Chapter 4: Coming Ashore and Counting Blessings (Before Paradise)

The boat docked and Charlie’s cargo was lifted out of the hold first. That made him think maybe the captain wasn’t such a jerk at all. He could have made Charlie wait, but instead, the captain told his crew to use the ship’s own loading cranes to lift the pallet with the car on it up and out of the hold. “CAREFULLY, you nit wits!” he yelled in his best Dutch and worst English accent. Okay, so he’s just a jerk to his crew. Charlie was able to unstrap the wheels and tires from the pallet then drive the car off the pallet using a couple of scrap boards for little ramps, then got back out, approached the captain, shook his hand, then saluted him.

“Thank you for everything, sir. If you feel the need to fire your cook, I’d love to take him off your hands.”

“You are most welcome, young man. If I find you are luring him away, I will have you hunted down and skinned alive. He is the only reason my crew tolerates my shitty attitude.” He laughed, waved, and went back to work.

Charlie drove to the nearest gas station that could provide it, filled the car up with non-ethanol enhanced premium gasoline, then found a Denny’s. At that point, what he really wanted was a cheeseburger and some scrambled eggs. Everyone has their weaknesses.

The drive to Hilton Head was pleasant and relaxing. On the way, he stopped at a Dollar General, those little stores are everywhere, and picked up a burner phone to use until he got his bearings. He’d been assured his unit would send all of his gear, uniforms, personal items and electronics back to their home base not far from where he was. Shaw Air Force Base was where he had been stationed for the last few years now. It was a choice assignment, landing a gig with a real fighter wing and getting a break from flying VIPs around in commercial style planes.