ISLAND IN THE SAND
Part XIX
Star crouched down, her knees bent to allow her to move instantly in whatever direction might be required. She held the big rifle, a cartridge carefully inserted and locked in the chamber and the little safety lever pulled back to allow it to fire.
The doors opened and Ninety-One surged forward so quickly it caught Star off guard, but it was immediately apparent there was no one else there. The pines bent against the gentle wind and the sun was high in the sky. Star blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the new bright light, so different from the darkness and subdued light they’d had below and inside the lift. The lift doors stayed open.
As I have now read all (maybe?) that you have written and purchased all I’m aware of being published, I’m wondering if you realize how much you are revealing of your life. Your writing truly send my thoughts into a frenzy. Always answering but leaving a never ending amount of questions. Keep it coming LT. I’m hungry!
I do not have a believable past.
I must write in fiction simply to preserve my freedom out here and also to endure the criticisms that will and do arise from those who do not believe.
I walked with Nixon on that Trestles beach so long ago and helped arrange the Kissinger, Moonbeam and Rondstadt parties.
I went to Vietnam and lived that strange violent life,
and then came home in a basket to spend a year just laboring to get to my feet.
I got through a colostomy resection and more. I have scars that would make other writers cringe just to write about how they came to be.
I was in the CIA, eventually reported directly to the White House. I’m blood brother to Mangosuthu Buthelezi and was personal friends with Hugo Chavez, Margaret Thatcher and more. Who is ever going to really believe any of that shit?
Nobody, really, except my family who lived it with me.
So I write fiction and let the chips fall where they may.
But, God, the material is never-ending.
I really was a quiet unassuming warrior king and I have no clue about how I came to be that or how I now regard any of that.
But it’s fun stuff to write about….and that’s for damned sure.
I will never be known for my writing in my lifetime but then after I may well be somewhere down the road when I’m permanently out of the male macho competition!
Isn’t life so very strangely wild?
Semper fi,
Jim
Just keep standing back up and take another breath. Been times in my life lived one breath at a time. From the comments I read…they understand at some level you portray. This lifetime or after…thank you for taking the time to scribe it down. I wait with baited breath to re-read then absorb the new material. Again…standing offer of pro-bono proof readimg. You have my email.
Thanks Terry. Some understand completely, and some don’t at all…which means this is all abut real life…
Thanks for noting what you did in this comment.
Semper fi,
Jim
You sure stir up this old mind. This and “TD” trade places with one another as you post. Keeping up isn’t difficult, only the waiting is. Reading either when you publish will be great but reading this way is still gonna be my favorite. Anticipation adds way more to your work than I can explain. Take care, Jim.
The Walt McKinley writes, and having written moves on into a fertile smiling territory of the mind.
Thanks for that rather well thought out and special written response to my work. Wonderful and I thank you, as usual my friend,
Semper fi,
Jim
very good chapter
Thanks Dave. Very dry comment but the compliment is fully and warmly accepted.
Semper fi,
Jim
Still hanging with you on both stories. You are one hell of a man LT.
thanks most kindly Jake!
Semper fi,
Jim
As good as a cat in the lap, maybe for the trembling that subsides….smiles for a Monday,yet to come!
Hayes, I am still taking in the tome you wrote with your imaginative threads to this story.
You have this terrific mind…
and I wonder what else you are doing with it.
But I much appreciate being able to read the results of its productivity here.
Thank you most sincerely…
Semper fi,
Jim
I’m being prepared Jim…by and with the help of the thousands of ancestors before me for a walk on a once familiar red road.I know only, from those things already in place, I’ll have the means to make something of my life worth remembering…hopefully as a story that’ll light up the eyes of a few kids…To answer your question more directly, I’m pretty sure I’ll write about my own story, for all the great stories that are part of the family legacy, which is all about bringing and keeping the family together! Pretty much what you’re doing Jim, and I might add…doing so well!! Thanks for your very kind remarks, you’re an amazing storyteller…and definitely, a genuine human being, in my book! Semper Fi
Well, D.D., this passage comes from your own hand so I am going to go with it. Whatever I can do to help from my own rather lowly position on the writing
totem I will….and thanks for being so eloquent and frequent on this site…
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Today, had a chance recollection with an interesting experience, some of the less mystical might say was
akin to deja vu…Felt once more as though there were eyes on my doings. I’d pulled off the road a little before Benson and found may way to a local stop and go store.
Took in my surroundings and noticed a shade tree I’d estimate to be about 35-45 years along standing behind a chain-link fence when I got the confirmation from my gut! Uh-Huh…that’s where I’ll get a signal. Right about the same time I noted a white car cross the frontage road we were on and turning, I went in to the store. Fixed my hotdog with all the usual condiments except the bun, there’s never been a hotdog bun I felt good about ingesting. Caught a glimpse of a silver-haired dude movin around to behind me on my left and went to pay for the dog. Sat inside my vehicle and ate while the last bite when I saw the silver-hair get in his car and sit there. Time to ask, was my thought as I got out and took a seat on the bench. Silver Hair seemed uncomfortable. I gave it a minute. Sure enough he got out with me lookin again across the road at that tree and him just lookin like he wanted to go …but couldn’t. My gut whispered , it’s time. I stood up, Silver -Hair to my left about eight feet away and started for the door of my ride…He started for his…”Excuse me”, I said. ” You look like someone who knows their way around hereabouts! Now, would I be correct in presuming that you’d be the one to ask where someone without a phone plan might pick up some wifi for free? I’m thinkin you’re gonna recommend that shade tree across the street behind me, would I be right about that? Silver hair just stared into my eyes and the half smile on my lips for about 4-6 seconds before he’d reply, ” Do I know you?” I’d have to say, probably do, I answered….” We’re family!”, “Huh”? I took my shot, “What I mean is my grandfather was a Chief of Police, well respected I might add, in a Utah town called Richfield” Now, my father…he was a Marine Gunny that saw combat in Korea, so… enforcement?….yeah, it runs in the family! Not really that hard to spot sir, if you know what I mean! “I do”, he said…” You just need to head straight across the road around to the left of that little tan building, follow it around until you’re parked under the shade tree you’ll find…you’ll get your wi-fi there. I raised my yellow-orange can of an Arizona brand fave saying,
” Mucho Mango…,sir!” and…thank you kindly!” “Not a problem”, said Silver-Hair givin me a lil smile of his own and a nod, to his last two words… ” my pleasure!”
Thanks D.D. for your usual brilliant contribution…which I am reading away, for content and entertainment…
Semper fi,
Jim
Excited to find out about the rock lodging..
Well, it’s about to get a whole lot more interesting, I should think…but that’s only my opinion…
Semper fi,
Jim
Now that is pretty funny! Great read.
Thank you charles, I appreciate that…
Semper fi,
Jim
Awesomeness!
Thank you Nancy, the next segment should reach right inside….
Semper fi,
Jim
After being out of town and away from my computer for the past two weeks to my delight I find three new chapters of this tale. Although I don’t comment often I am a faithful follower. Thank You.
Two new chapters of 30 days. The intensity of the chapters and some of the comments from your fellow vets leaves me speechless. I almost feel like an interloper if I comment. I finally understand the phrase “You weren’t there”. Again, while I don’t comment much I’m still a faithful follower. Am I qualified to wear a ‘Strauss’s Army’ t-shirt? I love that idea!
Thank you on both counts Monty….and yes, it has been indeed a busy time of writing.
Island and TD both are being originally written week by week, or day by day and minute by minute when it comes to the actual authoring.
Thanks for the compliments on both…
Semper fi,
Jim
You must be burning the midnight oil. I kept checking back for the next installment. Some reason I don’t get the notifications on this or TDhS.
Total surprise on this new wrinkle in the story. Think I would of left the lift door open if for no other reason then to deny it being used by Sly and company.
Check on Monday morning when Chuck takes my work, does a final quick edit and than puts it up.
Semper fi, and thanks for the compliments…
Jim