ChapterOne

No one is to be called an enemy, all are your benefactors, and no one does you harm. You have no enemy butyourself

-St. Francis ofAssisi

January 6, at 2:20pm

“It wasn’t supposed to happen like this,” Graystone remarked as he and I sat together on folding chairs. We were in a small storeroom in the sub-basement of the Capitol where I had led us in an effort to avoid the Beast. We stayed behind when most of our colleagues were taken to safety. The two of us just started helping others. After we got them on their way, I moved quickly to a specific exit I knew would lead toward a back stairwell and the security of a storeroom in the sub-basement. Unknown to me at the time, Graystone followed closely behind. Shortly after I entered the storeroom, Graystone appeared, and we quickly moved some old desks and boxes to form a barricade against the entrydoor.

I was amazed by Graystone’s initial remark. So, I asked, “Drew, can I call you that?” As he nodded affirmatively, I asked, “What do you mean it wasn’t supposed to happen likethis?”

He flushed and answered, “I mean … what I really meant to say was I didn’t think our supporters would be soviolent.”

“It sounded like you were saying there was a plan and the crowd, or the Beast as I call them, didn’t followit.”

“Well, there was planning, and the President did invite them. But I thought it was for a peaceful demonstration at the Ellipse. That’s where we had permits for the demonstration. A few of us even had some of the demonstrators inside the Capitol yesterday. The White House said it was a VIP event and tours for big donors from the base. I didn’t see any harm and besides I didn’t have achoice.”

I thought for a minute and responded, “Obviously you weren’t a part of the inner circle that planned this assault but that isn’t for us to determine. There will be time enough to investigate the entire affair. You know the 14th Amendment has provisions to address the participation of any member of Congress in an Insurrection. I don’t think most members of Congress know or remember that feature. If they took part in planning, or the execution of this event, they won’t be able to run for public office again.” At that point Graystone sat back and seemed to freeze. I surmised he was thinking that something he had not known was going to affect his future in politics. I sensed he wasn’t sharing the scope of his involvement. My mention of this amendment and its implications seemed to stunhim.

I brought him back to the present by suggesting we contact security and our families. We need