Free Options Are Good by Jerry D. Young

after the dinner as was polite and went upstairs again. Bandy didn’t see Ana-Bella watch him go up the stair case, just as she didn’t see the others watching her. Fortunately for everyone’s sake, the little group all headed for the living room before Ana-Bella could turn around and see them watching. Ana-Bella brushed away the tears that had blurred her vision before Bandy had reached the top of the stairs.
     
    Bandy worked late into the night, not turning in until almost one in the morning. But he was up at his usual time, and not even Ana-Bella could tell he hadn’t slept much. He talked quietly to the others about the news that all had seen while getting up and getting ready for the day.
     
    Yet another terrorist attack. Only there were some loud accusations that it was not an independent terrorist group, but a state sponsored and state executed operation. It came right on the heels of the announcement the previous day by China that they would be drastically reducing their financial holdings in United States Dollars.
     
    Less than twenty-four hours later and three major refineries on the Gulf and West Coasts were burning out of control. There was a group claiming responsibility, but they were considered very small time, and some in the DHS were admitting that they didn’t think the group did it. No one in authority openly pointed a finger at China, but more than a few ‘unnamed, highly placed sources’ in Washington were implying it, if not outright saying it.
     
    “What do they hope to accomplish, if it is the Chinese?” June asked, looking more angry than sad about the damage and loss of life.
     
    “Same thing as always, Mrs. Longhammer,” Bandy said when none of the other spoke up. “Power. Control. The weaker the US is, and the more turmoil there is in the country, the more likely they are to be able to take advantage of the situation and get even more control than they already have here.”
     
    “What do you mean, Mr. Hawkins?” asked Desiree. “How can China ever hope to control us? My Current Affairs teacher says it is all just a group of right wing religious conservatives that are saying things about China because they don’t like their religion.”
     
    Bandy had tried his best to get her to call him Bandy, the way Junior did, but her manners had been drilled into her for fifteen years, and Bandy was a lot older than she, so he got a Mister and last name. Not Bandy. Besides. She had a tendency to giggle every time she did try to say it.
     
    Not about to get started on the liberal educational system, Bandy kept his remarks strictly about the question Desiree asked.
     
    “Well, I believe, based on many factors that I have researched in depth, that China has designs on the entire world. They have started maneuvering in the western Pacific and Indochina already. They do not want interference in their plans. I believe those plans include taking over India, Indochina, Southeast Asia, the entire western Pacific, including Japan and Korea, and eventually Australia.
     
    “Once those goals are accomplished, they will reconsolidate, resettle much of their population to assume leadership positions in the countries, and pull resources out of all the newly conquered nations. With the final intention of taking first all of Africa, and then South America.”
     
    “But we won’t let them do that!” Desiree exclaimed. “I mean… Maybe… Maybe some of the Indonesian countries. Even Mr. Brathers says they are overstepping the bounds there, but that the UN will make them stop. But not Australia!”
     
    “It is just my belief, based on my research, lessons of history, and what is leaking out of China through unofficial sources that I hear about online. Only time will tell.”
     
    “Oh,” Desiree replied quietly, as she thought about Bandy’s quiet, reasoned explanation, much different than Mr. Brathers’ often very vocal accusations about whom he thought was the cause of all the world’s