The Story Begins (29 page)

“I am curious but in no hurry.” Then, “
All in good time, my dear. I must go
,” following which the letters dissipated.

She picked up her phone. “How did you do that?” She wrote quickly, hoping that the message’s creator was still present. The author, however, seemed not to be present. Witnessing tiny particles come forth from naught then coalesce and weave and intertwine to create letters left her utterly speechless. She had almost forgotten what it was like to be in the presence of might. Was this Shia’s doing? Because she couldn’t think of another explanation, she reasoned that it had to have been Shia’s hand at work. Yet she knew Shia well enough to find such an approach very unlike the deity’s antics. Just as the particles that had created the message, Shia too simply emerged from naught unannounced; however, as much as she wanted to believe that it was, in fact, Shia, her inclination to believe that it was failed to reconcile with her knowledge of Shia’s ways.

Weary and of the mind that it would be an effort in futility to sort it out, she desisted from any further thought concerning her preternatural evening and set the phone upon the nightstand. As she lay in bed, she noticed what seemed to be a miniscule glow above her, which was growing larger. As she watched what she had initially believed to be the dark merely molding her imagination, she soon found herself witnessing an occurrence very much like that of the writing by a hand unseen. A glowing thread, created before her, reached back to her muddied shoes. And it was the mud adhered to her shoes that the hand unseen then used to create a cursive luminous message before her which read, “
What a mess
☺”

“Shia!” she called out excitedly, jumping out of bed and using the light created by the glow to try to discern through the dark. Following the thread she made her way to the apartment door, opened it then looked out into the hallway. Aglow in the darkened corridor was her every step, each of which had created a sullied footprint upon the carpeting. The prints, however, no longer rested upon the floor; rather they were raised off the floor as though the imprints had been created on air. Suddenly they all simply vanished. Outside her apartment door, Lydia reached for the hallway light switch; when the lights came on, not a print had remained.

Though as a child Lydia had witnessed wonders far greater, the humble soul that she was returned and lay in bed, awestruck. In her bedroom still floated the message “
What a mess
☺” She smiled.

Then a powerful, kind voice gently said to her, “You shouldn’t be so messy, my dear. And no, I am not Shia,” after which the hovering message was no more and the entity retreated.

28

It Is Only Just Begun

“Are we all
packed?” McHenry asked after having had his soldiers empty out then repack the contents of their rucksacks. McHenry was an experienced soldier and knew well enough that soldiers are quite adept at not necessarily always following instructions as they should. With that in mind, his fail-safe method for ensuring that the troops actually did pack their gear as per the requirement dictated by whatever the issued packing list, he always had the men lay out the contents of their rucksacks, he’d then call out each item by name, each troop had to show he had it then he’d have them repack it all in his presence. After all was said and done, he would always laugh with them, reminding them that he too was once young, believed he was slick, and stuffed his sack with pillows for appearance’s sake.

“Sergeant Tailor, have all the tents been loaded?” Jaden, standing in front of his platoon’s formation, asked the first squad’s leader.

“Affirmative, sir!” Sergeant Tailor answered.

“Has every section packed everything that it’ll need while we’re out there? Grafenwoehr isn’t exactly just around the corner. At the speed we’ll be traveling, it’s almost a five-hour trip. This exercise must be executed without any impediments, gentlemen, absolutely no room for error… IT guys, I’m looking in your direction,” Jaden said, his attention focused on Staff Sergeant Ellis who was the non-commissioned officer in charge of the electronics and communication cell. “We’ll be dealing with mostly lieutenant colonels, colonels, and a couple of generals who will be role-playing simulated war games on very expensive computers,” the lieutenant continued. “It’s imperative that everything goes well. Though we’ll be dealing with grown men and women, if things begin to veer left or right off the plan, even slightly, with the deviation completely inconsequential to the mission, some of them will begin to bitch, moan, groan and cry. You can expect Lieutenant Krappa to be one such officer if he makes it to that rank,” Jaden joked. Though Jaden had always been taught never to berate fellow soldiers, especially personnel in positions of authority publicly, his discipline and discretion did not extend to Lieutenant Krappa. The soldiers laughed. “Seriously, though, we want all to go well.” Jaden’s phone rang. He excused himself, leaving McHenry to continue overseeing the soldiers.

Within seconds Jaden was back. “Wrong number,” he said to McHenry.

“Hooah, sir,” acknowledged his platoon sergeant.

“So, are we good?” the Lieutenant then asked, now fidgeting with his own rucksack.

“Roger, sir,” McHenry said. “Our guys are ready to roll. You can let the CO know that we’re ready. I’m not sure if he wants to do a spot check or not. He always did when your predecessor was here.”

“No. He trusts me to do my job. He won’t be doing a spot check,” Jaden informed.

“Then we are ready, sir.”

“Good! Have each section stand by their respective vehicles while I go inform the Captain that we’re ready to move out.” Jaden looked at his watch. It was 8:45 a.m. “We’re about 15 minutes ahead of the Op Order SP time. This is good. This will give us even more time to get set up once out there, not by much but it’s still more time.”

“Sir, sorry to burst your bubble but you’re forgetting something,” McHenry said, a wry smile stretched across his face.

“What’s that… and why the crooked smile?” asked the Lieutenant.

McHenry looked over to Krappa’s platoon. Jaden followed his lead. “I said that
we
are ready.”

Lieutenant Krappa’s platoon was a shambles. His troops still had all of their gear lying on the ground. It appeared as though some of them might not have even bothered to study the packing list as there most certainly was a discrepancy between what was required and the equipment Krappa’s soldiers had strewn about the ground; it also seemed that nor did they care for a couple of the squad leaders who, rather than tending to their respective squads, were actually laughing and playing cards. Jaden knew them quite well and looked over to where their own rucksacks lay, and if Jaden, in fact, had his eyes set upon the proper rucksacks and what lay about them, theirs were even more devoid of items than those of the squads they led. Jaden looked to Lieutenant Krappa. The fellow looked as though disaster loomed above his head.

“This is what happens when you don’t take care of your troops. They will screw you as badly, if not worse, as you do them,” Jaden commented.

“Damn straight, sir! This is what happens when you’re an ass-wipe; your platoon sergeant quits and finds another unit, and the troops who feel trapped simply start hating your uppity ass. The CO will have Krappa’s ass if we do not make SP. If we miss our scheduled roll out time by even a nanosecond, the CO is going to light his ass up, and that’s exactly what his soldiers are all waiting for.” McHenry laughed. “Sir, why don’t you go and get the Captain? Let him know that we are ready and would like him to inspect our ranks,” a fiendish McHenry suggested.

“Is that you or the devil speaking?” Jaden asked, smiling.

“If it’s the devil speaking, sir, more power to him. Shit! I’m just as eager to see this dude get his ass torn up as his own guys are. I am of the opinion that we should definitely help in setting up Lieutenant Shitter just right for optimum results when the CO is done ripping him a new asshole. As responsible soldiers we need to ensure that we do everything in our power to help him live up to his name. Anyone with a name like Krappa ought to have more than one asshole.”

Jaden chuckled.

“Sir, come on, please go get the CO,” McHenry implored.

Jaden certainly toyed with the idea for he believed that Krappa was very deserving of the fate his troops sought to work upon him but then decided against being complicit. He walked over to Lieutenant Krappa, who was hyperventilating. “Dude, are you all right?”

“I’ve got it under control,” Krappa snapped.

“Doesn’t look like it from where I’m standing,” Jaden said coolly.

“I’ve…” Krappa was now breathing laboriously, like one who struggled for air.

“Dude, go relax and let me help you. It’s either that or the Captain’s wrath. It’s up to you. I really couldn’t care any less if you decline my help. It’s your skin.”

Krappa yielded, albeit reluctantly, and returned to headquarters.

Jaden called out to the four squad leaders; the two that had been playing a card game had already abruptly ended their game when they had noticed Jaden approaching Lieutenant Krappa. “Gentlemen, I know that Lieutenant Krappa is a pain and I may very well end up regretting trying to save his skin but I’d really appreciate it if we made the Start Point time. I’d like to give my guys as much time as possible to set up all of the gear and run their checks and re-checks because when the big boys and girls show up, they are going to want to hit the ground running. I’d definitely like it if my IT guys can detect and work out all the kinks before the exercise kicks off to prevent some cry-babies from wailing unnecessarily. As much as Krappa deserves the set up, we don’t want any preventable shortcomings to reflect on the Captain, right? He’s the one people will point the finger at if things don’t go right. In short, we’re not doing this for Krappa but rather the image of the unit. Can I count on you?”

They found Jaden’s rationale sound and were only too happy to oblige. Jaden then watched as each squad leader led their respective squads to four different vehicles where, apparently, all that had appeared missing off the packing list had been concealed. The gear was then offloaded and packed away within minutes.

Jaden laughed. “Soldiers! Got to love ‘em,” he said before turning away.

*

THREE
WEEKS LATER: “It’s been a long three weeks, hasn’t it? I can’t imagine how people permanently stationed here don’t lose their minds. There is absolutely nothing to do other than train, day in and day out. God! How depressing! We really have it good in Mannheim, don’t we? I suppose we’ve just become small-minded, and kind of spoiled, having come from somewhere else but still holding on to the same expectations,” Jaden observed while stretched out on his cot, waiting for the cafeteria to open for dinner. “We also have to consider that we have been on lockdown and not been allowed out of the exercise area the entire time. I guess that’s why it has sucked. I’m sure there’s life and fun beyond the training area.”

“I’m with you on that, sir,” agreed Sergeant Phil, who oscillated in a makeshift hammock. “So, what are you going to do during the four-day pass once we get back?” he asked.

“I don’t know yet. Definitely something though. Ordinarily, staying home for as many days would not have been a problem but after being out here for three weeks, I have to get out. What are you going to do?”

“Spend it with Cassandra,” was the canned response.

“Dumb question! Of course you are,” Jaden said. “You know what?” asked Jaden as an idea presented itself.

“What’s that, sir?”

“Maybe we could all get together again one of those four days and, to use a term loved in the army, just lollygag like we did at the Water Tower,” the Lieutenant suggested. “What do you think?”

“Yeah sure, I’m sure Cassandra would like that. It’s like she has separation anxiety when she’s not with Lydia.”

“I’ll give Lydia a call.”

“You know, sir, if you’re going to make a move, you better go for it while you still can. There’s some guy that’s been talking to her; well, more like sending her text messages,” said Phil, entirely oblivious to Lydia’s otherworldly encounters.

“I’m good with that because making moves is not my intent. If I call it’ll be just to hang out. I’m in Germany and I feel like I should know some German people. I know she’s not ethnically German but you get my point. Everywhere I look I see nothing but Americans; I’m sick of you folks already.” They laughed.

“So what you’re telling me is that you just want to be friends with her?” Phil asked in a manner that seemed to suggest he found the notion impossible.

“Yeah! Why do you make it sound like that’s an alien concept? I guess because it’s coming from a dude, right?”

“Exactly, sir! It’s ass backwards. It’s usually the girl that says ‘let’s be friends’ or ‘you’re like a brother,’ and whatever else is said. It’s never the guy, sir. I’ll admit that I did use that line with Cassandra but, of course, I didn’t really mean it. Guys never really mean it...I don’t think. In your case, though, obviously you actually do mean it because you’re telling me, not her.”

Jaden thought of Melanie. She was with him always. “Believe me, dude, I have my reasons. Love can be complicated. I’ll pass, at least for the time being anyway.” Jaden then pulled out his phone.

“You meant now?” Phil said, looking uneasy all of a sudden.

“Yep, sure did,” replied Jaden as he dialed Lydia’s number. The phone rang without answer. “Seems like she’s not available,” Jaden remarked. Intending to end the call, his finger had just barely touched the red button when he heard an answer.

“Hello!” Lydia said.

“Hey! What’s up?”

“Hi… who is this?”

“Pontius Pilate!” Jaden announced authoritatively.

Sergeant Phil looked at him as though to ask, ‘What the hell?’

Lydia didn’t believe she had heard right. “I’m sorry. Who?”

“Julius Caesar!” he declared.

“Jaden?” asked Lydia.

“The one and only. How’d you guess?”

“I know only two people who speak in English and knew you weren’t Phil.”

“Process of elimination,” stated Jaden.

“It works well, especially when your choices are limited.”

“You’re probably thinking this is a completely unexpected call.”

“No I’m not, but yes it is; definitely can’t say that I was expecting your call.”

“Yeah, to be honest, I myself wasn’t really expecting this call,” Jaden said rather absent mindedly.

“Hmm, not really sure how to respond to that,” said Lydia.

“That probably sounded cavalier but I meant nothing spiteful by it. What I actually meant is that you hardly know me – it’s been maybe three months or thereabouts – yet here I am, casual as though we have a bond that goes back into forever. So, what are you up to?”

“Cassandra and I are downtown at an ice cream parlor.”

“Ice cream parlor, you say; sounds a lot better than where we are, what we’re doing, and what we’re eating. It’s called Grafenwoehr Training Area, and it’s, well, it is what it is. Anyway, we’ll be back in Mannheim tomorrow. I was wondering if you’d care to get together, if you don’t already have plans, kind of like at the Water Tower.”

“Sure, why not?”

“Great! I’ve been with my soldiers 24/7 for the past three weeks and as much as I like them, I do need a break. I’ll have to deal with Phil being there only because he is dating Cassandra,” he joked.

Sergeant Phil was trying to get his attention. “Mind holding for a moment?” Jaden asked of her.

“Okay.”

“Thanks.” He put the phone on mute. “What’s up?” he asked Phil.

“Did she say if Cassandra is with her?” Phil asked, still looking bothered.

“Yes.”

Phil put his hand to his forehead. “Shit!” he blurted. “Would you tell her to let Cassandra know that I’ll call her as soon as we are on the road?”

“Roger.” Jaden took the phone off mute. “Lydia, would you mind passing a message to Cassandra from Phil?”

“Of course.”

“Tell her Phil says he’ll call as soon as we get back on the road headed home.”

“Will do.”

“Thanks. All right, I’ve got to get going. I guess at some point, either tomorrow or the day after, we can all decide on something,” Jaden proposed.

“Okay.”

“Take care. Tell Cassandra I say hi.”

“Okay. Tschus.”

“No clue what that means but yeah, sure.”

“It means bye,” she explained.

“I thought it sounded familiar. I obviously wasn’t paying as much attention as I thought while in Frau Steinberger’s class.”

“Who?”

“Never mind. All right, see ya.”

“See you.”

Jaden turned to Phil. “So that’s why you looked like Death had come for you when I pulled out the phone… you messed up, huh?”