain the same.”
    â€œBet you wish you hadn’t asked,” said the Brigadier.
    Andreas brought his eyes back onto the Brigadier. “It’s certainly not the sort of answer I expected.”
    â€œExcuse me, Brigadier,” said Yianni. “I’m as up as the next Greek for a good conspiracy theory, but if what you said is true, I still don’t see why whoever they are went after your daughter.”
    â€œLike I said, I can’t either. I never presented a threat to them.”
    â€œThat you know of,” said Andreas.
    The Brigadier chewed at his lower lip.
    â€œSo, I’m back to my initial question,” said Andreas. “Who are they ?”
    The Brigadier looked away. “We call them the Caesars. They’re career military who believe they can run Greece better than its civilian leadership. History is full of that sort. Every military has them. It’s why our Constitution places such clear limitations on the powers of the military.”
    â€œDo you have any names for these Caesars?” asked Andreas.
    â€œSome are seasoned and frustrated, some young and idealistic, but all are pissed off at how dysfunctional our country’s become.”
    Andreas leaned forward. “What about it, Brigadier, are you prepared to talk about them?”
    The Brigadier rubbed his cheek. “They characterize themselves as a military think tank organized to hammer out ideas on how civilian leadership can better help the country. Their members take great pains not to take public positions on any controversial subjects and they offer their suggestions in private to those politicians who wish their assistance.”
    â€œThen what makes you think they’re dangerous enough to have possibly played a part in your daughter’s murder?” asked Andreas.
    â€œI’m not saying they did, just that they’re capable of doing it. Remember, their careers are dedicated to preparing to kill for their country. All it would take is one fanatic among them.”
    Andreas nodded.