Gavrilo Gavrilovich stood in his office. It had a large glass window looking to the east and from it he could see much of his city;
his city... Sarajevo.
He had worked hard to make this city what it was today, when the distastes of the previous era had struck the people of Sarajevo had fled to the hills. There a group of them outlasted it, a group that by the time Gavrilo was born were nearly all dead. That was 32 years ago. By the time it was safe to come out of hiding there had only been 18 of them left, of which only three now survived; there was himself - Prime Minister of the Socialistic Republic of Sarajevo -, there was Jacques Poirrot a Belgian who now held the position of Gavrilo's most trusted friend and adviser, and there was Jelena Smailović - grandniece of a famous Musician she was the head of the Sarajevo Philharmonic Orchestra.
They sat now in Gavrilo's office, he had asked them to come here, Sarajevo had reached a point, a point beyond which could not be seen. Sarajevo was becoming more than a band of survivors of a great calamity but a nation, one which would in time have to bear responsibility and importance.
"Monsieur," Said the large Belgian "We are here, speak if you will."
"And its good to see you my friends," Replied Gavrilo hesitantly still with his back turned to them. "It seems like its been a long time since we ran out of those hills," He gestured eastwards.
Smailović smiled with the smile of fond remembering, "When you say run, you mean... Erm...
Emerged don't you?"
Gavrilo replied, "Of course, of course."
"This hasn't got anything to do with Comrades El-Cliched McPortugese-Name and Link has it?"
"In a round about way. Y'see we've come a long way in establishing a culture for ourselves and other Bosniaks, but that's not why we are still here today and not why I have brought you here."
Poirrot turned to Smailović and gave her a 'he's been playing too many multiplayer computer games with the Davieses again.' look.
"Why then?" Asked Poirrot.
Gavrilo turned to face them and pointed at a small island on a world map hanging on the wall. "Haiti..."
The Sarajevo Worker
12th February 2072
Sarajevo to support Integration and Liberation
This Very afternoon Prime Minister Gavrilovich publicly announced for the first time his intentions regarding recent pleas for help from both close anf far away nations. Nearby groups of Bosniaks, Serbs and others have petitioned to join the Republic. Today it is anounced which will be the first to recive aid from Sarajevo. Astoundingly it has also been decided that we should help our Socialist brothers in the Caribbean as Sarajevo begins the Liberation of the oppressed people of Haiti.
(Story Continues on Page 2)
In a Sarajevo backstreet.
2 Men, one, Emir Vildić, In Green expensive Greatcoat, the other, Danilo Ilić, looks more dubious than a rabbit in Panama.
Emir Vildić: Ilić? Is that You?
Danilo Ilić: Yes, Emir?
Emir Vildić: Good to see you my friend. Do you hear the
Pistol-shot?
Danilo Ilić: I see not its
dark beauty flowering under veils.
Emir Vildić:
Trapped in the spectrum of a dying style.
Danilo Ilić: Do we have to go through this whole charade again?
Emir Vildić: It is the Rules Danilo.
The two of them go through some sort of overly complicated secret handshake ritual with much slapping of shoulders and stroking of chins.
Danilo Ilić: So, is the plan ready?
Emir Vildić: Everything is accounted for, here is the letter from the Prime Minister.
Danilo Ilić: The Weapons?
Emir Vildić: Sorted.
Danilo Ilić: The Men
Emir Vildić: The Finest the country has to offer.
Danilo Ilić: Over a Century ago my ancestor played a similar role in such a event. I only hope I do him justice.
Emir Vildić: He fought for Socialism?
Danilo Ilić: No, just against the tyranny of a evil empire that thought itself lord of the Balkans. On his head and the heads of his comrades lie the dead of a great war.
Emir Vildić: You are a good man Danilo, you will succeed.
Vildić hands Ilić an envelope sealed with the crest of Sarajevo marked with the words "TOP SECRET" and the two of them walk away.
CLAIMS - Europe and South America 38
