Then another.
The roadside, which moments earlier had been nearly empty, was suddenly lined with people.
The Officer straightened slightly.
Still holding the Old Man.
Then the Colonel walked forward.
He stopped several feet away.
The Officer said:
“Stay back.”
The Colonel ignored him.
His eyes remained on the Old Man.
Then he snapped into a formal salute.
Every person behind him did the same.
The Officer froze.
The Old Man closed his eyes briefly.
Exactly what he had not wanted.
The Colonel spoke.
“General.”
Silence.
The Officer looked toward the Old Man.
Then back toward the Colonel.
Then at the saluting personnel.
His grip loosened.
The Colonel’s voice hardened.
“Sir, are you injured?”
The Old Man looked at the hand around his wrist.
Then at the Officer.
“Not seriously.”
The Officer released him immediately.
The Old Man’s arm dropped.
He caught the roof before his knee failed.
The Colonel moved forward.
The Old Man lifted one hand.
“No.”
The Colonel stopped.
The Police Officer stepped backward.
His face had lost all color.
“General?”
The Old Man looked toward the passenger seat.
“My cane.”
The Officer stared.
“What?”
“My cane is on the seat.”
The Officer reached inside quickly.
Grabbed it.
Held it out.
The Old Man took the cane.
Set its tip against the pavement.
Straightened.
Only then did he fully turn toward the Officer.
The Colonel remained rigid behind them.
The Officer looked from the four-star identification wallet now visible inside the jacket to the Old Man’s face.
His mouth opened.
“Sir, I…”
The Old Man raised one hand.
The Officer stopped.
The Old Man adjusted his jacket.
Then looked toward everyone standing along the roadside.
A spectacle now.
Motorists slowing.
Phones raised.
His people waiting.
The Officer terrified.
The Old Man spoke quietly.
“Everyone step back.”
The Colonel frowned.
“Sir?”
“Back.”
“Give us room.”
The Colonel hesitated.
Then obeyed.
The others moved with him.
The Old Man looked toward the Officer.
“Now.”
The Officer swallowed.
“Sir?”
“Start over.”
The Officer stared.
The Old Man tapped the cane against the asphalt once.
“Pretend they are not here.”
The Officer looked toward the convoy.
Then back.
“I don’t understand.”
The Old Man’s eyes hardened.
“You understood five minutes ago.”
Silence.
He continued.
“You stopped an elderly man in an old car.”
“You believed he had no influence.”
“No witnesses who mattered.”
“No title you recognized.”
“Start there.”