Out of Darkness: The Freedom Villagers, #2

By Roy Paul Shields

Out of Darkness begins where Depths of Terror ended. True American Patriots stood together along with our military and law enforcement agencies and were able to identify and defeat a conspiracy by a certain political faction to take control of America.  Hopefully as you read Out of Darkness you will sense and feel the intensity of combat and share the hurt and pain that Paul and the Chief went through. As the story moves on try to feel the pain of someone trying to get over a broken love, and the joy as a wonderful true love is discovered. As you read hopefully you will feel or have a sense of the drama, suspense, the joys, action, humor, the intrigue. But most of all, GOD BLESS AMERICA!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Roy Paul Shields
• Release date: Nov 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386376262

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Out of Darkness begins where Depths of Terror ended. True American Patriots stood together along with our military and law enforcement agencies and were able to identify and defeat a conspiracy by a certain political faction to take control of America.  Hopefully as you read Out of Darkness you will sense and feel the intensity of combat and share the hurt and pain that Paul and the Chief went through. As the story moves on try to feel the pain of someone trying to get over a broken love, and the joy as a wonderful true love is discovered. As you read hopefully you will feel or have a sense of the drama, suspense, the joys, action, humor, the intrigue. But most of all, GOD BLESS AMERICA!

INTRODUCTION TO THE MAIN CHARACTERS

Danielle -The lady that Paul loved very much and was in a six-year relationship with. Paul didn't marry Danielle as she made it evident she was in it for the money and could not be trusted because it was obvious she had other male interests.

Kim - The Klamath River rafting guide who Greg hired in Depths of Terror to guide him and Paul on a Klamath River rafting adventure that turned to disaster when they became under attack from the terrorist. Kim and Paul survived the attack and because of the adverse situation they found themselves in became bonded together. She was everything to Paul that he wanted Danielle to be.

Greg Paul's next-door neighbor who had become a good friend and was an adventurer like Paul. Greg was married to Lori and for whatever reason or reasons their marriage was not doing well because of Greg distancing himself from Lori. Paul knew there was a problem between Greg and Lori and knew it was for the best he keep his nose out of their private life.

Lori -A very nice really neat lady in need of a friend and came to Paul as she really needed someone to lean on, a friend to talk with. With Paul's breakup with Danielle and Greg and Lori having marital problems Paul knew that he and Lori had to be very careful or complications could wreck friendships. A strong bond built between Paul and Lori; eventually events got Greg and Lori back together and made their marriage stronger and better than ever.

Terri - The Army Captain in Depths of Terror Who was on duty in the Siskiyou Mountains and was in charge of guarding what she thought was a missile defense system being built to protect America. Unknown to her a missile system was being built there to attack major American cities and military bases. She was captured by Paul and Kim who had not only survived but were now intent on doing as much damage as they could do to the terrorist activity that was going on in that mountain region. Eventually Terri realized she had been misled as to why she was there and joined forces with Paul and Kim to do battle with the terrorist. Paul, Kim and Terri became an unbreakable bod. 

The Colonel - The CO of Camp Pendleton He was a good hearted senior officer Marine ready to retire when he had to stay active to defend Camp Pendleton from the enemy.

July 14-2012

Time! Time is a great healer. Lionel Richie and his Time can do so much.  How true! Kim and I are almost fully recovered from our physical wounds. Mental wounds take longer, but we were both adapting at remembering some of the special and fun times, if you could call it that of our ordeal in the mountains. Gary and Lori seemed to have been born again; the difficult time they had been through seemed to have made their relationship stronger. Colonel Sawyer requested that we call him by his first name, Thomas, Tom for short. He and Audrey usually spent a weekend every few weeks with us. We finally got Kim to play spades but only if we played Yahtzee once in a while.

Terri and Randy, the Colonel and Captain stopped by but briefly. Small pockets of terrorists seemed to be springing up all around the country and they and their department was spread too thin. They were concerned for us as the east and west coast seemed to have more activity than the rest of the country.

Kim and I were just enjoying life. We had our green house of which we were always experimenting with different kinds of plants. Kim tended to her orchids and I babied the herbs. Shiloh spent much of his time on the beach, which was usually void of people. If people happened to show up on the beach he would skedaddle home. Every once in a while, he would bring his prize home, which normally stunk so bad it went in to the trash immediately.

I had worked with glazed copper jewelry many moons ago and purchased a kiln and all of whatever we needed to turn out some glazed copper jewelry. We had been doing a lot of practice with our brush set up. The first jewelry that we turned out was so bad we displayed it in a case all of its own.

Gary and Lori were very much a part of our lives. We spent just enough time together that it was nice to get together again once in a while. I was in the green house resetting a timer when Kim called and said we had a phone call. We huh? Kim told whoever was on the phone Just a minute, here he is and handed me the phone. It was Terri, the Colonel. I told her that I wanted to reach through the phone and give her a humongous hug. She and Randy needed a break and asked if we had a spare bed? I asked, How come you are not here yet? They could only spend one night and she mentioned that maybe we could have kind of like a get together reunion? She said they could be here the second Saturday in October and leave Sunday afternoon. We agreed on the time frame and I told her we would get planning for it. Kim held her hand out for the phone and told me women talk.

I went back to the green house and was just finishing up when Kim opened the door and hollered boo and laughed. She asked if she scared me. I grabbed her, put her over my shoulder, and headed for the beach. She wiggled and squirmed trying to get away. It was a good thing it was a downhill walk to the beach or I would not have made it. I walked across the beach towards the water and she said Don’t you dare. I walked waist deep out in to the water and dropped her. Before I had a chance for a good laugh, she grabbed my ankles and bumped me with her shoulder and down I went. About that time, a wave hit us and we rolled together on to the beach. We both had taken a chug of water and sat looking at each other choking and laughing. When I could finally say something I said How was that for a Boo?  She asked me when was the last time I had to sleep on the couch by myself. To add insult to injury Shiloh had gone in the water with us, came running up and shook water all over us. I think he was laughing with us.

As we headed back for the house a helicopter passed slowly overhead and disappeared. Kim told me to get comfortable on the deck and she would bring sandwiches out.  My butt was dragging from carrying Kim down to dunk her in the ocean and the deck swing was just what the doctor ordered.

I had just got comfortable when the helicopter appeared again and moved slowly across the front of our place. I picked up the binoculars we kept handy to watch for passing whales; I just caught a glimpse of a lady seemingly taking pictures of our place. It was a civilian helicopter so maybe it was tourist on a sightseeing helicopter flight.

Kim came out and as we ate a late lunch, she started coming up with ideas about the get together when Terri and Randy would be here. She said, I have an idea; let’s take the Harley’s up to see the Colonel and Audrey and talk to them about the get together. I laid my plate on the deck for Shiloh to clean and told her let's hit it.

The Colonel and Audrey were sitting on their front porch when we pulled up. They stood up and the Colonel said, Well if it isn’t the happy wanderers. I don’t think that I would ever get used to calling him Tom; the Colonel seemed to fit him. They were all excited when we told them that Terri and Randy were going to be here. Kim and Audrey began making plans and were talking ninety miles an hour.

We heard a helicopter approaching and the Colonel got a concerned look on his face as the helicopter moved slowly by and disappeared. The Colonel told me that was two days in a row, that same helicopter slowed down when it passed their place. I told him about it doing the same thing at our place and I saw a lady through my binoculars taking pictures.

We heard it approaching again and the Colonel got his camera and told me we would do some picture taking too. They evidently saw the Colonel taking pictures of them and veered off and disappeared. The Colonel told me he would send the pictures to central intelligence and see what they came up with. The gals came out and said they would get with Lori tomorrow and get her ideas about the get together. Hugs and handshakes and we headed our Harley’s home.

As we pulled up in front of our place I had a strange feeling that we were being watched. Before we turned our bikes off I told Kim let’s putt over and see Gary and Lori. They heard us coming and were waiting in their front yard. We walked over and sat down on their patio overlooking the ocean. Lori said "I’ll be right back’ and quickly reappeared with a platter of date cookies and a pitcher of fresh raspberry drink. This lady knew the way to a man’s heart!

I mentioned the helicopter sightings at our place and the Colonel’s; Gary and Lori both saw the helicopter and thought that it was very strange. I told them the Colonel had taken a couple of pictures of it before it quickly disappeared and was sending the pictures to central intelligence to see what they came up with.

Kim and Lori told us what menu they had come up with when Terri and Randy were here. As they rattled off the various food and dishes they planned I interrupted and told them Terri and Randy weren’t bringing the Marine Corps with them.

I told Gary and Lori what Terri had briefly told me about suspicious things going happening on both coasts. Gary joked and asked if they should start watching for submarines. I told them this doesn’t sound good and that might not be a bad idea. Lori on a more serious note asked if we thought there might be something bad going on. I told her the way our world was screwed up now I wouldn’t put anything past anybody. Gary asked my take on the whole deal? I told him Terri wouldn’t have mentioned it if there wasn’t something going on but not to get all worried about it; if there was anything dangerous or heavy going on Terri would have told us. I had a brief flashback at what Kim and I had gone through and I never wanted anything like that to happen to her again, or me to for that matter.

Shiloh came trotting up and it was evident he was looking for dinner. Lori went in to the house and came out a few minutes later and handed me a paper sack. Shiloh stood looking at the bag barking; I opened the bag and (only Lori!); there were two cheeseburgers in the bag. I showed it to Kim and she told Lori that she was one of a kind.  Some warm hugs and we headed home. Shiloh beat us home and was waiting impatiently by his food dish. I took a cheeseburger out, looked at it and took a bite. I could have eaten the whole thing except Shiloh was barking his opinion. He made short work of both cheeseburgers. He sure didn’t chew each bite twenty six times like my mom would have told him to do.

For whatever reason it had seemed to be a long day! I told Kim a long soaking in the Jacuzzi and a good night’s sleep seemed like a good idea. She said Don’t threaten me with a good thing. Kim told me to get in and she would be right back.

It was a perfect night; the moon shone across the ocean. It was beginning to turn cool. I had to smile, it wouldn’t be long and we would have a big fire in the fireplace and be entertained by the dancers on the logs. I had to be one of the luckiest guys in the world; I couldn’t want for a better person than Kim. Very few people let alone a woman could have survived what she went through back in those mountains. We had wonderful friends; they were more like family than friends. We had our home, our Harley’s, Shiloh, but most of all we had each other and our freedom to share everything with.

Kim came out and handed me a glass and told me it was something new that she created. It had kind of a chocolate tea taste to it. It was good! She asked what I thought of it. I told her I hoped there was more. She told me that was a sipping drink, no chug a lugging! I had sipped about half the glass when I realized I was getting stoned. I looked at her and said You didn’t? She laughed and nodded her head yes! I held my glass up and said And this is why you didn’t bring the pipe out? She laughed and said Correct!

The phone rang and I pointed to me and shook my head no. She answered the phone and screamed "Morgan, oh my God! She looked at me and excitedly and quickly told me it was her sister. I didn’t know that she had a sister!

I could hear excitement in every word Kim said. She finally said OK I will and I love you. She looked at me and once again said Oh my God, that is the first time I have heard from Morgan in twenty years. She was twenty-six years old and showed up with a guy that I did not like. Dad deserted us for a while but maintained his gold casting business and mom was not in good health. At fifteen I became the mom and dad because mom passed away. Madison was ten going on twenty-five. I don’t think she was ever a young girl. I had a neat sixteenth birthday party for her. The next morning, I found a note on the kitchen table that said, I am OK, I love you, Morgan. She was gone at sixteen, showed up again when she was twenty-six; she called me twenty years later and she is now forty-six. But you know what? She is about the neatest person that I have ever known.

I had finished my drink and yes, the drink finished me! I asked Kim if she had named it. She said yes! I asked so what did you name it? She looked in to my eyes and said Later! I asked, You named it later, how did you come up with that name? She put her face close to mine and asked, Would you like a little later? I put my nose and forehead on hers and said Sooner. We headed for the nearest downstairs bedroom.

I woke up and Kim was playing with the hair on my chest. She laughed and asked me if I would like a little later? Our laughing was interrupted by the doorbell. Kim pointed at me. I put my pants on as I headed for the door. I opened the door and there stood Gary and Lori. They looked surprised to see me standing there in my pants only. Kim came walking out in her robe. I looked at the clock on the wall that said it was 1:20 PM. Impossible!

Lori looked at us and said You two must of have been up very late last night. We both laughed and said Yup! I told them it was Later than we realized. Kim almost choked on that one. I looked at Kim and said You tell them. Kim told them about the drink she made and it was awesome because it brought us even closer together. Lori said OK Kim, quit messing around and give me the recipe. I could see where this had the possibility of getting out of hand. So I held my hands up and asked So what’s shaking?

Lori told us the Colonel and Audrey called and we invited them down. They’ll get here about four this afternoon. We thought it would be great to have a big fire on the beach and have dinner and good music. I added with the ceaseless beautiful sound of the surf to help make everything perfect

Kim thought it sounded exciting. Lori said "Smoke a little and get ready for this -play Yahtzee! Gary said I have a better idea, let’s see if we can get the Colonel to take a hit or two? That did it; we were ready. Kim told me Audrey said she would get a kick out of it and go for it.

Kim and Lori, through a fast teamwork effort, put a breakfast lunch on the table which quickly disappeared. We talked about our beach party. We left the menu up to the gals and Gary and I headed for the beach to get a big stack of firewood and form a fire pit in the sand. We rolled some big pieces of driftwood around the fire pit and they made neat places to sit on.

I heard Kim yell and I looked up and the Colonel, Audrey, Lori and Kim were headed towards us. They were all carrying something. We had a medium size fire going and it would be dark in about an hour. Lori had a back pack which had a neat little folding table and six lap trays. I thought that was really neat. Kim began putting ketchup, mustard, sweet relish and chopped onions on the table. Audrey put hot dogs and buns on the table and the Colonel topped it off with a bag of marshmallows and six skinny little rods. Kim said We gals talked it over and agreed this was a beach party and we were not doing this to cook our brains out. Gatorade was the drink except a bottle of Later" appeared! Oh boy!

Lori sat her IPad on a log and said Check this out. It played the music and printed the lyrics like Karaoke. The hot dogs went over big except Audrey burnt her first one and lost a second one in the fire. Gary told her at the rate she was going we were all going to have buns with no hot dog in it. He fixed a third one for her. When we had finished eating I volunteered to do the dishes. Lori told me that was big of me, especially seeing as there were no dirty dishes. Kim broke the pipe out and passed it around. Gary turned the IPad up and began singing the Jail House Rock. If Elvis could have stopped him I am sure he would have. The pipe went to the Colonel and he said No thanks. Audrey called him a party pooper and we all tried to encourage him to take a puff to no avail.

Kim set a glass of Later in front of the Colonel. He lit his own tobacco burning pipe and picked the glass up and looked at it. He asked what it was and I told him it was a chocolate tea drink that Lori made. He took a sip and told Lori it was a very pleasant drink. Fortunately, Lori gave him a small glass as he tipped the glass and drank it. A few minutes later the pipe was handed to him. He got a big grin and it was obvious he was feeling the effects of later. He looked at the pipe and said "All right, just to please everyone I’ll take one puff.

We all waited for his reaction; He said Hmm, it does have a pleasant taste, took another puff and began singing the Marine Corps Hymn. Well let me tell you what, between his laughing and singing he had us all in stitches. When he asked for the pipe again that did it, and for his sake I told him we didn’t have any herb left. He asked if there was any of that chocolate drink left, some of that Freedom" and we all cracked up as Audrey held up the empty bottle with a big smile. Kim asked the Colonel why he called her drink Freedom. The Colonel told her when he drank it he felt he could just fly away to anyplace and Freedom. Lucky for her it was a small bottle as he drank every last drop.

Kim broke out the Yahtzee game and with great difficulty between the Colonel and Audrey laughing and singing we played a couple of games and had a blast. The Colonel got serious and told us he had an important announcement to make. He gave us the low down on the report he got back from Central Intelligence in regard to the helicopter. It was owned by a string of private firms. That didn’t look good as it was becoming evident there was money laundering going on.

The three people who supposedly rented it always paid with cash and the one who flew it proved to have a phony pilot’s license. Because of the suspicious activity the helicopter had been confiscated for further investigation. The owner of the property where the helicopter was parked was clean. He was paid cash for parking space for a year and the signature on the rental agreement was phony. Of the five companies involved in the ownership of the craft, four were phony. The original company ownership of the craft was legitimate and they had leased it, unknown to them, to a company that was nonexistent. He told us he had talked with Terri and Randy and they were pursuing this entire thing with top priority.

I asked the Colonel what his take was. He told us this whole thing was out of balance as there were other strange developments cropping up on both coasts and the entire military had been put on alert. Kim shook her head and asked Is there any place on this planet that is safe anymore?

The fire had died down and I suggested we call it a night. There wasn’t much to clean up or things to take back to the house; I told everyone I would do the final cleanup and make sure there were no hot embers from the fire.

I covered the fire pit with sand and sat on a log thinking; what was going on? There was nothing about this whole thing that sounded good. Why were both of our coast lines being closely and suspiciously checked out? Something was brewing and it did not sound good. I didn’t think Kim and I could go through the nightmare that we went through in the mountains again.

The only thing that I could come up with is get our home as safe as I could make it and come up with an escape plan. About the only place I could think of was head back for the mountains if all hell broke out.

Shiloh had come down to the beach with me and he had no problem cleaning up the left over hot dogs I saved for him. I gave him a hug and told him Let’s go big boy.

As we headed up to the house Kim came walking towards me. She said I thought you might have fallen asleep down there. I laughed and told her I was just thinking. She said "it doesn’t look good does it’? I told her something is going on but we will just have to wait and see what develops.

Our friends were standing on the deck waiting for us. The usual hugs and handshakes and Gary and Lori headed home. I told the Colonel and Audrey let’s get a good night’s sleep and we’ll solve the world’s problems tomorrow.

They had planned on spending the night at our place. As they closed the door to the bedroom there was no doubt our guests would soon be asleep. I put my arm around Kim and headed for the Jacuzzi. She told me go ahead, she would be right there.

The water was perfect and just about the time I was falling asleep Kim came back with a sandwich and a glass of milk for me. Two hot dogs five hours ago and Kim was on the ball; I was hungry! I finished the snack and sat Kim in front of me with my arms around her and we watched the waves on the moonlit ocean. Kim told me she couldn’t stay awake and I told her Sure, you probably fixed yourself a glass of Freedom. She poked me with her elbow and said No I did not but let’s go to bed". Two minutes after we were in bed Kim was asleep.

I lay there listening to the surf thinking and wondering and fell asleep. It felt like I had just fallen asleep when Kim and I were awakened with the Colonel yelling reveille. Once a Marine always a Marine!

We found our guests out on the deck enjoying a cup of coffee that Kim had on the timer for this morning. I suggested biscuits and gravy and we headed for the kitchen. As we ate the Colonel told us that we blindsided him last night. Audrey laughed and told him he was more fun then she had ever seen him before. He said All right, I enjoyed every minute last night. That was the first and only time I ever tried that stuff, and it will be the last; I am glad I tried it but scotch seems more suited to me. Audrey looked at us and said Don’t let him kid you, he told me that was an easy way to just relax and lighten up. He laughed and said We’ll see! 

Audrey helped Kim with the dishes and the Colonel and I went out on the deck. He looked at me and asked what I thought. I told him I thought I heard war drums in the distant. He told me he had a bad feeling about the whole thing.

The gals came out and Audrey and said Tom, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but we had better head for home; We have a lot of furniture to move before the carpet cleaners get there tomorrow. The Colonel said Honey do this and honey do that, what happened to me giving the orders? Audrey laughed and told him he was a retired officer but she maintained her rank, we had better go. I hated to see them disappear down the road but I needed a break to look around and think.

I went down to the lower level of our home and sat looking at the south wall where the stairs came down.  I went outside and measured from the south wall to where the forested area of our property began. It was fifty-six feet; another ten feet farther was a perfect scrubby area for a trap door. My wheels were spinning. I went upstairs and began drawing a set of plans. I would cut a doorway on the south wall under the stairway. I would dig an area sixteen feet by twenty feet eight feet tall out for a room behind the wall. From there I would dig a tunnel three feet wide and six feet tall to the area I picked in the woods for the trap door. The room would serve as a bomb shelter, a place to store survival supplies and our weapons. The tunnel would be our escape route and access to the outside world.

I was making a list of things that would be required for a project this size. I thought I heard the phone ring but kept going on the material list. Kim came in all excited and told me her sister Morgan called and was going to visit us for a few days and would be here tomorrow. I told Kim that was great and maybe we should plan something with our friends; Maybe another beach party.

I wondered if Morgan knew how to use a pick and shovel? Digging and disposing of the dirt would be the worst part. Building the shelter and shoring the tunnel would take a lot of material but something that I could handle.

The phone rang and I heard Kim say just a minute. She handed me the phone and said it was the Colonel. I answered and he started laughing and told me to get ready for this; He had been recalled back to active duty. He would be by tomorrow as there a few things we must talk about. What was happening to our peace and quiet? What the heck was going on? It seems like there was beginning to be a lot of things and people happening all at once. I needed to talk with Gary.

Kim was totally excited with her sister going to be here. She leaned forward and asked if I was happy because Morgan was visiting us? I pulled her down onto my lap and put my nose and forehead on hers looked into her eyes and said You! Because of you I am the happiest guy in the world. You make my every day worth living for. Yes, I am happy that Morgan will be here. (I think!)

I told her that I had something going on and needed to talk with Gary. I will show you my plans and explain why I am kind of one focused now in the Jacuzzi, if you promise to snuggle me. She got up, pulled me up and pushed me towards the door and said Go see Gary! I told her that I wasn’t going anywhere, Gary is coming here, but I have to call him. I called Gary and asked him to come over; I had something big time to talk to him about. He said Should I ask? A rafting trip? and hung up. I got behind Kim and hugged her and said Why don’t you sit in on this with Gary and me?

I got the plans, well more like sketches that I made and went out to where Gary and Kim were already setting at the table. I told them something really big and bad seemed to be building, not from what we have heard, but I feel it. Like all of a sudden we have crap coming at us from all directions! So what do we do? Hope that it doesn’t happen but prepare for the worst. Here’s the deal. The Colonel called a while a go to let us know that he has been reactivated. He’s coming by tomorrow to talk.

I rolled my plans out and asked for their honest opinions? I explained the absolute bomb proof room with the tunnel leading outside. The room will be built to store a ninety day supply of food and water for six people, and a dog, not to mention weapons and ammo. What do you think? Kim asked if I thought it was going to be bad enough to go through all this bomb shelter whatever you are showing us? Gary said It is like a crap shoot, or damned if we do but damned if we don’t. I told them there is no doubt that I can find something else to do. Kim looked at me and finally said she would rather be ready if there was going to be a possible troubled time. Gary asked When do we start? I told Gary it was going to be me and him for a few days because Kim’s sister was going to be here for a few days. Kim said I can find a pair of gloves for Morgan. I would go to town in the morning and get things that we would need to get started. I will call the Colonel and tell him to stay put and I would stop by his place on my way to town.

Kim said I don’t know about you but it is getting cold. I was so wrapped up in to what we were doing I hadn’t noticed but it was colder than a son of a gun!  Gary told us he was headed home to build a fire in the fire place that they had built a few months ago. Kim looked at me and raised her eyebrows like Well? It was borderline cool enough for a fire and before long Kim was curled up in my arms and for the first time in months we watched the dancers on the logs do their stuff.

Something was wrong! Something wasn’t right! Something was going through my head that I couldn’t tell what it was but it wasn’t good. I held Kim tighter; I needed her support real bad right now. Kim said I don’t know about you but I’m hungry. She asked Soup and sandwiches alright. I asked if she needed help. She told me she would call when it was ready.

I lay watching the dancers thinking; there seems to be like a dark cloud that keeps appearing in my head and it is not a good cloud. Kim called for dinner and I ask her to come here; she walked over to the couch and I pulled her down and got her in a cuddly bear hug. She pushed up, looked at me and said Your soup is getting cold. Ouch! Cold soup huh? Kim put a couple things in the sink and said "Come on, I am slowly sinking and need to get horizontal and soon. I told her me too; Today must have been one of those days. An hour in the Jacuzzi and I think we were both asleep before we lay down.

We were up early as Kim had a long drive to pick Morgan up. I had to see what the Colonel had going on and head for the building material store where I figured I would spend some time. Kim fixed me one of my favorites for breakfast; Fried corn meal mush and a slice of ham with two eggs over medium. I stood by my truck until she disappeared down the road and missed her already.

The Colonel and Audrey were sitting on their porch waiting for me. I told him about the project I was about to begin and rolled my plans out and described my idea. He and Audrey thought it was a great idea but hoped it never had to be used.

The Colonel said "Well here goes; I have to report to Pendleton the day after tomorrow. We know someone is getting satellite pictures of anything military in this country. We also know there is submarine activity in neutral waters off of both coasts. There have been major weapon shipments somehow slipping into the country. The whole picture is looking bad. Many of our navy ships and our aircraft carriers have been deployed to other areas. It all boils down to the Ex-President and all of the major traitors go on trial for treason in two months.  We have reason to believe that all hell is going to break loose before the trials begin. Now, you and Kim may be relocated as you are major witnesses. The other option is we set up a radar station and an array of SAM’s around your place. So you are either going to be put under protection or you are going to be decoys. Terri and Randy are doing a quick stopover to talk with you and Kim next week. They won’t be able to stay long.

I shook my head and said What the hell is going on? It is almost like we are at war. The Colonel said Worse than that, it seems that they are trying to bring it to our soil. I stood up and said How about lunch at our place tomorrow? They both said that sounded good. We agreed about one O clock. I headed for town with a lot on my mind.

I set up a block and lumber delivery for next week. I filled two shopping carts and that was probably just beginners. They had two of the two tired wheelbarrow I wanted and I bought both of them. It was time to head on home. I stopped and bought a beautiful vase and filled it with flowers I hoped Kim would like. On second thought I purchased two matching vases filled with flowers. Next I picked up a couple of cheeseburgers for Shiloh.  I should get home about an hour before Kim and Morgan got there; good! I needed alone time for a bit.

Shiloh was at my truck door when I opened it. He was uncanny. As usual he made short work of his treat. I played fetch with him until he tired of that. I went and got a thick piece of rope and brought it back and laid it in front of him. He picked it and began shaking it like it was an animal he was fighting with. Then he held it up and it was time to play tug of war. We were both tugging and growling when I saw Kim about to pull in the driveway.

I sat back on the ground and Shiloh knocked me flat, and there I lay as Kim and Morgan walked toward me. My hands were dirty and the rest of me could use a good scrubbing after rolling around with Shiloh. I stood up and held my dirty hands up and said I can’t shake hands. I dusted the front of me off a bit and told them I can’t hug you so I looked at Morgan and told her welcome to our place. I reached in the truck and handed each of them matching vases filled with flowers. Kim was one beautiful lady and her sister was a slightly younger spitting image of her. Kim took Morgan’s suitcase out of her vehicle and I took it and said Bell hop at your service. Morgan stood looking around nodding her head yes. She looked at Kim and me and told us beautiful.

We sat in the kitchen while Kim put a light dinner together. One thing about our place; we always had a variety of delicious leftovers. Kim sat down and said OK, let’s start catching up on the last twenty years. Morgan laughed and said That’s easy. I spent twenty hard years working my way up through the ranks with Exxon Oil and retired last month as the CEO of all foreign affairs. It was nose to the grind stone for twenty years with very little time for anything other than keeping our foreign exploration operation running as smooth as possible. I retired in self-defense as I was very close to unraveling. I woke up one morning and lay in bed not wanting to go to the office; actually I never wanted to go to the office ever again. I did go in and spent the day preparing my resignation. I called for a board meeting the following morning and turned my resignation in with a thirty day notice And here I am, retired but looking. I just want to kick back and enjoy my freedom for a while. I do have to be in Missoula Montana next week to do an interview with a company called Minerals Unlimited. My major in geology has turned out to be the best investment of my life. "I did explore much of