AK 239: The Enemy Is Already Here

I don’t want to let him know that I’ve already alerted Admiral Baker and ASWOC as this will likely tick off Bert for going above him. So I say,

“Because, sir, I believe that AOAIA has never seen this signature before and so it’s possible another class of sub or subs are out there.”

“Ok ‘chief’ thank you for that. I’ll look into it,” says an annoyed Burt.

I pause as Bert continues to ignore me, knowing this idiot won’t do a thing.

“Dismissed,” says Bert.

“Yes, sir.”

Again I pause, staring at this stubborn idiot before leaving the room.

“I’m sending all these anomalies to ONI, DNI and Admiral Baker,” before shutting his door.

I then open the door again saying as sincerely as I can,

“Merry Christmas, sir!” I say before again shutting the door.

Bokan Mountain

^{Christmas Morning}

Jennifer and I are huddled asleep together. My arms are wrapped around her bare chest. It sounds sexy but it wasn’t. I had dried blood stuck to me, which was stuck to her.

So, much for sexy, I thought.

She acts very comfortable snuggled, asleep, under my chin.

Feels pretty good too.

My God, I hope she’s alive!

I could feel her heartbeat all night long and knew she made it but I checked her neck again just to make sure.

“Thank God!”

Although it was cold, the tree covered area and the log-covered moss kept us from freezing to death.

I woke up a few minutes ago with a spider crawling across my face. Without opening my eyes, I calmly picked it up and placed it outside a hole in our log.

Luckily, I didn’t look at it until I put it outside the log. It was large and black, with ominous bright yellow zigzags on its underside.

That didn’t look good.

All we need now is to have a lethal spider bite.

FBI Hostage Rescue will find us dead, naked and huddled together months from now.

Those pictures won’t look good in our performance review file!

I’ve gotta stop thinking like this.

I carefully lift off the moss and check her duct-taped wounds. Being satisfied she’s not bleeding; I gently place the moss over her naked body. I try to wake her and realize she is trying to open her eyes but is clearly struggling.

I know that if I don’t clean out this GSW (gunshot wound) soon, she will die.

I peer outside the log and see the sun once again peek out of the rain clouds.

Thank God it didn’t rain last night!

I check her sat phone and see it’s still being actively jammed. I then check my iPhone and it’s working but still showing:

No Service.

“Funny, it’s working but I only got two percent battery left. Any last requests?” I say as she opens her eyes.

“Ya, Funeral for a Friend, Jennifer says without wasting a moment.

I get all excited as I search through my playlist saying,

“Elton John? I think I’ve got it, but the song’s ten minutes long. That’ll wipe out the battery for sure.”

She’s so far gone she doesn’t react at all.

I hit play.[8]

I see fresh blood oozing out of the peeling duct tape as I hear Elton singing,

“Love lies bleeding in my hands.”

I have to get her help and fast. I reach to grab my clothes and see a book sticking out from under Jennifer’s neatly folded clothes.

It’s Jack Tanner’s captain’s log!

I open a page Jennifer has folded over.

This sad alcoholic really had a tough life.

It’s not right that someone “just following orders” ended his life.

He really did see that sub.

Well, that would have been helpful to know about before we started on this little disaster, I thought as I quickly put on my clothes.

I set the diary down as my mind races through of all our options, none are good.

As I crawl out of the log I’m immediately met with a revolver.

My first reaction is to fight.

But what I see is a kindly looking old man in a long white beard that goes to his waist. He also has crazy white hair and blue eyes that pierced through to my soul. He looks different.

Different is good.

I decide to slowly put my hands in the air.

“Who are you? the crazy old man asks.

“Who are you? I reply.

We stare down each other forever before I think: “This is ridiculous!”

“My name is John Denning. I’m with…”

“Are you one of them?” Al asks with a gun pointed squarely now into the middle of my forehead.

“No. No. We’re FBI.”

“Do FBI agents generally sleep together naked?” asks our Santa look alike.

“No. No. It’s not like that. She’s shot. Needs medical help. You have a two-way radio?” I ask.

“Ain’t got no radio.”

My hopes are instantly crushed.

“But I know where one is,” he says.

“How far?”

“In the mine.”

“Can you take me there?”

“Ya, but you better take her.”

Why?

“There’s a doctor up there.”

“Really?”

I study the old man to see if he’s nuts or believable.

I’m not sure.

But since I really didn’t have another choice, I decide to follow him.

I pick up the unconscious Jennifer and follow him into the woods.

By the way, what’s your name?” I ask.

“Al Reynolds,” the old man answers.

* * *

I’m carrying Jennifer over my shoulder as we slowly ascend Bokan Mountain. This is still a densely wooded area. There is some snow in the trees and on the ground but not on the trail.