Sara's Paradox

By J.R. Bowles

A young Coast Guard woman finds herself questioning her sanity. Is she losing her sanity or experiencing unknown forces.

• Language: English
• Publisher: J.R. Bowles
• Release date: Jan 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463089590

J.R. Bowles

Also author of CATCH A SUCCUBUS now at amazon.com.

Book preview

Ther

Sara’s Paradox

By J.R. Bowles

Published by J.R. Bowles Smashwords

Copyright pending 2018

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

CHAPTER 1

Sara reached up and straightened her garrison cap, while wishing she hadn't shipped her combination hat. She sure hoped they wouldn't be upset and she wouldn’t get into trouble. She was supposed to report in her full dress uniform and that included the combination hat. At least she was glad she had cut her hair short. Now she wouldn’t have to worry about it falling out of the pins like it had in boot camp.

She squeezed her green canvas sea bag to settle her nerves as she clanked up the gangplank. The 157 feet buoy tender swayed against the dock from the wake of a slow passing tug boat. The metal plank ease way screeched as she got her first taste of the sea's motion. She had never seen the ocean until she joined the Coast Guard. She tried to tell herself that was the reason she had joined but down deep she knew she just wanted to get away from home—the demons. She shuddered as a memory flashed through her mind and she gave a silent prayer for strength. They weren't real, she told herself, but she couldn't help glancing down at the scar on her wrist. The doctors had diagnosis her as paranoid-schizophrenic and said she had tried to commit suicide. She hadn't though. It was the one she called Lutz that had severed her vein. Of course she had lied to the Coast Guard on her entrance physical when they asked her about mental disorders. That hadn’t been a lie, ‘they’ were real. It wasn’t a disorder, demons were real, but she had lied about being hospitalized. It was over now, anyway.

Sara inhaled and straightened herself, standing taller while audibly exhaling she continued up the gangway, remembering the procedure for boarding a ship. Salute the flag--the ensign, she -corrected herself, and then salute the OOD, the Officer Of the Day. When she got to the top of the gangway she glanced swiftly around and found there was no OOD shack. She groaned inwardly and saluted the flag and stepped onboard.

Sara wondered where the OOD was. In boot camp that was what they had taught them to do. Salute the ensign and then the OOD and ask permission to come aboard.

Suddenly a door in the white bulkhead opened. Not a door, she corrected herself again a hatch.

Can I help you? A distinct male voice asked.

Sara stared up at the Chief Petty Officer and pulled back her shoulders. She was more nervous than she realized and she inhaled to steady her voice.

Seaman Apprentice Brown, reporting sir. She snapped a very military salute and with a faint smile.

His steel gray eyes stared coldly without response or expression.

Sara stood at attention holding her salute and slowly lost her smile waiting for him to return it. After several eternal seconds the Chief spoke.

What are you doing here? His voice was harsh and demanding.

Sara blinked several times in confusion. Was the man stupid? She had just told him she was reporting for duty. When she realized he wasn't going to return her salute she awkwardly dropped her hand back to her side. She swallowed a thick lump of confused fear at his question.

I'm reporting for duty, sir!

"First of all, didn't they teach you anything in boot camp? I'm a Chief Petty Officer, not a sir. I'll have you know we don’t allow women on this ship; and second of all, we don't allow any women on this ship."

Her eyes widened slightly as she tried to control her discomfort. He was worse than the Chiefs in boot camp, although he looked too young to be a Chief. What maybe if he's lucky twenty six—eight at the most. Here's my orders, sir, uh, Chief.

Chief Donnelly stared down at the orders she handed him and shook his head. Must be some mistake. He mumbled and huffed to himself Come in and sit down on the mess deck while I find out what's going on. He turned and walked back through the hatch.

Sara wearily picked up her sea bag, following after him. Oh god, she prayed silently, please don't let him be the Boatswain Mate Chief.

Sara stepped over the door lip and set her bag on the floor. She turned and fiddled with the complicated handle of the door hatch and finally secured it. She let out a quiet sigh as she glanced around the small room with six built into the deck tables and a stainless steel galley counter. She was a little relieved there were only two other people there. A seaman in his dress uniform sat on a stool in the corner where he could stare out the window and answer the phone. She glanced at his name tag. Carson. She figured he was about her age, although he may be a little older, but no older than twenty-two. His short black hair accented his coal black eyes. In the back of her mind the phrase Jersey Shore zipped through and she had to catch herself to keep from grinning.

He opened his mouth and she felt he was going to greet her but then she saw him glance at the Chief. His mouth snapped shut and he stared down at what appeared to be a manual.

Hello. Welcome aboard. A very tall muscular black man, around twenty two years old, came around from behind the stainless steel counter. I'm Douglas Kelly. He flashed a warm ivory smile. Wiping his hand on his apron he offered it out in greeting. I'm the cook.

Sara reached out and clasped his hand smiling. Finally, she thought, a little common courtesy. Although he was tall and muscular his demeanor was very gentle. She froze as the Chief's voice pierced the silence before she had a chance to speak.

That's Petty Officer Second Class Kelly. The Chief snapped, correcting Kelly's informality.

Kelly glanced unemotionally at the Chief and then looked back at her. Just call me Doug.

Sara felt relieved at his suggestion but nervous butterfly's swarmed her stomach as she glanced at the Chief. She nodded. Seaman Apprentice Sara Brown. She figured she would stay with protocol and apologize later. Chiefs were gods, weren't they? She sure didn't want to upset this Chief, especially if she had to work for him.

Sit down. I'm going to have to call the old man. The Chief snapped and stormed off.

Sara sat down trying not to fidget.

Don't mind him. Doug Kelly said. It's almost seven and I was just securing the galley but I can fix you a sandwich.

Sara removed her cap and draped it across her knee. I'm fine. Thank you for asking.

From the corner of the room Carson finally spoke up. Are you really assigned to the ship?

Sara turned and nodded.

You're sure? We've never had a woman onboard. We don't even have a berthing area for you. He stood up and drew his pants up slightly as if to draw her attention to his bulge.

Sara glanced away trying not to stare and reprimanded herself for such a wicked thought. She finally shrugged. I don't know why. That's the orders they gave me out of boot camp.

Carson had started walking over to her but backed up when he heard the wardroom door open.

Sara watched nervously as the Chief's form appeared from the short corridor behind the galley.

I spoke with the old man. I'll have to put you in the Engineers’ stateroom for tonight and they will have to figure it out tomorrow. He didn't even look at her as he spoke even though he stood directly in front of her and then he turned to Carson. Here's the key for the Engineer's wardroom take her there. Then he looked at Kelly. Answer the phone until he gets back. He turned and headed back to the wardroom.

I don't have duty. Doug spoke up. I'm headed on liberty. He wouldn't have minded if he had asked him but he just told him.

Chief Donnelly turned, his face was devoid of emotion except for a faint twitch in his jaw. Sara though he must be gritting his molars. Listen, Kelly, ODD stands for Officer of the Day and in case you can't remember what that stands for, the OOD takes the Old Man's place when he's not here. You are in the Coast Guard twenty four-seven, whether you're on duty or off duty. If you're here you fall under my command and I'm the one that grants liberty.

Doug's eyes flashed with anger. Aye, aye, Donnelly. He answered curtly in response to the Chief using only his last name.

That's Chief Donnelly!

That's Petty Officer Kelly. Doug stared back in defiance and watched as the Chief turned then headed back into the wardroom.

Sara sat frozen at the confrontation watching as Doug went over and nodded at Carson. After he sat down on the stool Carson had been sitting on, he smiled at Sara. He's right. He is the OOD but it's just the way he comes across that makes everybody so damn mad.

Sara didn't say anything. There wasn't really anything she could say. She stood up and watched as Carson walked across the mess deck to the steps leading below deck. "The ladder," she corrected her thoughts. "Stairs are ladders, even if they're not ladders."

Come on. Carson said grinning as he curled his hand in gesture. He stopped and watched as she picked up the heavy sea bag, then walked back towards her. Let me carry that for you.

Sara watched as he reached out to take the heavy burden. She really wished she could let him carry it. God knows she had been toting it through two airports and then the taxi. She couldn't let him do it even if she wanted to, it just wouldn't be right. He wouldn't offer to take it from her if she were a male but how did she say no without offending him.

That's okay, thanks anyway. I've carried it so long today it has become a part of my body. She smiled in hopes he wouldn't be offended. She didn't know much about men but she did know men's egos were fragile. It's like a Siamese twin, connected at the shoulder. She added with a nervous laugh.

By the way, I didn't introduce myself. I'm Ken.

Her mind spun slowly. Ken and Doug. They both gave her their first name. Was it acceptable to call them by their first name. Well Ken was a seaman, one rank above her but still a non-rate like herself; so she figured that was okay but Doug was a Second Class Petty Officer. She wasn't sure if it was okay to use his first name. In boot camp they had taught them to address them as Petty Officer. She wasn't sure what she should do. She didn't want to offend Kelly by giving the seaman her first name but not him. Just as she opened her mouth to answer the hatch to the mess deck clanked open.

Hello! Is anybody onboard? A tall ebony skinned woman in uniform stepped onto the mess deck. She glanced around and then motioned behind her. A man, who apparently was the taxi driver set two suitcases down as she pointed at open space on the tiled deck. She fished around in her purse, pulled out some money, handed it to him and smiled. The man tipped his hat, took the money and left.

Sara, Doug and Ken stood silently watching the animated scene. Well? the woman finally interrupted their rude stares, is anybody gone to welcome me aboard or are you going to just stand there? She scanned Sara and Ken wearily and then spotted Doug sitting in the corner. Smiling she walked sensually over and offered out her hand. I'm Tanika Brown and I'm reporting aboard.

Sara watched her style and self-confidence with envy. Of course she was a Seaman, one pay grade higher than Sara was, but she was definitely a dynamic personality.

Doug stood up so fast the stool squealed against the tiled floor. Hello there. His smile was even brighter than the one he had given Sara. I'm Doug Kelly and I'm certainly charmed to meet someone as lovely as you. He stared at her several seconds with awe plastered over his face.

Sara glanced around at Ken as he cleared his throat. I'm Ken and this is Sara.

Sara glanced at Ken in surprise, touched that he had caught her first name so easily.

Tanika glanced over at the sound of his voice and then dismissed him almost as quickly. She didn't even look at Sara.

Ken spoke again. You said you're reporting aboard?

Some boys can be so deaf sometimes. Tanika said to Doug and then looked back at Ken. That's what I said.

Ken glanced down at the deck from her rudeness and spoke to himself more than to her. I better get the Chief.

Sara watched as he walked up the short corridor behind the galley at what she now assumed to be the wardroom. He knocked gently several times and paused for a response. Sara couldn't hear the response but figured the Chief must have called out when Ken opened the door and stuck his head through. Sara heard amusement in his voice as he spoke. We've got a Seaman Brown reporting aboard, Chief.

This time she heard the Chief's voice loud and clear. Shit son, I already know that and it was Seaman Apprentice Brown. Carson I knew you were dropped on your head as a kid.

Ken answered with a definite chuckle in his voice. "No Chief, this is another Seaman Brown."

He backed away from the door and headed back down the corridor with the Chief close behind. Sara quickly looked down at the deck as the Chief glared at her with those cold icy eyes.

What the hell is going on out here? He stopped as he spotted Tanika and Sara could almost hear him groan. Who are you?

Tanika turned away from staring at Doug, somewhat disgruntled at being interrupted and spied the Chief. She smiled gloriously at him, obviously taken by surprise, the same as Sara had been by his handsome yet stern looks.

The Chief dismissed her blatant stare causing his face to become even harder. I asked, who are you?

I'm Seaman Tanika Brown. Her body language became slightly more reserved and she handed out her orders.

The Chief stood at the corner of the mess deck and stared at the papers until she walked over and handed them to him. He glanced down and shrugged turning to Carson. Log them both in and show them to the engineers wardroom.

Carson nodded and then stopped. But Chief there's only one rack in there.

It can't be helped. One of them will have to sleep on the deck. Here's the key to the linen locker, get some extra linen. He headed back to the wardroom grumbling. This is the Old Man's problem.

Sara could almost swear that she heard him add I hope, to the rest of his statement.

Come on. Ken said and headed back towards the ladder leading below deck.

Sara watched Tanika with relief knowing that she wouldn't be the only woman onboard.

Well? Tanika said emphatically and tilted her head and looked at Ken and then to Doug.

Ken scratched his head in confusion. Well what?

Tanika turned back to Doug with a slight frown. Are either of you strong men going to help a lady with her bags?

Doug chuckled and grinned at Ken. I have to stay and answer the phone. I would if I could.

Ken let out an audible sigh and shuffled over and grabbed one of the suitcases and complained from