Nandita To Nandini
- 3 years ago
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The two men returned to Jason’s truck and started back to Juan’s home. Juan asked, “What should I do about that listening device?”
“I told Austin Manning to just work around them until we knew more of who placed them and who’s listening. I suspect that would probably work for you also.”
“You’re probably right. Especially considering the next ITCA meeting is not scheduled for another two months.”
They reached Juan’s house shortly after they finished their discussion. Jason parked the truck, grabbed an overnight bag from the rear cab area, and followed Juan inside. Tina and the teens were sitting in the family room watching a TV program. When Jason and Juan entered the room Tina turned off the TV and led everyone to the kitchen table. Bowls, spoons and napkins had already been set.
Juan pointed out to Jason where he was to sit, and then joined him at his normal place. The two youngest teens also sat in their places, while the oldest fixed some glasses of iced tea. Tina went to the oven and removed a pan of Capirotada (Mexican bread pudding), placing it on a trivet in the middle of the table. She went to the freezer and took out a topping made of whipped heavy cream, Kailua and grated lemon peel. She placed it beside the Capirotada, and sat beside her husband. Everyone served themselves, and Jason, Juan, and Juan’s son Tomãs, even went back for seconds. The conversation around the table was light and friendly, with everyone wanting to know about White Dove and the wedding. Finally, the teens helped their mother clear the table, wash the dishes, and drifted off to their rooms. They each gave Jason a hug goodnight, and the two girls gave him a kiss on the cheek. Once the children were gone the three adults moved to the family room and relaxed.
After a few more minutes of casual conversation, Juan asked, “So, what’s the purpose of this trip?”
Jason replied, “Samuel Marten at the Tule River Reservation has been trying for years to organize a timber conference among the Southwestern Tribes. Up to this point it’s generated little interest, especially with the major tribes. Now we’re finding the Federal Government giving away more and more of our timber with no compensation and few jobs for our people. I’m hoping we can find a way to get more of the larger tribes involved, as well as to develop a more united front for our response to Washington.”
Tina asked, “So, where is the Tule River Reservation? I’ve met Sam, but I’ve no idea where his home is actually located.”
“Tule River is a few miles outside of Porterville, California, right at the edge of the Sequoia National Forest. Porterville is around fifty miles north of Bakersfield. The biggest problem of the trip is the mountains. I’m going to have to drive almost a hundred and eighty miles out of my way to get there.”
Tina asked, “Juan, why don’t you fly him up there? It’d make Jason’s trip much easier, and I suspect it might be a good idea for you, as the ITCA Chairman, to be a part of the meeting. That is, if Jason doesn’t mind.”
“Tina, I don’t have a problem with Juan coming, but what’s this about flying me up there?”
“Our local DEA agent advised me they’d confiscated an older Mooney that was in excellent condition. With a grant from some foundation back east I was able to purchase it for ITCA. I use it to fly around the state assisting with inter-tribal problems, as well as projects like this. I’ll have to check my maps, but I suspect there’s an airport at Porterville. If so, we can be there in two to three hours.”
Jason happily responded, “That sure beats the six to seven hour drive I was expecting to have to make. When can we leave?”
“We can leave around zero-eight-hundred, and be there before ten-hundred Pacific Time. We’ll have to get Sam to send someone to pick us up, as I doubt there’s a car rental agency at that airport.”
“I don’t see a problem with that. We can call him in the morning. There’s one potential problem though, as I’ve something personal I’ll have to take care of Monday. Will that mess you up?”
“Jason, my friend, I’ve nothing on my calendar that can’t wait a day or two. This will help you, and give us more time together. It’ll also enhance the position of the ITCA by being one of the first to get involved in this. I can’t see anything pending that’s more important than that.”
“Then let’s do it. I want to get a shower, and talk to White Dove for a few minutes, letting her know about our change of plans. If you don’t mind, point me to the shower and where you want me to sleep. I can call her on my cell phone from there.”
Tina led Jason to the guest room. She also showed him the bathroom, and the fresh towel and washcloth she’d set aside for him. She wished him a good night, and left to rejoin her husband. Jason took a quick shower and called White Dove. In their conversation he let her know about the flight to Tule, and Juan’s family would be coming to the wedding. They talked for about thirty minutes, and he was asleep shortly thereafter.
Early the next morning Jason was awakened by Tina knocking at his door. He sleepily acknowledged her, and slowly climbed out of the bed. At fifty-nine he was no longer as limber as he used to be, especially when he first woke up. He slipped on his clothes and checked his watch. It was barely past 6:00 a.m. Slowly working his way to the kitchen for his first cup of coffee, he asked, “Were we supposed to get up this early?”
“No,” replied Juan, “but I checked the weather last night and found there’s a front coming in by mid-day. Hoping to beat it to Porterville I thought it would be a good idea to get an early start.”
“That makes sense. How long a flight are we talking about? Last night it sounded like it would be a straight shot.”
I looked at the map last night, after you went to bed. The flight plan I’ve worked up will require us to thread between the restricted air-spaces around Twentynine Palms Marine Base, Edwards Air Force Base, and the Weapons Testing Center at China Lake. At the end we’ll cut across the lower end of the Sierras, and follow the edge of the mountains to Porterville. Cruising at one hundred and seventy-five knots it should take us less than two hours.”
“That sounds like a good plan, but it’s too early to call Sam.”
“That’s not a problem. Tina can give him a call shortly after zero eight hundred their time. Even if ol’ Sam is still in bed, it’d be time for him to wake up. Now, eat this good breakfast Tina prepared, and we’ll get this show on the road.”
Thirty-five minutes later Jason and Juan pulled up beside a small, single engine aircraft. It was white with dark blue trim down the sides, on the tips of the wings, and on the top of the distinctive rear-swept Mooney tail. Juan began to pre-flight the aircraft while Jason moved his and Juan’s gear from the rear cab of his truck. When Juan noticed Jason removing a long aluminum case he stopped and came over to the truck. “Is that what I suspect it is?” Juan inquired.
Jason sat the case on the truck’s front seat and opened it, saying, “I don’t know, what did you think it was?”
Juan looked in the case. There were two rifles and three pistols in specially cushioned foam ‘egg’ crating. One of the rifles was scoped, and looked quite different from the traditional hunting rifle. The second looked similar to a lever-action Winchester, but there was no wooden forestock, and the frame was brass. Of the three pistols one was obviously a Glock, while another looked like an antique Colt. The third looked similar to a standard automatic, but was just a little different.
Juan shook his head, and replied, “When I saw the case, I figured it was a rifle, but that’s the strangest combination of weapons I’ve ever seen. Of course, I was Air Force, and we didn’t normally shoot at people with personal weapons.”
“Juan, I try to go prepared, as I never know what I’m liable to run into. The scoped rifle is an Israeli M Eighty-nine made by T.C.I. It can deliver five sound-suppressed rounds inside of a half-inch circle at a hundred yards, and without the suppressor it has a range of a thousand meters.”
“Whew! That’s a bad boy.”
“Yes, it is. The other rifle is a Henry from the time of the Civil War, as is the Colt Army pistol. The other two pistols are a Glock nine millimeter, and an air gun by Pneu Dart. It shoots a tranquilizer dart. Obviously, you realize this case doesn’t exist, and you never saw any of the guns.”
Juan laughed, replying, “What case? To quote Sergeant Shultz, ‘I know nothing!’ Now, why the strange combination?”
“I carry the three modern weapons on a normal basis, as I never know when Uncle Sugar might decide he has a need for me again, or if one of my old enemies might find me. I brought the other two in case I have an opportunity to take a horse and do some riding in the back-country. I thought it might be neat to carry the old weapons as a change. I’ve never even had the chance to shoot either of them.”
“I thought you were out of the ‘black ops’ business.”
“I haven’t been on a government assignment in more than ten years, but ‘in the business, ‘ you never fully retire until they lower you into the grave. In my case, I was fortunate my involvement in the design and testing of the new Apache Helicopter was worth more than any field assignments I might have carried out. I’ve been out of the field long enough now that, hopefully, everyone’s forgotten me.”
“For your sake, Jason, I hope so. Now, with ‘show and tell’ over and the sky starting to lighten, let’s finish and get out of here.”
“This case is the last of the luggage, and I’d rather it go in the cockpit, rather than the baggage area.”
“That’s not a problem. Why don’t you put it on the rear seat, and use the seat belts to fasten it down? Then you can go park your truck. The only things I have left to do, besides removing the chocks and the tie-downs, is to check the oil and make sure there’s no water in the gas tank. I should have the engine warming up by the time you return. Oh yeah, see if you can get us a couple of coffees from the FBO office.”
“I can do that. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
Ten minutes later, the aircraft was rising out of the valley along the Colorado River. According to Juan they were climbing to an altitude of 8,500 feet, which he felt would put them comfortably above any peaks along their path. When the altimeter reached four thousand feet, Juan turned the aircraft to more of a west-north-westerly direction and continued climbing.
Jason had always loved to fly in a small craft like this. His eyes moved back and forth between the windshield and the window at his right side. In the distance off to their right, there was a small cluster of high hills, or low mountains, with a larger and higher group of mountains a few miles farther. There was also a lake coming up just to their left, which Juan explained was Danby Lake. Over the next few minutes they passed Danby Lake, as well as two others. Shortly after the third lake, Juan pointed out the Twentynine Palms Marine Base coming up on their left, and the city of Barstow that lay beyond it. A few minutes beyond Barstow, Juan turned the plane further to the west to avoid the restricted airspace around the China Lake facility. Though there were some higher hills to their right and on the forward horizon the area below them was basically shallow rolling hills, covered with shrub and sagebrush. The few trees there grew alongside the small streams. It wasn’t desert, but it wasn’t good for much, except for grazing a few cattle in the spring and early fall. Before he even realized it Jason found they were beginning to fly over more mountainous terrain, and the turbulence that tended to go with it. It was good they’d finished their coffee, or it definitely would’ve been sloshed around some. Surprisingly though, within fifteen minutes they were out of the mountains and approaching the city of Bakersfield. Far short of the city Juan turned to a more northerly heading and followed along the base of the mountain range. In less than fifteen minutes he was talking to the tower at Porterville Airport.
A few minutes later Juan gently brought the plane to a smooth landing in the middle of the airport’s single runway. They taxied to the lone fixed based operation (FBO). Here they were met by a young girl who directed them to a parking spot. Juan turned off the engine, and Jason opened the door beside him and climbed out of the plane.
The girl came up to Juan’s side, and they discussed the basic needs of fueling and tie-down. While she and Juan were still talking a van with a Tule River Reservation logo on the door pulled out onto the tarmac and parked next to the plane. Sam and a young man got out and walked over to where Jason was standing and talking to White Dove on his cell phone.
Sam introduced his oldest son to Juan and Jason. Then, while Juan checked everything and updated the logbook, the other three moved the baggage from the airplane to the van. Sam was telling Jason about Tina’s call when Juan joined them. The old man looked at Juan, and said, “Juan, if your wife is as pretty as she sounds, you should have sent her instead.”
“She could have flown, but then I would’ve had to stay home and work. This way it looks like I’m actually doing something when all I’m doing is goofing off. At the same time, she probably would’ve had you and Jason busting your butt over something. I love the woman to death, but she can find more things for me to do than you can imagine.”
Climbing into the driver’s seat of the van Sam laughed, and said, “Then it’s a good thing you left her at home. The other sounds too much like work, no matter how pretty she is.” Then turning to Jason, who was climbing into one of the rear seats, Sam ‘stage whispered, ‘ “Just how ugly is she?”
Jason winked at Juan, and replied, “Well, she’s got a great personality. She cooks, sews, and all the girls like her.”
Pulling out of the airport Sam replied, “Ah, I knew it. She’s as ugly as an old camel.”
Jason laughed, and said, “Sam, you old goat, you’ll never learn. Actually, she’s quite a beautiful lady, especially with raising three teenagers. She would run a close second to my White Dove.”
Sam slammed on the brakes at the approaching stop sign and looked in the rear view mirror to make sure no one was behind him. Satisfied things were clear he then turned around in his seat, looking back at Jason. “Jason, I’ve known you for more than twenty years, and other than your granddaughter I’ve never even heard you mention a woman. Now, who is this White Dove?”
Juan grinned, and explained, “She’s the woman he’s about to marry, and don’t ask, I haven’t seen her yet, either. Of course, she can’t be much if she had to settle for this old reprobate.”
Jason replied, “Guys, I won’t argue the reprobate part, but she’s beautiful and intelligent, and is far more woman than I deserve. On top of that, she’s younger than my daughter.”
Sam replied, “Maybe she’s looking for a father figure. I can’t imagine any other reason she’d want an old broken-down warrior like you.”
“Well, if she thinks of me in that manner, she sure has some kinky dreams about her father. I never received this much loving when I was married the first time. Sam, she and I have been friends for years. Also, we both have a lot of respect for each other, and a deep caring for our people. I’d honestly say I could never have imagined a more perfect woman for me.”
Sam’s son, Lee, asked, “How about your granddaughter? What does she think of this?”
“She’s happy and excited, as she thinks of White Dove as her adopted mother. What’s more, I think she’s beginning to think of me as her father, rather than her grandfather. I guess that would be proper, since I consider her husband as my son.”
A puzzled Sam asked, “I thought there were problems with him in the past?”
“There were problems, and they were separated for several years. When Hawk returned into her life he was a very changed man. One key was he didn’t try to act like nothing had happened. Instead, he took the time to win her heart. I think they’ll be very good for each other, now. What about you, Lee? Are you married yet?”
Lee’s countenance dropped when he answered, “I was engaged until about six months ago when she just disappeared. According to the sheriff’s investigation she ran off with another man and doesn’t want to have anything more to do with me. He even brought me a note from her, telling me the same thing.”
“Are you sure it was from her?”
“Yeah, it was definitely her writing, but it was so cold and blunt. We went together for several years, and she was looking forward to the wedding. We had a dual wedding planned, with both church and tribal ceremonies. It’s really bothered me I could’ve been so wrong about a person’s feelings and intentions.”
For some reason this touched a nerve in Jason, so he asked, “Have there been any other disappearances in the area?”
“There was one local boy that supposedly ran away a few months ago, but due to who he is I suspect either his body is at the bottom of some canyon, or will never be found.”
“Why would you say that, Sam?” Jason asked.
“In the last year we’ve found several of our young braves’ bodies at the bottom of various canyons. I know much of the reservation is rather rough country, but these young men had been riding those ridges for much of their lives. One or two ‘accidents’ might have been plausible, but I think there were too many for it to be just a coincidence.”
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“Yes, it’s time to create some corporate structure, including impressive offices for the executives.” “Dan, I thought the intention was for me to remain hidden.” “You will, but, at least for a while, it’ll be ‘hiding in plain sight.’ As soon as we can find a better spokesman then you can move more into the shadows.” “Why not have you in this position?” “Because, Hawk, ‘your’ people, as well as the world, need to see a Native American as the head of the company, or at least as the CFO of...
“What do you mean?” asked Brenda. “That another woman would come and steal his heart.” “And what if she wants to share, like we do?” “Bren, I could probably live with that if she was as good a person as you. Unfortunately, they don’t look like two people who’ve just met.” “You might be right, sister, but let’s not hang either of them without a trial.” With that Brenda grabbed Maria by the arm and approached Hawk and the beautiful blonde, who were still softly talking to each other. While...
Maria responded from the rear of the airplane, “I like those ideas, but I can see one problem right off the bat.” “What’s that, Chipmunk?” “We, as a people, are too small and too fragmented a group to be able to accomplish something like that. Our company might give them jobs, and even some hope, but getting a group of Apaches to work together is like trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube, or herding rabbits.” Dan responded, “Jason seems to do well with it.” “Dan, Grandfather...
The ships turning out to sea took Ishmael completely by surprise. He watched and wondered for a moment or two about what was happening out there. The plan had been for the small armada to sail into the cove and to overwhelm any vessel at anchor there. Something must have happened. Unfortunately Ishmael was too far from the ships to see what it might be. Even if he had possessed a spy-glass like that of his young master he wouldn't have been able to make out the signals being passed between...
"What is wrong?" Bartholomew asked the moment Pedro stepped onto the main deck of the Hawk. It was later in the morning and the Hawk was now riding at anchor below the walls of Ceuta. Bartholomew had stood at the railing of the ship as his captain had returned. He had seen the stern look upon Pedro's face long before the young man had scrambled up the rope ladder hanging at the side of the craft and he had known instantly that not everything had gone as planned. "Prepare for sea," Pedro...
“Great,” Hawk responded to Sean Sullivan’s enthusiastic desire to take on the government, “because your demonstration and Marsha’s new computer have given me several important ideas. To develop them further I need some input from you.” “Ask away. I guess I just moved my status from employee to fellow conspirator.” “Yes, you did. But before you get the wrong idea, I don’t plan on destroying the US Government, or attacking this country or its people. I just want to shake things up and restore...
As the roof of the back part of the prison room began to fall Jason ran toward the main tunnel. He grabbed Hawk by the back of his shirt, dragging him along the floor until they were completely out of the room. The air was filled with dust, and without their surgical masks it would’ve been hard to breathe. A stunned Hawk said, “Whew! That was close.” Helping Hawk stand, Jason asked, “Are you OK?” “Other than a sore and bruised butt, I think I’m fine. Thanks for dragging my ass out of there....
That evening, no one in the family rested very well. Brenda and Maria were exhausted, and after a thirty-minute conversation with Hawk they lounged in the Jacuzzi for a few minutes before heading to bed. Unfortunately, they hadn’t sufficient time to unwind, and, while their bodies were ready for sleep, their minds weren’t. Jason and Andy sat on the cabin’s front porch and just held each other until the wee hours of the morning. Regrettably, while their bodies were in close contact their...
"So there she is," Bartholomew muttered in a tired voice. "We're finally here." The older man was standing in the bow of the Hawk gazing out at the vista that lay before him. Pedro stood beside him doing basically the same. It was the first time in weeks that either man had stood together side-by-side to share a word or even a thought. Bartholomew had in fact just rowed over from the Virago and this was the first time in over two weeks that he had stood upon the deck of the Hawk. "We...
"Where is he?" Ishmael was standing in the open doorway of Dom Pedro's study. The man looked both tired and anxious. Sweat glistened on his swarthy skin and his breath was heavy from exertion. It was obvious that he had been hurrying about. "As far as I know, Dom Pedro is somewhere about the factory," Ibrahim stated in a startled voice taken by surprise by the abruptness in Ishmael's question. As the old teacher replied, he looked up from the book he had been reading. His eyes...
As Hawk would say later, “The rest of the afternoon went surprisingly easy. Well, I guess when you’re moving almost eight tons of gold, easy is a relative term.” Zed returned with the lumber and stuff, and the frame was quickly built as Dan had envisioned it. While Dan and the women helped with the frame Jason found the easiest way to get to the canyon and the slope of the wall was ideal for what they planned to do. The other men took the hand truck into the mine and started moving the items...
The Hawk sailed at dawn four days later. Aboard it was a full complement of the crew plus the raiding party. That number included Rashid, As-wad, and Ishmael. With them were a dozen handpicked soldiers from the factory all of whom were trained in the use of the bow. Behind them they left Ibrahim. He and Omar would run the factory and see to the day-to-day affairs of the Portuguese trading post while the captain of the Bella Rosa would command the trading fleet and the garrison. He would...
Hawk terminated the call and joined Bill and Gunnery Sergeant Kellogg. After a questioning look by Hawk, Bill said, “I called Brenda. They’re sending out two vehicles; one for us and one to carry Sergeant Kellogg back to Coronado Island.” “Excellent!” proclaimed Hawk. Then, turning to the sergeant Hawk said, “Gunny, I want to thank you for coming with me as security. I know we’re both grateful nothing happened that required your services, but it helped knowing you were there.” “Sir, I was...
Once Jason was settled into his regular room there began a steady stream of visitors. Hawk, Maria, and Brenda were the first to arrive, followed quickly by Beth, Zed, Deke, and Elizabeth. In fact, this entire group was still there when Senator McCray arrived. When he was introduced to everyone he was surprised at Deke’s presence. “Deke Templeton! What are you doing here?” Deke answered, “Senator, Beth, Zed, and Elizabeth have been my closest friends since before college, and Brenda is Beth’s...
A moment later Brian said, “I just talked to one of the drivers at the airport. Everything was handed over to the pilot, who said, and I quote, ‘get your ass back there as soon as possible.’“ Mike turned to Larry Reid, and said, “How about driving me back to the airport, as well as bringing my truck back to the Reservation?” “Sure, I can do that, but what about papers on your truck at the border?” “I’ll write out something that should suffice, but I’ll also notify Jason’s contact to pass...
Marsha led Dan Cashman to her research lab and demonstrated her new computer’s capability. He didn’t have any idea what Hawk was contemplating, but he knew once this system hit the market it should sell like hotcakes - especially in the corporate and government markets. Still standing in front of the prototype Dan pulled out his cell phone and dialed a number. The direct line he had programmed into his phone rang at the desk of the secretary of his counterpart with their computer company...
"Another of my noblemen is dead," King Manuel murmured almost to himself, "and we are no closer to finding that mad man than we were two days ago. What are we to do?" It was early morning and the King of Portugal had been woken by his chamberlain well before the rest of the palace had begun to stir. The king looked tired and exhausted. He stood in his nightshirt and looked out the window of his chamber onto the grounds below it while his chamberlain reported the latest news in the search...
After Hawk’s agreement to become the ‘renegade leader’ of the Apache Rebellion Jason sighed in relief. “Hawk, I’m delighted you agreed to go along with me on this. I think you can make it work, and it goes hand-in-hand with your need to stay in the shadows.” “I’m glad you’re confident in my abilities Jason, but I’m not a leader. That’s why Dan and I have always worked so well together. I’d come up with an idea, and we’d go back and forth until it became something useful. At that point he...
"Whose ship is that?" Pedro was standing by the gangway of the Hawk, watching as the men working on the jetty at Eko hurried to tie off his ship. It was a week later and Pedro's force had finally returned home. It had been a long, hard trip for everyone involved. They had been forced to nursemaid the galley barge up the coast the whole time, restricting their progress to the speed of the oarsmen working it. Their trip had taken even longer since Pedro had been forced to put a prize crew...
In the middle of the party, a loud cry went up and we were under attack. All the chieftains ran back toward their tribes. Wolfgard and I raced back toward our tribe. The only weapons we had on us were our knives. We came upon a couple of raiders attacking some women folk of another tribe. We made quick work of them as we slit their throats. We got back to our tribe and I was so proud. War Hawk had the bows out and the hunters in formation with their helpers behind them handing out arrows. I...
The next day it was first announced the Vice President would survive his heart attack. A short time later the President added his running mate was going to retire. It seemed even the man’s most staunch supporters were fleeing like rats from a sinking ship. During all this it was revealed the electronics in the VP’s pacemaker were totally fried. One commentator had a scientist from MIT explain that there was too much physical damage for it to have been the result of EMP (electromagnetic...
“Yeah, Eduardo Vasquez is offering a hundred thousand for the man’s head, though, from what I’ve heard about the operation, Eddie boy may have bitten off a lot more than he can chew. Now, why were you asking?” “Just curious. Now, how about meeting me for a beer at Bennie’s Bar. I think I’ve got some security work for you, but I don’t want to discuss it over the phone.” “Then, meet me at Bennie’s in thirty minutes.” “Thirty minutes,” Ken replied, “and bring a bug detector.” Ken dropped off...
Chapter 4 “Good evening, Mr. Hawk,” a tall, handsome man said as they entered. “I see that you’ve brought a beautiful woman to dress up my shabby restaurant.”Reaching his hand out, Tommy said, “That’s exactly what I’m doing, Dominic. This place needs a little help, and I think when the word gets out that Elizabeth eats here, your business will improve.”“No doubt,” the man replied as he unashamedly checked her out. “Let me assume that with someone so lovely, you’ll not be sitting at the bar....
AnalIt’d been after 10:00 p.m. the previous evening when Prince Rashid finally returned to his embassy, but it was after midnight before Jason, Genna, Thad, and Joel had gone to bed. Those discussions had been very productive, though, for it looked like things would run smoothly, even for such a thrown together group of mismatched people. One of the first things that had come out was both of the Battens were thoroughly familiar with guns, both long and short. Though they hadn’t had the kind of...
The knock on the door to the conference room brought an end to the euphoric excitement that bonded the three lawyers together. Dennis went to the door and ushered in the young Indian woman. The three of them were rather surprised at the bruises and swelling on her face, feeling that beneath her injuries was a beautiful face to go with the attractive, slender body, the long dark hair and the soft brown eyes. Dennis introduced her to the other two, and then waited for her to talk. “Gentleman,”...
Hawk’s morning began with an early flight to the proposed area where the power and desalinization plants were to be built. As they flew along the coast Hawk could see one of the reasons for this location was it was the closest spot to deep water. However, Hawk was concerned about its isolated location and its proximity to other countries. He was also alarmed about its vulnerability to an attack by Iran. Back at the palace the two men discussed some of these concerns, as well as the...
It was a night like any other winter night in the City of Brockton. The snow was falling gently, the wind was light almost non-existent as two vigilantes keep a silent watch together over their fair city. Brockton used to be a nice city, it was once the ‘Shoe Capitol of the World’. The City of Champions, as its downtrodden citizens called it. Brockton was the birthplace of boxing champions Rocky Marciano and Marvin Hagler. It seemed to everyone living in the towns adjacent to Brockton that...