Chapter 57

When everyone got settled down, I just looked at them for a few moments before I started speaking. I told them what Maurice had said about the island's defense, and a few other ideas I had to improve it. I thought I had done a very good job explaining it when Jubal spoke up and was immediately seconded by Farley.

"Jon, we can't all stay here forever and you know that. Farley and I want to go back to the mainland and do a little damage to the churches' shooters for what they did to our truck and other things. Verna and I have talked it over several times and we want to be married when we get back to the states."

I thought Farley was going to fall out of his chair from shock. It must have shown on everybody's face because Jubal started turning red. Farley started giving him hell for not telling him and reminded him that they had been friends for more than fifteen years. Jubal just took the chewing and held Michelle's mother's hand while they both just grinned at each other. Oh my God, I thought, they are almost as bad as Kat and I were when we first met.

"Jubal, you and Farley are going to get your wish, but you're going to be able to do it legally, and the way you want to. You both will be getting Interpol IDs on the next supply run. You have been legally registered to operate on your own, and if you run into any problems, all you will have to do be covered is to call one of the numbers I will give you. Just remember that if either of you are detained; don't say a word until you have a rep from Interpol or an attaché from the French Government in your presence. You will be met and briefed completely, and you will also have a couple of experienced agents with you when you move on the church. Don't worry, because both of these men have years of experience and missions behind them in many different countries, and I doubt if either one of you has their experience. They also will be able to get you anything you need in the way of arms and explosives and do it legally. Just remember to take plenty of pictures, just to cover your asses, and the two agents with you will be doing the same. I do have a personal favor to ask though. If you can find Michelle's little boy, get him to my attorney. He will handle all the paperwork from that point on. He will make sure he gets here where he will be safe. I think Michelle will be able to help you when you move in as she knows where the boy will be. If you can't get him, let the U.S. Law enforcement handle it. Jerry will move in afterwards to get him. I will give you his home and cell along with my numbers here, just in case you need them. Don't hesitate to call if you need help."

They, as well as everyone else, were looking at me in surprise. I watched the glance exchanged between Jubal and Farley as what I had said sunk in.

"Jon, I don't know how you ever managed to pull that one off, but we thank you for the help. I have to admit, when I first met you, I thought you were just a loud mouthed Frenchman, bragging about your experience. Then when you let me see your eyes and after the talk we had with Jeb, I realized you were the real thing and not some wanna be. We both managed to talk to one of your men who spoke passable English, and he told us what he knew about your history. We realized that next to you, our experiences in the Seals and the few missions we were on, were walks in the park compared to what you have done. We felt like a couple of total idiots for not seeing what was right in front of us. Jon, we both consider it an honor to have been picked to rescue Michelle, but I am surprised you didn't just do it yourself, you certainly have the experience and knowhow."

"There are two reasons for that, Jubal. Bill, Jeb, and my grandfather went through World War II together. When Jeb recommended both of you, he said I would be able to depend on you to get her out. The second reason was that I was fighting the church on several other fronts at the time, and they were keeping a close eye on me. As it was, I still got blamed for the raid, even though I was here the whole time. All of us are still in danger, even though we haven't been home for over a week. I have already been warned that there might be another try at us and soon. The church seems to think I have a disk with all the information on it about their offshore accounts, and they want their money and will risk about anything to get it. That's why the rest of us can't leave here for a while longer. Farley, since Jubal has already cut off his beard, you will have to do the same. Get some sun so it will look like you never had one. When the IDs come, we will make arrangements to get you back to U.S. soil. Being clean shaven, neither one of you will be recognized. Hell, I didn't know Jubal was so young when I first saw him without it."

"That's not gonna work, Jon."

"Why not? I didn't recognize you at first."

"If Farley shaves his beard off, he will draw attention to us every where we go."

"Why's that?"

"He's so damned ugly underneath it he scares everyone who looks at him."

Farley flipped him off and everyone broke up in laughter, especially when Farley started calling him a baby face and young punk. When they finally settled down, I turned to Quanta.

"How much longer can you be away from your work, my friend?"

"Do not worry about that, Jon. I have not taken a vacation since I started with the bank, all those years ago. They will not give me a problem if I decide to extend my month away."

"Good, because you can bet the church has already checked you out, and I don't want you or your family put in danger on account of me."

"Ahh, Jon, my friend, I could go home tomorrow, and neither I nor my family would be in any danger. Remember who you belong to now? They would watch over us, even if it took years to settle this. The two guards and most of the others who work at the bank are enforcers, and would gladly give their lives to protect us if it came to that. My wife is also very powerful in our country, and unless they were foolish white men, no one would dare to even threaten her or our children for fear of being slain immediately."

"Hmm, that brings up another idea that has been rattling around in my head. I will discuss this with you later, but for now I need to go to the village and talk to Koma. I want to warn him, and to put a few plans I came up with in motion. I will be back before dark, but the people there need to know about all of this soon so they can protect themselves."

I had planned on going by myself, but Kat told me really fast that she was going too. Then the all rest decided they wanted to go too. I called one of the men over and told them where we were going, just in case the girls got worried. He just laughed and said they would be busy with their training for a while and probably wouldn't even notice that we were gone. I gave him that look that all soldiers know, and he quickly assured me that they were perfectly safe. The men would never let them come to any harm. I quickly told him that if any did, the men would answer to me personally. He backed up a little and said that any of the men would give their lives to protect my guests, and that my veiled threat was an insult to him as well as the men. He must have seen something in my eyes, because he quickly added that their duty here was considered an honor, and that the girls would be perfectly safe with them. He also said that they were enjoying teaching them the ways of the Legion, and hoped that they continued learning as fast as they were now.

I thanked him and apologized for my insult, at which he saluted me, smiled, and walked back to his post at the steps to the beach. As I got up along with everyone else, The ship to shore phone started buzzing. Kat pointed to a wall-mounted box and I quickly walked over to it. I answered and it was the Captain from the ship by the cove on the other end. He asked who I was, and when he found out, he just laughed and then started speaking.

"We have all that you requested stacked at the top of the embankment. Can you come and pick it up soon or should I have some of the men handle it?"

"My guests and I were headed your way when you called. I have a cart with a trailer on it that we can load the boxes on. We will be there in about five or ten minutes."

"Thank you, we will be standing by, Sir."

"Just call me Jon, Captain, as I don't stand on formalities. I am no longer in the Legion."

"I will make note of it and you may call me Leonardo or Captain as you see fit. I answer to both."

He chucked as he hung up, and I had to smile at his sense of humor. I told Quanta what was going on and that if he would, I wanted him to take charge of the cart with the wagon still attached to the back of it. Jubal spoke up and said that he and Farley would do it, because they were bored to tears from all the sitting around anyway. Quanta was quick to tell them to go right ahead, as he wanted to talk to Koma. I looked at him and shook my head with a smile on my face, because I knew as usual, he just didn't want to get left out of anything. We jumped into the carts, with Kat and me sitting together and the rest found space in the other two. I did notice that Sylveen had taken the driver's seat, with Quanta sitting next to her with a frown on his face. I couldn't resist starting something so I spoke up to him.

"How come you're making your wife drive, Quanta?"

I figured she would speak up before him and wasn't surprised when she quickly explained.

"I do most of the driving at home too, Jon. He has wrecked our car so many times that we have to have a chauffeur drive him on his errands and to work. He is a good husband and a good man, but is a very bad driver. He keeps hitting trees and curbs for some reason."