They had not yet reached cruising altitude when it appeared that all the flight crew had gone into the cockpit or where ever they hung out in the 124. Dan unbuckled his harness and turned so he could lookout the window which he then realized was larger than the windows in any other aircraft’s cargo compartment that he had ridden in giving him a great view of where they were. He could see far enough in front of the wing to see the terrain before they got to it. The 124 turned south. At first Dan saw the green of patches of what he figured were rubber plantations then the fresh green of rice paddies with the shiny blue of water reflected here and there between the plants. Looking closer and deeper into the country side he started to see bomb craters. First a single crater here and there. As they traveled a bit more westerly on their southern route the craters seemed to become more numerous and larger and ringed with bigger piles of brown, almost black dirt. Soon it seemed that the hills became a tapestry of brown rimmed volcanic craters surrounded by bright green patches of jungle changing here and there duller green patches of what he thought was sugar cane or maybe rubber trees. Sometimes the rectangular shape of these duller green patches was broken by two or three perfectly round craters trimmed in brown as if they wore necklaces.
Going over the Central Highlands of Vietnam the trees became taller and denser with fewer obvious bomb craters The craters were replaced by patches of blackened jungle. Napalm. Got to be. I don’t know what else would leave a scar like that.
Rain forest? Looks like it. The larger trees of the forest lands brought back thoughts of his experiences working in logging camps on the Canadian, US and Maine borders. You can’t use a chain saw on those trees. They have to be full of shrapnel from all those bombs and artillery rounds. Iron and saw blades sure as hell don’t mix.
While the C-124 droned on south and still a bit westerly the land started to level out. The mountains became hills and soon the hills took in a more roundish shape until looking as far ahead as he could, Dan could see the sun reflecting of many stringers of water. As they drew closer the stringers started to connect into whole rivers with boats of all kinds navigating in both directions. Green rice paddies seemed to be everywhere and the inevitable craters grew in numbers again to fracture the flat land of the delta country. Losing altitude and turning into the air traffic pattern for Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut airport the huge delta of the Saigon River grew and filled the whole limited sized window that Dan was looking through.
In barely over an hour, Dan found himself along with eight or ten Marines and sailors with a couple of Air Force sergeants mixed in, sitting on the troop seats of an Air Force C-141 bound for Naha Air Force Base on Okinawa. Finally able to relax he stretched out on a line of several unoccupied grey nylon troop seats and with the lullaby of four big jet engines was soon sound asleep.
Dan felt his ears plug then pop an instant before the loadmaster shook his foot to proclaim,”We’re starting our descent into Naha. Be on the ground in about 20 minutes.”
“Thanks Sarge.” Dan responded when he sat up and groped around the deck under the troop seats to find his jump boots. He stood to get the blood flowing in his arms and legs then laced his boots. Gathering up his duffle bag, 782 gear and flak jacket he happened to catch the loadmasters eye who nodded then pointed to the forward starboard troop door and nodded. They would off-load through that door so Dan carried his gear forward and dropped it in a pile next to the door.
The late afternoon Okinawan sun felt familiar and friendly. The slight onshore breeze carried the scent of the golden sand flats uncovered by low tide across the runway from the ramp where the 141 had parked. He stopped to look towards the South China Sea and took a deep breath. Hey, I can’t smell anything but ocean. No diesel and feces smell from burning outhouse refuse. No artillery firing rounds or jets making passes across the jungle.
He was again gathering up his gear when a Marine Staff Sergeant from the 141 came along side. “Give you a hand Seabee?” You going to catch a shuttle?”
“Thanks. Not actually Sarge. Going to grab a taxi to get home In Ginowan.”
“Are you stationed at Futemma?”
“Was. Got 30 delay en-route then back to Phu Bai.”
“Wife here?” The Marine asked as they walked through Operations headed for the street-side door.
“Wife-to-be. We live in off base housing in Ginowan. Not far from the Futemma gate.
You heading north?”
“Yeah, Camp Butler. Brig chaser.” He said and indicated the .45 and night stick hanging from his web belt. “My partner and I just took one to Saigon for transport back to CONUS and smuggling drug charges.”
“Isn’t that unusual? Aren’t they usually tried here?”
“Actually, yes. But this pair were going to make it big so they tried sending it to CONUS rather than selling it here. So the Navy and Air Force wants them in CONUS for trial. Be a lot stiffer sentence.
There’s my ride.” The Marine pointed to a gray Marine Corp carryall with a red bubble light on top. “Come on, we’ll drop you off in Futemma and you can catch a sukoshi cab up the hill from there.”
“Thanks Sarge, I appreciate that.”
Dan had told Suzie that he couldn’t tell her an exact date or time when he would be home. Since he was catching hops there was no way he could come any closer than Sunday, Monday or even Tuesday. Did really good. Hope she’s home I just want to hold her and feel her softness. Not exactly the tiny Asian woman that I thought I would fall in love with and marry.
Getting out of the sukoshi cab, Dan threw his flak jacket and 782 gear over the wall before walking through the gate with his full duffle bag balanced on his right shoulder.
Suzie either heard the cab, or was watching for him. He barely stepped up on the porch when a pink and floral covered missile flew through the open front door. He barely had time to drop his duffle and brace himself when she hurled herself squealing into his arms. After the initial squeal the only sound was made by their lips meeting, a faint sucking sound as each tried to engulf the other’s lips and low, unheard by anybody but the two who were entwined in each other’s arms, murmurs of “I love you, God I missed you, hold me, you’re safe, tighter, please tighter.”
Dominating feminine murmurs soon became “let’s go inside, take me inside.”
The sun slipped down to the horizon and they were still lying on the bed, The day was warm and they had thrown the blankets onto the floor. Dan still had his olive drab skivvies on and Suzie had on a pair of very brief black lace panties but no bra. Their ardor had cooled at least to the point of being almost civilized. Suzie’s hand came up Dan’s thighs, where she had tucked it a long while ago, as Dan ran his hands down over her hips then around onto her butt and started to slid her panties down.
“Are you ready My Love?” He asked her and kissed her passionately.
“Mmmm. I don’t think I can wait any longer.” She answered before raising her hips to meet him.
It was fully dark and one of them had picked the blanket off the floor and thrown it over them. They were spooned together. Suzie had her butt tucked into Dan’s crotch and had pulled his right hand over to caress her full breasts.
“You hungry, Dan My Dear?
I’m not sure what I’m hungry for. Food or more of you.” She said and slowly turned over, took him in her hand and guided him between her legs.
He pushed himself against her before answering. “This is not fair. I wanted some of the sushi and cold beer that I know you have in the fridge until a second ago. He gripped her butt with both hands and pulled her closer to him.
She kissed him passionately before gently pushing him away with both hands on his chest. “I have to go. There is not room for you and all my pee in there. And we must eat some real food.
Then we can give each other an Okinawan bath and soak in the tub.”
“That sounds really good.” Then he pulled her back to him and kis
sed her tenderly on her lips, cheeks, forehead and ended by sucking on her throat.
She returned his kisses, kiss for kiss and tongue for tongue. ”Are you going to eat me up? Wouldn’t you rather have some sushi?”
“Depends on what your offering to me to eat.”
“Dan Lee, you are terrible! But I love what you do to me.” She answered in a quiet and very low voice before sliding away from him and getting off the bed.
The late morning sun was soaking into their bedroom with its radiating warmth. Without moving anymore than he had to, Dan patted the sheet on Suzie’s side of the bed expecting her to be there within easy touching reach as she had been since yesterday afternoon. The sheet was warm to his touch. He felt the warmth of the sun soaking into his skin so he pulled the sheet a little higher covering his upper legs and up to his waist. He closed his eyes before rolling over onto his back.
Coffee. I smell fresh coffee. Maybe not. I do definitely smell Suzie. Subtle as it is I know her scent in my sleep.
Yes. The coffee is new and if it isn’t ready it soon will be.
With his eyes still closed he hear a soft step and could feel her closeness. Then he felt her barely touch the side of the bed.
“Do you want this?” He barely heard her when she spoke.
Her lips touched his lightly and he could taste the coffee. The exaggerated sound of her sipping coffee forced him to open his eyes and turning his head far enough to watch her sipping again from the coffee mug she held in her right hand. She had on a light blue nemaki, her hair was brushed out and hung at its full length below her shoulders. She had put on a touch of lipstick but no other makeup.
“My God! You are so beautiful”
She broke into a huge, happy smile which showed tiny wrinkles at the corner of her eyes as they closed part way, and at the sides of her mouth.
“I love you also.” She leaned down and kissed him softly and long. When she straightened back up she sat on the bed next to him and swung her left hand around to pick up a full and very hot mug of coffee she had set on the night stand out of his sight.
“I’ve already taken a shower. Then I made us kohi. Maybe you want to get a shot of caffeine then take a shower. You do taste salty.”
“What time is it? Actually, what day is it?” He asked laughing easily. ‘I have lost all sense of time. Except how many times we made love. That was about a hundred times wasn’t it?”
“Don’t you wish. It’s 1300 on Monday. You can stay in bed as long as you want. You’re very tired and I might add, badly in need of at least a shower.”
“Hai. All right I get it. You want me to be Okinawan clean and to forget that I just came from the land of red laterite and stinky benjo buckets, neh?” He had sat up carefully so as to not spill his coffee and Suzie slipped two pillows behind him.
“Just relax. Drink all the coffee you want and I’m going to fix you some breakfast when you’re ready. Are you hungry?”
“Actually I’m starved. For food as well as you. What can I have?”
“Solid food first. Then a hot shower and then soaking for about an hour. You’re still sweating red from your pores.
After that we can talk about what else you want. You know that I won’t have any problem agreeing to anything that my Lover needs or wants.”
She carefully snuggled against him being careful not to spill any of the fresh cup of coffee she had brought him.
“Do you want to talk about it? Or did something bad happen that you don’t want to talk about?”
“Other than being away from you? Nothing bad happened this time. I do miss Brad, but I have you to think about. You help me deal with it even if you aren’t where I can reach out and feel your warm, silky skin or your soft loving lips.”
“Hai, I think that I understand. I miss you too, but I have Sasha, Tomi and Reiko. I do miss you holding me and touching me all over. Having them is not the same. Not nearly the same as being in bed naked with you.
You ready to eat?”
“Hai, If you want to start cooking I’ll take a real fast shower and put on a nemaki.
What are you going to fix me?”
“You want a GI steak, rice and two or three eggs, neh?”
“Hai, Sounds great. Three eggs over easy and the steak rare?” Where did you get the steak?
Never mind. I know. Reiko and the commissary at Machinato.”
“You are so smart My Love.” She said before kissing him lightly on the cheek and carefully slipping off the bed.
Get up! Into the shower. Now!”
For the next three days Dan and Suzie stayed close to home. The furthest they went was towards Ginowan village where the nearest Okinawan store was. Here they could get fresh eggs, bread and whatever vegetables that the store Mama-san had that day. Two blocks further down the same road was a small sushi bar/fish market and they could get fresh fish as well as much sashimi and sushi as Dan wanted to eat.
Just after 0800 on Wednesday morning Dan carried two cups of coffee into their bedroom. The early morning sun was radiating across the bed and Suzie was stretched out on her back across the bed diagonally. She was naked and her skin glowed golden in the warm clear glow of the sun.
“Where did you go? I tried to find you but you were gone.” She asked in a sleepy voice without opening her eyes. “I smell you. You just came from a shower and also smell fresh kohi.”
Dan stepped up to the bed, leaned over her near her face and passed a cup of the steaming coffee close to her nose.
“Mmmm. Do I have to open my eyes and get dressed to get some kohi?”
“Iie. Just stay as you are My Love then I can enjoy your gorgeous naked body.”
“Are you looking at my boobs. You always look at my naked breasts. Stop it.”
“Hai. They have great shape, are beautiful and have the cutest little nipples especially when they get hard.” He answered as he set the coffee cups on a bedside table before reaching for the hand she was extending to him. She still hadn’t opened her eyes depending on Dan to guide her. He lifted so she was sitting on the edge of the bed and still holding her left hand placed one of the cups of kohi in her right hand. Smiling she squinted one eye open enough to see the cup before carefully sipping the very hot brew.
“That’s good?”
“Honto.” She responded and opened her eyes. “Eeee! You are already dressed. Don’t you love me anymore? Are you leaving me after four days?”
“Actually I thought I would wait until after we came back from Naha tonight before I left you. I found this really gorgeous Eurasian lady with great legs, gorgeous breasts and who likes to stay naked all day so I can watch her breasts jiggle and bounce as she moves around the house. And they are just positively gorgeous when she’s on her back in the sun.
Did I also tell you how great her whole body is? Her personality is the best I have ever known. And best of all, she loves me.”
Suzie put down her coffee, stood and stepped into his arms. She took his hands and placed them one on each cheek of her butt. “Do you love her as much as she loves you?”
“Hai. More.”
“Iie. You cannot possibly love her more than she loves you. It is impossible.”
“Honto? Is that true?”
“Hai. Do I have to prove it? Again?” She asked pressing into him.
“Hai, after we come back from Naha. I think we had better go shopping at Ryubo’s and Black Market Alley. Then have lunch with Tomi.”
“What do you want to get in Naha?” Suzie asked as she slipped out of his arms and headed for the bathroom taking her coffee with her. “I’m going to take a shower and get dressed. So stay away from me. We don’t want any distractions if we’re going to Naha. Honto?”
“Hai. I hear you. Do you want another cup of coffee?”
“Hai, dozo. I would like that very much.”
Tomi was at the coffee house when Dan and
Suzie got there in time for lunch.
“I am so glad to see you both. When do you have to leave, Dan?”
“The end of the month. But we don’t think about it.”
“We’re taking it one day at a time and refuse to count the days until he leaves or the months until we will be together again.” Suzie commented as she hugged her tomodachi then stepped back and slipped her arm around Dan’s waist.
“Come on. Lets go sit down and decide what we want for lunch. I haven’t eaten either. After you called on the denwa I decided to wait for you.”
Tomi led the way to their table in the far back corner of the coffee house . When they were all seated, a new waitress, that either Dan nor Suzie knew, arrived with three copies of the coffee house’s new menus.
“Wow.” Dan exclaimed. “New nesan and new menus. More choices on the menu. New chef also, Tomi?”
“Iie. Never happen. You will remember him. When Mama-san retired, he married her and then I let him plan his own menu and this pretty thing is what we ended up with. You know he is really a great cook, Dan.”
“I do remember. Especially his yakasoba.
So you, Tomi, my second love, how are you and the aka-chan?”
“I’m only your second love?”
“Quiet. My first love is next to me and she gets really mean if she forgets that she is my number one love of all times.
Do you think that will keep me from getting in the dog house Tomi?”
“Dog house? Where is the inu?”
“He’s being an American smart ass, Tomi.” Suzie said before telling Tomi what Dan meant.
“They have very strange ways of saying things, neh Suzie?”
“So how are you, Tomi?” Dan asked again.
“We are fine. Very good and he will be arriving the first week of December.”
“He? Aren’t you jumping the gun in deciding he is going to be a he?”
Both women looked at Dan, smiled then laughed quietly.”
“What? What do I say that is so funny?”
“Don’t you know that is up to the mother to know whether the baby is a boy or girl?” Suzie responded.