GR8Madmax
King of Undefended Cities
Chapter 15 The Truth Will Set You Free
(Present day)
It was in the afternoon and Orhan has been reading the journal all day. He put the journal aside and lied down at the feet of the War Elephant display. Orhan dozed off and didnt see him approach. When Orhan woke up startled by a noise, it was too late. The intruder had him in his clutches. The teenager tried to wiggle free but the man was too strong. Orhan was stunned when he saw the intruders face. It was the same man the cops dragged away in the paddy wagon earlier in the day. The same dirty old clothes, long hair and beard that have not been cut in ages. The smell of alcohol dominated the mans clothing.
The man had his hands over Orhans mouth. The boy finally realized that there was no use struggling. He was not going to get away. The psycho finds him on the one day that he decided to sneak away from the Presidential Palace. What luck, he thought. Realizing the boy had stopped struggling, he removed his hand from Orhans mouth and motioned the boy to keep quiet. He spoke in a hoarse voice.
Man: Orhan, my name is Lord McCauley and I thought Id never find you. Gandhi had you stashed away in that Presidential Palace of his. Ive been looking for you for ages.
Orhan (still terrified): H..h.how do you know my name?
McCauley: I am the knower of all things. Im Lord McCauley.
Orhan (confused): Drunk is what you are. Let me go. There are personal security guards that will be back to get me any time now.
McCauley (smiling): I know you snuck away from the Palace. Ive been watching you. I was on my way to talk to you when the damn cops ran after me like I stole their donuts or something.
Orhan: I dont want to hear what ever you have to say. I have to go.
McCauley (miffed): You WILL hear what I have to say!
Orhan settled down and looked intently at McCauley. He knew he would never get away if he tried to run and no one would hear him scream in this closed off section of the museum.
McCauley: You asked me how I know your name. Let me tell you a story.
The war between India and the Ottoman Empire was being waged in what we know as South India. Half of the Ottoman cities have already fallen to the Western Expedition led by General Asoka. The massive force was about to capture Istanbul when Gandhi sent an envoy to Istanbul and demanded that the Ottoman Empire surrender immediately. The offer was simple. Surrender and what is left of the Empire will be allowed to exist as an Indian State. The Sultan will still have control over his cities and will only answer to Gandhi.
A furious Osman rejected the offer and Gandhi never expected this. Gandhi had expected that Osman will surrender once Istanbul falls. That is why he went to the city of Edrine, expecting to sign a peace treaty. Once Gandhi learned that the Ottomans had no intention to surrender, he was enraged. He was secretly escorted to the city of Istanbul where he gave the order. Burn every thing down. Dont let any thing remain standing were his words. Gandhi had found a way to kill two birds with one stone. He was always afraid of General Asoka and was concerned about the General becoming a political opponent. He bought off the few soldiers that witnessed the incident and promised them high rankings in the Indian military. But, General Asoka could not be bought. You have read what happened next.
Orhan: I was right. You are a nutcase.
McCauley (chuckling): It is nothing new. Many have said that Im a drunk, delusional who likes to make things up. But what if I am telling the truth?
McCauley continues
McCauley: I know you have always had a question on your mind, your mother. You never had the courage to ask the great Mahatma Gandhi the question. Do you want to know the truth? Wait, Im a drunk who likes to make things up. I am out of here.
As McCauley gets up to leave, Orhan speaks.
Orhan: I want to know.
McCauley: Even though it has never been confirmed, the royal family was indeed killed in the great Istanbul fire. Gandhi made sure of it as he personally set the fire to the Istanbul Palace. As the Palace was burning, one of the Palace aides ran out with a bundle in his hand. The aide was on fire and she fell on the feet of the Indian exploratory force that included General Asoka, Gandhi and a few other select soldiers. It was Gandhi that removed the bundle from the aide that lay dead on the ground. It was a baby boy wrapped in the bundle of wet clothes. The baby had a small gold bracelet with a name Orhan. Your name is not Orhan Gandhi. It is Orhan Gazi, son of Sultan Osman Gazi.
(Present day)
It was in the afternoon and Orhan has been reading the journal all day. He put the journal aside and lied down at the feet of the War Elephant display. Orhan dozed off and didnt see him approach. When Orhan woke up startled by a noise, it was too late. The intruder had him in his clutches. The teenager tried to wiggle free but the man was too strong. Orhan was stunned when he saw the intruders face. It was the same man the cops dragged away in the paddy wagon earlier in the day. The same dirty old clothes, long hair and beard that have not been cut in ages. The smell of alcohol dominated the mans clothing.
The man had his hands over Orhans mouth. The boy finally realized that there was no use struggling. He was not going to get away. The psycho finds him on the one day that he decided to sneak away from the Presidential Palace. What luck, he thought. Realizing the boy had stopped struggling, he removed his hand from Orhans mouth and motioned the boy to keep quiet. He spoke in a hoarse voice.
Man: Orhan, my name is Lord McCauley and I thought Id never find you. Gandhi had you stashed away in that Presidential Palace of his. Ive been looking for you for ages.
Orhan (still terrified): H..h.how do you know my name?
McCauley: I am the knower of all things. Im Lord McCauley.
Orhan (confused): Drunk is what you are. Let me go. There are personal security guards that will be back to get me any time now.
McCauley (smiling): I know you snuck away from the Palace. Ive been watching you. I was on my way to talk to you when the damn cops ran after me like I stole their donuts or something.
Orhan: I dont want to hear what ever you have to say. I have to go.
McCauley (miffed): You WILL hear what I have to say!
Orhan settled down and looked intently at McCauley. He knew he would never get away if he tried to run and no one would hear him scream in this closed off section of the museum.
McCauley: You asked me how I know your name. Let me tell you a story.
The war between India and the Ottoman Empire was being waged in what we know as South India. Half of the Ottoman cities have already fallen to the Western Expedition led by General Asoka. The massive force was about to capture Istanbul when Gandhi sent an envoy to Istanbul and demanded that the Ottoman Empire surrender immediately. The offer was simple. Surrender and what is left of the Empire will be allowed to exist as an Indian State. The Sultan will still have control over his cities and will only answer to Gandhi.
A furious Osman rejected the offer and Gandhi never expected this. Gandhi had expected that Osman will surrender once Istanbul falls. That is why he went to the city of Edrine, expecting to sign a peace treaty. Once Gandhi learned that the Ottomans had no intention to surrender, he was enraged. He was secretly escorted to the city of Istanbul where he gave the order. Burn every thing down. Dont let any thing remain standing were his words. Gandhi had found a way to kill two birds with one stone. He was always afraid of General Asoka and was concerned about the General becoming a political opponent. He bought off the few soldiers that witnessed the incident and promised them high rankings in the Indian military. But, General Asoka could not be bought. You have read what happened next.
Orhan: I was right. You are a nutcase.
McCauley (chuckling): It is nothing new. Many have said that Im a drunk, delusional who likes to make things up. But what if I am telling the truth?
McCauley continues
McCauley: I know you have always had a question on your mind, your mother. You never had the courage to ask the great Mahatma Gandhi the question. Do you want to know the truth? Wait, Im a drunk who likes to make things up. I am out of here.
As McCauley gets up to leave, Orhan speaks.
Orhan: I want to know.
McCauley: Even though it has never been confirmed, the royal family was indeed killed in the great Istanbul fire. Gandhi made sure of it as he personally set the fire to the Istanbul Palace. As the Palace was burning, one of the Palace aides ran out with a bundle in his hand. The aide was on fire and she fell on the feet of the Indian exploratory force that included General Asoka, Gandhi and a few other select soldiers. It was Gandhi that removed the bundle from the aide that lay dead on the ground. It was a baby boy wrapped in the bundle of wet clothes. The baby had a small gold bracelet with a name Orhan. Your name is not Orhan Gandhi. It is Orhan Gazi, son of Sultan Osman Gazi.
