A few times, these past three years, as I took the railroad through California, Clark and I attempted to link up. But he is a busy man toiling away for heartless corporate entities and, well, this cracker—a saltine, don’t you know—is blown easily by the winds of iniquity.

Clark Savage is the author of The King of All Things. We met at the motel, walked up to each other, and I was glad he can’t make it to boxing tomorrow. People, like states, are bigger out west. He had many questions about my health, and confided, “I thought, after talking to you that one time, you sounded so bad, ‘I’m was going to lose this guy before I meet him.”

It was nice to shake hands. Clark actually has the mannerisms of a man, a tall man—not goon tall, but over six feet—that works very well with grocery managers and train conductors. A man over six feet can walk at a more stately pace and cover the same ground. He can be heard better without shouting, talking over our shoulders rather than into our chests. Whether inspecting troops, ushering passengers, or walking the canned good aisle to make sure it is “full” and not “fronted,” a taller man relaxes those subject to his authority. The small leader moves quicker, is naturally more aggressive, and this is intimidating to women, agitating to runts and infuriating to big men. As I walked next to Clark down this suburban highway with sidewalks, across crosswalks too wide to ever cross with crutches back in the rude east before the cars run you over, I noticed his authority vector stride.

I quizzed. He is a military veteran, formerly an officer, of what rank I know not. I discovered the branch, but will keep that confidential, in case that could cause embarrassment for contacting a bad-thinking, prole, pulp writer. He did confirm combat strength of a current battalion of his branch at 800, and noted that unit sizes are likely to decrease. That is fascinating. The Roman legion fluctuated also, during its rise and decline increasing and decreasing size many times. WWII to current division, brigade, regiment and battalion strength is easily double what it was in the black powder era. A modern company is about the size of a black powder battalion, or battle. He did note that 5 to 10% of officers in ground combat forces have been elevated from the NCO ranks, a small percentage of officers.

We walked, looking for a place to sit, have a coffee and talk. Finding Buffalo Wild Wings, Clark informed me that he was buying and that he was so glad we got to meet up, hoping that I would be back with more warning.

Clark has a tan and reminds me of Lee Marvin with Clint Walker’s shoulders. He wears jeans, cowboy boots and a buttoned shirt, something akin to flannel, I suppose. He smiled at the choice of hotel, which is well known in the area for being a habitation of hookers, and that his Lady raised an eyebrow over that.

Clark is working on a Second Edition of The King of All Things, up-gunning the material. He is deep in historical and socio-political thought of the obvious, in self-description and in his pondering eyes. I told some fun anecdotes from the recent bout with decrepitude and some training tails.

Hot boneless wings, a diet cola, a light beer, while he sipped a Modelo with lime, and we were on our way with a pledge to meet here again for training and society. Southern California is such a nice place I expressed an interest in making it back.

Clark advised, “Don’t let it make you soft. I’m from the Midwest. The military brought me out here. When I go back to the Midwest in winter time I discover that I have become a pussy.”

After some discussion of Phillip and Alexander and the attack on these ancient figures by modern academics based on the cartoon cult of natsy big man myth, that treats European statesmen as west African dictators, Clark agreed to help with my Alexander project. He will read The Campaigns of Alexander, or Alexander’s Expedition, by Arrian, translated by Aubrey De Selincourt. This version was first published in 1958 as Arrian: The Life of Alexander the Great. By the titles, one may see that packaging ancient works for the modern mind is tough.

The title was Anabasis Alexandri. That translates into Expedition of Alexander or Alexander’s Expedition. The term anabasis also implies “down to the sea,” making Expedition closer than Campaigns in Arrian’s intent, with both being accurate enough. The Life Of is misleading title that must have been an editorial choice, Campaigns something of a correction. Clark will read the account of Alexander’s conquests from an infantry officer’s perspective and tender a written opinion on operational aspects he finds to be of note.

Thank you, Clark.