The Accidental Watch 8th in the STOPWATCH SeriesChapter 14
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Everybody was pleased that the Commander wasn't drinking coffee.
"Two days?"
"Yes, sir. Two days. Ed and Seph," she pointed, "That's them over there. They borrowed me to help program a piece of electronics ... momma said I could stay for the weekend and daddy and Ed had a man to man ... or that's what daddy said he was going to do ... and Ed said they did."
She explained about breakfast and that they ended up in Auburn after Seph taught her to fly the Beech ... yesterday.
"So you started on a twin?"
"Yes, sir. That's one cool aircraft. It's got uprated turbines and Queen wings. 300 more horsepower ... fast, really fast."
"Show me."
"Now?"
"Right now."
"Seph!" Missy hollered, "Can I use the Beech?"
"Missy, You don't have a license."
The Commander spoke up, "She's flying with me." He sort of remembered who he was talking to, "If that's ok with you."
"If Ed or Harold can ride along? I'm responsible."
"Harold?" the Commander asked.
"Let Ed go, I'm busy." Harold replied.
"Ed?"
"Sure."
They walked over to the Beech, Missy opened the hatch and handed the officer the checklist, "Read that."
They did the whole preflight, shaking, pulling pins, adding fuel and oil, checking for water and switching Oxygen bottles ... they hadn't refilled the other one. They checked the windows ... seals and lexan ... the air in the tires ... hydraulic fluid in the gear ... the whole show ... with Missy explaining why and what.
"If it breaks you can't fix it at thirty thousand feet. It's impossible to make it perfect but," she kicked the hardstand, "This is the last stop."
'Two days, ' he was thinking, 'Two days and she's better than cadets after four years.'
When she was satisfied, she said, "Load up ... We've done all we can out here. Ed? The fire extinguisher? Please."
"This will be my second time in left seat," she explained. "I've a lot more time in the right. If you'd prefer... ?"
"How much time in left?"
"Twenty-seven minutes."
Ed commented, "From University to here was about five minutes air time."
"Well, it felt like a year."
The Commander looked at her ... seeing Her for the first time ... this was NOT a normal girl ... He wrapped his left arm around his waist, stuck his right elbow in his left palm and rubbed his chin with his right hand. There was this look of contemplation as he gazed at her. Finally he said, "You're, what? 20? 21?"
"Sixteen ... last week."
He sat in the right seat ... she handed him the list ... Ed took the headset and fire bottle and walked out to the nose of the plane. He plugged the headset in the little compartment in the nose. The officer took the list and started reading. She touched each switch and gauge and told him what they did and why.
A Beech turbo prop is a complicated beast. A Lear or a Citation doesn't have many more complications ... Piston engine powered planes are a LOT less complicated. That doesn't mean they're simple ... just easier.
She was spot on with every switch and gauge. The more he read the more impressed he was ... when she confessed that she had to look at each switch before she used it he was even more impressed.
"Some day ... if I fly a lot ... I'll know where everything is, but I'll still look ... mistakes up here are fatal."
"Ok ... I'm convinced. Let's go upstairs."
She handed him the START ENGINES list. She spoke to Ed over the TBP/GC channel. "Starting Right ... Starting Left ... Thanks, Ed."
Ed pulled the plug, wound up the cord and walked around the left wing ... he wiggled things on the way. Missy could see the movement in the yoke and pedals. Ed opened up the little compartment in the hatch steps, put his set away and clamped the fire bottle in its rack. He shut the hatch.
"I have a red light," said the Commander.
Missy yelled, "Lock the hatch, Ed."
"Green."
"Howard?" This was over the radio. "I have no idea what the Commander has in mind, so ... training flight in and around Sharpe Field. Assign me an altitude." "Commander, would you be so kind as to keep an eye on the radar?"
The Commander amended that, "Howard? We're going on a little trip ... flight us to Pensacola." He sat back ... folded his arms and said, "Go."
"If it's not one of theirs ... whose is it?" Seph wondered. "They don't have a clue," Violet said, "they don't even know how it works." "Do you?" He asked. "Nope." "How do you know it's a Timepiece?" "What else could a 78 thousand dollar Audemars Piguet's LatLon in platinum watch be that was found in a box in a locked chest in a locked trunk that hasn't been opened in more than 20 years taken from a house that's been in probate for fifteen. And another thing ......
In the dead of night ... you know, I've always wondered why it's called 'the dead of night'? The night is Not dead ... it's very much alive. Alive with the things that go bump ... and chirp ... and snap ... and huff and snort ... scurry and cry. Yeah ... the night's not dead ... it is people who are dead to the sounds. Not all of them though ... there are those who know the night ... who understand that the cry is the rabbit taken by owl, panther, fox, wolf, ... snare. They understand...
"But ... you Have to. I've seen you do it." Violet flickered again. "I was just there! I watched you go to Montgomery and turn in the ticket. You have to go!" "Funny thing about the future, Violet. Getting up late in the morning changes it. Good night, Violet." "But..." she tried to follow them in but she couldn't get past her own wards. The Monster Millions computers shut down every night at eleven and start working at five am. It was ten after two when they finally went to bed....
Step back a few years ... to 2006 ... Far below the earths' crust ... below the lithosphere ... below the asthenosphere ... down where science tells us the temperature is hot enough to melt the very heart of the planet ... there was a glitch. This part of the asthenosphere was approaching melt down. Part of it was caused by the United States' need to test the bombs that civilized man hoped and even prayed would never have to be used again. Twice the most primitive of those bombs ... the...
"Harold, we brought our own housing. Can we set up here?" Ed asked. "Nope, sorry. The housing authority here said no camping or trailers, but you can sleep on the boat. It's wired, there's a working john on the boat and it's hooked to the airbase plumbing." Harold sounded a little envious. "You really need to see what you're giving up. It's a classy boat." Ed bumped Seph in the ribs. He whispered, "we can see if there are any clues for a watch." If you think one hundred and...
"No. We weren't looking for a watch ... we were looking for a boat title." "I see," she looked a little disappointed, as if she thought she was in command of the situation, and realized, she wasn't. She gave the two of them, totally ignoring Megan and Franklin, a look that said, you win. "Could we please look? It's important." "Ah, " said Seph. "The magic word." There was a long pause, the anxiety from Violet was redolent. "Sure ... Ed? Let's see what we've got." "Thank...
It was mid summer, 1928. Ed finally saw her. Glimpsed ... imagined ... hallucinated. Whatever. Definitely 12 ... maybe 13, she flickered into the Antler. Maybe it was the watch ... maybe it was the pair of watches recognizing each other. She sat at the counter. Ed sat next to her. A flickering translucent Ernie waited on her ... Frank waited on him. Mayor Carver came and sat down next to Ed ... Wendy and the mayor both occupied the same space. "Morning, Ed." "Morning, Mayor." "I'm...
A bell sounded. "Trunk? What trunk? Seph? Do you see a trunk?" Ed asked. "Nope ... not me." Persephone countered. Violet was looking perturbed, to say the least. "All right you two ... there's two trunks. The one we took the Ritual gear in and the other one." "Ok ... show me," Ed suggested. "The one you and Persephone are carrying." Violet pointed at it. "Trunk? This isn't a trunk ... well ... maybe ... it's a carrying implement used to house things." Seph said. Ed nodded...
None of your fuckin' business. Ok? Suffice it to say ... they had a really, really, really good time in the giant shower and later on in the big bed. They were inventive people, Ok? That's all you get. They went from a couple to a trio ... and nobody in town had a clue. Missy was mostly right, after finding out what assholes the European rulers were, the Kaulocamloes decided New Orleans in 1804 was a pretty decent place to start adventuring. The United States had bought the place the year...
Ed followed Nick and Ernie up the hill to the green. The mayor and fire chief were directing ... I suppose they thought they were. After a couple of minutes Ed asked Ernie where people had the boards from the last storm. "Most of 'em burn 'em over the winter." "That'll never do ... someone needs to take a truck to the mill an get slab wood. John? You have that big truck ... Here's fifty dollars ... go buy all the slab that's window size the mill will sell ... make trips. Eight foot...
A History of Wall Street made for great reading to fall asleep by. It was almost as boring as the King James Version of the bible. Surely there had to be someplace that could make sense of Bonds, Fallen Angels, Acquisitions, Blue Chip Stocks, Coupons, Voting Shares and ad infinitum. One thing kept popping up: British Consols. In 1757, the coupon rate on the stock was 3%. The coupon rate remained at 3% until 1888. Paid Quarterly. By 1923 the rate was reduced to 2.5%. It is still 2.5%. In the...
"What what?" asked Abe. "You're looking at me like something is all my fault." Ed said. "Well ... it is and it isn't ... it's our own damn fool fault for not attending the auction ... but you didn't need to get rich off it." "Half the shit we got out of this house, you two would have never found." Ed said just as a now dressed and hard blushing Persephone walked into the kitchen. "Gentlemen ... I do hope you'll forgive me and forget what you saw." She asked. Then she...
(The Saint Johns that’s on the map in no way resembles the Saint Johns of my imagination. The residence is a combination of homes spread through the eastern part of the United States. Don’t go looking for it in Saint Johns. It’s NOT there ... never has been there ... it ain’t real Jim. Besides, I now have the perfect excuse to fuck up ... can’t you hear the sarcasm dripping from my lips?) It may seem strange but Edmond and Persephone didn’t change their lifestyle. They lived in a house with...
School was starting next week, the summerfolk were leaving with the typical fluster and bluster of the Chicago rich. "Ed?" Seph was worried. "What?" "Someone has been in the house." "Is there anything missing?" "Not that I can find." "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Tell me about it." "Missy and I came home from the Antler and there was this feeling that someone or something had walked through the house and across the street." The past two years had been the life of a...
Persephone attacked the directions manual like a kid with a new game. In other words ... she didn't. She grabbed Ed's wrist and started pushing tiny buttons like mad. "I don't understand it, Ed. It's not working." The turned off TV started scrolling again, PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK ... PERSEPHONE ... READ THE BOOK... "I am going to kill that TV." NO KILLING THE TV ... READ THE...
"My gods!" exclaimed Seph, "she won't shut up." She snuggled up to Ed, "if you were from the northeast you would be called taciturn ... to me you're pensive. You think before you speak and that is sooo nice." They were in the Dodge following the last bus. Megan tried ... but it was very evident there was no room in the Van. "We could catch the next light and get lost." It was Ed trying to keep pressure off his darling wife. Where women get THAT look is unknown. It must be...
In case you're interested ... or if you're not ... the Baltic 80 was lost sometime during the night on the Chicago to Mackinaw Race. The son claimed the keel fell off and the boat capsized. Lake Michigan is pretty deep around the islands... 793 feet deep. There was a lawsuit. The court insisted on evidence. As odd as it may seem, there are many deep ROVs, or Remote Operated Vehicles in use throughout the world. There are even a couple in use on the Lakes. ROV's are piloted through a cable...
Just so you'll know ... trips are boring unless it's your turn to do the driving. There's lots to see ... at first. But mostly it's miles and miles of the same thing ... with little wide spots in the road to catch your interest for a couple of seconds. I fully understand, "are we there yet?" I also understand, "we get there when we get there!" Imagine walking the 882 miles if you really want boring. Twenty miles and set up camp ... twenty miles and set up camp ... day after day after...
The newlyweds approached life like they always had. She, the investigative reporter, wanted to know everything about the Kama Sutra. He, the geeky chemistry teacher, checked out their amino acids ... and other flavors. They had spent an exhaustive two weeks on the Big Island ... the naturist resort definitely had its attractions ... she being among the top three and his trouser snake made the list too. Alas, all good things must come to an end ... work called; she had an assignment ... he...
"Mr. Huntly?" "Hi Ernie." "Got a minute?" "Sure Ernie." "Can we go some place private?" Ernie looked both relieved and worried, he looked out over the few customers, well ... pool shooters who were drinking out of coke bottles. "Them guys don't need to hear this and Nick A says you're a straight shooter." "Sure ... where?" "I hate to ask ... but the boat?" "That's a lot more than a minute, Ernie." Ernie looked disappointed. "That bad?" "Maybe." "Let me call...
Meanwhile, simmering off the coast of northern California and in to Oregon, Washington and a bit of British Colombia, the Juan de Fuca plate had increased its movement from 60 millimeters to 18 centimeters ... that's almost 10 inches ... accompanied by outgassing (bubbles) and a noticeable drop in local sea level. The Cascade Arc of volcanoes were pooting and poofing a little more regularly and the forest was yellowing like mad. Fishing in the neighborhood sucked and boats needed painting...
'Hungry is she?' he thought, 'this'll be fun.' There wasn't a line yet, but Ed walked up to the lady with the huge knife and monster fork. She gave him a exasperated look. "You adults are worse than a pack of hungry wolves." She pointed at an assembling bunch of kids. "If the wolves have to wait, you do, too." "It's for Violet," he pointed at the registration tent. Violet made eating motions. "See?" "Ok. For Violet, I'll do it." She shouted at the kids, "Don't get your...
After they got back from Montgomery, Megan was waiting at Harold's shop. She was quite surprised to find Edmond and Persephone landing a King Air A90 Turbo Beech at Sharpe Field. "Violet is so mad at you," she was speaking to Seph. "I don't know why ... we bought our ticket ... like she said we would." Ed answered instead. "Well ... someone ... who we suspect has the initials, PH and EH, bought 99 additional tickets and gave them away." "This would be untrue," said Seph. "Yeah...
Adam stepped off the school bus, walked through the driveway and entered his home. He threw his school bag onto the floor and stomped his way upstairs, tired and fed up due to yet another boring day in high school. They do nothing but pile work on top of you in senior year. He barged through his bedroom door and slammed it shut behind him and it was then that he found it. Laying there on his bed was a stopwatch, placed right in the centre. "Mom?!" Adam called. "What?!" his mother replied from...
Mind ControlThe Stopwatch "So, here is the way this will work," she said matter-of-factly. "I will start the stopwatch when you enter me and you have to hold back from cumming for 30 seconds, or else you then have to eat me out! Deal?" "I think I can do that," I replied with some trepidation. I'm not sure when the last time was that I actually lasted as long as 30 seconds, but I was going to do my best to get there. "OK, before we start, I want you naked," she said. I disrobed and stood in...
You were out browsing the local small market, looking for a present for a friend, when you spot the Small Antique Shop tucked away between a Burger Bar and a Pharmacy. Entering the shop, you browse the aisles stacked with old books, toys, paintings, pottery and such when you come across a small gold stopwatch in a leather case. Something about it appeals to you so you purchase it. “Ah, a good choice,my young friend” smiles the Shopkeeper “The minute I saw you walk into my store, I just knew you...
BDSM"Momma? Who is Tim?" "Wendy, remember when I told you I brought my diary ... Tim is in the diary. It's complicated and I might get it wrong ... so," She handed me her diary. The original title had been Journey. The newest title was STOPWATCH. I read it. Straight through, one sitting. While she caught up with Violet and Tim, the Shaman, I read. This was momma's life before and just after she married. I finished it. I jumped up and headed for the Club. I have to pee. She didn't say...
The dig began like all digs. Before the crew arrived, a USGS survey marker was located. This one happened to be at the junction of Co. 210 and US 550. The Elevation and North were stamped on the cap of the marker. Declination from magnetic north was listed. The marker was dated 1920. Davis supplied his own 'pit boss.' Steve was a professional who ran his own archaeological survey crew. They mostly did foot survey for the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. They also worked...
Imagine yourself in a similar position: A 12 or 13 year old girl ... a kid ... fer chrisake ... never met her and she knows you have a time travel watch?!? To make matters worse, there's a man coming up behind the girl who looks an awfully lot like Professor Timothy Leary. "But ... but ... but," Andrea stammered, "Timothy Leary's dead." Junior and David both said, "Oh no. He's on the outside looking in." They looked expectantly at Andy. She was stunned. Tim grinned and laughed....
I wound the watch. I was careful to count the clicks of the stem winder. I quit at ten. “Wendy! Did you wind the watch?” Hmm ... Mom was in a panic. That was unusual. “Yes! I wound the watch. What do I? ... Gawd, mom ... they’re awful close.” “Something’s not right. The other boat is still there heading right...” The other boat, looking like a Coast Guard Cutter, plowed right through our boat ... or not. We were pretty confused. There should have been an enormous impact. That didn’t...
It seems like everything comes in bunches. That and ancestry. Suddenly, Andrea NEEDED to know her roots. Not wanted ... NEEDED. How and why did the Koenigsknecht's end up in Michigan? If you have a watch that travels in time, going back is easy. Time may travel but it only transports going home ... unless you have one of 'those' watches. Time is supposed to go forward. Science says so. Yesterday, last week, last month, year, century ... they all are in the past ... and the past is...
One of the Seven ... a Separatist ... separated from the Seven and tossed Andrea a watch. "Here, have mine," He shouted and conjoined with the rest. Even though he was One of Seven, they could hear him laughing until he was out of hearing. I'd like to say Tim was speechless ... I know Andrea was. Very little could shut Tim's mouth. "Holy Shit! Holy Shit! Holy Shit!" he exclaimed. "You know ... No I guess you don't ... I'll tell you." He paused for breath, "The Powers that Be...
"Oh Hell ... Junior? Run next door and send your David over here." Wendy Too asked. "My David? You mean dad?" Junior was confused. "No ... Andrea's David." "Andrea has a David?" Now she was really confused. "Junior! Git!" "Yes mom," she got. She was intercepted at the door. "Members only, girl," said Geoff. "I need David ... My big mouth has caused an emergency ... Mom sent me." Junior explained, quite unsatisfactory. "Who are you?" Ah, the big question. "Junior...
'Well, ' those of you who say, 'Why didn't Andie use her watch to get them out of the storm?' 'Well, ' those of who you say, 'Why didn't David use his watch to get them out of the storm?' Hmm? Before the storm; 'Damn it all, ' thought Andrea and David in stereo, 'I can't use my watch. If I was alone I could.' Andrea didn't know David had a time piece. David didn't know Andrea had a time piece. (This is sounding like a Dick and Jane reader.) (With bigger words.) (I was...
At noon the next day, the crew was assembled with David on the foredeck. Coins were flipped and rock, paper, scissors was played until the six sextants all had students. Shooting the sun at noon is simple ... it's the math that gets you. Bowditches' Tables helped, but at least one student discovered that they were at the source of the Amazon ... everybody else was close to their actual position. As soon as the intrepid Amazonian explorer discovered that decimal point placement could have a...
The rigging crew left them at Portage Lake ... they overnighted and went to the races with Julie and the crew. A raucous night ... the track was sand but well watered and packed. It wasn't clay racing but it was fun. The track was close to round so no matter where you sat it was on a curve. In dirt track racing all the action happens on a curve. It was a full half mile so the modifieds were really moving. After two days on a sailboat the speed of the cars was mesmerizing. They sat together...
It's been a long and tiring day for the gods ... there's always so much to catch up on after a long Labor day weekend. Thor and the boys aren't all seeing, all hearing, or in complete control like one of the other gods ... or so he claims. Fate had her feet up and munching buttered popcorn. She'd been looking ... and planning this little disaster ever since Andrea managed to slip past her fate when she caught the watch batted by the sturgeon. "Damn it all! I missed it the first time...
Aboard the Pretty Penny, the crew watched in horror as the explosion jellied the four men in the water. Wikipedia says: The effects of an underwater explosion depend on several things, including distance from the explosion, the energy of the explosion, the depth of the explosion, and the depth of the water. Underwater explosions are categorized by the depth of the explosion. Shallow underwater explosions are those where a crater formed at the water's surface is large in comparison with...
One of the problems of the Pacific: It's a long fucking way from here to there ... no matter where here is, there is waaaay over there. That single problem gives way to the second problem: Where do you find enough fresh food to keep the crew healthy? In the case of the Galapagos, one goes to Saint Christopher. For the crew of the Pretty Penny, Saint Christopher presented a no brainer. They were, after all, the Nevis and St. Christopher Navy. To sail to Saint Christopher, the Intertropical...
Well, Tim was in watch invisibility mode and wondering the same thing. 'That bunch on the barge are absolutely guilty ... the Coast Guard knows it ... the girls know it. If I just flash the pen ... then nobody remembers ... no one can testify because no one knows. When they get that wreck off the bottom they're going to know there was no reason for that boat to sink.' The higher ups ... the ones who pay for all this ... felt it was getting too dangerous to let it go on. Snuff movies pay...
There is something about a half drowned terrified kitten ... Yup ... five out of six ends are sharp and the one that isn't sharp may not have good sphincter control. David said, "First thing we do is get a fifty five gallon drum of beach sand ... and probably the same again nest week. Can you believe the volume of that kitten? OUCH! Careful with the iodine!! Nyoman ... is your nickname Doctor Pain?" The crew was sitting at the portable sidescan sonar trying to decide if the helicopter...
This is to fix a problem with how Connie and her brother became crew on the Pretty Penny: The original intention was to have two parallel stories running at the same time ... So 'Begin Again' was started. I never finished it. It was the laser hair removal her brother gave her for her sixteenth birthday ... and they didn't grow back ... and didn't leave a scar ... well ... maybe just a little one, ... when the technician slipped ... but it wasn't completely disfiguring ... not totally...
(Authors note: I know I made it sound like Bill Slagle knows about the watch ... he doesn't.) The welcome home was enthusiastic ... satisfying and thorough. Changing the sheets for a dry spot and opening the windows on both ends of 'the attic' dissipated the 'freshly fucked' atmosphere. Our happy lovers showered and headed out to replenish depleted energy sources ... PIZZA! Anyone watching the pair would never expect they were married ... married couples don't cuddle on one bench in a...
"If you were setting up the course, what would you recommend?" David was curious, now that he was over stunned. Junior gave the chats a quick glance, "Lake Erie is shallow and this end has a lot of wannabe islands ... rises and humps that make life interesting for sailors. I'd steer 123 degrees off north and pay close attention to Rattlesnake Island. We'll miss Sister to starboard but 123 would rack us up on this ... bump ... can't call it a reef ... a reef is coral." David looked at...
While they were sailing in circles waiting for the C-130, the Twins asked David to marry them. No ... not David ... Chris and Sarah ... C'Twin and S'Twin asked David to perform a wedding ... Damn it all. The Twins asked Chris and Sarah to be their respective brides and then they asked David, in his office of Captain to marry the four of them ... No ... Not David taking the four of them as brides ... Damn it all. "David, Sarah and I want to get married, will you perform the office?"...
The cats turned up their combined noses at bag cat food. The Pennies tried them all. Al Sanchez found the only good use for dry cat chow ... not necessarily the brand ... to the cats it's generic ... like fridge ... kleenex ... coke ... things of that nature ... it's all cat chow ... and they won't eat it. Al put it in a cheesecloth bag and tied it to a fishing line in front of the hook, so ... if a fish bites he gets the hook too ... sea bass love cat chow ... the cats love fish guts,...
A New Old Watch: 83. You remember last time, David had recovered from his fall and was about to be married to Andrea onboard a British Submarine. They did. After that, they sailed into Pearl, fired off 21 guns to the country, dipped the flag to half a dozen Admirals, hoisted the US flag, the Hawaiian flag and called on the Port Authority. Andrea made an impressive Fleet Admiral of the Nevis and St. Kitts Navy. While Andrea was impressing, David, dressed in his whites but wearing his charred...
"Thank you officer." "You're welcome, Miss." "Mrs." "Excuse me. Mrs Slagle. You have a doctorate? Kinda young for that, aren't you?" "I got skipped a few grades in High School," she said, all the while thinking, 'Mostly.' That brought a slight smile to her face. The two policemen tipped hats to the room, thanked the owner for her time and left. Daisy showed them out. "I know this isn't the time or place for it ... it might even sound like levity, but, I'm going to check...
It is an axiom of life: Horny girls and horny boys make babies ... in 1963. However, a modern, right thinking, twenty-two year old girl from 1988 will be on the pill. By the way ... Horny ... hormonal ... how about that. "Professor Slagle? Taking my life in my hands, I beg your indulgence," said David. They were putting away the beer. Big boats have room for extras ... like a nice, big, propane powered fridge ... in this case, a walk in cooler. It was behind the bar in the salon. Boats...
Oh, yes. It was exciting. It was so exciting that Andrea forgot her nautical. "David, turn right. And for God's sake, slow down. The screen that watches the bottom has bumps and some of them are pretty damn close..." David did slow down... "Right a little..." She held up her left hand, looked at and... "No ... my right ... er ... left ... yes, turn left." She hollered, "Junior! I need you!" "I'm busy, Andie." "I need someone to watch the other screen." She screeched,...
Myron C. Jones, USMC, at times could swear the life Jerry Garcia wrote about was Myron's life... 'What a long strange trip it's been.' Marine Lance Corporal Jones, "Jonesy," was a crackerjack bulldozer driver before he joined the Marines ... after nineteen years in the Corps, he wasn't much better. (Crackerjack. A cheap prize from a box of popcorn.) Jonesy has been, variously, a private, a Sergeant, a Warrant, a Sergeant, a private, and nearly every possible rank in the Corps. Once...
They left from the porch. For a couple of days, Jean wondered who the man in her house had been. She certainly didn't know why she had a complete Intensive Care Unit and bed ... complete with monitors she'd never seen and pumps that didn't exist ... on her newly enclosed back porch ... in the addition she had no idea was there. There was plenty of evidence that the bed was recently used. "Christ! I get enough of that at work ... why would I do it at home?" But, everybody at the Shelby...
You remember last time. They had just made a purchase of six sextants ... really good sextants, with mahogany cases and the New American. It was Andrea, the Twins and David ... remember? David pulled away from the curb and decided the best way to find the dock area was to keep going to the river. The French were partial to wheel spoke streets. Detroit was laid out by the French so there were three main spokes in the wheel centered on the Fur Trading Post on the river. Coming in from the...
Of course, the King's Knight had already sailed. Julia stayed ... she left the cameras. After all, it was Andrea who was supposed to be taking the photos for National Geographic. The girls from the boat had been transferred by helicopter to a secret government hospital in Ann Arbor. It must be admitted that the Coast Guard thought they got them all. So, the Knight was long gone ... well, about four hours ... when the barge sunk. Middle Bass Island is where they were headed so David could...
They had six sextants to calibrate. David wanted to do them all at noon. That meant six days on the islands. "Does that mean we'll be here for the Last Bash?" asked Junior. "Looks that way," said David. "Great ... I'll call mom and see if I can go." Mom showed up seconds later. After an explaination of Last Bash and a couple of fades from Wendy Too, mom stabilized in front of Junior. She turned her head and spoke to Andrea, "Wow! Sometimes I forget what normal kids are like....
"Well," said Andrea. "We know where the watch is. The only problem is it's not broke." "Shall we give Amos the shadow of a doubt? I'd hate to accuse the boy of stealing it" "He's your employee ... you're calling the shots." "You have the most unusual way with words ... Calling the shots? Where is that from?" "In my time, it's a pool ... that's billiards with pockets ... term. Calling the shot is calling the pocket." "I am aware of the game ... sinful is what it...
The second thing Andrea did after eliminating the threat to the 'Colored Burying Ground, ' was dropping back to 1937 and purchasing a set of fenders, front end chrome and rocker panels for the 1934 Ford two door sedan that would soon become Pink. For some unknown reason, the watch knew to the second when to drop off the parts. Then she checked the Spanish Lottery, discovered the winning numbers and left the note. Smuggling the paint into the body shop took a little ingenuity, but she got...
The grieving process is different for everyone ... no matter what 'licensed professionals' try to tell you. In Andrea's case they tried to stuff her in a grieving box that had absolutely no connection with the facts. "Your husband is dead," the tenth licensed professional said. "You keep telling me something I already know." "You need to move on." "You won't let me." "What do you mean?" "My husband is dead ... and you keep telling me that. Give it a rest. The man who...