Chapter One

שילטון

Regime re·gime also ré·gime (rā-zhēm')
Noun

1.  a mode or system of rule or government
2.  a ruling or prevailing system.
3.  a government in power.
4.  the period during which a particular government or ruling system is in power.

Two men in crisp black suits shuffled through the throng of people entering and exiting the US Capitol building. Their pace was brisk yet calm but their haste was evident. Both men looked straight ahead, meeting no ones' glance neither looking to the left nor to the right. They didn't have much time. As they made their way they made certain that no security guard or camera would catch glimpse of them. The route they had taken had been planned right down to the last footstep. 

In a building of this magnitude and with such activity it was easy to pick out those whom looked suspicious so therefore it was imperative that they seem as one of the boys. However these two men were anything but one of the boys. Within their sights now was the security checkpoint and to their left people exiting--two guards stood by the exit. They stopped. The two men, one carrying a leather breifcase placed it gently on the floor as both proceeded to turn their backs to the exit and to the guards.

From afar these two men seemed as if they had just come out the exit and were simply chatting of the days events but with every second these two men neared the exit--they were slowly walking backwards, the guards didn't notice for these two men were facing the same direction as the other people exiting. As the crowd dispersed only the two men and the briefcase on the floor remained present significantly closer to the guards and the exit.

The two men remained with their backs to the guards as they spoke to one another. The guards grew puzzled.

"All right then let's just go back to his office then," said the man without the breifcase loud enough so both guards could hear it. He turned around and proceeded to the exit both men making sure not to make eye contact with guards.

"Sir, you're going to have to go back through," the guard said sternly as he pointed to the checkpoint.

"Nonsense," replied the man without the suitcase, "I've forgotten to leave my ID at the checkout and he still has his temporary ID..." He pointed to the ID hanging on the lanyard.

The guards glanced at the IDs and as one of them was about to speak from the exit corridor came a voice: "There you are! Gentlemen please come back, we seem to have had a mix up."

An elderly gentleman whom the guards knew came running and flashed his badge and told the guards panting, "They're ok, I need them to come with me. If they go through again we'll be late. Come on."

The guards acknowledged his request and let the two men passed. The three men now moved quickly through the corridor.

"That was sloppy," said the man without the briefcase to the elderly gentleman as he did a perimeter check.

"I'm sorry, I had to be sure--you know--," the elderly gentlemen stopped as he saw the disdain in the man's face.

They kept moving, they were already late.