Chapter 12
Experience is not what happens to a man.
It is what a man does with what happens to him.
-Aldous Huxley
“I’ll pack my things and leave with the civilians in the morning Sir,” faltered Ryan.
“Why?”
“Because I faked my age and forged my dad’s signature when I joined the Airforce. That’s a violation of Section 1 punishable by compulsory discharge and possible prosecution Sir.”
“That’s news to me. Section 1’s missing from my rulebook. Dave tore it out years ago. How about your rulebook Charlie?”
“Whole book’s missing. I think Dave tossed it off the rope bridge the first time I took the Pass.”
“You’re not going to raise a violation of Section 1 against me?”
“Who am I to stand in the way of someone who may end up being another Farragut or Washington?” replied John.
“Sir?”
“U.S. Navy Admiral David Farragut was given command of his first ship at age 12... Major George Washington was a principle negotiator throughout the French and Indian War at 21... Captain Ryan Adams has graduated from the Academy with first class honours at 17, even though technically he’s too young to get into the Academy to start his training yet...”
“Are you going to tell the Academy?”
“No.”
“Thankyou Sir. I’m grateful.”
Silence.
“So what are you gonna do with me?”
John’s eyes twinkled. He rubbed his chin slowly.
“Well... since you’ve managed to slip through every other Airforce background and security check, I think the most appropriate action is to pretend you’ve slipped through our entrance checks as well. Having said that, if at any time in the future you change your mind and decide you don’t want to be part of what’s happening here or you want a taste of life outside the Airforce, Charlie or I will authorize an immediate discharge for you.”
“An immediate discharge? But that means you’re both two star Generals!”
His tone was mega-scared.
“Or you might even be a higher rank!” continued Ryan wide-eyed.
“Uh oh, Airman John... Now the pup’s onto us as well!” chortled Charlie.
John chuckled then eyed Ryan.
“Let’s not worry about anybody’s rank Ryan. Let’s just say we can pull a few strings because we’re old timers...”
“Are you saying I’m old, Father Bear?” roared Charlie.
He playfully started rumbling with John, then both men drew Ryan into the rumble.
“What are you doing?” smiled Ryan, embarrassed.
“Laughter’s like medicine to the soul,” retorted Charlie.
“Feeling better pup?” added John.
Ryan drew a deep breath.
“I always knew I’d probably get sprung one day. I never thought it’d happen when I was sharing a sleeping bag with two Generals though.”
“Well technically you got sprung a week ago,” replied John. “I knew how old you were before you arrived, remember?”
“The rest of us didn’t!” grinned Charlie. “He just told us you might freak out, and we had to be on our best behaviour until you found your feet...”
“Your best behaviour?”
“Yeah, you know... no rumbling, hugging, massaging, dancing or anything else that might be misinterpreted by you as gay, kai, queer, weird, screwy or threatening, ‘til John thought you could handle it.”
“You mean you’ve all gone out of your way to help me fit in?”
“You’re worth the effort Ryan,” replied John.
Silence.
“You’re talking like you actually think I’m going to be able to make a contribution here, instead of just being some fungus.”
“If they can make penicillin out of mouldy bread, what do you think your potential is?”
“But how can I help train ISRA recruits? I don’t have any field experience. Or life experience... And almost every decision I’ve made so far has been a mistake... You both know that.”
“Anything else you want to add to that list of negatives, pup?” ventured Charlie.
“Yes. I used to be the smartest in my class. Here, I’m dumb compared to everyone else... I don’t even know what an endorphin rush is. I just know it’s something embarrassing, ‘coz I tried to ask Paul what it was and his ears went red.”
John and Charlie grinned.
“Hmmm... We’ll have to tell those old timers at the Academy to include a core unit in physiology in the curriculum, eh?”
“So endorphins are something to do with sex?”
“That’s a brave question to ask when you’re stuck in a sleeping bag with two Generals.”
“I figure I can’t get any more embarrassed than I already am, anyway.”
Soft laughter.
“Well let’s see... Endorphins are chemicals in your body that give you a natural high and a feeling of well being... They can also temporarily relieve pain.”
“During sex?”
“Sex releases endorphins. But so do other things. The runner’s high you get after exercise is due to endorphins... So is the euphoria you get after achieving something hard. Like crossing the rope bridge.”
“So endorphins are something to do with strenuous activity?”
“Pushing yourself to the limit can release endorphins,” replied John. “But less stressful activities can release them too. For instance endorphins are released when you get a massage... or when you laugh your head off... Or when you reach a long-desired personal goal...”
“And prayer and meditation can release endorphins. Even eating chocolate can release endorphins...” added Charlie.
“Sounds random. I think I’ll research endorphins in the medical library. Or ask Fiona. Just to make sure Father and Mother Bear aren’t giving Baby Bear a bum steer.”
Raucous belly-laughter.
“Hmmm... Do you remember Baby Bear being so wary in the story of the three bears, Mama Bear?”
“Been a while since I heard the story. But I’m pretty sure baby bears are supposed be cuddly. Maybe we should cuddle this one a bit. To release some endorphins.”
Charlie flopped an arm across Ryan’s chest. John tousled his hair. Ryan lay stiffly between them.
“Baby Bear’s heart-rate has red-lined Father Bear... I think he needs a bed time story about mateship so he doesn’t feel quite as threatened by our bear hugs.”
“Got one in mind Mama Bear?”
“You know which one I’ve got in mind!”
John laughed.
“Well... once there was this legend of a man named Kiviuq, who used to drop bear in here once or twice a year...”
“The Kiviuq that you’re trying to contact?” asked Ryan cautiously.
“Ah ha.”
“So why is he a legend?”
“Well... among other things, he saved my life when both my chutes failed.”
Undisguised interest.
“Both chutes?”
“Yep. At the time, I was training Special Forces back at Malmstrom... I’d made dozens of uneventful jumps previously. On this particular day I was training a group of blokes who were part of the Air Force Security Service. Most of the group were reconnaissance and they’d jumped before. Kiviuq was different. It was his first time in a plane...and his first jump... and to top it off he was one of the most irreplaceable people in the Security Service at that time, because he was a walking-talking codebook.”
“So you were supposed to be taking extra care of him?”
“Ah ha. Kiviuq was like an excited kid about his first flight. He was peering through the aircraft windows, admiring the path of rivers and spotting eagles nests... When it came time to jump, he followed the others out... no hint of nerves... And I was right behind him. When my first chute didn’t open, my heart rate shot up but I was composed enough to pull my second chute. But when that didn’t open...”
“... you shat your d
acks, right?”
John and Charlie laughed.
“It’s true what they say about time slowing when you’re looking death in the face... All these memories of things I’d done - and shouldn’t have done - replayed in my mind like they’d happened yesterday. And I felt a sense of regret - that I’d achieved a lot less than I could have...”
John cleared his throat softly.
“I remember praying, God - Help me. I don’t want to die yet... as I plunged down. I was closing rapidly on Kiviuq. I could see him rubbernecking - still taking in the view. Then he looked up. Directly at me. I’ve heard him retell what he experienced as he looked up and realized I was in trouble. Curiously he always says that time slowed for him too. And that he asked God to help him too... Then God dropped into his spirit what course of action to take.”
“Dropped into his spirit? You mean, like Mike’s sixth sense thing?”
“Yes, but stronger than that... More like a directive from a five star General.”
“Wow! So what did he do?” breathed Ryan.
“Obeyed the directive... With only milliseconds to respond, he managed to remember how to steer his chute towards my drop path, and partially break my fall before I bounced off his chute... As I tumbled past him, Kiviuq reached out and hooked the strings of my useless chute and tangled them around his legs and forearms. I felt myself jolt violently and we both fell together for several hundred feet. His chute was damaged where I’d hit it and I knew our descent was still too fast for either of us to survive intact. I prayed “God help!” again. And as I did, Kiviuq miraculously managed to release his damaged chute and reach the pull ring of his reserve chute... It opened up above us... we both rocked unsteadily, then slowed to a regular descent speed.”
John drew a deep breath.
“The euphoria I experienced at that moment was indescribable... I knew intuitively we had a fighting chance of making it... I glanced up. I could see Kiviuq’s forearms were bleeding, where the chute cords were wrapped taut around them... and his face was contorted with pain and effort.”
“Phew!”
“I hardly knew him, but it was like we thought as one. I closed up the distance between us by clambering up my chute cords like they were a rope ladder. And Kiviuq swung himself forward into a face down position and hooked his legs under me then boosted me onto his lap. I clung to him with my arms around his neck like a frightened kid. About then the adrenalin kicked in and I started shaking uncontrollably and I could hardly hold onto him. And he grinned at me and yelled, ‘You know Major, where I come from, Mama Bear cuddles her cub like this.’”
John laughed at the memory.
“And then he wrapped his arms and legs around me and hugged me. Like this...”
John pressed Ryan closely to his chest.
“And we bear hugged each other until we were about ten foot from the ground... It was one of the sloppiest tandem landings in Airforce history, but we both walked away from it. Dave Hopkins happened to be at Malmstrom stocking up on supplies. He saw the whole thing happen and was the first to reach us. He helped patch us up, then whisked us both away to Farliga Pass.”
“To keep an eye on you for delayed shock?”
“Ah ha. Dave was one of those blokes that just seemed to know what a person needed... how much pressure they could handle... what type of glue they needed so they wouldn’t fall apart...”
Another reminiscent smile.
“Dave told his family we were joining them for a sleepover... Jen read between the lines and put on a damper... and his kids toasted marshmallows around the fire... Then a bit later, out came the sleeping bags... Dave turned them into two oversized share bags... And then he started massaging me as we talked by the fire. I’d never really had a massage before... I’d always felt a bit threatened about the idea... But I could just feel the tension dripping away... Then Dave’s kids started imitating their Dad and tried to massage Kiviuq. And Kiviuq laughed and said they were tickling him... About then, one of them noticed Kiviuq’s bandaged arms under his shirt. And the oldest one told the youngest that it must have been a bear attack. And that made the youngest one cry... And Kiviuq told him not to worry because it was a drop bear that had got him, and drop bears didn’t live up at Farliga Pass... Then Dave’s middle son pushed for more information about drop bears. So Kiviuq spun this yarn that in Alaska, the baby drop bears use the Northern Lights as slippery slides... And the Mama Bears catch them before they hit the ground... and the Father Bears cuddle them better if they hurt themselves in the playground... He had everyone in stitches... And I remember thinking how cleverly Kiviuq had changed the kids’ focus and diffused their fear. Then Dave’s kids got into their sharebag with Jen. And Father Bear Dave got into the other bag with Kiviuq and me... and wrapped his arm around us both and cuddled us.”
Silence.
“And then what happened?”
“I was gonna leave that bit out!” grinned John.
“But you can’t!”
John and Charlie laughed.
“Well... then I blubbered all over Dave’s chest! I apologized and told him I didn’t even know why I was crying... I was just so glad to be alive. And the three of us talked about life and death... and what God wanted for our lives as enlisted men...”
“And then what happened?”
“Nothing. I fell asleep because I was exhausted. Although Kiviuq and Dave kept chatting while everyone else was snoring around them. For hours they reckon...”
“And three bears sleepovers have been part of the Farliga Pass tradition ever since?”
“That’s right Baby Bear.”
“Did Dave give you chocolate?”
“I don’t remember. Why?”
“Well he was massaging you... and encouraging laughter... and cuddling you... and those things release endorphins, right?”
“You know... nobody’s ever pointed that out to me before. I’ll have to ask Dave one day whether he was following instinct or if it was something he’d read about.”
Silence.
“The message Dutchy asked you to relay. What’s a sleeper?”
“Anyone who’s been trained as a Codetalker but is not actively working for the ISRA is called a sleeper.”
“But we were taught at the Academy that encrypting computer technology had replaced Codetalkers.”
“The Navajo Codetalkers operations were declassified in 1968. And encrypting computer technology is used for transferring sensitive information between bases. But out in the field, transmitting and replying to voices still remains faster than encrypting, coding and decoding a message.”
“So the ISRA still use Codetalkers?” breathed Ryan.
“Yes. However their existence and operations have a Cat 1 classification. So if you’re ever asked, encrypting computer technology has replaced Codetalkers.”
Silence.
“Are you drowning pup?”
“Nah. Just thinking... Maybe Professor Canney knows Kiviuq.”
A pause.
“Why do you think that?” asked John softly.
“Well he’s from Alaska, and so is Kiviuq... And we know he’s involved in the Garden Island affair, and Dutchy wants to contact Kiviuq about the Garden Island affair... And we know he has a Cat 1 P & P military classification even though he’s a civilian. And even you thought that was curious...”
“I did?”
“I remember the expression on your face.”
“Hmmm... Our pup might be under-age, but he’s sharp,” murmured Charlie.
“And if all those coincidences aren’t enough, Professor Canney knows how to join sleeping bags. So maybe Kiviuq taught him.”
“They all could have just been cold and he was preventing them getting colder...”
“Then they would’ve just put on extra clothes like unrelated adults normally do on a hike. Present company excepted.”
John’s eyes danced.
“Maybe they were scared of drop bears!” quipped Charlie.
r /> Ryan laughed freely.
“So how do you explain that he knows about German sniper ladders? And how to craft the pulley? Those skills are straight out of the Security Services training manual.”
“How do you know?”
“I was reading Chapter 6 on my shift tonight. While you were introducing the massage techniques from Chapter 12 to Mike and Paul.”
Charlie eyed John.
“If he’s like this when he’s pretending to be 23, what’s he gonna be like when he’s really 23?”
“Incorrigible.”
“So you both know there is a connection between Kiviuq and Professor Canney, but the gen’s classified, right?”
“It’s way past your bed-time Baby Bear...”
“I bet I know what the connection is! I’m gonna ask the Professor, or Kiviuq, when I get to meet them... And see if my sixth sense is right.”
Charlie feigned snoring.
“I’m gonna have to work out how to get secrets out of you old timers. It’s like you’ve told me a whole lot, but absolutely nothing at the same time.”
John smiled faintly.
“We’ll explain more when we know more Baby Bear. For now, let’s get some shut eye before Operation Breakfast, eh?”
Ω
Reece lit a fire in a 44 gallon drum. I drew strength from the flickering flames. Katja handed me a hot chocolate. I sipped on it with relish.
“Did Pedro’s friend understand the message?” I asked Dutchy when they returned.
“Yes. He’s going to work out a plan with his scientist friends. He’s interested to know how you discovered General Luan’s plan however.”
I drew a deep breath.
“My brother’s a geophysicist. He travels around the world, investigating whether natural disasters have been man-generated. And sometimes I tail him around. Taking photos and writing about the incidents he’s been investigating. I also work alongside other investigative journalists. Which is what I was doing when I was investigating the man-made tremors that hit Perth last month.”
“How do you know the tremors were man-made?” asked Prada.
“E/M tremors are often accompanied by other newsworthy events. Fireballs, UFO-like sightings, flocks of dead birds, schools of dead fish...”
“That’s happened a lot lately in W.A,” ventured Katja.
“Not just in W.A. Think back to what’s happened worldwide in the last few years. Multiple bird and fish deaths all over the globe at the start of 2011. Followed by some of the largest earthquakes in recent history in places like Japan and Alaska... And more this year in Indonesia.”
I moistened my lips.
“The military have been experimenting with E/M weather modification for at least sixty years. The technology’s been used to facilitate troop movements. And weapons research has been conducted in this state for years, in remote places like Exmouth, Broome, Tom Price and Laverton. But using a satellite to cause electronic havoc in a city the size of Perth is a new twist. Last month’s tests also generated earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and wild storms on the Pacific Coast... The worst they’ve experienced in 20 years...”
“...because scalar weapons can be used to trigger natural disasters on the opposite side of the world, and the Pacific Coast is geographically opposite Western Australia,” finished Pedro.
I nodded. Surprised he understood.
“There was a temporary increase locally in ultra low frequency radio signals about a month before the tests,” added Reece. “The same happened before the earthquake in Haiti. The DEMETER spacecraft picked up a 360% increase in ultra low frequency radio signals...”
“Not many people understand the science behind detecting man-made quakes,” I said, eyeing Pedro and Reece curiously.
“If Luan’s demonstration is successful, Australia’s bilateral agreement with the U.S military might be stretched... That could make things difficult for us,” murmured Dutchy.
“An E/M generated natural disaster would make things difficult for us domestically as well,” added Katja in a wavering voice.
All eyes turned towards Katja.
“It has been a tumultuous week my treasure. Moving from our hostel with so many wonderful memories. But we’ll create new memories in this new place...”
Dutchy kissed Katja passionately on the cheek. She exhaled emotionally.
“Don’t fear tomorrow. We have a store-house of food in the sea container... there are fish in the ocean... and fruit to glean from trees nearby.”
“And I can set up a hydroponic garden,” offered Reece.
“And the wheat-silos are within walking distance of here. I noticed there is spilt grain everywhere. And even wheat growing in the vacant land nearby, ready for harvest,” added Pedro.
“And there are lots of seagulls to eat Nana,” piped up Riley.
Everyone laughed.
“He cares for the sparrow. How much more does He care for us, Moeder?” added Prada.
Listening to them, it slowly dawned on me, that they were deliberately conversing in English for my benefit. Allowing me to get to know them.
“You’re not just migrants doing it tough in Australia are you?”
Dutchy leaned forward and fingered my necklace.
“You’re not just a photo-journalist are you?” he countered.
I could feel myself oscillating between fight and flight mode as he eyed me judiciously. I attempted to string words together in response, but nothing came out. Nothing made sense in my world any longer. Pedro wriggled closer and affectionately started braiding my hair. Dutchy smiled at us. I lost my train of thought completely as his fingers brushed my cheek. I glanced at Katja and swallowed. Fighting off the feeling that she was our chaperon. She smiled back approvingly.
“You mentioned the grayline propogation band was nearly dissolved... That places your scientist friend in the GMT -7 time-zone,” I managed to say to Pedro.
“Yes. He’s in Montana at the moment. But he’s coming here to help us protect you. And do something about General Luan’s plans.”
I nodded tiredly. Mega-relieved that other people were prepared to do something about General Luan’s plans. Afraid that this unusual group of migrants might be injured before I could make a break from them. And sad, that I’d have to make a break from them at all, when my heart wanted to stay...
It is a bad plan that admits of no modification.
-Publilius Syrus
Jen Hopkins pointed to the surveillance monitor in alarm.
“It’s them Gordon! I recognize their jeep! What are we going to do without Dave here to help us?”
Gordon drummed his fingertips on the kitchen bench top.
“Hmmm... My original plan to be an onlooking guest that backs you up, won’t work at this time of the night... On the other hand, they don’t know me, so I don’t pose a threat to them... The problem is convincing them that you and Dave aren’t here anymore... Let’s see... The gate they’ve just passed through is about five minutes drive away from the house, right?”
“About that.”
“Listen Jen - I know you’ve always kept me at a distance. But can you handle me closer? Like top to toe? It’ll only be for a few moments.”
“I guess so.”
“Go and slip into the most provocative thing you own and get back here pronto.”
“What?!”
“Make sure you look as different as possible to how you looked the other day when you saw Tarapaca and Luan... You know... heels...flashy earrings... lippy. A wig if you’ve got one...”
Jen watched Gordon strip off his shirt and reach for Dave’s sarong. She clasped her hand over her mouth as he started undoing his belt.
“Jen... Trust me. Quick! Go... You’ve got about three minutes.”
“O... Okay. I’ll be back.”
Ω
Demanding bashing on the door.
“We’re closed for the night. Go into town,” drawled Gordon.
“Open up!” order
ed General Luan.
Gordon partially opened the door, standing behind the metal reinforcement for protection.
“Who are you?” demanded General Luan.
“Management. Just back from holidays. Who are you?”
“We’ve got rooms here.”
“Ya have?” said Gordon, opening the door wider. “Hang on...You must be the bods who left your stuff here and went off on the hunting expedition.”
Luan and Tarapaca exchanged terse glances.
“Dave and Jen locked your rooms before they flew out. Yer gear’s still in them.”
“Where did they fly out to?”
“Anchorage. They own B & B’s all over the world. Spend their lives travelling around filling in for their managers, so we can take holidays.”
“Do you have their forwarding address?”
“Not on me. But it’s easy to find. Their B & B’s right next door to the police station in the middle of town... Hey babe... these bods need their room keys. Will you grab ‘em for me?”
Jen appeared in the doorway with the keys and handed them to Gordon. Gordon grinned in genuine surprise as she wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed him close to her abdomen.
“Ok-e-doke - here’s ya room keys... Check out’s when ya like if you decide to leave tomorrow. Just leave the keys near the coffee machine. And if you’re hanging around, don’t disturb us ‘til late mornin’. If ya get me drift.”
Tarapaca laughed. Even Luan smiled faintly.
“Goodnight gents,” cheshire-grinned Gordon, closing the door and locking it behind them.
Ω
Silence.
Gordon eyed Jen. Jen burst out laughing.
“I had no idea you were such a good actor Gordon! They think Dave and I have gone to Alaska. And that a randy couple are the regular management.”
“You played a rather convincing role yourself!” retorted Gordon. “Wait ‘til I tell Dave I got a cuddle out of you.”
“It’s okay to tell him you got a cuddle out of me,” said Jen with dancing eyes. “Maybe just gloss over the bit out about the lump in your sarong, although I’m sure he’d laugh anyway!”
Gordon glanced down fleetingly and self-consciously moved behind the kitchen bench. Jen studied him with curious eyes.
“I might get back into something more appropriate for male company,” she said gently.