บท 9: Chapter 8: Burning Desires II
May 25, 1943 - Manhattan, New York City
After figuring out a way forward in his current situation, Tommy felt relief. Relaxed, he decided to take a nap after asking Polly to estimate the funds he'd need to open his bar. A simple bar might not be enough to stand out, given how many were scattered across the city.
That's why Tommy had a bigger plan in mind—he wanted to include a casino within the bar. 'That way, I could draw more people in,' he had thought earlier, as the sun rose and cast its light across New York City.
Later that morning, dressed in his sharp military uniform, Tommy made his way to one of the most prestigious banks in the city—National City Bank of New York. He understood the power of appearances when asking for loans. People needed to take him seriously.
But the meeting didn't go as expected.
"I'm sorry, Colonel. I'm afraid I can't authorize that kind of loan," Tommy's smile cracked as he heard these words. He looked at the loan officer who maintained a professional attitude as he heard the the guy continued, "Without sufficient collateral, it's difficult to proceed. While I admire your ambition, the bank must protect its interests. I'm sure you understand."
The loan officer was right. His rank as a lieutenant colonel meant little when it came to finances. Without the fortunate to back it up, his title didn't carry the weight he needed here. The loan he had requested was simply out of his reach.
"I appreciate your honesty. Thank you for your time." Tommy stood up, concluding his business at the bank empty-handed. He glanced at the loan officer, offering a curt nod as he adjusted his visor cap.
"Best of luck with your project, Lieutenant Colonel Shelby!"
The loan officer's voice echoed faintly in the quiet private office, along with the clack of his boots as he slowly made his way out. Before leaving, he turned to the loan officer, who stood respectfully by his desk.
"Thanks. I'll be in touch."
The bank's high ceilings and fancy chandeliers blurred into the background. Rows of mahogany teller windows lined the room, each had polished bronze bars that separated the staff from the customers. The steady rhythm of typewriters, paired with hushed conversations, created a distant hum as Tommy made his way toward the exit in silence.
'Even taking out half of it seems like a stretch,' Tommy thought. He needed at least $12,000 to open a bar in a prime location. Considering his current financial situation, borrowing $6,000 was the most he could hope for—but even that seemed risky.
Stepping outside, Tommy pulled a cigarette from his pack. As he brought it to his lips, preparing to light it, the enticing aroma of freshly baked bread caught his attention. His gaze shifted toward a bakery around the corner before sliding the cigarette back into his pocket as he mumbled, "Might as well grab breakfast."
The chatter of pedestrians filled the air—women discussing the latest fashion trends, men debating the war news, and children laughing as they chased each other along the sidewalk. The clattering of horse-drawn carriages and the rumble of trucks made the street sound just as busy.
Amidst the noise, a Jeep rattled quietly along the paved road before coming to a stop in front of the National City Bank. Behind the wheel, a soldier puffed a cloud of smoke from his cigarette, scanning the street with narrowed eyes, "Where the hell is Tommy?"
"You're late, Sergeant Eden," Tommy called out, having spotted the Jeep from across the street.
He'd been in no rush, taking his time at the bakery to buy a fresh loaf of bread to fill his empty stomach. Walking toward the Jeep, Tommy held up the bread wrapped in paper, a smirk playing on his lips as he climbed into the passenger seat, "But I'm sure you'd appreciate something to fill your stomach."
"Oh, Colonel Shelby, how generous of you! Care to hold onto my cigarette while you're at it?" Tommy could see sarcasm in the tone as he looked at Arthur grinning widely with a half-smile. He plucked the cigarette from Arthur's hand before taking a long drag.
"Hey, that's mine, Tommy! What the hell?"
He saw Arthur's grin quickly turn into a frown but didn't care as he chuckled, "Well, not yours anymore, Arthur."
"...You bastard."
As the Jeep rattled away from the city center, the busy streets faded into the background. Tommy's eyes drifted toward the bank they were leaving behind, his thoughts lingering on the meeting. But the calming drag of the cigarette steadied his mind, tuning out Arthur's ongoing protests as they drove onward.
"How's Polly and John?" Arthur asked.
The Jeep bounced over the uneven road as they left the city center behind. Tommy shifted slightly in his seat, knowing that Arthur likely missed them. He flicked the cigarette butt out the window, watching it disappear behind them, and said, "Same as ever. John's still John, and Polly... well, you know Polly."
"Anyway, you're playing taxi now?"
As a sergeant, Arthur shouldn't be the one driving around to pick him up, but here he was. He turned to Arthur, who grumbled, "Yeah, well, with your shiny new rank, they make us treat you like a damn king. Don't get used to it, though—I'm just here to pick you up and drop you off. Nothing more, nothing less."
Strategic Scientific Reserve, better known as SSR, was a secret government program. It was a secret government program responsible for conducting experiments, including the notorious Project: Rebirth that Tommy had been called for. He knew this ride meant he would soon meet the person in charge of the training facility and the SSR. He recalled a word from Patton as he silently thought, 'I heard he's quite likable in person.'
"So, what's up with the bank? What were you doing in there?"
The wind picked up as Tommy removed his visor cap, letting the breeze tousle his hair. He mulled over the project swirling in his mind before murmuring, "I'm going to start a business."
"Uh, what?" He could hear Arthur being taken aback by his answer as the guy burst into laughter, "A business? You? You must be joking, Tommy! Come on, you're talking rubbish. Business? You're more likely to start a crime syndicate. Haha!"
"Why, you think it doesn't suit me?" Tommy replied with a smile as he embraced the refreshing air.
"Of course not! You—running a business? Tommy, you'd rather be on the frontlines, fighting a war every damn day than sitting behind a desk. A business, for Christ's sake?"
Arthur scoffed at him. Tommy could see how genuinely amused he was by the idea. He chuckled, "I guess you're right."
The thought of being away from the battlefield was somewhat terrifying for Tommy. He who felt clarity in such chaos couldn't help but think that wars might have broken him. But outside the chaos, he always found himself lost in his thoughts, creating a creeping fear that he might lose his mind without the adrenaline.
"Say, Arthur," Tommy suddenly asked. "Why don't you get out of the army?"
"Get out? What the hell are you talking about, Tommy?"
Tommy saw Arthur's eyes widen in disbelief. The guy looked at him as if he had just gone insane. However, Tommy was serious about his question, "I'm gonna start a bar and casino, It'd be better if you could be part of it. Help Polly run the place."
Even though he hadn't secured the funds yet, Tommy was confident he could get it somehow and start the business, he's always a man of action. If one route was blocked, he'd find another, and somehow, he'd make it work.
"You've lost your bloody mind, Tommy. Me? Out of the army? I'd rather stay in uniform for the rest of my life." Arthur said. "Besides, don't Polly have John to help? Get him involved if you're actually starting this damn business. Why drag me into it?"
Tommy shook his head. Arthur had enlisted long before him, one of the few he trusted completely. He knew Arthur had served long enough to be eligible for resignation. While he had faith in John too, the timing was against them, as he explained, "John's enlisting early next month. You know he couldn't dodge military service forever."
"Jesus Christ!" Arthur frowned. "Why can't Jessy help him out again? That bastard already fooled the draft once, and he helped Johnny slip by too. Why not just do it again?"
It would be a good thing if it happened, but Tommy knew Jesse had told him it was impossible at the moment. He trusted Jesse, the guy wouldn't lie to him.
Tommy fell into silence, it seemed like it was impossible to get Arthur to resign willingly. The sudden silence seemed to make Arthur slightly uncomfortable, as Tommy could see Arthur's legs pumping nervously against the pedals. He wasn't bothered by the silence at all as he saw the watchtower in the distance and thought, 'They never changed it, huh?.'
As they neared the main gate, Tommy saw Arthur take a different route, heading through a security check before stopping near a flagpole in front of the command center.
"Listen, Tommy. I don't know what you're planning with this bar or whatever, but I'm not leaving the army. Not now, not ever. Besides," Arthur looked at the rearview mirror before adding, "We're here. Colonel Chester's waiting for you. He's got some big secret project. Sounds like you're supposed to be the hero of it or something. They've got big plans for you, Tommy."
"I know. Appreciate the ride, Sergeant." Tommy patted Arthur on the shoulder as they pulled up to the Command Center.
He jumped down from the jeep, his boots crunching against the dusty road. He watched as Arthur nodded at him before the jeep rumbled away, disappearing around the corner. Looking around, Tommy noticed soldiers bustling in and out, carrying orders and reports.
A wave of nostalgia washed over him as he gazed at the flagpole standing tall before the command room. He curled his lips into a slight smile as he then heard the distant sound of drills.
"Lieutenant Colonel Shelby?"
A voice called. Tommy turned to see a man in a crisp U.S. military uniform, followed by two military police officers behind. He looked at that weathered face as he approached, extending his hand and calling, "Colonel Chester!"
"Hahaha, it's good to see you again. You're looking sharp now." Chester's grip was firm as Tommy smiled even wider.
Back when he enlisted, Tommy had trained in this very facility under Chester's command. He had seen the colonel from afar on a few occasions but had never actually spoken to him. Yet, it seemed Chester still remembered him as he said, "Good to be back, sir. Didn't expect to get pulled back this soon."
"You seem to enjoy being on the front lines, don't you, Shelby?" Chester smiled. "Let's head inside. We've got some things to go over."
As Tommy followed Chester toward the command center, he couldn't help but notice how much more impressive it was compared to the rundown buildings called the 'command center' in Medjez el Bab. This was a solid stone structure!
Upon entering, the military police stayed at the entrance while Chester guided Tommy down a simple corridor lined with rooms. Soldiers snapped to attention, saluting them as they passed. Chester continued speaking, "I'm sure you're aware that I oversee the SSR alongside this training camp. But the SSR's evolving—we're not just focused on operations anymore. We're also getting into cutting-edge research, combining science with military strategy."
"Sounds like you need more of a scientist than a soldier, Colonel."
Tommy had skimmed the letter and file introducing Project: Rebirth, but the details were still murky. He could tell that much of the information surrounding the project was classified, and even as a lieutenant colonel, he hadn't been privy to all the details.
Chester suddenly stopped in front of a door bearing his name. Tommy turned to him as the colonel smiled, "We've got more than enough scientists, Shelby. And you'll meet one of the best today."
"This project," Chester stepped closer, he placed a hand on Tommy's shoulder, locking eyes with him, "is going to change the course of this war. And with your record and qualifications, you're exactly the man we need for it."
"I'm flattered, Colonel. I'd be glad to hear more about it," Tommy replied.
Chester laughed heartily before shaking his head as he opened the door, "Come on in, Lieutenant Colonel Shelby. I'll introduce you to the brains behind this operation."
As Tommy walked in, the bustling sounds of the activities in the command center seemed to have faded as he closed the door. He followed Chester toward a man who appeared to have been waiting for them. The stranger stood up, engaging Chester in conversation before turning his attention to Tommy.
'A German?' Tommy wondered as he approached.
"Shelby, this is Dr. Abraham Erskine, the brightest scientist in the world," Chester announced proudly.
Tommy looked at Dr. Erskine quietly as his lips curled up in a smile and offered a handshake, "Dr. Erskine, the pleasure's mine. Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Shelby."
"Ah, Colonel Shelby, yes, I've heard much about you. Your success in Tunisia—remarkable. I must admit, I wasn't expecting someone of your age to achieve so much," Dr. Erskine smiled at him as they shook hands.
"No need for flattery, Doctor. I'm just a man doing his job," Tommy said, maintaining a professional smile, though his eyes betrayed a flicker of doubt.
He wasn't well acquainted with Dr. Abraham Erskine's reputation, but he knew Chester would not give empty praise. Project: Rebirth, which he initially dismissed as another wealth-burning venture, now piqued his interest in a way he hadn't anticipated.
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