Message #297152

[franksolich]

It wasn't exactly being a pleasant encounter, but all I could do was sit there saying nothing, until the colonel spent himself.

Finally, leaning back in his chair, the colonel instructed someone who was an officer, "GET.....HIM.....OUT.....OF.....HERE."

In case he was misunderstood, the colonel repeated, between clenched teeth, "GET.....HIM.....OUT.....OF.....HERE."

The officer indicated I was going to be taken to a hotel.

Another ride in an official military vehicle, but I had already had that; this time, the lemonade would be a personal tour of Belfast, I thought, even though it was still dark.

We headed south, going through checkpoints, to the center of the city.  We passed what was identified to me as the Belfast City Hall, an ornate wedding-cake sort of building, all lit up with spotlights, as if it were Christmas or something.

There was so much barbed wire; enough barbed wire to fence in the entire state of Nebraska, it seemed.

As fate would have it, the Belfast City Hall would be all the sights of Belfast I was ever to see, because the armored vehicle continued south, outside of the city.  It wasn't a very long drive, as Northern Ireland is a tiny place, before I was deposited at some sort of semi-luxury hotel out in the boondocks.

I hadn't yet studied the map of Northern Ireland very closely yet, and so didn't know I was being left at the very edge, almost in the Irish Free State itself.

It was just really odd, just really bizarre.

There was a convention of Northern Ireland toy manufacturers going on just then, and I had emerged from the barbed wire and fires outside, to a lobby crammed with teddy bears, dolls, jack-in-boxes, electric trains and race cars, miniature kitchens; just all sorts of toys, and all over the place.

It was like a gigantic Santa's workshop, the lobby.

It was of course late, but not so late some of the enterprisers were still up and having a good time, and even though I was dragged out, I joined them for a while.  They were a hearty, enthusiastic, convivial group, these toy-manufacturers from Northern Ireland, the usual Chamber-of-Commerce sort of boosters, but pleasant company that constantly assured me that Northern Ireland was a great place to visit, a wonderful place to see, and no troubles at all.

Wonderful gentlemen; I have oftentimes prayed that they have since flourished and prospered.

It was near dawn when I finally went to my room.  When I shut the door, I carefully read the notice hanging on it, on the inside; the usual sort of hotel rules and regulations.  The last third of it advised that if one saw or heard gun-shots or explosions, he was to throw himself onto the floor, away from windows, laying as low as possible.

oops, I'm just about done, and I suddenly noticed a dead bird in the bowl of the commode; I have to go check to see how the cat William managed to sneak it inside through the plumbing--back soon, to wrap this up