Chapter 65

The next day was spent packing and meeting with Koma to make sure the house was taken care of as well as informing him about the new doctor coming in. We were setting him up in a double room so he could use it as his home as well as the clinic. We finally decided that Koma and a few of his men would tear out the wall between the two end rooms on the ground floor. That way he could set up a clinic as well as have living quarters. I met with the Captain and made the arrangements for fuel for his plane as well as medicines he might need. Kat was excited that he was coming and made arrangements for him to come and visit us in Virginia after he got settled in on the island. Timmy, with the help of Sally, became the unofficial son of the soldiers on the island. He was loved by almost all the men like he was their own son. Michelle went crazy trying to keep track of him as he and Sally were always at the village or with the soldiers doing something.

It finally got so bad that Kat and I sat her down and told her that as long as he was with any of the villagers or soldiers, he was perfectly safe and not to worry so much. She thought he was in danger, and I had to explain the defenses of the island to her so she wouldn't worry as much. I was so busy trying to get all the last minute details done that I had forgotten about all the Japanese weapons I had to sell. I was reminded of it when one of the soldiers asked if I had anymore of the swords I could part with. I was informed he was with another ship that had just anchored off the other side of the island to relieve her sister ship, and give some of the men some much needed R&R while they were here. He informed me they had lost two men when they boarded a suspected pirate ship a week ago. The men aboard her all used swords and they couldn't get their rifles in play fast enough to save themselves, thus his asking me for some of the swords they had all heard about. I told him to check with the Corporal because the ships should have enough of them to spread around among the platoons on the other ships. He immediately saluted and thanked me before trotting off. I didn't mind giving them more of the swords if they were needed, but the cases I had given before contained a hundred in each one. I wasn't the best at math but seeing as how each of the eight ships only housed a platoon there should have been enough of them to go around. I went up to the communications console and rang the Captain. I informed him what had transpired and asked why the swords weren't given to the men from the other ships like I had asked when I gave them to the men.

"I do not know, Jon, but you can bet I will be checking into it. I looked at the cases and like you said, there were a hundred swords in each box. There were more than enough to give to each of the men with many left over to be given to the other Legionnaires at some of the land postings. If I find that they were not distributed as was ordered, I will personally hang the person responsible. I know you are leaving tomorrow so I will try to get an answer for you today, mon ami. Also, the men are all looking forward to the big celebration tonight. Until later, my friend."

He hung up, leaving me totally confused because I hadn't known about any celebration. I decided to hunt down Kat and find out what was going on. When I found her my first thought was here we go again, because the whole bunch was sitting on the patio with their heads together. When Kat saw me she smiled and waved me over. I almost turned around and ran, but I figured it would be better to face them now than later. When I sat down they all just smiled and my guard went up immediately. Kat was the first to speak and she set my mind at ease as if she knew what I was thinking.

"Jon, I'm sorry for not telling you sooner, but the village is having a big going away party tonight for you and the rest of us. I tried to talk Koma out of it but he wouldn't budge. He said you were their Chief and they always honored the departure of one of their own. I hope you don't mind, but I invited the Captains as well as some of the men aboard the ships to come. The Corporal and the men put up the money and the Captain had a big steer flown in for the BBQ. Koma found it on the main island and bought it just for tonight. They also brought in some more beer and other refreshments. The men even chased down a case of Coke for the children to drink. Timmy and Sally are dressing the same as the villagers and we all have decided to do the same."

Before I could even say a word Michelle started crying. I just looked at her then Kat for some explanation. It was Myrna who offered up the reason as Verna hugged Michelle.

"Jon, once again you have made me proud of you. She is crying because of you and your kindness towards her and Timmy. I know Kat told you we invited them to stay in the little cottage and knowing you like I do, I knew you wouldn't have any objections to it. Jon, I am sorry for laughing at you this morning. I felt really guilty after you left and Kat lit into all of us about it. I keep remembering you as being single and realized in my stupidity that you haven't ever had any experience with marriage and being a father to three newborns. When you got Sally she was already pretty mature and not an infant. Don't worry, Jon, we will all be there to help out all we can. Now, I have another favor to ask of you for me and Verna both. Is there any way you can find out how Jubal and Farley are doing? Verna is really worried about Jubal. I was kinda curious about Farley because a man of his age shouldn't be off fighting, that's for you young men."

I caught Verna's eye and got a little grin from her, and then it hit me that the whole idea about checking on them wasn't hers at all, but Myrna's. Now, I thought, it's my turn to have a little fun at her expense. I looked at Kat and got that look I had come to recognize, and decided to not push it. Man, I thought, it's like she can just look at me and know what I'm thinking. Then I thought I had a way to have a little bit of fun at her expense, since she had so much fun at mine this morning.

"Well, Myrna, that's the problem with single men, they have no regard for age barriers like some women I know. To you, if a man has a few grey hairs he is too old to enjoy life and just ought to sit back and take it easy. Now bachelors don't think that way, they just keep on partying until they get too old to leave the house. I think when I do talk to Farley again I will ask him if he ever thought of settling down with a steady woman. I bet he just snorts and says it ain't gonna happen. Now, what's the real reason you want me to check up on them?"

I watched as Myrna looked at Kat, then at Verna, completely avoiding my eyes. It was all I could do to keep from laughing out loud at her embarrassment. I leaned back and just smiled to myself, making sure I didn't look at Kat because I already knew I was gonna get that look again. Then my little game got busted when Michelle looked at me and winked. I started laughing and got kicked under the table, by who I couldn't guess, but Myrna was winding up to let loose on me from the look on her face. I quickly got up and headed for the back of the house to check on Sally and Timmy who were swimming with a bunch of kids from the village. I didn't make a hundred feet before Kat caught up with me.

"Jon, that was mean. You shouldn't make fun of her that way. I think she has feelings for Farley and is afraid to admit it because of Carver and the way he acted."

"Kat, I wasn't being mean, and I seem to remember she was the ringleader this morning at my expense. Besides, I would have gotten away with it if Michelle hadn't winked at me and made me laugh. Kat, I promise I will check on their status when I call in later. I wouldn't purposely hurt Myrna for any reason, but I have suffered for years at her wit and the tricks she has pulled on me. If you don't believe me, ask Sally about some of the things those two have pulled on me. Kat, as much as I love you, just drop it because this is one argument I won't have and you can't win."

I got that look, then she smiled at me, and I could tell she wasn't going to let it go like I wanted. I figured she would bring it up again in the near future. When we got in view of the pool, there must have been fifty kids playing in the water and around the pool. It took me a few minutes to spot Sally and Timmy. They were sitting in two of the chairs with their heads together and, from what I could observe, seemed to be having an intense conversation. Being around kids in all walks of life for so many years, this just didn't seem right to me for some reason. We were almost at their chairs before either of them noticed us, and they looked a little guilty as they looked at us in surprise. I looked over at Kat and she had a frown on her face and I knew she had noticed the same thing I had.