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Friday, February 22, 2019

At Light's Edge - Chapter 34: A Game of Solitaire


Thirty-Four
____________
A Game of Solitaire

Current Svalbard Super Y-MAX Perimeter Temperature: -3 Celsius / 27 Fahrenheit


Later that evening, Poppy, Akiko, Graham, Cornell and Renwick sat in the staff lounge conversing.
Cornell related how he often suffered in his heart and mind about the crimes he had committed despite all that Christ had done for him, “I wrestle with this heavy cross all the time. I feel so alone sometimes. I wonder if the Apostle Paul felt that way sometimes too.”
Poppy inquired, “Explain.”
“When Paul was called Saul he went around rounding up Christians. This Christian named Stephen was killed with rocks people threw at him and Saul was there approving of it all. Later, Paul wrote in the first chapter of the book of Timothy that he was thankful God showed him mercy because he did stuff like that out of ignorance and because he was not a believer in Jesus at the time.”
Graham Zelany offered counsel, “I know you boys have heard this before, but most people feel remorseful and overwhelmed by guilt and grief at times, even forgiven Christians, it’s our nature. Even though we know God has forgiven us we can be plagued by our past mistakes… some people experience this more than others do. Just remember,” Mr. Zelany sat forward, “the one who is forgiven much loves much.”
“I’ve been forgiven much,” Cornell lamented.
“I have too,” Renie affirmed.
“Look,” Akiko pointed out of the Staff Lounge window, “Northern Lights, wow!”
“I never dreamed we’d see them this time of the year. Is it possible to go out and view them?” Poppy asked everyone.
Mr. Zelany replied, “I am not sure. Do you boys know?”
“I don’t be thinkin’ Ren and I can go out without an official escort, but you folks probably can,” Cornell answered. “Let’s ask. It don’t hurt to ask.”
Akiko said, “I’ll do it,” and hurried to find someone to question. She returned with Officer Krims who informed the group she would accompany them to just outside the fence line near the armed observation post Tower-6.
“What about us?” Renie curiously asked.
“You too, let’s go and suit up,” the C/O commanded.
“Aurora Borealis here we come!” Akiko exclaimed.
As the group readied themselves each took their place in a single line to exit the facility.
“We look like a bunch of inmates standing in a morning med line,” commented Renie.
“You got that right, Ren,” agreed Cornell.
After over one hour of observation and below freezing temperatures the group returned to the confines of the Super-Max prison’s warm interior. 
Cornell went with Poppy and Akiko for a personal interview in the staff lounge while Renie returned to his room to put the finishing touches on a painting he had started weeks before.
“Finally,” Renie said to his audience of walls, furniture, and assorted art supplies, “done at last.”
Renwick Stone signed his name to the bottom right corner of his work in black oil with a small brush and stood back to admire his handiwork. 
Renie greatly respected the biblical patriarch, Caleb, and he desired to paint a depiction of him defeating the three sons of Anak: Sheshai and Ahiman and Talmai, at his ripe old age of eighty-five.
Renie was thrilled to have achieved his goal, Caleb, that’s faith!

The remainder of the week and the following weekend with the participants of Final Hope proved to be an enormous success. Poppy Fields and Akiko Takahashi captured the program’s vision and goals, as well as many intense analytical verbal discourses between participants, with the literary expertise the Final Hope program deserved. The two reporters spent many evenings working on their news articles together. Their final evening the two women met with Renie and Cornell to discuss and review their writings before departing. 
Once work efforts were completed, the four took a quick tour of the prison before settling down for some casual conversation in the staff lounge.
“Well,” Poppy stated rather sadly, “tomorrow’s Monday and Akiko and I must return to sunny Berkeley, California, back to the literary grindstone.”
Akiko stood momentarily, “Thanks so much for all you have done for us and for all of your input.”
Renie and Cornell were speechless for the moment.
Once Akiko sat back down, Poppy stood, lifting her water glass for a toast, “To Renie and Cornell, may your futures exceed your wildest dreams!”
Poppy had barely sat down when Warden Khan entered the lounge. The warden approached them, smiling from ear to ear.
“Looks like something exciting is in the air,” commented Poppy.
Cornell turned around in his chair gazing around the lounge to ensure nobody else had entered unawares and that they would be the individual  or individuals the warden wished to address, “Looks like whatever is going on is for us, seein’ we’re the only ones here.”
Warden Khan stood in silence for a moment before addressing Cornell Purdue, “I have some news for you, Inmate Purdue. You will leave this next Wednesday for Australia—“
Cornell jumped up smiling, “Wow! The prison construction is starting and I’m approved to go. Imagine that… from the icebox into the furnace. I hear it’s mighty hot down where they be buildin’ the next Y-MAX.”
Warden Khan affirmed Cornell’s excited summation and provided him with the details of his departure while Renie, Poppy, and Akiko listened closely.
When the warden bid her farewell to the group and turned to leave, Renie blurted out, “What about me, Warden Khan, will I be going? Or,” Renie took a deep breath, “will I be returning to my former residence in the Y-MAX desert prison?”
“Oh,” the warden said as she turned around slowly, “I almost forgot….”
The seated group could see the beaming smile on Warden Khan’s face and immediately knew something wonderful was about to come out of the warden’s mouth. 
“I’m going too,” Renie guessed.
Warden Khan replied mysteriously, “Well, young man, that is entirely up to you.”
Perplexed, Renie inquired, “Up to me? Why wouldn’t I want to go, Warden Khan?”
Smiling profusely, Warden Khan replied, “You may wish to just go home instead.”
“Home?” Renie’s heart fluttered like a colony of migrating butterflies.
“Yes, Renwick Stone,” the warden announced, “formerly known as Inmate Renwick Stone, you are a free man. The official documents will be faxed in tomorrow, but I have scanned copies that just arrived by email. So, Renwick Stone, you will need to come to my office bright and early tomorrow morning for us to review some final details before your release.”
Renie felt as though he could not breathe. He did not know what to say or how to react. He just stared forward with a blank expression on his face.
Cornell asked the Warden, “Can you tell us more about all of this, or is it private, or somethin’?”
Warden Sundar Khan sat down with the group of eager listeners and explained details as to the hows and whys of Renie’s newly acquired freedom, “A Federal investigation was underway when Renie and the others involved in the crime that sent him to prison, occurred. It was not until about one month ago that the results of that investigation came to light in Federal Court. It had to do with Homeland Security, USA’s National Security, and other factors I do not have direct knowledge of or information regarding. But, it is clear that Renwick was not intentionally involved in any actual crime or crimes.”
Poppy interjected, “This would make a great story.”
Akiko agreed.
Warden Khan addressed Renwick, “I have more news for you if you would like to have it now. Or, we can wait until the morning if you need time to digest all of this first.”
“No, now is good, please, Warden, go on.”
“If you have a desire to continue with prison construction as an employee of the Y-MAX international building program, you have the option of taking a job with constructing the new prison in Australia. You would be working with Cornell, other free staff, and other inmates down there. 
I’ll remind you that where that prison will be constructed is extremely warm and plans include night shift working hours.”
“Well,” Renie appeared deep in thought.
“And,” the warden added, “your mother has agreed to take a job there as a cook in the cafeteria once the cafeteria is completed, should you decide to go there, Renwick. Tentative approval for your sister to either continue her education in an Australian University, or be employed in an internship, for which she is qualified for, is also forthcoming.”
“I want to do it, I really do.”
“I’ll let you sleep on it, Renwick, and I’ll see you in the morning.”
Cornell whispered into Renie’s ear, “Looks like the cards for a new life be dealt for you and you be playin’ a game of solitaire, buddy. God be with you and your decisions. You know I’d love to keep workin’ with ya, but I also know how much goin’ home would mean to me.”
After Warden Khan departed, Renie excused himself from his three friends to return to his and Cornell’s room. Cornell, Poppy, and Akiko remained in the staff lounge to converse.

Renie prayed, thanked God, read a few Psalms, then grabbed a pen to write some words from his heart to the girl he met at the Y-MAX teen women’s prison…

I guess the future holds the mysteries of my unfolding life in Christ.
Until I write again, God bless,

Renwick Stone – A Free man!



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