Dancing on the Darkside

Dancing on the Darkside

Featuring The Good Interrogators —A Contemporary Novella

Steve Dreben

Smashwords ebook edition published by Fideli Publishing Inc.

Copyright 2012 Steve Dreben

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ISBN: 978-1-60414-541-0

Contents

The Good Interrogators

Innocence of Dogs

Cold Night

The Lovers [Images of Rodan]

Montana Woman

Daughter

The Trip

Waiting for Omar

The Mirror

The Pigeon

Texas Pampered

Loving Accommodation

Speaking with Indians

Lost

The Good Interrogators

—A Contemporary Novella

How the victims of war and despotism sublimely fade into the stillness of eternity

" ... how the victims of war and despotism

Sublimely fade into the stillness of eternity..."

— Rosa Luxemburg 1918

Berlin, Germany

... in memory of Troy Davis executed in Georgia U.S.A. 2011

CHAPTER 1

Norton Air Force Base, California

May 11, 2011

She didn’t expect the call to come as soon as it did, but General Caldwell was a hard taskmaster who knew his people well and what they could and would do ... and so the unexpected call. Col. Clark I’d like to see you in my office tomorrow at 0700; please read the briefing papers tonight before the meeting. ... See you then. And so, Dr. Clark and/or Lt. Col. Clark disconnected the phone, fully understanding the meaning of what General Caldwell had requested ... or demanded. She had worked with him twice before, once in southern Iraq and again sometime later in the northern city of Mosel.

Dr. Clark was a Behavioral Science Consultation Team (Biscuit) leader who usually sensed the next hard assignment, but this time she’d been surprised. She had fifteen practical work years at Bellevue Hospital in New York City, and served recently as the assistant director for the criminally insane. She was a Gulf War veteran and worked for two years in the special investigations command under General Caldwell. She was his close associate trusted as much as any senior woman within his command. Col. David Powell was second in command under Gen. Caldwell, and was the upper team leader of all Out of Country Units (O.C.U.s).

CHAPTER 2

1800 Officers’ Bar & Grill, Base

Get a solid read on the briefing papers before you meet Gen. Caldwell tomorrow, Venus, he said as he precisely cut the New York steak into small chunks like a vascular surgeon.

She gazed at the intense man across from her wondering, David what’s so different about this assignment? Then she asked, Why all the soft landing platforms before the actual meeting?

Venus, I thought you were the prime acceptor of super soft landings.

No, David, that’s only in bed after a good tumble. David, you of all people know what that’s all about.

Good fraternizing either makes you closer or breaks you apart!

Yes, and for the last two years I haven’t heard from you much.

Col. Powell stared at her over his turquoise-rimmed glasses, his eyes a deep green and quite penetrating. He’d been number-two under Gen. Caldwell for ten solid years and was a full bird colonel. "Special OPS leaves me little time for long-distance romance, little room in fact for any romance. ... Yet, I’ve always respected and appreciated you, Venus. You’re quite a woman!"

Venus smiled at him, ate a little more of her steak and drowned it with a fine Pinot Noir. So, David, can you pre-brief me on the new assignment or is it strictly high level hush-hush stuff?

Can’t give you very much here, dear Venus, but I can give you this. These are the most advanced and high-level targets we’ve ever dealt with. I will assure you of this... She glanced at his soft, willing eyes and knew that Col. Powell understood the rigors of the assignment.

Their private dinner and somewhat intimate conversation went on casually for another two hours.

She unlocked the door to her room, quietly showered and then decided to relax. She put on a soft, silk nightgown and then loaded her classified top-secret CD into its slot. She read through the brief and took quick notes on a large, lined legal pad. She spent two hours outlining her positions and counter-positions based on the CD brief.

After this, Venus was exhausted. It had been a long day. She lay down on her bed with the intention of reading a novel, but fell asleep instantly with the nightstand reading lamp still lighting the room. She dreamed of old times and some ugly interrogations during the first part of the Iraq War. This was a new dream, one that didn’t come close to anything she’d ever dreamed before. Why now? she wondered. Why this new anxiety all the sudden?

Coffee was brought into Gen. Caldwell’s office with some toasted bagels on a platter served as a light breakfast snack with cream cheese and jam on the side. Captain Richard Barnes was the assigned secretary for the general, his right hand man and personal confidant. Col. Powell was also in the small briefing room along with Lt. Col. Clark. The lights were low as Capt. Barnes ran a mini-PowerPoint explanation of the program’s ‘targets’ and the results needed for the assignment.

You should already have the pre-briefing and briefing materials on the targets, Lt. Col. Clark.

I’ve read through the briefing twice, General, and have a few questions regarding results which are duly stressed in the briefing portfolios.

Capt. Barnes leaned back to listen as Lt. Col. Clark stated her position. Gentleman, I fully understand what kind of results you expect as the end product of this assignment. This time, effective results and methods seem to coordinate. There is no room for questionable and specious content; supportable proof must be obtained from all three contacted targets.

General Caldwell got up slowly, like a master wizard in a great throne-room, and stood directly in front of the PowerPoint image. "Turn it off, Capt. Barnes. I shall explain some of the particular points missed in the presentation. All of the subjects are made up of the highest target levels captured in any of our theaters. Both Col. Powell and I can assure you that these targets are of extreme value. I, myself, Lt. Colonel Clark have gone through every single target under contract and reviewed his background. We have all gone over this with a fine-toothed comb. Nothing about the information has been filtered. All appropriate government agencies and defense systems of our Allies have been employed to collect accurate data on these captives.

I want results fast ... lives depend on it! I don’t care what tactics you and your Biscuits employ to get answers. Just get them. I want irrefutable results. Do you understand me here, Lt. Colonel? More than the usual tension builds in the room as General Caldwell delivers this speech.

General Caldwell sat down in a large leather armchair to the side of the PowerPoint projector and Col. Powell moved to the front of the room. Do you have any questions as to your assignment or duties as they are outlined in the brief, Col. Clark? Is there any doubt as to what lengths you can go to or means you can use to obtain results here?

I’ve compiled a list of 12 experienced people for the fourth team and you’ve already explained that six is all you require me to work with after prior elimination.

Col. Powell scanned his outlined briefing papers and quickly read over two sections before answering. That is correct, Col. Clark. Use the best from the 12 you’ve selected for the six-person team. Do it fast, but do it with applicable intelligence.

I see, Col. Powell. Yes, I do see. One question, though. Must we stay within the Uniform Code of Military Justice or can we stretch the borders some?

You have some wiggle room, but only within the areas of non-physical treatment, and twenty-four hour deprivation is not to be considered — period. Get my meaning here, Col. Clark?

Captain Barnes walked to the side of the room, pours a large glass of water and takes a drink before speaking. You must make absolutely sure that your assigned military and contract professionals follow the rules exactly. Exactly. ... They’re the best in their fields and we must have accurate and complete testimony ... I repeat, accurate and complete.

From the side of the room General Caldwell tapped on the floor with his hand-carved wooden cane, then moved forward and rested his weight on the cane’s handle. Col. Clark, all I can say to you here and is that what Captain Barnes has said is game one. Additionally you are to report directly to Col. Powell if questions on protocol arise, or for that matter anything you may question. ... Matters that deserve attention and have merit, of course. ... Understood?

"Yes, General, understood. I appreciate your complete out on the table openness in these matters. ... Explanation excellent, as usual, sir."

General Caldwell smiled, looking directly at Venus, and stands up and salutes her, then he clearly and quietly adds, Dismissed.

Dr. Clark and Colonel Powell walk down a long hall in the castle-like building where the briefings have taken place. This is a really big assignment Venus. There’s no doubt the general trusts you and the three other BUISUIT team leaders. That’s big, he trusts few and believes fewer are competent enough for rough assignments like this. ... Know that you and your team are truly among the elite.

"I certainly feel that way now, Colonel Powell. I’ve never seen General Caldwell so completely serious about anything, though no doubt he is a serious man."

"Venus I can assure you that any good data you can extract from these captive targets is of the ultimate importance to General Caldwell and could really make differences in all the theaters ... understand?"

And yes, I certainly understand and will push not only for solid results but I will get super accurate data all within code.

Yes and now let’s have some lunch and talk of better times together ... so we will make it quick ... you have a lot to do before the first flight out in seven days ... you have my attention as always.

The two officers pace down yet another corridor and move briskly towards another top base restaurant for officers only and special contractors. That night after dinner, Venus Clark methodically evaluates the dossiers on all team psychologist professionals and then calls five choice candidates into the Pentagon Intelligence wings for two days of individual meetings.

Brief: Gary Wilson/Army Major Reserves and doctorate in behavioral psychology [*Professor Happiness] graduate University of Illinois. Special medical training via Bethesda Naval Hospital Washington D.C.; anti-insurgent command Gulf War; graduate of the Naval Language School/specializes in Pasto with some Arabic; second degree black belt in Korean Kung Fu.

Interview with Doctor Venus Clark Lt. Col: Gary I have managed to fully examine your past experiences and general background prior to being called into this office. I have gone through your files several times and the briefs you have written on your very effective interrogation work, which seems significantly beyond many I have read before ... you’re always quite attuned to each case?

Well Col. Clark ... yes attuned to each case as you call them, which I have to say I delve into like my children’s child care professionals. In many cases, or personal encounters, we actually start to play games together, we explore each others minds ... we share personal happiness, experiences of consciousness and past environments. Venus Clark watched Gary Wilson’s eyes as he explained himself and his views ... his skills at their mutual interrogation roles. Venus Clark was looking for real seasoned experts and Gary Wilson was surely one she could live with ... this had to be the goal ... the assignment could go from six to nine months and all parties had as a priority to get along.

Let me explain something directly to you Gary first and foremost ... your nickname of Prof. Happiness is important to me ... from my reading here and understanding it might just be a new way of delving into the brains of each of these high level prisoners ... as usually it’s a game of catch, question and release.

"Yes you have it ... like a Brown Trout in a back country stream you bait them, covet them, play with them, game them ... work them and bring them in for breaking."

Yes Gary, as Prof. Happiness you obviously understand what it takes to win this military action ... that is what I need and a particular brand of pleasure and happiness can add to our ultimate win ... and win we must ... you do completely understand that don’t you? For a few seconds Gary surveys his notes and follows the scan by raising his glass for a drink as he stares at Venus’s body and her deep hazel eyes.

Winning is the only way for me, and it comes with a natural sense of Irish humor I must add ... as in Kung Fu I usually conquer with cunning and skill and these same honed skills can be applied and usually are to each prisoner I’ve dealt with ... never is physical non-code abuse applied. It’s the jabbing and applied mental chopping craft ... the moves, the dancing felt with hands and mind ... sometimes a well calculated play ... they make targeted runs, precise shifts and wins ... yes indeed!

"Gary you will be one of the key players of my immediate team ... my right hand ... you may be asked to be in ‘my stead.’ Is that a position you can handle?"

"Yes ... it is a position I’ve been waiting for, a role I want, and a place I desire ... I respect you Col. Clark for placing me there and I will assure you that I will effectively apply all to make you proud of your choice on several counts. It’s difficult indeed to ever count me out ... I always find an innovation to cut through the heavy weeds, to find a clearing, to open the source up...No psychic wound can be too deep to escape proper justification to ‘conquer the target.’"

Venus Clark takes a moment to reflect on exactly what Gary Wilson meant, she smiles as she marks the box at the top of his assignment papers accepted. Glad to have you on the team Doctor Wilson, please send in Doctor Chow, he is the obvious person in the right corner of the mini conference room. Do you know Doctor Chow ... have you met him before...?

Yes, Sammy and I met on a co-assignment team in Bahrain, for a short time we worked together during the Iraq War with the regional Bahrain Royal Police in one of their ‘very rough person’ compounds ... yes I knew and respect Sammy Chow ... bright man ... I respect him and his Seal background.

Thank you for your time and candidness ... again on your way out send Doctor Chow in ... also we leave at 0700 Wednesday on Airport flight deck four. You can call me anytime on the encrypted cell phone number prior to take off ... 0700 Wednesday.

"Right Doctor Clark and I may just take one or two flavors on ice in between, keeping it light of course."

Yes you enjoy yourself prior to take off ... glad to have you aboard.

Brief: Sammy Chow M.D. Psychiatrist and PTSD specialist. Experience: Navy Seal Training/Global Force Team, veteran Iraq War two thousand and three. Dr. Chow won special commendations for combat insightfulness and innovative techniques. He designed special testing methods pre and post PTSD subjects, always achieving elevated results. He is the single male child from a well-known Chinese American trading family via San Francisco California. He has a strong record as the best of the best; a brain interaction psychiatrist specializing in understanding lying and developing testing for truth evaluations. Loves chewing gum, has no bad habits and enjoys eating fresh vegetables and fish cooked Hong Kong style. He has no wife or immediate family, except his Mother, he’s usually totally involved in his multi-view intelligence and interrogation work. He exhibits personal warm and a unique sense of humor, so he and Professor Happiness (Gary Wilson) usually accommodated each other on assignments.

Doctor Chow ... if it’s all right I will call you Sammy for the interview ... is that acceptable?

Yes, of course it is Doctor Clark, very acceptable ... think of me as an old travel partner on yet another special cruise ... can we all remember a special travel partner on a unique cruise? Venus laughed or smirked thinking about the statement and could easily understand the reports regarding Sammy’s prickly sense of humor ... she stared into his folder having a problem keeping back her laughter. So you were involved in the investigation and interrogation team *[2004 Biscuit Team] grilling Ramir Al Alla Ramil in Baghdad at the special security center north of Abu Grab?

Yes, I was the second in command in charge of [Nasty Biscuit 4] the final interrogation team in charge of breaking Mr. Ramir ‘within code’ no matter what, no holds barred...The information Mr. Ramir required a super shake unlike any usual vanilla shake known at the time, or not even vaguely like the old ones you got at the corner drug store in smaller California towns.

According to the file you worked Mr. Ramir with behavioral methods and advanced subtle acoustic techniques ... so where did you acquire these methods and tell me what specific ones you used? For a second Sammy turned his head to the wall and looked at the large picture of General Caldwell standing next to the President at center left and behind Venus Clark’s head. Sammy stared silently for a while at General Caldwell’s photograph, and grabbed a string of worry beads from his side pocket ... and began running his thumb through each single bead counting...You know something Dr. Clark as a kid I used to listen to a lot of hard rock and I loved ‘Led Zeppelin’, they aroused something in me with their use of bashing and excited guitar sounds. So for many years I studied sounds, built a sound studio, played with all kinds of acoustic engineering, analog and then digital sounds ... it was a real hobby most of my life ... it always turned me on ... period. So, I applied my development and use of sound during my medical education ... to equate sound synergized with the fine flowing chemistry of the brain. Sound dear lady ... for me was brain food but it could and can be applied scientifically to usher out information ... so eventually I applied my skills and Seal training to break Ramir ... he was the key to saving many lives or at the time our team fully believed that ... and moved forward on it.

So according to the records your [Nasty Team] broke Ramir within ten days from the time you took over, from your arrival. Again after reading this I can understand some of your background, yet to understand it better Lt. Commander what method did you use?

Some of it might be called a trade secret, yet all of it was taped except the actual plan. The tapes naturally are part of my Seal record and that can be obtained anytime?

No, actually no ... there is no time for that, I want you to brief me on the essentials of it, and I will delve into the rest of it at another time, or have one of my aides get back to me with a copy of it ... either quickly or as soon as possible. Sammy watched his fingers as he played with the worry beads, which made a light clicking sound as they rolled through his knuckles.

Ramir was not only street smart but he had a masters degree nearly a Ph. D., in applied nuclear physics ... most questioning went nowhere, cruder forms of torment (per associated records) usually created little viable information or no results. Our Iraq Special Security Units were limited by us when it came to people like Ramir ... it was almost a class thing ... they had no idea how to handle educated people and most of their methods were quite crude. I had a plan going in ... hard questioning, darkness ... slight deprivations family threats and the special use of penetrating lights and pitched sounds used on a short and limited basis. All of this done on a twenty-four to forty-eight hour interval straight ... no stop before sleep ... sleep for a brief period and then repeat the treatment. It could be seen as the first recorded episodes using ‘futility music’ and supportive sounds but he broke in seven days personally and to me ... by that time Ramir was a man lost in the need to escape.

Yes, very good work indeed Sammy ... not being there I can only imagine putting the pieces together in some detail of how you broke Al Ramir. I want you on the team Sammy review the order via your subject briefs ... work on another plan for all targets ... and then we will see you at 0700 spot on, on the tarmac. Do you have any questions for me Dr. Chow?

Yes ... does the sound of the beads knocking affect you in any way?

Yes, if I were to answer honestly ... yes I feel irritated by the constant rolling and clicking sounds ... soft grabbing ... somehow it grabs ... yes...! Sammy smiles puts the beads back into his jacket pocket, stands up salutes Dr. Clark and the general’s picture...Little sounds used in correct sequence ... applied sound magic let us call it along with foods added to the mix ... local foods in fact comfort and somehow it all attunes the ears and the inner sound system ... heightened awareness ... that’s how it works most of the time. Sammy smiles as he passes through the door with a knowing wink at Terrie Ramos sitting in the seat at the far end of the waiting room table...Terrie!

"Captain Barnes can you bring in Captain Ramos next, time for