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peace and freedom in your land. Mexican and U.S. relations are growing
stronger by the day, and it is imperative that we resolve your conflict in order to
resolve our own with the Mexican government We have come to the
agreement with Mexico that the Nicaraguan conflict must be resolved for the
sake of your people as well as our own, I am here on a peacekeeping mission
representative of Vatican-based common ground shared by both Mexican and
American governments, to enlighten you to our peaceful intentions. The unified
effort of Mexican-American Catholic missions is to promote peace in your
region, while only enhancing your culture. The world is rapidly turning toward
world peace, and Nicaragua is way behind the times—from technology and
education to government ideals and religious convictions. Pope John Paul is
praying diligently for peace in your region, and has joined forces with President
Reagan, Mexico, and even the Soviet Union to ensure that peace. He (the
Pope) knows your goals, he knows your motives (I leaned forward, almost
whispering from my own instilled belief), he knows your soul. We can all
work in tandem to achieve that peace. Nicaragua, small though it may be in
relation to the rest of the world, is a significant stepping stone toward unifying
world powers. It can no longer be a source of contention and disagreement.
Your people must be free. Free to worship God through your holy Catholic
church. That is first and foremost on President Reagan's agenda, as well as the
Pope's and President de la Madrid's. A New World Order is coming into being
with or without you; it is an inevitable process that cannot be stopped. A whole
new world of peace awaits us all. I can see you are a peace-loving man. It
emanates from your being. Blood has flowed across your land so heavily that
your people are drowning in it. Together we can cauterize that wound.
Replace blood flow with cash flow. Americanization can upgrade your
technology at a rapid rate. Your people could compete in world markets by the
turn of the century. Your future global position has already been determined by
geography alone. Flow with it. Lead your people out of poverty. Educate
them in a manner conducive to their destined position in world markets. Free
them from their struggles that have held them captive for so long. Allow the
church bells to ring with good news of peace, prosperity and freedom. You can
achieve all of your goals for your country's advancement with our help."
Ortega thoughtfully finished smoking a cigarette, and lit up another as he
confidently replied, "Tell your President that I have seen his freedom, and
listened to" his words projected through yet another example of it. He paints a
beautiful picture suspended within his framework. A picture can appear serene
to its beholder while it is being gazed upon. I cannot worship a graven image,
and the picture he paints is just that. We have fought too hard and too long,
spilling sweat and blood across this land in our determined effort to maintain
human values instilled in us by our forefathers, who gained their profound wisdom
from the original Catholic missionaries. These values are the same as
those portrayed in President Reagan's painted picture-only ours are real. His
have only surface value, like any other painting. If I were to concede, I would
only be framed within me picture he paints, hung on his wall like a trophy. I
will not mislead my people, in spite of his offers of wealth and position, I am
true to my convictions, and when he is true to his, then we will meet on
common ground and have something of substance to discuss. For now, words
are only a waste of our time."
Ortega put out his cigarette, and pulled back the covers on his bed. "I'll
lake you somewhere pleasant." He took a well-used opium pipe/bong off his