The man had been given specific instructions, which he was to follow to the tee.  This would be a great and momentous occassion for his country, for the entire world really once the project was completed. 

 

The man, this man, was asked to oversee the project because he knew the power of decency and order.  Something he learned at an early age from his father.  Once, as a boy, he had followed his own insight, contrary to the strict instructions made by his father, and he had quickly learned the error of his ways whenever he would need to use the toilet. It would be a constant reminder, through pain, for nearly a week.  Decency and order.  He wouldn't forget that.

 

But now in light of what was taking place in the country, he understood its value. Now he was in a position to receive assignments directly from the  CEO.  He had indeed moved up the ranks to be the man his boss could rely and depend upon. 

 

He was obedient to his authority. 

 

Someone, no doubt his father, had told him. "You can’t be a good leader until you can be a good follower." 

 

He had nonetheless questioned that reasoning after learning about men like Galileo, Bruno, Saul and Martin Luther.  Men he knew from his religious studies.  Men working in the name of God.  Nevertheless, he would follow his father's sage advice.

 

He continued to move up the ladder by not grumbling or complaining  in hopes of demonstrating his loyalty.  Working late nights and doing whatever grunt work he had been assigned.  Without question.  Typically, assignments his co-workers were sure to steer away from. 

 

He remembered how it felt when the other employees joked and made flippant remarks about him.  On numerous occasions he had over-heard their seering evaluations and taunts on how he walked and talked, yet he never retaliated.

 

However, there came a time when such conversations began to stop, and eyes that had been embolden enough to stare him down were now averted.  Jokes made in whispers whenever he walked into any of the offices, had all but died down.

 

This transformation was made possible because he had followed his father’s strict instructions, and now he was assigned to head a very important project. 

 

Blessings indeed.  Those that had expressed amusement about his character had either left the company on their own accord, been dismissed for being out of order, while others had been demoted due to their cheekiness towards authority in general - unwilling to conform to the rules. 

 

He had become known for being a quiet and disciplined man, reserved in all he did.  Eventually an air of liberty began to radiate from the man.  That is to say, because he no longer had the constraints of proving his loyalty, he began to enjoy an enveloping sensation of freedom.  It was as though he walked on air.  And people began to take notice.

 

He knew he was a part of living history.  It was all unfolding right before his eyes and he was blessed to be in the center of it all.  The global community had become well aware of his country’s power and few dared to challenge it. 

 

God had been and continued to be on their side.  Commentators, artists, novelists, and historians will look back one day to remembered all that had been accomplished in so short a period of time.  

 

He thought, no doubt his name would be forever attached to many of those achievements.  He understood now why following instructions had been extremely important. 

 

It was then that he felt a surge of unfamiliar emotions begin to well-up within him for all his father had done.  A man having long since past away.

 

The man was an architect.  The company he was employed by had been commissioned to design a building that would house a large number of people.  It had to be efficient, well organized, and well run.  If it met the clients' needs, then he would be assigned to over-see many more such projects.  That would be a huge feather in his cap.

 

Finally, plans and architectural drawings had been completed for the official stamp-of-approval.

 

Fortunately, his boss did not find him lacking in what had been asked of him.  Few men had the guts to carryout this assignment.  An assignment that needed to consider the people involved.

 

Once approval had been made construction began quickly.  After the final brick was laid, and all inspections finalized there would be a ceremony.  The man would be duly noted for all his work done in decency and order. 

 

“He will be remembered for his faithfulness to our country,” his boss had said as the words reverberated from the microphone.

 

Soon after the ceremony was completed and high ranking bureaucrats whisked away were the people allowed to enter.  The man remained behind.

 

After the building was full to the maximum, were the air-tight doors  slammed shut and securely locked.  Then all the lights within the chamber were switched off as the poisonous gas began to gather into the crowded room. 

 

Then the blood-curdling screams began to pierce the air. 

 

Apparently, sounds the man took no notice of.  He simply kept a disciplined eye on the stopwatch.  The sounds of horror, fright and people begging to be released, continued as many of the men on guard, though remaining in strict formation, were pained by what they heard. 

 

As the begging and clawing for life began to die down, the man continued to keep a vigilant eye on time. 

 

When the last whimper of hope escaped from the chamber did the man click his watch.  He was pleased with the time but knew that with the next construction he could do better.  

 

It would make a difference to what his country believed in and what they had hoped to accomplish in decency and order.