I’d met Matt aboard the C-130 on the way back from Albuquerque. We’d not truly bonded in any way except after sizing me up he uncharacteristically and very surprisingly threw himself in with me for whatever adventure he might be a part of.
My being armed and speaking menacing words about the potential future of the flight crew, which he wasn’t one as loadmaster, had somehow touched something inside the man and drew him to me. What he’d said that reached inside me was simple. He’d asked to be a part of whatever I might have in mind and that he’d be a part of it at his own expense.
Making a move of your family and leaving behind good friends has always bothered me in my life, but there are new horizons to visit and new friends to make. How to do that while in the employee of The Company will I’m sure be an adventure itself.
Sure hope you figured out not to trust the new chief any farther than you could throw his jealous ass. Certain the visit with this new shrink will be interesting, all while trying out how to move the artifact too !!
Great chapter James, keep ’em coming !!! 😉
Thanks for the great compliment, my friend, and the interesting comment as well. Yes, that guy
was a piece of work and there will be a little more about him.There is adventure up ahead, and that’s for certain so
stay tuned.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim,
Your saga continues to be filled with intrigue.
You never disappoint, but you should have been a pitcher, because you sue throw a lot of curve balls.
Or maybe a fisherman, because you are good at stringing us along.
Orr maybe a juggler, since you sure are adept at keeping a lot of balls (and alien spheres) in the air at once.
Thank you.
Keep ’em coming.
THE WALTER DUKE. There is no sphere in the bag. The artifact was more like a pretty rough hewn, rounded chunk of an unknown mineral, just to be
analytical about it. I don’t intend to be a writer of stuff that is designed at all to leave cliffhanging endings to keep the audience coming
back. I try to write it as it comes to me but it’s probably useless to deny that the effect is similar to what you allude. Thanks for the compliment
at the end of your comment, or two of them, really. You are a class act.
Semoer fi, my friend,
Jim
James, I’m not sure how the artifact will be transported to NM. Last chapter Matt suggested using a military truck chained to a railway flat car. This chapter hints at a shipping container (which would be easier to rent) but makes loading and unloading a bit more touchy. We shall see.
Oh the joys of working for/with a narcissist. NOT!
I’ve been working on a school computer network project. Time to take a break from that.
Some minor editing suggestions follow:
flight crew, which he wasn’t one as cargo chief
Works as is – but loadmaster may be more accurate
flight crew, which he wasn’t one as loadmaster
about whom might be available to ride the train
“who” rather than “whom”
about who might be available to ride the train
affected in much of anyway if such gossip did get out
Seems “any way” instead of “anyway”
affected in much of any way if such gossip did get out
His car was out by mine in a parking lot
“the” instead of “a” before “parking lot”
His car was out by mine in the parking lot
lot higher than what you’ve been paying.
Close quotes
lot higher than what you’ve been paying.”
daily redemption and it was al effective for me
“all” instead of “al” before “effective”
daily redemption and it was all effective for me
“One thing before we part,’ Paul said
Full quotation mark after “part”
“One thing before we part,” Paul said
is just another proof of that theory
/context seems to be saying your new job will put you in situations of trauma./
Not sure what the theory is: Is it that people exposed to trauma avoid it in the future?
OR
That people exposed to trauma seek out more trauma for the adrenaline hit?
So maybe not “proof” but rather “test” of the theory.
is just another test of that theory
I’d said no more when he’d spoken, or after than I had at the awards ceremony
/There was no opportunity for you to speak at the awards ceremony./
I’d said nothing when he’d spoken.
opinion of the new no-pursuit policy?” I asked,
Period after “asked”
opinion of the new no-pursuit policy?” I asked.
especially to whoever that woman is
“whomever” instead of “whoever”
especially to whomever that woman is
woman is you’ve got to get in front of in Santa Ana.
Close quotes”
woman is you’ve got to get in front of in Santa Ana.”
it would be his last beach duty as he became a regular full-time street cop
Maybe “before” instead of “as” after “duty”
it would be his last beach duty before he became a regular full-time street cop
the Union Bank Building at Newprt Center
“Newport” instead of “Newprt”
the Union Bank Building at Newport Center
Superstition quietly laid at the very foundations
“lay” (past tense of Lie) instead of “laid”
Superstition quietly lay at the very foundations
Blessings & Be Well
Thanks ever so much for the comment and the help with the editing Dan.
The Six-by, the truck, had to be used to transport the artifact to and from the railroad car as I’d already experienced what might happen if I put it in the car again. Even putting it in the back of Gularte’s truck had been risky, although I hadn’t considered just how risky.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Another chapter full of busy details. Makes my head spin trying to keep up and connect them together. Never mind trying to imagine where they’re leading. Good work Jim.
Tim
Thanks, Tim, much appreciate your befuddlement, as those were indeed befuddling times…and some after that too.
Much appreciate the compliment too…
Semper fi,
Jim
Mr. Strauss, Sir,
I was happy to read that you and Paul were able to part without the bad feelings that could have been. I worry deeply that the Chief has set you up somehow. That maybe this “psychologist” might just be an attractive young woman who is hired to somehow seduce you or otherwise make you look bad or a like a danger to the public. He seems like a bad apple that could be capable of such a thing. I feel like I want to wish you good luck and warn you to be careful – even though I know that this occurred long ago and that you already lived it, I still feel nervous and on edge about this meeting.
It’s almost impossible for a regular officer to survive a Thief who hates him in a small
department that has no union or higher authority. Police commission and committee intended to
provide overbite seldom do anything other than endorse police policy and the application of
police power. Yes, the Chief was after me and the reasons are coming out in this coming
chapter.
Thanks for the depth of your analysis and thought and expressing it here.
Semper fi,
Jim
As usual, I am stupefied at the twists and turns.
Glad you are stringing along and enjoying the ride Chris. What a pleasure to have you
commenting on here in such a complimentary way.
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, have you heard of the Betz Sphere? A Florida family found it. There are stories about it on the net. It sure sounds like the sphere you were keeping. What do you think or is that part of the story yet to come?
There are some questions that I simply cannot answer here, in public, because they would detract from the content of
figure chapters. You will have a lot resolved along the way here, I will assure you, and the artifact has played a bit
role in my entire life from being ‘stuck’ with it. Thanks for the comment and the compliment of your following, analyzing and
then putting it up on here.
Semper fi,
Jim
I don’t think we have seen the last of Paul in this book. Next we will step into a new world, wonder what we will be reading about next? Thanks for what you do, I enjoy reading it !
William, you are prescient. The chapters continue to pour forth as they seem to have a life of their own.
Thanks for the compliment at the end.
Semper fi,
Jim
Really enjoyed this chapter, and agree completely with Doug Danko.
It appears as tho the stuff is getting deeper, but you are becoming very adept at wading through, and getting the mission completed.
Life IS an adventure – some friend recently commented to me that my life was one adventure after another, and I immediately thought of you and your life.
Personally, I have wished that it was a little bit too adventurous, and a wee bit more “civilized”.
Please, continue the excellent writing. The end of each chapter is similar to quitting smoking – again and again! Dive me another fix, Jim!
Semper Fi
Danko has a knack for striking often and deep in his analysis of the work…and the details of the
story. You seem to be feeling better physically as your own writing appears to be bit more relaxed.
I am happy about that…so don’t tell me if I’m wrong. Your complimet at the end, creatively thought
out and delivered is really neat.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
Excellent segment! Thanks for the great books you have completed and the new one now under construction.
Thank you, Rick, for that compliment. I am hard at work on the next chapter
as I complete the other work in getting Volume II and III out in hard copy.
Thanks for the encouragement.
Semper fi,
Jim
New two under construction with Volumes II and III almost ready to go together!
Semper fi,
Jim
Jim, I imagine the chief became a Senator for Texas or something else political as I doubt his ambitions were to remain a small town chief, especially after the WWH was no longer no longer in existence. He couldn’t brag to people how important he was. I wonder how much of him was hoping you would refuse the ‘interview’ so he could fire you. You doing it would make it easier for the others, though the ‘richard’ would still be there, looking out for only himself. No matter how much we want to, we can’t save the world – Only small parts of it, in various locals. Wondering what happened with the WWH – Who took it over, etc. Can’t see Nixon keeping it – Too many memories of being in power, then being powerless.
Then Herbert not providing any funds for movement of the ‘artifact’? Damn, at bit cold & stupid if you ask me – A bunch of smart (maybe) guys want to study it, involve the Agency, then leave it up to you, the ‘really FNG’ to get it there on his own? Even I can see the holes in this plan, & yet ‘they’ just assumed the ‘mission’ would get done.
Anyway, enough for now.
Regards my friend,
Doug
The CIA was never cheap in funding operations or in compensation, however bizarre that compensation might be made.
Remember, if you are a field agent of the time then trying to remain under the radar must be of prime motivation for
everything or all effectiveness, and possibly life itself, can be lost. Nothing can be direct in connection, and
what connections are made, as well as communications, must be cloaked at all times. For example, my control officer
could only show up at my home when I was not really yet aboard. After, it would have been too dangerous. Even his
identity with the agency remains almost unknown to this day. Thanks for the usual depth and your willingness to
stick yourself out there in your opinions.
Thank you most sincerely, my friend,
Jim
such attention to detail- you have great memory
the strangeness of the shency is astounding and and how many people did it take to keep track of all the individual little things that were happening setting up an insurance office getting the move done getting things done here and there it’s not all done by one person it must be done by many and how do they know to do it there has to be some control somewhere or a series of cutouts that Joe tells Sam who tells Tony what a world
at this point I really have more of a question are you beginning to doubt your choice to join the agency?
I always doubted not only my judgement for allowing myself to be drawn into the CIA as well as my judgement in allowing them to force me to do some things I did.
Field work with the agency is like combat.
Only a very few people ever really are involved in it, the rest are very necessarily in the rear with the gear.
The reality of field work is lied about by almost everything just like combat.
And so on.
Yes, I have a gifted memory, not that that makes me terribly smart.
That debate is still going on.
You will read about the insurance operation in Albuquerque in the next chapter…and that’s another interesting story.
Semper fi, my friend,
Jim
LT somehow I entirely missed the chapter where you came into possession of the artifact. Could you please enlighten me? I thoroughly enjoy all you’ve written so far!
Sorry about that Antonio,
The “artifact” is first discussed in detail in Chapter LXI of Volume Two.
This will be actually included in Volume Three since I am breaking what is now Volume Two into two Volumes because of length and printing cost
Here is link
Chapter LXI
I think Chuck Bartok commented on this although he seldom does that. He’s really good at
knowing in what part or another what happened, as he lived a lot of it with me.
Thanks for inquiring and I will check to see if Chuck got your what you wanted.
Semper fi,
Jim
Funny you worried so much about Paul and the real cancer is the Chief! And you your dilemma is his leverage on the rest of the department. Like you I have moved on many times, my first time was so positive I was alway prepared to keep at it…
Thanks for the usual accurate and timely comment Colonel.
Always love to read what you have to say.
I know you too have roamed the earth, and the tell me that’s partly because we both have what they have termed PTSD these days…
but, I don’t know.
New experience is living.
‘Sight is life’ the pilot of one of the airplanes they fly called the Blue Angels said to me one day.
I thought he meant visual sight, but now I think deeper.
Semper fi, my great friend,
Jim
“pushed the very heavy walnut door open and stepped through into a different world”
Can’t imagine what this portends. You threw us another unexpected curve ball. And how will you manage to get the artifact to safely to Albuquerque?
One mini adventure after another. The artifact still ‘lives and breathes’ as a part of my life and everyday thoughts.
I’d never been around something that drew my attention so strongly but also so unsatisfactorily. Yes, through that door into a different world is next up…and thanks for paying such attention and then writing about it on here.
Semper fi,
Jim