April 2: Down to Earth

by Mackey Chandler

  "It doesn't need bait on it?"

  "Trust me, the flash and motion does it." He got her set. "Don't leave the fighting chair if you get one. We'll land it for you."

  "Fighting chair?"

  "If you hook a big fish it can be quite the struggle pulling it in. Chances are, nothing like that is going to hit on a two inch spoon." He went back forward and left her alone.

  The day had started warm, it was hot now. Gunny came by and chatted about fishing a bit. Apparently most of what he caught, this crew would consider live bait. He brought her a sandwich and a new drink. After the meal and Gunny went away, it wasn't long before her eyes closed. She retained her grip on the rod however.

  A sudden jerk brought her awake. She started cranking the reel and yelled, "I got one!" The fish pulled the drag a couple times, but mostly he was being pulled in. It didn't take long to see him. Haru showed up beside her and instructed her how short to get the line. When the fish got near the boat he put the end of the gaff in the water. Just before it touched the surface he set the gaff in the head with a sharp pull and quickly raised it hand over hand.

  He swung it over the rail away from April and pinned it to the deck with the gaff. The amount of blood spraying shocked April and Haru reached in with a slim blade and punched the fish just behind the eyes. It immediately stopped its wild movements.

  "You got a nice little yellow fin tuna here," Haru complimented her. "Maybe sixteen kilo." He deftly removed the hook with a pair of pliers and held it where she could swing it back over the water. "You go ahead and see if there are more. I have a cleaning station that folds out on the side. I'll filet this right away and get it in the cooler."

  April was so shaken from the adrenaline rush of the catch and the violence of the gaffing, she wasn't sure she wanted another fish to land right now, but she understood maybe they were in a school. She dutifully got the lure back in the same place. However nothing happened for a long time. Her side was aching a little too.

  "Lunch tomorrow!" Haru said, proudly displaying the filets on a plastic tray for her.

  "I should have learned how to clean it too," she suddenly realized.

  "That is the least fun part of it," he assured her, laughing. "Plenty of time to do that some other day, if you insist."

  "If that's enough for a meal, would you come back and unhook me and help me put this stuff away for today?"

  "Sure, be back in a jiffy."

  She didn't cheat and bring the line in, But she was just as happy he returned before she hooked another one. By the time the gear was stowed and the blood flushed down the scuppers, it was almost time for supper.

  * * *

  The national news programs had nothing helpful. There was no indication of unrest, possible coup plots, or even unexplained reentry tracks across the Hawaiian sky. There was no mention of President Wiggen doing any sort of public appearances however. There hadn't been for several days. That was mildly suspicious. Indeed the damning thing in the news was the lack of any hard stories. Way too much of it was human interest stories, weather and almost in desperation stories about pets saving families from fires or other disaster. They had no access to local news.

  "Something stinks," Gunny observed. "There are usually several stories of thwarted domestic terrorists to keep the public paranoia active."

  "If they weren't thwarted, it just serves as a template for copy-cats," April observed.

  "My phone seems to be actively blacklisted," Gunny explained. "Can you let me use yours and I'll call a number I know after you?"

  "Sure, my friend Heather can route us, so your number can't back trace us, or get my number." She talked with Li about what sat to point the dish at to set the call up. Papa-san went back to the cockpit, either for necessity, or to give them some privacy.

  "April, we've been worried about you," Heather said first thing.

  "Can you cover up where this call comes from Heather?"

  "Oh, yes that's trivial. I can spoof it as originating somewhere else if you like. Your present location did sort of surprise me."

  "Somewhere in Honolulu would be great so maybe they think we are still on the island. Adzusa took me to a place called the Big City Diner, that has been there forever, if you have a listing for it can you make it look like we called from there? I want to give my bodyguard a turn after we are done."

  "You got it. Just tell me when you want disconnected and are handing it to him. Are you coming home soon? What can we do for you?"

  "First news. Is Satos house still there? What can you see from orbit? And did Mitch nail that submarine I asked him to hit for me? He certainly expended enough rods."

  "The Santos place is there, with a couple cars sitting blocking their driveway. That looks like it will stay that way for awhile. There was a flurry of activity after you left. A half dozen cop cars right at the house and folks going in and out. Also a massive response in the woods just north of the house. All kinds of fire and rescue and military. They loaded a couple air cars on flat bed trucks and took them away. Well, what was left of them," she amended.

  "The Chinese missile you shot down landed right by them. A couple meters short and it would have landed right on one. The submarine broke up for sure. There was all kinds of crap floating on the surface and a small slick of oil, but not fuel. I'd say just stores and lubricating oils. It had to be a nuke-boat. There were a bunch of small boats there and a Coast Guard cutter pretty fast. They pulled a lot of pieces and junk out of the water and left a radar buoy that holds position. It's deep there so no way they will recover any big parts without special equipment."

  "I figure the guys in the aircars were to rush in and evaluate if the missile did the job and grab or finish off anybody that survived. How ironic their own missile crashed on them."

  "Maybe, but we don't have any evidence the aircar group was Chinese. I wouldn't assume that until we have some hard intelligence. You did have a group of Chinese show up to mess with your house. Adzusa said to tell you they never got close and the guys your bodyguard set up to watch, cleared most of the, uh, incriminating parts away, before the cops got there. You owe your neighbor Diana some big home repairs and she's staying at your place until then."

  "Why does everything have to be complicated?" April complained.

  "Jeff asked me to get a formal verbal OK, to allow him to use your shares of material from the Rock for that last project you assigned him. I'm recording. Is that your will?"

  "Sure, Jeff can speak for me. I give him limited power of attorney to manage my Rock shares for any project he wishes. Take my voice profile as my signature. April Lewis, January 10, 2085. In particular, I wish Asteroid Materials Association to honor this assignment, as I am unable to be present to wet ink a contract. There, satisfied?"

  "That should do it. We're dealing with Home people, not North American legalities. You have a bunch of stuff to look over from your brother. Your grandpa is taking care of that until you get back. We have both of Eddie's new ships at the stage they can launch early, minus certain minor systems, if the need arises. Jeff was fretting because it set some project of his back a few days. We also have three volunteer ships carrying extra weapons and crew, until we get them in service. Two of those are running short loads to volunteer their services. It's great to see them step up like that."

  "If they are covering defense can you use the Happy to set up your moon business?"

  "Yes, Eddie came in on that. He's very supportive. Jeff and Happy will both come on the initial landing. I hope to be gone before you make it back. You know the two station security guys who came up on NLV when you extracted Don? They got a ride on a French ship and are in Home now. Big story there when we are face to face. Oh and congratulations," Heather said mysteriously.

  "For what?"

  "You turned fifteen a few days ago," Heather said, amused.

  "Yeah, I was planning on skipping that this year," April joked. On Home, custom was birthdays were for little kids. LET would encourage that.r />
  "You coming up soon?"

  "We'll see. That is sort of up in the air. If that's all for me, will you handle a call for my bodyguard, Gunny?"

  "Wow, what a nickname. Yeah, if that's all your pressing business, put him on."

  "Hello Heather, this is Master Sergeant Tindal, or as April said, Gunny. I just get dead air on my cell phone when I try to dial. Somebody has me excluded from the system. Would you try this number please, voice only and ask for Captain Yoder please?"

  "Calling," she announced, they heard a couple rings.

  "Protective Services."

  "Master Sergeant Tindal for Captain Yoder please," she requested.

  "Captain Yoder is no longer assigned here. I am Captain Maddow. Are you calling to arrange for Master Sergeant Tindal to turn himself in?" There was a long uncomfortable silence.

  "I'm simply acting as a relay for telephone service. I am not his agent, so I suggest you speak with him yourself."

  "Certainly, put him on please."

  "Tindal here," Gunny spoke up.

  "Master Sergeant, I strongly suggest you avoid making any statements to me or anyone else, until you have counsel and turn yourself in to appropriate authority without delay."

  "Captain, Maddow, sir, I had had no knowledge I was wanted for any criminal charges until this moment. You can imagine I am at least curious what the charges are against me."

  "I suppose I can advise you of that without any complications," Maddow allowed. "I took command here early yesterday and your folder was one of the key things laid on my desk for my immediate attention. You are listed as AWOL and tagged as a security risk, because a number of weapons are missing from the time you left. Also we have new information just today, that you had some unusual financial transactions yesterday, that are a security concern."

  "Did the folder detail the special assignment I was tasked with?" Gunny inquired.

  "No Sergeant, it didn't."

  "I suggest you speak with Captain Yoder. He gave me letters and briefing materials and provided transport for my assignment under direct orders of the President."

  "Sergeant, Captain Yoder was relieved for mental health issues. I probably shouldn't even say that much, given the privacy issues of medical information. If I were you however, I'd be very concerned with the validity of any orders he issued."

  "We are at loggerheads then Captain. I'm very confident I was not flown across the continent on a VIP aircraft, issued high level security materials and met and supported by high level State Department staff, on the orders of a mad man. I did not speak to President Wiggen, but I saw video of her arranging my assignment with the principal I am protecting. And I do have orders with her wet ink signature. What we have here is politics. I'd say the same thing to you. You better investigate the sources of your orders. I say that with all respect, assuming you have no reason to believe they are not lawful orders. You might start by asking my replacement what written materials Captain Yoder and I left behind, to allow my temporary replacement to take up the day to day work I was doing. You will see it was an orderly transition. I didn't just walk away. Also ask the State Department what arrangements were made, because they transported my car back to my house and were to close up the house and take custody of its care for me."

  "Sergeant I arrived to find nobody assigned to your position, among other matters in disarray. It has caused a disruption, abandoning your post and I still don't have someone in place. I understand the MPs have done a search of your home and looked for evidence of the reason for your absence. I'm simply not interested in continuing this conversation. I frankly don't believe you and the last thing I must to do, is order you again to turn yourself in. The longer you are absent the worse it looks. May I offer you any assistance to turn yourself in? If you stay right where you are, I'd be happy to send a patrol to pick you up, with orders not to cuff you."

  "I'm sorry sir, I'm not in a position to do that. It would contradict what I see as legitimate orders, from well above you in the chain and it's physically impossible at the moment."

  "Call back if you change your mind," Maddow said in frosty tones and hung up.

  "Well shit." Gunny groused.

  "That didn't go well," Heather agreed. "You done with this circuit?" she asked.

  "Unless April wants to call the President. I'm worried her protective detail might be compromised. It would be a kindness to let her know if you can."

  "I guess I owe her that much. Give me a minute to hang a sheet behind me and I'll do video too. I don't want anybody to get any clues where we are."

  Papa-san helped drape a white sheet behind her and they checked the camera coverage. It looked good. April gave Heather the private number to reach President Wiggen and waited.

  "I'm not getting anything," Heather said.

  "Is it out of service or a busy signal, or what?" April asked.

  "Nothing. I punch the number in and it just ignores it. No response."

  "I guess we are done then. Love you," April added. "Thanks for the help."

  "You are welcome sweetie. Try to be safe huh? Call if you can every few days."

  "I'll see if Papa-san thinks it is safe. Bye," and closed out her pad.

  "They want to arrest you?" she asked Gunny, indignant.

  "Which isn't near as bad as having a missile dropped on me," he pointed out.

  "Maybe having Papa-san yank your money wasn't such a good idea after all."

  "Nah, I think it was just in time. They probably missed snatching every buck I had by hours. They love to leave you penniless when they throw a laundry list of charges at you, after they have removed every asset you might use to hire effective counsel. The only thing making me sad, is I had quite a bit of my money tied up in my house. I'm sure I won't be getting my auto deposited pay anymore, so I'll lose the house to taxes before this all settles out. I had it set up for auto-pay. It's a shame. I have a lot of memories in that house and it I lucked out that it was in the right place to gain nicely in value."

  "Gunny, I feel responsible. You got in this mess protecting me. It was my idea even if it was Wiggen's order. I promise I'll cover any loss you suffer from guarding me. If you aren't safe to go back home I'll cover the cost of it and either hire you, or introduce you to somebody who will. Does that help settle your mind over the house?"

  "Perhaps you should just buy the house from me if it comes to that," Gunny suggested. "Seems to me Home might need a place near Washington from time to time. That way you have something for your money. They can't give you near the grief they can me, if you show up with a quit claim deed and take possession."

  "OK, we'll leave it at that," April agreed.

  "Let's go talk to Papa-san, April suggested. Gunny just nodded and didn't ask details.

  She found him sitting on one of the side benches, watching Haru at the wheel. Gunny took the other end. She got the impression Haru was the least skilled of Papa-sans men.

  The news his home was intact didn't seem to interest Papa-san. He agreed it was folly to assume the aircars and sub were connected. "Papa-san we just can't find out anything. Something stinks, but the public services are of no use and we are both cut out of the phone system from inside. They have Gunny listed as AWOL. I could get Heather to force contact with Wiggen by open transmission, but I hesitate to do that. It might create problems for her, if it looks like she is having trouble maintaining control. Do you have any professional contacts who would know what is really going on?"

  "Sit down. You make me feel like I have to answer you quickly, standing there bouncing on your feet. You aren't going anywhere," he pointed out, his hand indicating the surrounding ocean. "Are you unhappy with the aid I am rendering so far?" he asked, reasonably.

  "Not at all! I'm sorry I dragged you this deeply into it. Nobody ordered you to help me like Gunny. I'm just a friend of Adzusa and now your house was threatened and you can't go back to it. We are skulking around out in the middle of the ocean. I owe you a world of debt, even if you neve
r do another thing for me."

  "It was my pleasure," he said with a dismissive wave. "However, this contacting old associates, such stirring of the pot would have consequences. It would imply I am involving myself again in political affairs. It might alarm people, who would feel compelled to act when they feel threatened. A great many people right now will be very happy, if they don't hear a thing from me. They may appear stupid, but the lesson will not be lost that an attack on my home cost many lives and billions of dollars in assets, yet I'm still out there somewhere and nobody can be certain whom I blame. The Chinese as a nation did not attack my home. One particular official took it upon himself to do so and they know I understand that is how things really work. So I doubt anyone is going to claim such a failed operation for his own. Right now I'd rather let them sweat. The less they hear the better in that regard. You understand?"

  "Yeah, the way you work wouldn't be a missile back, it would be more surgical. Some Party guy would forget and foolishly step near a window, or he'd find half way through his Grouper dinner, that it was poorly trimmed Puffer fish and he couldn't breathe anymore."

  "Crudely put, but that is the essence of it. If it comes to that, I'd rather it be a complete surprise too," he smiled and it wasn't a pretty smile.

  "I'm going to take a nap," Gunny declared. "Li is going to give me some instruction on boat handling later and I should be rested."

  "Would you get me up too? I'll stay out of the way, but I'd like to listen."

  "Sure. You're going to get some sleep too then?"

  "If I can stop thinking," she admitted. He nodded and went down the companionway.

  Chapter 43

  Heather was cuddled against her on one side and Jeff on the other side had a warm hand on her shoulder, comforting her. Why was he shaking it? She reached up and the hand was far too large and coarse. The dream came apart in tatters and she opened her eyes to Gunny, giving her shoulder a little shake again. Her stateroom had barely enough light to find the door safely.