Chapter 25

The two men returned to Jason’s truck and started back to Juan’s home. Juan asked, “What should I do about that listening device?”

“I told Austin Manning to just work around them until we knew more of who placed them and who’s listening. I suspect that would probably work for you also.”

“You’re probably right. Especially considering the next ITCA meeting is not scheduled for another two months.”

They reached Juan’s house shortly after they finished their discussion. Jason parked the truck, grabbed an overnight bag from the rear cab area, and followed Juan inside. Tina and the teens were sitting in the family room watching a TV program. When Jason and Juan entered the room Tina turned off the TV and led everyone to the kitchen table. Bowls, spoons and napkins had already been set.

Juan pointed out to Jason where he was to sit, and then joined him at his normal place. The two youngest teens also sat in their places, while the oldest fixed some glasses of iced tea. Tina went to the oven and removed a pan of Capirotada (Mexican bread pudding), placing it on a trivet in the middle of the table. She went to the freezer and took out a topping made of whipped heavy cream, Kailua and grated lemon peel. She placed it beside the Capirotada, and sat beside her husband. Everyone served themselves, and Jason, Juan, and Juan’s son Tomãs, even went back for seconds. The conversation around the table was light and friendly, with everyone wanting to know about White Dove and the wedding. Finally, the teens helped their mother clear the table, wash the dishes, and drifted off to their rooms. They each gave Jason a hug goodnight, and the two girls gave him a kiss on the cheek. Once the children were gone the three adults moved to the family room and relaxed.

After a few more minutes of casual conversation, Juan asked, “So, what’s the purpose of this trip?”

Jason replied, “Samuel Marten at the Tule River Reservation has been trying for years to organize a timber conference among the Southwestern Tribes. Up to this point it’s generated little interest, especially with the major tribes. Now we’re finding the Federal Government giving away more and more of our timber with no compensation and few jobs for our people. I’m hoping we can find a way to get more of the larger tribes involved, as well as to develop a more united front for our response to Washington.”

Tina asked, “So, where is the Tule River Reservation? I’ve met Sam, but I’ve no idea where his home is actually located.”

“Tule River is a few miles outside of Porterville, California, right at the edge of the Sequoia National Forest. Porterville is around fifty miles north of Bakersfield. The biggest problem of the trip is the mountains. I’m going to have to drive almost a hundred and eighty miles out of my way to get there.”

Tina asked, “Juan, why don’t you fly him up there? It’d make Jason’s trip much easier, and I suspect it might be a good idea for you, as the ITCA Chairman, to be a part of the meeting. That is, if Jason doesn’t mind.”

“Tina, I don’t have a problem with Juan coming, but what’s this about flying me up there?”

“Our local DEA agent advised me they’d confiscated an older Mooney that was in excellent condition. With a grant from some foundation back east I was able to purchase it for ITCA. I use it to fly around the state assisting with inter-tribal problems, as well as projects like this. I’ll have to check my maps, but I suspect there’s an airport at Porterville. If so, we can be there in two to three hours.”

Jason happily responded, “That sure beats the six to seven hour drive I was expecting to have to make. When can we leave?”

“We can leave around zero-eight-hundred, and be there before ten-hundred Pacific Time. We’ll have to get Sam to send someone to pick us up, as I doubt there’s a car rental agency at that airport.”

“I don’t see a problem with that. We can call him in the morning. There’s one potential problem though, as I’ve something personal I’ll have to take care of Monday. Will that mess you up?”

“Jason, my friend, I’ve nothing on my calendar that can’t wait a day or two. This will help you, and give us more time together. It’ll also enhance the position of the ITCA by being one of the first to get involved in this. I can’t see anything pending that’s more important than that.”

“Then let’s do it. I want to get a shower, and talk to White Dove for a few minutes, letting her know about our change of plans. If you don’t mind, point me to the shower and where you want me to sleep. I can call her on my cell phone from there.”

Tina led Jason to the guest room. She also showed him the bathroom, and the fresh towel and washcloth she’d set aside for him. She wished him a good night, and left to rejoin her husband. Jason took a quick shower and called White Dove. In their conversation he let her know about the flight to Tule, and Juan’s family would be coming to the wedding. They talked for about thirty minutes, and he was asleep shortly thereafter.

Early the next morning Jason was awakened by Tina knocking at his door. He sleepily acknowledged her, and slowly climbed out of the bed. At fifty-nine he was no longer as limber as he used to be, especially when he first woke up. He slipped on his clothes and checked his watch. It was barely past 6:00 a.m. Slowly working his way to the kitchen for his first cup of coffee, he asked, “Were we supposed to get up this early?”

“No,” replied Juan, “but I checked the weather last night and found there’s a front coming in by mid-day. Hoping to beat it to Porterville I thought it would be a good idea to get an early start.”

“That makes sense. How long a flight are we talking about? Last night it sounded like it would be a straight shot.”

I looked at the map last night, after you went to bed. The flight plan I’ve worked up will require us to thread between the restricted air-spaces around Twentynine Palms Marine Base, Edwards Air Force Base, and the Weapons Testing Center at China Lake. At the end we’ll cut across the lower end of the Sierras, and follow the edge of the mountains to Porterville. Cruising at one hundred and seventy-five knots it should take us less than two hours.”

“That sounds like a good plan, but it’s too early to call Sam.”

“That’s not a problem. Tina can give him a call shortly after zero eight hundred their time. Even if ol’ Sam is still in bed, it’d be time for him to wake up. Now, eat this good breakfast Tina prepared, and we’ll get this show on the road.”

Thirty-five minutes later Jason and Juan pulled up beside a small, single engine aircraft. It was white with dark blue trim down the sides, on the tips of the wings, and on the top of the distinctive rear-swept Mooney tail. Juan began to pre-flight the aircraft while Jason moved his and Juan’s gear from the rear cab of his truck. When Juan noticed Jason removing a long aluminum case he stopped and came over to the truck. “Is that what I suspect it is?” Juan inquired.

Jason sat the case on the truck’s front seat and opened it, saying, “I don’t know, what did you think it was?”

Juan looked in the case. There were two rifles and three pistols in specially cushioned foam ‘egg’ crating. One of the rifles was scoped, and looked quite different from the traditional hunting rifle. The second looked similar to a lever-action Winchester, but there was no wooden forestock, and the frame was brass. Of the three pistols one was obviously a Glock, while another looked like an antique Colt. The third looked similar to a standard automatic, but was just a little different.

Juan shook his head, and replied, “When I saw the case, I figured it was a rifle, but that’s the strangest combination of weapons I’ve ever seen. Of course, I was Air Force, and we didn’t normally shoot at people with personal weapons.”

“Juan, I try to go prepared, as I never know what I’m liable to run into. The scoped rifle is an Israeli M Eighty-nine made by T.C.I. It can deliver five sound-suppressed rounds inside of a half-inch circle at a hundred yards, and without the suppressor it has a range of a thousand meters.”

“Whew! That’s a bad boy.”

“Yes, it is. The other rifle is a Henry from the time of the Civil War, as is the Colt Army pistol. The other two pistols are a Glock nine millimeter, and an air gun by Pneu Dart. It shoots a tranquilizer dart. Obviously, you realize this case doesn’t exist, and you never saw any of the guns.”

Juan laughed, replying, “What case? To quote Sergeant Shultz, ‘I know nothing!’ Now, why the strange combination?”

“I carry the three modern weapons on a normal basis, as I never know when Uncle Sugar might decide he has a need for me again, or if one of my old enemies might find me. I brought the other two in case I have an opportunity to take a horse and do some riding in the back-country. I thought it might be neat to carry the old weapons as a change. I’ve never even had the chance to shoot either of them.”

“I thought you were out of the ‘black ops’ business.”

“I haven’t been on a government assignment in more than ten years, but ‘in the business, ‘ you never fully retire until they lower you into the grave. In my case, I was fortunate my involvement in the design and testing of the new Apache Helicopter was worth more than any field assignments I might have carried out. I’ve been out of the field long enough now that, hopefully, everyone’s forgotten me.”

“For your sake, Jason, I hope so. Now, with ‘show and tell’ over and the sky starting to lighten, let’s finish and get out of here.”

“This case is the last of the luggage, and I’d rather it go in the cockpit, rather than the baggage area.”

“That’s not a problem. Why don’t you put it on the rear seat, and use the seat belts to fasten it down? Then you can go park your truck. The only things I have left to do, besides removing the chocks and the tie-downs, is to check the oil and make sure there’s no water in the gas tank. I should have the engine warming up by the time you return. Oh yeah, see if you can get us a couple of coffees from the FBO office.”

“I can do that. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

Ten minutes later, the aircraft was rising out of the valley along the Colorado River. According to Juan they were climbing to an altitude of 8,500 feet, which he felt would put them comfortably above any peaks along their path. When the altimeter reached four thousand feet, Juan turned the aircraft to more of a west-north-westerly direction and continued climbing.

Jason had always loved to fly in a small craft like this. His eyes moved back and forth between the windshield and the window at his right side. In the distance off to their right, there was a small cluster of high hills, or low mountains, with a larger and higher group of mountains a few miles farther. There was also a lake coming up just to their left, which Juan explained was Danby Lake. Over the next few minutes they passed Danby Lake, as well as two others. Shortly after the third lake, Juan pointed out the Twentynine Palms Marine Base coming up on their left, and the city of Barstow that lay beyond it. A few minutes beyond Barstow, Juan turned the plane further to the west to avoid the restricted airspace around the China Lake facility. Though there were some higher hills to their right and on the forward horizon the area below them was basically shallow rolling hills, covered with shrub and sagebrush. The few trees there grew alongside the small streams. It wasn’t desert, but it wasn’t good for much, except for grazing a few cattle in the spring and early fall. Before he even realized it Jason found they were beginning to fly over more mountainous terrain, and the turbulence that tended to go with it. It was good they’d finished their coffee, or it definitely would’ve been sloshed around some. Surprisingly though, within fifteen minutes they were out of the mountains and approaching the city of Bakersfield. Far short of the city Juan turned to a more northerly heading and followed along the base of the mountain range. In less than fifteen minutes he was talking to the tower at Porterville Airport.

A few minutes later Juan gently brought the plane to a smooth landing in the middle of the airport’s single runway. They taxied to the lone fixed based operation (FBO). Here they were met by a young girl who directed them to a parking spot. Juan turned off the engine, and Jason opened the door beside him and climbed out of the plane.

The girl came up to Juan’s side, and they discussed the basic needs of fueling and tie-down. While she and Juan were still talking a van with a Tule River Reservation logo on the door pulled out onto the tarmac and parked next to the plane. Sam and a young man got out and walked over to where Jason was standing and talking to White Dove on his cell phone.

Sam introduced his oldest son to Juan and Jason. Then, while Juan checked everything and updated the logbook, the other three moved the baggage from the airplane to the van. Sam was telling Jason about Tina’s call when Juan joined them. The old man looked at Juan, and said, “Juan, if your wife is as pretty as she sounds, you should have sent her instead.”

“She could have flown, but then I would’ve had to stay home and work. This way it looks like I’m actually doing something when all I’m doing is goofing off. At the same time, she probably would’ve had you and Jason busting your butt over something. I love the woman to death, but she can find more things for me to do than you can imagine.”

Climbing into the driver’s seat of the van Sam laughed, and said, “Then it’s a good thing you left her at home. The other sounds too much like work, no matter how pretty she is.” Then turning to Jason, who was climbing into one of the rear seats, Sam ‘stage whispered, ‘ “Just how ugly is she?”

Jason winked at Juan, and replied, “Well, she’s got a great personality. She cooks, sews, and all the girls like her.”

Pulling out of the airport Sam replied, “Ah, I knew it. She’s as ugly as an old camel.”

Jason laughed, and said, “Sam, you old goat, you’ll never learn. Actually, she’s quite a beautiful lady, especially with raising three teenagers. She would run a close second to my White Dove.”

Sam slammed on the brakes at the approaching stop sign and looked in the rear view mirror to make sure no one was behind him. Satisfied things were clear he then turned around in his seat, looking back at Jason. “Jason, I’ve known you for more than twenty years, and other than your granddaughter I’ve never even heard you mention a woman. Now, who is this White Dove?”

Juan grinned, and explained, “She’s the woman he’s about to marry, and don’t ask, I haven’t seen her yet, either. Of course, she can’t be much if she had to settle for this old reprobate.”

Jason replied, “Guys, I won’t argue the reprobate part, but she’s beautiful and intelligent, and is far more woman than I deserve. On top of that, she’s younger than my daughter.”

Sam replied, “Maybe she’s looking for a father figure. I can’t imagine any other reason she’d want an old broken-down warrior like you.”

“Well, if she thinks of me in that manner, she sure has some kinky dreams about her father. I never received this much loving when I was married the first time. Sam, she and I have been friends for years. Also, we both have a lot of respect for each other, and a deep caring for our people. I’d honestly say I could never have imagined a more perfect woman for me.”

Sam’s son, Lee, asked, “How about your granddaughter? What does she think of this?”

“She’s happy and excited, as she thinks of White Dove as her adopted mother. What’s more, I think she’s beginning to think of me as her father, rather than her grandfather. I guess that would be proper, since I consider her husband as my son.”

A puzzled Sam asked, “I thought there were problems with him in the past?”

“There were problems, and they were separated for several years. When Hawk returned into her life he was a very changed man. One key was he didn’t try to act like nothing had happened. Instead, he took the time to win her heart. I think they’ll be very good for each other, now. What about you, Lee? Are you married yet?”

Lee’s countenance dropped when he answered, “I was engaged until about six months ago when she just disappeared. According to the sheriff’s investigation she ran off with another man and doesn’t want to have anything more to do with me. He even brought me a note from her, telling me the same thing.”

“Are you sure it was from her?”

“Yeah, it was definitely her writing, but it was so cold and blunt. We went together for several years, and she was looking forward to the wedding. We had a dual wedding planned, with both church and tribal ceremonies. It’s really bothered me I could’ve been so wrong about a person’s feelings and intentions.”

For some reason this touched a nerve in Jason, so he asked, “Have there been any other disappearances in the area?”

“There was one local boy that supposedly ran away a few months ago, but due to who he is I suspect either his body is at the bottom of some canyon, or will never be found.”

“Why would you say that, Sam?” Jason asked.

“In the last year we’ve found several of our young braves’ bodies at the bottom of various canyons. I know much of the reservation is rather rough country, but these young men had been riding those ridges for much of their lives. One or two ‘accidents’ might have been plausible, but I think there were too many for it to be just a coincidence.”

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The Hawk and the Chipmunk

Mike Lowe aka The Scot

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