A New World: Return (2 page)

But first it is time to compare notes with those we found in Kuwait and let them know what may be in store for us on our arrival into Lajes.
 
I also feel that Bannerman and I need to have a little conversation about the leadership aspect.
 
I do know where he is coming from with regards to rank and all of them being soldiers, but frankly, I am not feeling a tremendous amount of confidence in his leadership ability.
 
Not that I truly have anything to base it on; it is really more of a feeling.
 
Perhaps it was him trying to force his rank the way he did.
 
Maybe we just started off on the wrong foot and he is really a pretty good guy.
 
He may be a great leader – after all, they did get out of there alive against a tremendous horde besieging them.
 
I think I need a little more information and will talk it over with Lynn first.
 
I cannot tell you just how happy and relieved I am to see her and that she is, well, alive.

“You have it for a little bit.
 
Are you okay with that?”
 
I ask Robert looking in his direction.

He startles out of whatever reverie he was in, perhaps just him being as tired as I am, and looks over.
 
“Yeah, I’m good.”

Disconnecting my shoulder restraints and lap belt, Brianna pipes in before I unhook from the intercom, “Dad, do you really think that’s a good idea?”

I look back at her, seeing her eyes a touch wider than normal and glancing between Robert, the instrument panels, and me.
 
“Shut up Bri! I said I got it,” Robert chimes in before I can answer.

“Easy now,” I say running a last check on the instruments.
 
“It’s on autopilot Bri and I’ll be up quickly if anything happens.
 
Besides, Robert’s a pretty good stick and he’s just monitoring the systems.
 
Michelle, come get me if anything goes wrong.”

“Okay, Jack,” Michelle answers.
 
Bri remains silent in her engineer seat, obviously a little perturbed over being told to shut up by Robert.

“Bri, make sure you watch the fuel tanks and switch them to prevent an imbalance,” she responds with a thumbs up.

I cover what instrument readings to watch for with Robert, disconnect from the intercom, and set my helmet in the seat.
 
With a last look at the Mediterranean flowing along underneath the nose, I rise, stretch the small of my back to work out the kinks, and walk down the stairs to the cargo compartment.
 
I think of how strange it is that I just left the cockpit in complete charge of my kids and feel completely comfortable with that.
 
How far we have come in the last few days
, I think stepping into the cargo area.
 
It’s amazing how our thinking and comfort levels change in response to a crisis
.

The soldiers are all strapped in and sitting on the red nylon, pull-down seats along the fuselage; most have their heads down and rifles pointed upward between their legs.
 
I catch Lynn’s eye and motion her over.
 
Seeing her walk over, I realize just how lucky I am.
 
Her short blond hair hangs limply down from being under her helmet for so long and her tired, blue eyes look up at me as she comes to stand before me.
 
I reach out and give her a hug.
 
Her initial response is to stiffen in my embrace because of the professionalism she carries in front of other soldiers but then she succumbs and relaxes, returning my hug and nestling her head on my shoulder.

The drone and vibrations of the engines are louder and stronger here making it difficult to talk without yelling.
 
On the other hand, it also makes it more difficult for others to hear – and that’s a good thing considering the thoughts that come up feeling her pressed against me.
 
We just stand there hugging each other for a moment as time stands still.

“It’s too bad we can’t find a private place for a moment or two. It’s, well, uh, been a while,” I whisper into her ear.

She chuckles in my ear before whispering back, “I know!”

“Perhaps when we land, we can go find a shipping container or something to duck around behind.
 
I’m pretty sure we won’t need more than a couple of minutes.
 
At least, I know I won’t.”
 
It has been almost a year since we have seen each other in person and we have been faithful to each other in the interim.
 

“I may just tackle you the moment everyone is out of sight,” Lynn whispers.

“I could just kick everyone out of the cockpit and close the curtains.
 
Although that may be a bit too obvious eh?”

She just answers with a soft sigh and nestles closer into my shoulder.

“Come sit with me a moment if you don’t mind.
 
I want to talk a few things over with you before we bring the group together,” I say.

“God, it is so good to see you, babe!
 
I really missed you!”
 
I say once we are seated on the bunk and I am still thinking some alone time would be nice.

“You too!
 
I’m so glad you made it and are okay.
 
You have no idea just how worried I was and how much I missed you.”

“So tell me about Bannerman.
 
I have a feeling there’s going to be some dissension about the ‘who’s in charge’ thing.
 
Can he handle himself and lead this group?”
 
I ask.

“Well, he doesn’t have any real combat experience.
 
I’ve been leading for the most part.
 
I think he’s okay with the logistics end of things, but I’m not sure about his ability to lead troops in combat.”

“Do you think he’ll do the ‘I’m in charge and outrank you’ thing?
 
I mean, I’ll follow anyone who knows what they’re doing and I have confidence in, but I have my kids to think about.
 
And, well, you.”

Lynn flashes me a quick look.
 
“I know you can handle yourself and very well,” I say before she can carry that look into words.
 
“I just want to make sure we all have our best chance at survival.”

“I know, hon,” she replies.
 
“And he may try to remain in charge.
 
In his mind, he thinks we’re still a government military force.
 
How are things back in the states?
 
For real.”

“It’s not pretty.
 
Most everything and everyone are gone.
 
We had our own run-ins with those things on the way here everywhere we went.
 
Not in the numbers it looked like you had to deal with, but enough to know that this is everywhere.”

Lynn nods and I see her fold inward to her own thoughts.
 
I imagine her thoughts are leading her to think about her friends and family.

“Oh, dang, I almost forgot,” I say watching her eyes track back to mine.
 
“I actually spoke with Craig and your mom.”

“What!?
 
You’re kidding!
 
When?”
 
She asks, suddenly sitting more erect and alert.

“A couple of days ago.
 
It was the weirdest thing.
 
We were just past Chicago calling on the radio when out of the blue, we get a response.
 
He was flying with your mom from Florida heading to, let me try and remember, somewhere in Ohio if I remember correctly.”

“He must be heading to my dad and sister,” she says with tears beginning to well in her eyes.

“Oh, and your cats were okay and with them.
 
He’s going to try and meet us at McChord,” I say watching a single tear leak out and run down her cheek.

Lynn wipes the tear with the back of her hand, gives me a big smile, and kisses me on the cheek, “You have no idea how happy you’ve made me.”

I rub her cheek with my thumb and smile back.
 
Her smile, and seeing her smile at me, always gives me butterflies. “You know, babe, back to this leadership thing, I think you should take charge.”

Giving a quick chuckle, she says, “Right!
 
We both know you have more experience.
 
Not much mind you, but a little more.
 
And don’t let it go to your head.
 
I can still take you down.”

I laugh, completely enjoying the familiar exchange we have with each other and thinking once again just how lucky I am.

“I don’t want to put you into a bad spot with Bannerman though.
 
I won’t ask you for support in whatever goes down,” I say.

“Don’t worry about me.
 
And the soldiers will follow whoever gives them the best chance at survival.”

“Alright, I’ll just play it by ear then.”

“That’s what you do best Jack.”

“What do you mean by….?
 
Oh, never mind.
 
If you’ll gather everyone up, I’m going up to make sure Robert and Bri haven’t annihilated each other.
 
And to make sure the sun is still in the right part of the sky and we aren’t screaming toward the ocean.
 
It would also be nice if the sky was still above us and not off to the side or below.”

“Are they fighting?”

“No.
 
They’re just tired like everyone else,” I answer.

I lean over and give her a kiss on the lips.
 
“I love you!”

“I love you too!”

Walking into the cockpit, I see that all of the parts of the world, mainly the sky and ocean, are in their correct locations and Robert and Bri are still alive.
 
Michelle glances over from her seat at the navigator table on my arrival and says something into the mic.
 
That apparent something is that I am back as Robert and Bri glance back at me.
 
I hold my thumb up and shrug my shoulder to give the indication that it’s a question.
 
They both give a thumbs up in return.
 
I give the instruments and fuel panel a quick look to ensure everything is in order and that we have a chance of staying airborne a bit longer.
 
The world passes slowly by the windows as we drone ever westward.

With a quick nod, I turn back, and walk once again down the stairs.
 
The soldiers are gathering in a semi-circle as I return.
 
I join in completing a circle with Bannerman on my left and Lynn to the right.
 
We begin by sharing stories, filling each other in on the details of our experiences and what we have learned.

“So basically what we know is this: They prefer the dark due to some adverse reaction to light and seemingly only sunlight as far as we can tell.
 
Light from flashlights and such don’t seem to bother them.
 
So, that gives us the daylight hours of relative safety although we don’t really know what that margin is or how cloud cover affects them.
 
Of course, darkened buildings are to be treated with care,” I yell over the droning engines, summing up our conversations.
 
“I am guessing that they don’t seem to remember who they were or have any cognizance in that regard because of how they behave by attacking on sight.
 
They also seem to strike without provocation and in packs so they’re to be treated as hostile.
 
Their bite seems to cause some sort of infection that is deadly so close-in combat is to be avoided if at all possible.
 
Lastly, this is wide-spread and there are a lot of them.
 
Does anyone else have anything to add?”

Everyone glances around to see if there is anything else but no one speaks up.

“Okay then, we should talk about where to go from here.”

“I’ll take it from here, Captain,” Bannerman says taking a step into the circle.

“Hmmm…
 
You know, I think this is as good a time to talk about leadership as there’s going to be,” I add causing Bannerman to look over his shoulder at me.

“How is that, Captain?
 
I’m the senior ranking member here.
 
You may be in command of the aircraft, but I’m in command of the personnel.”

“I’m thinking time and circumstances have changed that strict hierarchy of command somewhat.
 
We’re obviously dealing with a completely new situation and I think we need to have the one with the most combat experience to lead us.
 
Someone who will give us the best chance at surviving this.”

“And you think that’s you, Captain?”
 
Bannerman asks turning to face me.

“I’m completely open to any ideas on the subject,” I reply.

“Captain Walker, I’m a Major and the highest ranking military member here.
 
Being in the military and an officer, you should understand that.
 
You are also bordering on insubordination and mutiny!”

“Yeah, well, here’s the deal with that.
 
In the sake of honesty, I should tell everyone that I’m not in the military anymore and left some time ago.”