Torino, Lt. Ferris, sir,” I
say.
“Lt. Ramsey tells me you’re here to
conduct an audit?” His expression is incredulous.
I assume a rigid stance, chest out,
hands at parade rest against my sides, and my eyes forward. “Yes, sir. Supplies
and other expenses, sir.”
“At ease, Lieutenant,” he says. He
saunters to the sofa where he takes a seat.
Lt. Ramsey catches my eye and shrugs.
I move to the seating area and take the chair, forcing Ramsey to sit next to
his CO.
“How long will you be here?” Capt.
Torino asks. “And why didn’t your ship bring us any additional mail, food or
supplies? The Navy is not in the habit of wasting trips to this remote
location. I assume you came by boat because we heard no helicopter rotors.” His
body language conveys suspicion and wariness.
“Sir, the SEALS dropped me off. As you
know, their entrances and exits tend to be discrete. Audits are intended to be
surprises as well.” I steal a glance at Lt. Ramsey. His face bears traces of a
smile, his eyes dance with what appears to be amusement. Am I missing a joke?
Ramsey leans his elbows on his knees
and purses his lips. “Still, it seems a waste of taxpayer dollars to send you
here literally empty-handed.”
“What makes you think I’m empty-handed?”
I quickly conjure up a suitcase and briefcase from my home and park them near
the tree where Ramsey confronted me. It’s a useful skill—the ability to
teleport not only myself but my belongings with a quick visualization.
Ramsey and Torino share a glance
charged with meaning. Ramsey nods slightly and Torino fires up the next
question, an obvious one.
“Where are your things? Even if you
were planning on being in and out in one day, you’d still at least need
documents and writing instruments. And why Christmas day of all times?”
I heave a sigh. This is where my
acting lessons come in handy. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear about how
seniority or lack thereof sometimes earns a seaman the bottom of the barrel
duties.” Torino appears unmoved. Ramsey coughs. “My things are not far from
where Lt. Ramsey found me. I stashed them in the brush until I could establish
contact.”
Ramsey stands. “I’ll go retrieve
them.”
“You won’t find them without my help.”
I stand, prepared to accompany him.
Torino snickers, and he too stands. “Fine. You two go get Lt. Ferris’s bags and
conduct your audit. I’ll clear out a spot for you in the office, and Lt. Ramsey
will help you with anything you need.” He turns to leave but spins back around.
“When are you leaving us, Lieutenant?”
“My transport arrives at twenty three
hundred, sir.”
“Tonight?” Ramsey asks from where he
stands at my side. “They promised to have you back for at least a sliver of
Christmas, did they?”
“Something like that,” I say. My lips
curl into a shallow smile. Let the games begin.
“Lead on, then,” Ramsey says,
motioning toward the door.
Chapter Two
As we walk, I plot my reveal and
delivery. I can materialize the bags anywhere. I’m aiming for a spot that’s
soft, shady and sand-free. Absent that, up against a coconut tree works too.
“Are you sure you remember where you
left them?” Ramsey moves into step beside me on the narrow trail. “We’ve nearly
made one revolution around the perimeter of where I found you.”
Uh-oh. My sense of direction when
bipedal sucks big time. I’m used to teleporting myself to my destinations. I
rarely worry about routes or maps or distances.
On the left, the sun is starting to
peek above the treetops. Oh-nine-hundred, I’m assuming. Calm down, Chrissy.
Don’t screw up by being impatient.
We enter a shady grotto. Perfect. I
project the suitcase and briefcase high up in a coconut tree. Let him figure
out how I got them up there. A giggle slips out as I stop and point up.
His eyes follow the path of my finger.
“Jesus H Christ! You parachuted in? Where’s the chute then?”
Oops. I didn’t consider
say.
“Lt. Ramsey tells me you’re here to
conduct an audit?” His expression is incredulous.
I assume a rigid stance, chest out,
hands at parade rest against my sides, and my eyes forward. “Yes, sir. Supplies
and other expenses, sir.”
“At ease, Lieutenant,” he says. He
saunters to the sofa where he takes a seat.
Lt. Ramsey catches my eye and shrugs.
I move to the seating area and take the chair, forcing Ramsey to sit next to
his CO.
“How long will you be here?” Capt.
Torino asks. “And why didn’t your ship bring us any additional mail, food or
supplies? The Navy is not in the habit of wasting trips to this remote
location. I assume you came by boat because we heard no helicopter rotors.” His
body language conveys suspicion and wariness.
“Sir, the SEALS dropped me off. As you
know, their entrances and exits tend to be discrete. Audits are intended to be
surprises as well.” I steal a glance at Lt. Ramsey. His face bears traces of a
smile, his eyes dance with what appears to be amusement. Am I missing a joke?
Ramsey leans his elbows on his knees
and purses his lips. “Still, it seems a waste of taxpayer dollars to send you
here literally empty-handed.”
“What makes you think I’m empty-handed?”
I quickly conjure up a suitcase and briefcase from my home and park them near
the tree where Ramsey confronted me. It’s a useful skill—the ability to
teleport not only myself but my belongings with a quick visualization.
Ramsey and Torino share a glance
charged with meaning. Ramsey nods slightly and Torino fires up the next
question, an obvious one.
“Where are your things? Even if you
were planning on being in and out in one day, you’d still at least need
documents and writing instruments. And why Christmas day of all times?”
I heave a sigh. This is where my
acting lessons come in handy. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear about how
seniority or lack thereof sometimes earns a seaman the bottom of the barrel
duties.” Torino appears unmoved. Ramsey coughs. “My things are not far from
where Lt. Ramsey found me. I stashed them in the brush until I could establish
contact.”
Ramsey stands. “I’ll go retrieve
them.”
“You won’t find them without my help.”
I stand, prepared to accompany him.
Torino snickers, and he too stands. “Fine. You two go get Lt. Ferris’s bags and
conduct your audit. I’ll clear out a spot for you in the office, and Lt. Ramsey
will help you with anything you need.” He turns to leave but spins back around.
“When are you leaving us, Lieutenant?”
“My transport arrives at twenty three
hundred, sir.”
“Tonight?” Ramsey asks from where he
stands at my side. “They promised to have you back for at least a sliver of
Christmas, did they?”
“Something like that,” I say. My lips
curl into a shallow smile. Let the games begin.
“Lead on, then,” Ramsey says,
motioning toward the door.
Chapter Two
As we walk, I plot my reveal and
delivery. I can materialize the bags anywhere. I’m aiming for a spot that’s
soft, shady and sand-free. Absent that, up against a coconut tree works too.
“Are you sure you remember where you
left them?” Ramsey moves into step beside me on the narrow trail. “We’ve nearly
made one revolution around the perimeter of where I found you.”
Uh-oh. My sense of direction when
bipedal sucks big time. I’m used to teleporting myself to my destinations. I
rarely worry about routes or maps or distances.
On the left, the sun is starting to
peek above the treetops. Oh-nine-hundred, I’m assuming. Calm down, Chrissy.
Don’t screw up by being impatient.
We enter a shady grotto. Perfect. I
project the suitcase and briefcase high up in a coconut tree. Let him figure
out how I got them up there. A giggle slips out as I stop and point up.
His eyes follow the path of my finger.
“Jesus H Christ! You parachuted in? Where’s the chute then?”
Oops. I didn’t consider
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