Nandita To Nandini
- 4 years ago
- 282
- 0
Jason Longbow Magill lay strapped onto a hospital gurney as the doctors continued to try to ascertain the extent of his injuries. Though he was in a drug induced state of unconsciousness, he was still vaguely aware of his surroundings. Though the drugs had made it sluggish his mind was still very active. It was this combination that allowed the old Diiyan to experience something that had never previously occurred outside of the ‘spirit lodge, ‘ his spirit guide spoke to him.
“Longbow, be at peace. You’ll live for many years to come, for you’ll need to raise and teach your son the ways of the Apache, as well as the ways of war.”
“A son!” thought Jason. “White Dove is carrying my son!”
“Yes, but be forewarned in this, he’ll have a natural love for flying and will want to learn at an early age. Do not stifle this, as his Apache name shall be Eagle’s Talon.” Suddenly an image filled Jason’s mind, the image of a child, with one of his hands formed like the open claw of an eagle.
“I can’t believe it. A son! Are you sure, I thought I was too old.”
“The Great Spirit has done this before, giving fresh seed and extending the years of a man so that he could raise his son.”
“A son! That and a new wife will definitely change my life.”
“Your life will change even more, as you’ll turn your warriors over to another and accept a new and important position. This change is important to more than just you, but to your people and your current country. It’ll be a new and dangerous role, but I’ll be there to guide you, as always.” With that, a peace descended over Jason, and while he slept, his wrecked body began the slow process of restoration. This was not some magical quick fix, but the normal long slow process an injury such as this requires. That was not to say that a little ‘extra’ wasn’t going on at the same time.
After he finished his phone calls, Mike Running Elk moved back to his original seat, and began reviewing the mission. Since this was his first assignment as Longbow’s second in command he worried whether his mentor would see this as a successful operation or a royal clusterfuck. Even more important, he had to know that the ‘old man’ was OK. “Captain, can I step into the back and check on the injured?” Mike asked hopefully.
“I don’t know why not, but don’t get in anybody’s way or distract any of the medical team with questions. I think if you go back there, as soon as someone can get free, they’ll come talk to you. I wouldn’t take long though, as we’ll be starting our approach in about twenty-five minutes.”
“Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind.”
Back at the blast site the Federale Colonel made his way to the location of the wrecked pickup truck. His troops had found the bodies of several armed men on the slope leading down to the truck. None of the victims had been shot, and it seemed pretty obvious they’d been involved in some kind of accident. There were just too many cuts, abrasions, and other damaged areas covering their entire bodies for the injuries to have occurred in some form of battle. He understood things better when he actually reached the truck. The front and rear were both badly crushed, and the top of the cab looked almost like some giant had stepped on it. Only the area right in front of the massive roll bar had much of its original shape. The recently arrived crime scene investigator confirmed his hypothesis, explaining, “From what I can see, the truck went off the road and began tumbling down the hill. Those other men must have been riding in the back of the truck and were thrown out.”
“So, they died of natural causes related to the accident?” the Colonel asked.
“Colonel, I’ve found three broken necks, two men who were crushed by the truck, and another, whose head was bashed in as he flew head first into a boulder. I’d definitely say they were all killed in this accident.”
“What about the driver?”
“The medical response team says he’s badly hurt and has a concussion. At this point, he’s in a coma, and your guess is as good as mine as to how long he will remain there. It could be minutes, days or years. Who knows, he may never awaken.”
“Was this caused by the explosion?”
“Hard to say, Colonel. Who knows, they could have been the ones who caused it and were caught trying to get away, they could have been just trying to escape what was happening, or they could have just been unlucky by being in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“Do you have any additional information concerning the blast?”
“Hang on a second and let me check with my partner.” Then the investigator stepped off to the side and called someone on his cell phone. A few minutes later the investigator returned and said, “Colonel, we won’t know for sure until we do more lab work, but it appears to have been caused by old black powder.”
“Old? I might follow the black powder, but why old?”
“There was a change in the formulation process sometime in the late eighteen hundreds, and from my partner’s initial field test, those trace elements used in the new process aren’t showing up.”
“OK, I’ll buy that, but could black powder create such destruction?”
“I’d say an engineer, an explosives expert, and a geologist would be needed to really answer that. I will say that in the right situation I could see it happening.”
“And what would be that situation?”
“If the blast was set off deep in the mine, with the blast area sealed off and with weakened or cracked strata above the blast, then I suspect something like this could have occurred. Also, a good explosives expert could likely do this with enough C-four in a shaped charged and some way to force or allow much of the blast to be channeled upward. Of course, if that was true, we’d no longer be considering this an accident.”
“Could someone have done this by placing the powder in that mine and then piling a few rocks up at the mouth before setting it off?”
“Again, I’m not an explosives expert, but I doubt it. If the blast occurred behind a cave-in, and there were vertical air-shafts and / or significant fractures in the rock structure, then, in my layman’s opinion, it might be possible. If it had been intentional the problem would’ve been how to set it off without leaving evidence.”
“Radio control?” asked the Colonel.
“Possible, but it would have left evidence that we would eventually find. At this point I’d say, though with much skepticism, it was somehow a ‘natural’ accident,” with the investigator using his fingers to emphasize the quotes on the word natural.
“I don’t understand,” replied a now frustrated Colonel.
The investigator explained, “From what my counterpart told me that mine is very old and the support timbers were not in good shape. The powder could have been placed there a hundred years ago, or even more. If there was a subsequent cave-in, then you’ve got most the pieces in place, with the geological condition of the area above the blast being the missing piece. At that point, then, unless someone could’ve intentionally set it off, this is the result of a mining accident that could have happened at any time in the past hundred years.”
The Colonel replied, “If that’s the case, then I probably know where the triggering device is located.”
“Really?” exclaimed the excited specialist.
“Si”, replied the Colonel. “I found it while surveying the blast area.”
“So, you don’t agree with my theory?”
“I didn’t say that. Let’s go down there, and you can make your own judgment.”
Mike made his way to the main cabin of the aircraft and was met by one of the nurses. She was a tall woman whose lovely face was framed by her long curly chestnut hair. She didn’t have Dolly Parton sized breasts, but they were nicely proportioned to the rest of her figure. She had eyes of jade and one of those classic youthful complexions that made it difficult to guess her age. Probably her most disarming feature was the smile that seemed to suddenly light up the aircraft. In contrast to her looks and smile her manner was ambiguous when she asked “Were you one of the men who rescued these women?”
Taken back by the conflicting vibes the woman was generating Mike answered, “Not directly.”
Puzzled by his response she asked, a little forcefully, “And what does that mean?”
“I was coordinating the two groups, but physically I was at another location. Other than giving them directions I was more involved in trying to save the life of that old man over there.”
She smiled a big smile, and replied, “Then, I guess that’s worth at least one big hug and a kiss.” With that she stepped forward, wrapped her arms around his back, and pulled him close. Then, as their bodies pressed together, and her breasts were making indentations into his chest she tilted her head and kissed him. It started as just a simple kiss on the lips, but it rapidly progressed from there. After a few minutes and a lot of teasing from the other nurses in the cabin the two separated slightly before gazing into each others’ eyes.
Stunned at the feelings she was experiencing Nurse Janice Coffee said, “Cowboy, I hope you’re single. If not, you better have an understanding wife who’s bi. That will not be the last kiss between you and I.”
A confused and befuddled Mike stammered, “No wife, only girlfriend I had said she didn’t want to be saddled to an Indian.”
Sensing how much that experience had hurt him Jan pulled him back into another tight hug, and before it ended she felt a very pleasing size lump form in the lower area between them. “I think I might just throw my saddle on this Indian mustang and play cowgirl for a while. Would you be open to that?”
“Nurse, please don’t tease me like that. My life has been hard enough in that area.”
“Cowboy,” Jan whispered in his ear, “my name is Jan Coffee, and I would definitely agree it’s hard enough. Now, how about telling me the name of my firstborn’s father.”
Mike looked totally confused, when he replied, “And, how would I know that?” Jan had to bite her lip to keep from bursting out in laughter and humiliating the young man. He was such an interesting contrast. He’d the look and build of a warrior, yet he had an innocent charm about him that reminded her of a young puppy. If he was putting her on he was doing an acting job worthy of an Academy Award. After studying his face for a few moments she knew, in her heart, this man was for real.
She stepped back and held out her hand, saying, “I’m Jan Coffee.”
Recognizing the introduction for what it was Mike replied, “It’s nice to meet you, Jan. I’m Michael Running Elk, but most everyone calls me Mike. Now, can you, or someone, tell me how The Colonel and the women are doing?”
“I’ll do it, Michael Running Elk, but first you’ve got to give me your phone number.”
“Why would you want that?”
“Because, my brave warrior, I don’t intend for you to just disappear from my life.” Still too staggered by this to think clearly Mike mumbled his phone number. He also added his cell number and his address. It was probably good he was in this shocked state, as under normal conditions he would’ve tried to reason things out. That process, coupled with his shyness around women, never would’ve allowed this opportunity to occur. Jan was suppressing giggles while she wrote down the information. He was soooooo cute, and she was getting more worked up by the minute. In fact, she suddenly realized she could smell her own arousal, and that shocked her. Yes, he was a ruggedly handsome man, but in her life she had known a lot of handsome men - rugged, smooth, and sometimes effeminate - but none of them had affected her like this.
Keeping her part of the bargain Jan gave Mike a quick summary of the status of their patients. She then led him toward where Jason lay in his drug-induced coma. While they moved through the cabin she was surprised at the women’s positive response to his black outfit. Pondering that for a moment she realized they must associate his black outfit with their rescuers. She was also amazed as to how patient and confident he was with these women compared to how he had acted toward her. With a gentle touch and an encouraging word he assured each one who questioned him their lives would soon be much better and the fear and memories would gradually fade into something more manageable than it was at the moment. When they finally reached Longbow this confident warrior took the old man’s hand and cried.
This was a defining moment in Jan Coffee’s life. This man of many conflicting sides showed care and compassion beyond anything she’d ever experienced. In her heart she knew this tall Indian brave with eyes so dark they looked almost as black as his hair wasn’t some ‘macho’ man who had to brutally dominate others, especially women, to prove his manhood. He knew he was a man, and he didn’t have to prove it to himself, or to anyone else. As a result, though she could not understand what had caused all this to happen in such a short time, Jan Coffee knew she was hopelessly in love with this man. “Jan, how bad are Longbow’s injuries?”
“Who’s Longbow?” she asked.
Holding up Jason’s hand Mike replied, “This is Jason Longbow Magill. To most of the world he’s Jason, but to the Apache, and to Special Forces personnel of all nations, he’s generally known as Longbow, or the Colonel. The man is a legend among both groups.”
“Is he your father?” Jan asked.
“No Ma’am, at least not by blood. When I was ten my abusive father suddenly didn’t come home one night and has never been seen again. A few days later Longbow showed up as a representative of the tribe and helped my mother and me move back to the reservation. A short time later Longbow took me under his wing and taught me the ways of the Apache, as well as the ways of manhood, and he’s been my mentor since. I’ve never really thought about him as my father, but in actuality he’s more of a father to me than the one who contributed the sperm to create me. In fact, I’d say there are at least a hundred of us in the tribe who probably feel the same way.”
Now very curious about the old man, Jan asked, “Does he have any children of his own?”
“He had a daughter, but he had little involvement in raising her. She was probably around five or six when Jason’s wife took the girl and left. She wanted more of the finer things in life, and realized she’d never get them from Longbow. The only time he ever saw his daughter again was when she returned long enough to dump her own daughter in his lap.”
“You sound like you don’t think much of his daughter.”
“I don’t. From what I’ve seen and heard she’s a lying manipulative bitch who’ll now spend much of her life in jail. His granddaughter, on the other hand, is a wonderful person; the total opposite of her mother.”
Hoping this granddaughter wasn’t competition Jan said, “You sound enamored with her.”
“I’ve had a crush on her for as long as I can remember, but she’s out of my league. Anyway, she’s happily married now, and from what I’ve heard from Longbow, her husband is just as special as she is.”
Encouraged, Jan said, “Well, just for the record Mike, you’re definitely not out of my league.”
Still flabbergasted at the woman’s boldness toward him, Mike changed the subject asking, “So, what is his prognosis?”
Not wanting to answer from second hand information Jan caught the attention of one of the doctors and waved him over. “Doctor McKinsey, this is Michael Running Elk. Our patient here is like his adopted father. Can you fill him in on the situation?”
The doctor shook Mike’s hand, and replied, “Sure, I’ll be happy to do that. I’d also assume, from your outfit, you’re part of the group who rescued the women.”
“Sir, I was the secondary mission commander until Longbow was injured. At that point I assumed command and directed the various efforts to free the women and get them out of Mexico. Physically, I was part of the group who created a diversion to increase the odds the rescue would be a success.”
“Well, young man, what you did was commendable. I can’t imagine what these women’s lives would be like if you hadn’t done this. As for Mister Magill, his life won’t be quite as full as it might have been before, but I think he’s fairly stable at this point. At the moment, without the drugs, he’d be in a lot of pain, but that will get better, especially after surgery.”
“That’s encouraging, but what are the extent of his injuries and what do you plan on doing for him?”
The doctor explained, “Mister Magill has a comminuted fracture of the tibia just above his shin. There’s also significant muscle and soft tissue damage, but that should generally heal over time. I’m sure whomever they use as a knuckledragger will do an MRI before surgery to make sure there’s not more extensive damage. As to the surgery itself, they’ll probably use a rod, plates and screws to pull the crushed pieces back together and reinforce the bone.”
The distance between the two groups of vessels dwindled quickly as the seconds and minutes slipped by. Once the Hawk and the two carracks had raised sails and cut their lines Pedro had turned his force to the southeast to confront the approaching pirate ships. Like an arrow shot by a bow the three vessels cut through the dark waters throwing up spume as they went; the crews of each vessel ready for action. As they sailed onward the San Fernando headed northward in the company of the two...
With Hawk seated in the rear of the darkened Suburban Ken pulled away from the general aviation terminal. After making several twists and turns exiting the airport Ken turned down the Pacific Highway, and a short distance later he took a left fork at a sign pointing toward the Sports Arena. A little further and the SUV pulled in front of a store named ‘Team Town.’ Ken ran inside and returned a few minutes later carrying a shopping bag with handles. “Based on what we talked about earlier I...
Hawk and Dan returned to the small pond where they had last seen Benji, but he was no longer there. They walked around for several minutes before they found him at one of the fences talking to two of the horses. It was fascinating to watch, since it appeared as if the three understood each other. Hawk didn’t want to break the mood, but they needed to get busy, so he led Dan out of Benji’s direct vision and had Dan shout his name. Benji called back, “I’m at the fence on the side of house,...
For the next few months Hawk and his family felt like a small aspen leaf caught up in a raging thunderstorm. It wasn’t the seriousness of the problems and crises happening in their lives that helped foster those feelings. Instead, it was the sheer volume of the rapidly occurring events around them that placed the three on edge, and it was the sudden and random twists that made them feel overwhelmed. During the week following the wedding Bill and Maria had located a three building cluster...
Twenty minutes later Jason and Maria both left. She was headed to the university to try to pick up the academic pieces of her life while her grandfather headed for a discount department store to purchase some basic clothes for Hawk. Jason returned to the apartment a short time later. He and Andy put a bronzing dye on Hawk. When they were finished Hawk quickly dressed, and he and Jason left to deal with Robert’s body. The first hour was rather quiet with both men considering what needed to be...
When Hawk and Jason arrived at Maria’s room they found her, Andy, and Brenda in deep discussion about the house and other things. Andy left with Jason, saying she’d be back late, as she was planning on staying with Maria during the night. After Jason and Andy left Hawk quietly brought both his women up to date with everything. They especially liked the idea of a convenience store in front and the two security / cowboys. They were also both upset about what had been learned concerning Wilbur...
“San Diego Control, this is Navajo six seven zero three whiskey tango.” “Go ahead, zero three whiskey tango, I have you on the scope.” “San Diego Control, zero three whiskey tango requesting landing instructions. Be advised I have weather report Charlie.” “Confirmed, zero three whiskey tango. Advise when you can see Sweetwater Reservoir on your left.” “San Diego control, reservoir is three zero degrees to the left of my nose.” “Zero three whiskey tango, turn to heading three four zero...
That same Sunday morning things were much more laid back in the Del Coronado suite presently occupied by Hawk and Maria. They’d fallen asleep in each others’ arms after their second time of making love, and they were still that way when Hawk’s body alarm said it was time to stir. When he slipped out from under his wife the damp coldness on his butt told him the bed was soaked. Hawk made his way to the bathroom to relieve his bladder and brush his teeth. When he returned Maria was on the...
It was almost 5:00 p.m. when Candice and Melissa / Katrina finally met Constance Taylor at the Cheers Bar in the main concourse of Boston’s Logan International Airport. On a signal from Candice, Katrina loudly proclaimed she needed to go potty, and Constance offered to take her. Candice thanked her, replying she’d finish her drink and meet them at the gate. As a result no one seemed to notice when Candice left the bar she went to one gate while Constance and Katrina went to another. Within...
Brenda rushed into Hawk’s office with Maria close behind. Their husband was sitting at his desk looking at the screen of Ron Gonzales’ laptop. The look on his face was a combination of shock, amazement, and disbelief. “What did you find?” asked Maria. “There was a hidden and encrypted area within the email storage. What the daughter observed was the counter of unread emails kept increasing, but there were no unread emails visible in the files.” Maria then asked, “Have you cracked the...
(Special Thanks to Mystic_Arrival S~(editor) She has put her special touch in this story and taught me how to create a story that is readable. And Thank you Elizabetht (editor),if not for them this story would not be what it is today.) (The Joining) The horse’s nostrils were flaring open and closed as its head bobbed. The hooves thundered underneath him as he ran with the wind. Its white form and grey mane and tail whipped with its galloping strides. The earth released the clods beneath the...
When their ‘true confessions’ meeting was over Ken opened the door to the Suburban, and Hawk and Maria followed him out of the vehicle. The three walked under the covered entrance-way into the lobby of the Inn where Uncle Tony and three young men greeted them warmly. “Maria! Hawk! Thanks again for choosing our humble establishment. Your guests all arrived safely last night, and we’ve encouraged everyone to sleep late this morning. The meeting room has been prepared as we discussed, and the...
Maria sat up in the bed and looked inquisitively at her husband. “Hawk, what are you talking about?” “I haven’t looked over everything we found in the old trunks, but we’ve probably just rewritten American History.” “And you think Consuela would be interested enough to come out here on a Saturday evening?” “Maria, if it gets any better she’s liable to move in. This is an historian’s dream-come-true.” “And you want her to promise to keep it quiet?” “Honey, only for a little while. Besides...
Marc pulled the motorhome back onto Highway 85 and continued their southward journey. About fifteen minutes later they slowed to pass through the small city of Ajo, Arizona. Looking at the map Skyler suggested it might be a good idea to top off their tanks. Marc agreed, and pulled into a locally owned truck stop. After they pulled next to a fuel island, Marc and Skyler both climbed out of the motorhome. Marc went inside while Hawk stood at the door of the RV. From there he watched Skyler top...
With his two loves looking over his arms, Hawk was trying to rapidly make sense of the headline. Brenda’s cell phone began ringing; she didn’t recognize the calling number displayed on the screen. “Hello,” Brenda answered. “How’s my favorite Niece this morning? Did you like my present under your door this morning?” Brenda exclaimed, “Aunt Beth! What’s going on? Where are you?” “The whole gang is downstairs, but we can’t get past your security guard. We also have a big breakfast ready for...
After spending a few minutes introducing his wives to Kimmie and helping them get acquainted Hawk went looking for Andy. He found her still somewhat teary-eyed, but in far better shape than she had been when they arrived. Mike and an unknown chestnut haired girl were supporting her as they watched one of the hospital orderlies pushing Jason’s gurney though a set of double doors. From Kimmie’s description, Hawk knew this was Mike’s ‘growth, ‘ who was also known as Jan. “Any news?” Hawk asked,...
"You complain too much Father Gerome," Pedro declared sternly to the short, stout man that stood before him dressed in the cassock of a Dominican. Pedro and the man were standing at the aft railing on the Hawk's poop deck. The Hawk was at sea and it had been so for five days. The ship had rowed out of the grand harbour of Lisbon on the very same day that Sister Angelique had come bearing her intelligence to his uncle's villa. The ship had been crewed and provisioned with all due haste...
Ted's point of view I sat next to her on the curb, my arm around her shoulders as she sobbed. The smell of fire was still strong in the air. Flashing red and blue lights lined the street. Police and firefighters surrounded the burned out hulk of her car, their radios squawking. The area was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape the same way they had sealed the street with sawhorses. The Harris County Medical Examiner's van was parked just short of the burned out car. Other than taking...
Saturday Jason brought Prince Rashid to Hawk’s suite and introduced him to Hawk, Maria, and Brenda. Following the short introduction Jason informed the three of the special relationship between the two families, and explained why. After a pleasant lunch the Prince and Hawk ended up alone. “Hawk, though my country has considerable wealth we anticipate some severe problems in the future. It’s my belief you can be of great assistance to us.” “I’m not sure how I might help, but from what Jason...
Hawk stared at the face of the law officer, realizing he was facing his worst nightmare, going back to prison. In his mind the hardest part to accept was, yet again, it would be for something he didn’t do. At that moment his entire brain seemed to shut down, and he collapsed to the floor. The police officer / deputy immediately rolled Hawk over onto his stomach and cuffed him. Once he had Hawk subdued, he carefully checked his prisoner for weapons. Finding none, he picked Hawk up by the right...
The Hawk did not sail on the morning tide. The city watch scoured Pedro's uncle's villa from top to bottom. It took the watch most of the night and Pedro was forced to stand by and watch. They found very little though it was clear that someone had been hiding within the servant quarters of the villa. They found food and drink and a knife of exceptional quality. It was a nobleman's weapon and not a blade found in a scullery. They also found a secret passage that led from the servant...
Hawk, Brenda and Mary Beth joined the others in Maria’s room. A few minutes later, a nurse ran most of them out so Maria could get some rest. Mary Beth and Brenda decided this was the right time to start house hunting, dragging Zed along with them. Jason needed to head back to his place, as he’d made no provision for taking care of his horses, but Andy insisted on staying close to her new daughter. Hawk stayed a while, but decided he needed to take care of some things while Maria was...
Later that evening, as Jason and Andy quietly enjoyed their first night as a married couple, Hawk, Maria, and Brenda were at the ranch in Phoenix. With them were Dan Cashman, Hawk’s friend and partner; Deke Templeton, their Attorney; and those who formed the core of the new company. They reviewed the actions the company had already taken then set goals and direction for the coming months. As part of the discussion Hawk turned to Dan, and said, “Dan, you did a good job on the acquisition of...
Hawk, Marc, and Skyler arrived at the Yarrow Bay Grill a few minutes after noon. The restaurant was moderately busy, but several tables overlooking the marina and the lake were still available. When Hawk explained he wanted two tables; one being a particular table at the window, and the second within easy sight of the first, the host’s attitude was bordering on belligerent. In response Hawk showed the man his black Visa Card and a hundred dollar bill, and asked, “Sir, have you ever seen one...
"Sail on the horizon, off the starboard bow." It was three days later and midmorning. The small armada had made good time heading northward away from Cape Verde and towards home considering the time of year and the weather. The skies had been grey for most of the trip and there had been some rain and drizzle for the first two days but for the most part the seas had been reasonable. Today the weather had broken and the sky was blue. It allowed the lookout to see further for once. To the far...
Raven half fell, half jumped from Ghost landing upon her knee’s. Bowing as to have her breasts rest on the floor of the mountain. She raised her voice in praise. She released the adrenaline coursing through her body. She sang in a native tongue inhaling and exhaling so her lungs felt like they would burst. Ghost stood still witnessing his mistress in the glorious light. Shining down only on her, the brightness caused Ghost to look away. Getting up on her bent knee’s she raised her arms towards...
When Doctor Kennedy fainted Jamie pulled the SUV into the first appropriate spot, which happened to be the parking lot of the previously mentioned restaurant. As soon as the vehicle came to a stop Kyle ran inside to get some ice and ice water. At the same time Bill and Jamie reclined Consuela’s seat to a thirty-degree angle and tried to get her comfortable. Poor Sharon didn’t have a clue as to what to do, but she vowed to never be caught unprepared like that again! After about ten minutes the...
After the bellhop left the room, an anxious Maria walked out on the balcony and looked in awe at the far ranging ocean. She was almost spellbound as she watched three foot waves breaking just off the beach. This feeling was magnified when she observed several men being almost knocked off their feet by the force of the waves. Everything was so different from anything she’d experienced before. Even the gulls that soared on the cool, salty ocean breeze added to her new list of sensations. Maria...
Let me say right up front that Gunther was definitely not a young man.I knew he had been around the Santa operation at the North Pole long before I arrived with my bright ideas for cost reduction. I was called in to promote increased toy production by the easily distracted Elves. Those little imps preferred being silly rather than busy little workers focused on their quotas like dedicated employees. As a small-sized human male, I was able to relate easily to the female Elves because they liked...
Fantasy & Sci-FiElijah Abrams walked over to the Navy Seahawk helicopter where he was handed a head set. He climbed into the copilot’s seat and placed it on his head. “Rescue, this is Abrams, how can I help you?” “Sir, I suspect we’ve made your day, and perhaps your career. In the basement of the house we found twenty-three children locked in what’s best described as a dungeon. The children are boys and girls between the ages of six and eleven. Also, there’s a complete photo studio for making child porn....
Back in Phoenix Consuela’s cell phone began ringing. While she answered it the other three historians continued to box up the different papers, which were to be taken to an archive vault in the basement of the history building at the University. “Hello.” “I’m trying to reach Consuela Kennedy. Are you her?” “Yes, I am,” she responded. “Good. Doctor Kennedy, my name is Malcolm Leven, and I’m working with a Mister Daniel Cashman concerning a movie. Are you familiar with what I’m talking...
“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...