I lay in bed, my body wanting to fall into a restful and restorative sleep, but my mind was having none of that. In closing my eyes, I wasn’t taken back into combat, which happened only rarely and never when I was so tired. No, it was Gularte’s words about a possible threat to myself and my family because of my possession of the tapes. Tapes I could only guess what was recorded on them and hear those small containers of audio information if the tape material could be retrieved. My wife was right, I didn’t own a tape recorder. Our family television/stereo had only a 21-inch screen and a Phillips record player.
I could do nothing about anyone coming for the tapes. I’d played with one idea after another. If I stored the tapes somewhere ‘safe’ then that somewhere could be forced out of me with a mere verbal threat to harm my wife or daughter. There would be laying no booby traps or any of that, as I was home and I wasn’t going to allow myself to be drawn back into a combat that I’d be living with forever, or at least adding to what I might have to live with forever. From there I went to thinking about what might be on the tapes. The one tape I’d read the notation from had to be about the three dead Marines but there was no way to tell who would be talking without the tape being brought back and also then figuring out who any speakers might be. It was the other reels, the ones I hadn’t stopped to examine closely that almost drew me from the bed. I knew if I got up, however, my wife would awake. She was not built like a character from popular movies or television. No matter how gently I might slide from the bed she would wake up, and she’d done it many times to prove her capability. She had seen the bag and the tapes, so she was way ahead of anyone else, but then I thought back to my consideration of just how much danger was I inflicting on anyone, including her, by having her know more.
You are most likely goin to tell me Im nuts or crazy when I say this but evry time you mention Bozo the cat I think of Nguyen…I guess because he looks into your eyes with no expression.
In any case this is a very intresting book. I dont get much time to read it here workin the way I do but it gets more intresting evry chapter
Thanks Jay. I never thought of the cat-like behavior of Nguyen being that way, but now that you mention it, there was a
lot of comparisons that hold up. Maybe that’s why I became, and still am, a cat person when I came home.
Thanks for that thoughtful comment and the compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
I first thought of it when the cat came up the street to warn you about the guys who came to tell your wife to pack a suitcase…how the cat figured out where you were just seems like somethin Nguyen would do
Jay
Since I became a cat person those felines have taught me that if we ever run into real aliens
that we are going to have one helluva time understanding and communicating with them. Cats, like
Nguyen, do not think in a linear fashion but do indeed think. My cat today, Bentley, a Norwegian Forest Cat, has a
pet cat of his own. It’s stuffed. No problem. He places that cat in strategic spots when he wants to make a point.
Gone to long and come home. The pet is waiting inside the front door, with a complaint I figure. Wrong food, pet cat sits in the
bowl waiting for the real deal. And so on! Thanks for the great comparative comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
How did you no which way/side to rewind the tape? It will be anticlimactic if they are unreadable
I did not know. You must wait to see a result as the story continues.
Great observation, however.
Semper fi,
Jim
“War is for the participants a test of character; it makes bad men worse and good men better.” (5)
COL Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (American Civil War Hero)
Thanks for that tidbit of real Wisdom, Rich!
From 1 worm hole to the next? James your a good writer!! waiting for the next one!!
Thanks Harold, I am writing it just this minute!
Semper fi,
Jim
James, Interesting that you are driving around with the rebreathers and demo gear in the Volks. Is it useful to recount returning them to the armory (and what part of the equipment you can keep)?
“Hand church” This is the church. This is the steeple. Open the door and here’s all the people.
The Panasonic RQ-300S portable reel-to-reel tape recorder!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgenD_V4xC4
I did not view this video. May have some details for future chapters.
The scene with Mary addressing Julie, Bozo, and Mrs. Beasley was a hoot!
My question is – after you review the tapes are you going to turn them over to the compound with some story to cover the time lapse? We shall see.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
I laid in bed, my body wanting to fall
“lay” rather than “laid”
/Check out Lay vs Lie charts/
I lay in bed, my body wanting to fall
only guess what was recorded on them and hear those small containers of audio information but only if the tape material could be retrieved
Maybe remove “but only” and move “only” to before “hear”
only guess what was recorded on them and only hear those small containers of audio information if the tape material could be retrieved
The eight-track I did own was at the bottom of the harbor and the Morrison cartridge with it.
Drop this sentence.
/Your eight-track is in the Volks. The eight-track in the Porsche was already there. You removed a tape from it and then inserted the Doors cartridge./
OR reword
The eight-track player I did own was sitting in the Volks. However, it only accepted cartridges – not the reels of tape I had.
I was home and I wasn’t going to be allowed to be drawn back into a combat
Maybe reword
I was home and I wasn’t going to allow myself to be drawn back into a combat
thinking about what be on the tapes
Add “might” before “be”
thinking about what might be on the tapes
no way to tell who would be the talking
Drop “the” before “talking”
no way to tell who would be talking
She was not built like a character from common movies or television
Maybe another word for “common” Try “popular” or “ordinary”
She was not built like a character from popular movies or television
OR
She was not built like a character from ordinary movies or television
She had seen the bags and the tapes
Singular for “bag”
She had seen the bag and the tapes
recording material sitting in the tub, soaking away
“cooking pan” rather than “tub”
recording material sitting in the cooking pan, soaking away
being straight he wasn’t going to take my admission or his discovery
/context seems that Chuck would feel discomfort – so need to modify “take”/
Suggest add “easily” before “take”
being straight he wasn’t going to easily take my admission or his discovery
OR
add “comfortably” before take”
being straight he wasn’t going to comfortably take my admission or his discovery
The cat was frontwards and Julie backward
Maybe “went” instead of “was”
The cat went frontwards and Julie backward
the code from the sticker on the reel: RQ-303S
Elsewhere it’s “RQ-300S” Plus RQ-300S is a valid Panasonic number.
the code from the sticker on the reel: RQ-300S
standing racks of matching stereo pieces of equipment
Maybe move “stereo” to before “equipment”
standing racks of matching pieces of stereo equipment
different speeds depending on tapes you may be using
Maybe add “which” before “tapes”
different speeds depending on which tapes you may be using
same kind of recorder the tapes were recorded using
Maybe “on” instead of “using”
same kind of recorder the tapes were recorded on
In handling and cleaning the tapes I’d also gotten the distinct feeling
/At this point all you’ve done is place the tapes in distilled water.
Maybe modify a bit./
In the initial handling and cleaning of the tapes I’d also gotten the distinct feeling
“His Porsche disappeared,” I replied. “His father
Seems comma rather than period after “replied”
“His Porsche disappeared,” I replied, “His father
supply of them to taking care of patching holes that might appear in parts of my torso
Maybe “to take care”
supply of them to take care of patching holes that might appear in parts of my torso
OR
“for taking care”
supply of them for taking care of patching holes that might appear in parts of my torso
Sinatra, Monroe, and so many more
/If Monroe = Marilyn Monroe – she died in August 1962. Maybe pick another celebrity instead of “Monroe”/
burned into the plastic of the reels. The lettering was difficult to make out but heat-carved deep enough
/burned in works; but I’m wondering if a small vibrating etching tool was used to mark the tapes. Here’s one:
https://www.amazon.com/Electric-Vibrating-Etching-Jewelry-Engraver/dp/B01FOQK1SU /
compound personnel likely had no budget
Maybe add “who” before “likely”
compound personnel who likely had no budget
was anything recorded and if, saying they were recorded, then the material was retrievable
Maybe change “saying” to “assuming”
Maybe change “then” to “that”
was anything recorded and if, assuming they were recorded, that the material was retrievable
the submergence for quite a period of time at the bottom of the harbor in seawater
Could stand as is OR change position of “in seawater” to after “submergence”
the submergence in seawater for quite a period of time at the bottom of the harbor
That’s like Dwarf’s stuff
Move apostrophe after “s”
That’s like Dwarfs’ stuff
Blessings & Be Well
Wow, but you had your work cut out for you on this chapter. Can’t thank you enough
my friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
The “Package” situation is getting mysteriouser and mysteriouser. Who done it, why, and the tangle of implications. Since a lot of the Nixon stuff, or at least the part the public historically knows, was twisted enough. Can’t wait to find out what you have been sitting on for 52 years. The Marine connection is even more interesting. Anyway, unless you keep us in suspense through the next chapter… I’ve said it before, you have led a wild life. And you sure know how to write a mystery. Keep it coming Lt. You write it, we’ll read it.
Thanks Rick, for a very well written and well thought out comment plus
the copliment at the end.
Semper fi
Jim
The suspense is killing me.
Well, that’s sort of some of the idea Tim.
Thanks for the compliment in writing that short bit.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim,
You never disappoint.
Another enjoyable chapter of the unwrapping of the mysteries.
Thanks ‘The Walter Duke,’ for the kind compliment.
Semper fi,
Jim
and then use the recorded * to try to listen and see (* recorder)
Tapes and more tapes, I only want to know what’s on the one marked the three Marines !!! Guess the rest will be for others to determine later in history …
Once again on the edge of my seat James !! 😉
Semper Fi
Thanks a lot SgtBob and I am to please as we continue…
thanks for the compliment too…
Semper fi,
Jim
The part about Nixon thinking that LBJ knocked off JFK is not that far-fetched considering that LBJ practically owned Dallas, Texas
The developing mass media, with its profit centers all heading toward
only sensational stuff has been a growing problem for anyone finding out anything,
and that started under Nixon’s reign.
Thanks for pointing out what you did in your comment.
Most people still have no idea and so the hoary old take about Oswalk
motors on, however impossible his sole assassin role might be in light of
the facts.
Semper fi,
Jim
James
A compelling read. You are great with details. Paul is an enigma. His characterization of you is spot on, and based on his limited experience with Marine’s he might find you unique. You are. But those characteristics are not uncommon in marine officers I have known. Homan., Roy Arnold, James Webb, Nathaniel Fick and you. Two are also authors.
You are a great listener picking up. on Young vs. Little and your bullshit detector went off. In that IBM like mind of yours’s did you ever think maybe he knew the old man? Thus, Young Mardian? Your comeback to him was brilliant, and he is only being selfish as you are the kind psych’s write papers and books about.
I know that the tapes are the lost Doors recordings.
So much awaits your faithful readers.
Thanks for the usual depth of your comment Rich. I’m sure I was something of psychological entertainment for Paul.
Thanks for the usual deep compliment too.
Semper fi,
Jim
It is interesting, trusted Paul, the therapist, appears to be the only loose canon you can’t trust But he is the only one besides Mary you let into your fears. Guess he is the only one can’t worry about jeopardizing. The chapter is strung out with detail with 3 or 4 teardrops…Three Marines, Hank Russian, Onassis and Nixon!
I love it!
Thanks for the perceptive and great comment Colonel!!!!
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
The plot thickens…
Reading the tape titles, and inferring what we now know about the history of those times, I am surprised that you are still alive. Although today’s “President” seems to be entailed in an even more tangled skein of wool yarn.
You have surely seen more than your fair share of the seamy side of life, leaving me happy I chose the world of wetlands and wildlife in my biology career. Did my share of other things as I went along, but nothing as twisted as the events you write about.
Keep writing, James, as your talent seems to improve with each chapter.
Semper fi, mon amie – Craig
I have come to think that all presidents live secret lives the public
knows almost nothing about. I worked for a few more as time went buy
and they were very much that way. How is the media toward them is a huge
thing, which it wasn’t back in those days.
Semper fi,
Jim
Damn.
Nice one work compliment. A bit laconic but powerful nevertheless.
Semper fi,
JIm