Midnight Sun (10 page)

The
four
of
them
rode
the
escalator
down
to
the
baggage
area.
Lonnie
stayed
with
Mike
and
Hilde
as
they
collected
their
bags.
Marcus
went
out
to
get
the
truck.
A
crowd
milled
around
the
luggage
carousel,
some
less
patiently
than
others.
 
Standing
out
from
the
mix
of
gray-haired
tourist
groups,
uniformed
soldiers,
and
modestly
dressed
locals,
a
contingent
of
Texans,
identified
by
their
Longhorn
logo
jackets
and
brash
accents,
blocked
half
of
the
conveyor
belt
while
everyone
else's
bags
passed
by.
This
in
spite
of
the
yellow
marker
line
and
signs
that
stated
to
stay
back
until
your
own
bags
were
ready.
One
of
the
Alaskan
men
shouted
with
a
commanding
voice,
ordering
the
whole
group
to
step
back. Several
of
the
Texan
women
shot
him
an
evil
glare,
but
his
voice
was
so
strong
and
the
irritated
glare
of
the
rest
of
the
crowd
so
direct
that
the
entire
Texas
party
took
two
huge
steps
back.

“
I
can't
stand
rude
people,
”
he
muttered.

Mike
turned
to
him.
“
You
sound
like
a
Navy
Chief
I
once
knew.
”

“
We
all
sound
alike,
”
the
man
said.
He
glanced
up
at
Mike,
who
stood
several
inches
taller,
then
asked,
“
Where
did
you
serve?
”

“
Force
Recon,"
Mike
replied.

“
A
freakin'
jar
head.”

“
Yeah,
you?
”

“
Special
Boat
Team,
Senior
Chief
Petty
Officer.
”

“
Coronado?"

“Yeah,
Team
12.
”

“
When
did
you
retire?
”

“
Called
it
a
career
in
oh-six
after
three
tours
in
southern
Iraq,"
said
the
chief.
"How
about
you?
”

“
I
left
full-time
service
in
ninety-four.
But
retired
from
the
Corps
as
a
reservist
the
same
year
you
did,"
Mike
said,
"Were
you
with
the
teams
in
the
early
nineties?
”

“
Sure.
Why?
”

“
I
was
a
frequent
flier
with
your
guys
back
then.
”

“
You
shitting
me?
”

"First
Force
Recon,
”
Mike said.
“
'89
to
'94.
”

Hilde
nudged
Mike.
“
Honey,
our
bags
are
coming.
”

“
Holy
shit,
”
said
the
chief.
“
Small
freakin'
world,
ain't
it?
I
might'a
driven
your
god-damned
boat
then,
devil
dog.
”

Mike
held
out
his
hand
to
shake.

“
Mike
Farris.
”

“
Jim
Walters.
” T
he
retired senior
chief
took
his
hand.
“
Pleasure
to
make
your
acquaintance.
You
part
of
this
group?
”
Walters
jammed
a
thumb
at
the
Texans.

“
No,
thank
God.
I'm
up
here
with
my
wife
for
our
honeymoon.
”