The sun was shining over the South. The sky was blue. The air was warm. It was a beautiful day. A day of recovery. A day of hope.
Ethan stood in Atlanta, looking at the construction site of the railroad. The workers were busy. They were building tracks. They were laying ties. They were working hard.
Callie stood beside him, her eyes fixed on the workers. "They're doing a good job," she said. "They're working hard. They're making progress."
Ethan nodded. "Yes. They are. We're making good progress. The railroad is going to be finished soon."
He turned to Callie. "Have you heard from Silas? I asked him to help us. I asked him to talk to the people of the South. I asked him to get their support."
Callie nodded. "Yes. I've heard from him. He's been talking to the people. He's been telling them about the railroad. He's been telling them about the benefits. He's been getting their support."
Ethan smiled. "Good. I'm glad. Silas is a good man. He's doing a good job."
They walked around the construction site. They talked to the workers. They asked them about their progress. They asked them about their problems.
The workers were happy. They were proud of their work. They were looking forward to the completion of the railroad.
But then, a worker came up to Ethan. He looked worried. He looked scared.
"Mr. Voss," the worker said. "I need to talk to you. It's important."
Ethan nodded. "Of course. What is it?"
The worker looked around. He made sure that no one was listening. "There's someone here. Someone who doesn't want the railroad to be built. Someone who's trying to stop us."
Ethan's face turned serious. "Who? Who is it?"
"I don't know," the worker said. "But I've seen him. He's been watching us. He's been asking questions. He's been trying to find out about our plans."
Ethan nodded. "I see. Thank you for telling me. I'll look into it. I'll make sure that the railroad is protected."
The worker nodded. He walked away.
Ethan turned to Callie. "We have a problem," he said. "There's someone here. Someone who's trying to stop the railroad. Someone who's trying to sabotage our project."
Callie's face turned serious. "What are we going to do?" she asked.
"We need to find out who it is," Ethan said. "We need to find out what he wants. We need to stop him."
He turned to a security guard. "I want you to increase security. I want you to watch the construction site. I want you to find out who the man is. I want you to bring him to me."
The security guard saluted. "Yes, sir."
Ethan and Callie went back to their office. They talked about the problem. They tried to figure out who the man could be. They tried to figure out what he could want.
Ethan thought about it. He thought about the people who could be against the railroad. He thought about the Confederate sympathizers. He thought about the people who were afraid of change. He thought about the people who wanted to keep the South the way it was.
He knew that it could be anyone. He knew that he needed to be careful. He knew that he needed to find out who it was before it was too late.
A few days later, the security guard came to Ethan's office. He had found the man.
"Mr. Voss," the security guard said. "We found the man. He's in the lobby. He's waiting for you."
Ethan nodded. "Bring him in."
The security guard brought the man into the office. He was a tall man. He had a weathered face. He had a scar across his cheek. He looked familiar.
Ethan studied the man. He tried to remember where he had seen him before. Then, he realized. It was Silas's brother. It was the Confederate spy who had threatened Major Smith.
Ethan's face turned red with anger. "What are you doing here?" he asked. "What do you want?"
Silas's brother smiled. "I'm here to stop you," he said. "I'm here to stop the railroad. I'm here to stop the North from taking over the South."
Ethan nodded. "I see. You're a Confederate sympathizer. You're afraid of change. You're afraid of the future."
Silas's brother shook his head. "No. I'm not afraid of change. I'm afraid of the North. I'm afraid of what they're going to do to the South. I'm afraid of what they're going to do to our way of life."
Ethan smiled. "You're wrong. The North isn't going to take over the South. The North and the South are going to be one. They're going to be part of America. They're going to work together. They're going to build a better future."
Silas's brother shook his head. "I don't believe you. I don't trust the North. I don't trust you."
Ethan nodded. "I understand. But you're making a mistake. The railroad is going to help the South. It's going to help the economy grow. It's going to help the people have a better life. It's going to help the South and the North live in peace."
Silas's brother smiled. "You're lying. You're just trying to trick me. You're just trying to get the South to submit to the North."
Ethan's anger faded. He felt a sense of sadness. He knew that Silas's brother was a victim. He knew that he had been brainwashed by the Confederate propaganda. He knew that he didn't understand the truth.
"Silas," Ethan said. "Your brother is here. He's trying to stop the railroad. He's trying to sabotage our project."
Silas walked into the office. He looked at his brother. He looked at Ethan. He looked at Callie.
"Brother," Silas said. "What are you doing here? What are you trying to do?"
Silas's brother smiled. "I'm trying to stop them. I'm trying to stop the North from taking over the South. I'm trying to protect our way of life."
Silas shook his head. "You're wrong. The North isn't going to take over the South. The North and the South are going to be one. They're going to be part of America. They're going to work together. They're going to build a better future."
Silas's brother shook his head. "I don't believe you. I don't trust the North. I don't trust them."
Silas walked over to his brother. He put his hand on his shoulder. "Brother, I know that you're scared. I know that you're worried. But you need to trust me. You need to trust them. They're not going to hurt us. They're going to help us. They're going to make the South a better place."
Silas's brother looked at Silas. He studied him. He saw the sincerity in his eyes. He saw the hope in his eyes.
He nodded. "I trust you, brother. I'll stop. I won't try to stop the railroad. I won't try to sabotage the project."
Ethan smiled. He knew that he had done it. He knew that he had stopped the sabotage. He knew that the railroad could continue.
He turned to Silas's brother. "Thank you. I appreciate it. You're making the right decision."
Silas's brother nodded. He walked out of the office.
Ethan turned to Silas. "Thank you. Thank you for helping us. Thank you for talking to your brother."
Silas smiled. "You're welcome. I'm glad that I could help. I want the South and the North to live in peace. I want the railroad to be built. I want the people of the South to have a better life."
Ethan nodded. "Yes. That's what we all want. That's what we're working for."
They looked at the construction site. They looked at the workers. They looked at the future.
They knew that the problem had been solved. They knew that the railroad could continue. They knew that the future was bright.
They smiled. They felt a sense of pride. They felt a sense of purpose.
The Inside Man had been dealt with.
The railroad project could continue.
And the Voss Dynasty was going to continue to grow.