In The Beginning Chapters 13,14,15 &16

Chapter 13
A Painting We Shall Go

Mike wakes early and feels for Jackie but then remembers she’s home in her own barracks. He misses waking to her presence close beside him but due to a close call they can no longer get away with sneaking up to his room.

It’s Saturday and he has a full day’s activities planned. First a trip into Digby then up to Cliff’s place, or maybe he should call it Cliff’s wife’s place. Anyway it’s Cliff’s wife’s brother he’s going to see about the paint job on the power wagon.

He thinks he might hang around and help him tape it for painting. He might just learn something new that way but first of all, breakfast. He rolls out of bed and dashes into his civvies.

When he reaches the mess hall Jackie’s there with Bev. “Good morning, ladies.”

They both greet him enthusiastically. He asks, “You look like you’re feeling a lot better, Bev. Are you?”

“Yes, I am and thanks for noticing. I told Jackie the same when I met her and she tells me you two had quite a night in the woods. So you have finally initiated Tryst!”

“I think you two beat us to it but it’s official now.” He sets his breakfast by Jackie and takes a seat. “Any word from Jack?”

“No, I don’t really expect any. He’s right here in the bay.”

Jackie asks, “Why don’t you come into Digby with us, Bev? Like you say he’s not likely to be in touch over the weekend. I’m sure Mike can get you a pass.”

She looks at Mike and asks, “Would it be any trouble?”

“Not a bit but I’m not so sure I can produce the pass. I’m willing to try, though. Come on and join us.”

“Okay, if you can get the pass.”

He’s good as his word and so the three of them head in to Digby after breakfast. “The Duty Officer was as kind as you would wish,” he smiles.

Jackie grumbles, “Just because it was a she, you bugger.” Bev just smiles and says nothing.

They cross the Bear River bridge and round the turn by the bay passing Smiths Cove then across the Joggins bridge into Digby. Mike is surprised to see a Tim Hortons restaurant. He cheers for their donuts and pulls in.

“What are we stopping here for?” Jackie asks.

“Information on where the motor vehicle office is and what’s there to see in Digby,” his reply. “Besides a coffee sounds good and Tim Hortons is even better.”

Jackie mutters, “I’d like a Mac Donald’s better.”

Mike decrees, “Wash your mouth out with soap, infidel!”

Bev gets laughing at their antics as they go inside. At the counter Jackie jumps ahead saying, “I’ll get it.”

A cute waitress comes to the counter and looks right over her to Mike asking, “What would you like, sir?”

He glances at the girls and says, “I guess coffee all around, eh? That will be three coffees, two with cream. You don’t want cream, do you love?” Jackie is fuming and Bev is splitting her sides laughing. Unaware of any situation Mike continues, “I think that’s right.” The waitress leaves.

“Didn’t she see me at the counter? I think she needs glasses. No, I don’t want cream. Oh hell!” then to Bev, “And don’t you be laughing either.” That really breaks Bev up so Mike smiles.

They find out where to get their driver’s plates and that tourism is a large part of local economy along with the fishing industry. Harvesting scallops is the most famous and the trawlers that do that tie up at the local docks. It’s suggested they check the docks out.

Mike thinks it will depend on how fast he can get his plates but he would like to see the dock. They drink up and are soon on their way. Digby is a nice little town and a lot busier in summer tourist season than winter but there are two food markets, banks and service stations, a post office and other amenities.

They find the local Mounted Police office and are directed to the license bureau in town. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) are the provincial police in Nova Scotia as well as local police for traffic as well as crime.

At the license bureau Mike gets the new plates. He is warned to get insurance and temporary coverage is supplied by USJP or unsatisfied judgment provisions for 90 days. They loan him a screwdriver to change the plates. That means their visit to the harbor is short but interesting.

There are fishing boats, trawlers, barges and personal yachts in the harbor. It’s a hubbub of activities with a ferry boat and a small cruise ship in harbor. Mike would like to have stayed longer but feels they better get on up to Cliff’s place.

As they head out the highway Mike comments, “I never realized Digby was such a busy place. I’m not sure of the population but I bet they have over five thousand people year round.”

“It’s a lot closer than Liverpool,” comments Jackie.

“I see they have a branch of my Bank of Nova Scotia bank,” he adds, “I guess that is why Hugo accepted my check so readily.”

They make their way out around the bay and over the bridges to the base. Then they go on by to Clementsport and Upper Clementsport where they pull into Cliff’s place. George is waiting for them and waves while they are rounding the pond. Mike waves him a mock salute.

They climb out by the house and Henrietta greets them from the door. As they walk to the house Mike inquires, “Where’s Cliff this morning?”

“He went into Annapolis Royal this morning but he should be back soon. He said he would be home at lunch time. Come in.”

They enter the house and Mike introduces Bev. Henrietta insists they sit down with them and have a bite of lunch when Cliff comes home. Mike and George walk outside to move the truck to the shed where he will do the painting.

George explains, “The forecast is for rain starting tomorrow. It’s a landfall sea storm coming up the eastern seaboard so it could last a few days. I think we better plan on doing it indoors.”

“Yeah, better safe then sorry.”

George has to move another car out of the paint bay but that only takes a moment and then Mike drives in. George comes to the door and inspects the inside of the truck. “You know, with new floor mats and just a little of that paint you could really spruce up this inside as well, eh?”

“I been wondering about that. The interior paint is good but it won’t match. Maybe just the dash.”

“Yeah, that was what I thought and some trim.”

“Whatever you think, George. You’re the expert.”

“Well, let’s go eat. I saw Cliff come in a bit ago.”

They go back to the house where Henrietta has a hot pot of clam stew with boiled potatoes chunked into it with clams, carrots, spring turnip and leafy bok choy. It’s a delicious sea food lunch worthy of the areas reputation for such.

She dishes up large bowls of the steaming stew and everyone settles to enjoy chatter and fine food. It’s a fun lunch with a family feel to it that the guests miss in their barracks life.

After lunch Mike joins George to work on the truck. Cliff comes out to join them later. It isn’t long and the truck begins to disappear behind paper and tape. Windshield, mirrors, glass and trim are all covered meticulously.

Mike asks, “What about the inside, George.?”

“On second thought I think it might be better to do the outside and see how it looks before we do any painting in there.”

“Okay and I better give you a key while I think of it.” He takes a key off his ring and hands it to George.

“By the way, I have your paint mixed and I put a coat on this piece of fiber glass so you could see how it looks when it dries. Careful, it might be tacky.” Mike takes the piece and holds it up by the truck door. “Baby butt pink, alright,” he grins and so does Cliff.

“People will see it coming.” is George’s comment.

“It’s a Tittiemobile!” exclaims Cliff.

“I heard that!” it’s Jackie coming up behind them with Bev. “I think it’s the perfect color for a love nest. Our sweet Tryst all in pink.” Bev watches on with an amused smile.

“Oh my, it is pink!” This comment from Henrietta.

George says, “Well, everyone out unless you want to get painted. I better get going on this or it won’t be done this week.”

“I thought I might help you with some of the sanding, George.” Mike offers help. The others are going back to the house. George gets various grades of sanding papers out and they study the body and what will be needed. Soon they are busy sanding.

George works with sanding disk and finer paper while Mike does heavier cutting with a belt sander. By late in the afternoon they have all the heavy sanding done and are both working with disks and buffers.

They decide to go with cherry for the bumpers and mirror backs. They are not sure about the hubs so will do them pink for now.

“Well, I guess I will start painting either tonight or in the morning.” George rubs his eye. “Damn eyes are tired tonight. Tomorrow, I guess.” Mike nods. They clean up at an outside pump and Henrietta brings them towels.

“Come for supper now.” she adds, “Cliff will take you back to the base after supper.” Inside the girls are relaxing while helping Henrietta with supper. They have become friends and chat easily with each other. Mike is glad to see it. He senses Bev needs feminine friendship other than with Jackie.

After supper they prepare to return to the base. Mike and the girls load up with Cliff and start down the road. Mike comments, “That is one sweet wife you have there, Cliff. You really lucked into her. Not only a terrific cook but well to do, at that.”

“You been listening to George, haven’t you?”

“He told me about the family history and lands.”

“You mean how the Martins came here to settle and still own over a thousand acres?”

“Yeah, although I wondered about that. Do they still have that much land hereabouts?

“As far as I know, the Martins own a little cottage in Yarmouth where my wife and her imaginative brother grew up. He has a tendency to exaggerate a whole lot.”

“Oh. Then it’s your family land, is it?”

“Yes. We have a few hundred acres with a small lake on it on Highway 8 and about a hundred acres at home. That’s it.”

“George suffers from illusions of grandeur, I take it.”

“Well put,” he grins.

“Did he paint this Jeep?”

“Yes, he did. He’s a very good painter.”

“I guess that’s the main thing.” They nod in agreement.

Back at the base Mike is bidding Jackie a good night. “I’m going to shine my boots and do a laundry tonight. It’s a shame we have tomorrow off and a pass but nowhere to go.”

“We could go for a walk or we could catch the bus into town.”

“Or we could do both.” They kiss like two love birds.

“Wouldn’t you like some help with your laundry?”

Mike smiles but says, “No can do, love. We have Tryst now, why spoil it by getting caught.”

“I know, I was just kidding.” But he knows better.

“I hear we have a career day next Wednesday. Did you hear that?”

“Yes,” she pauses, “I think they test us to see what profession we suit best.” she asks, “What do you want to try out for?”

“If my aptitude qualifies me I would love to take the training to be a navy pilot. Just the thought of pushing those power bars and flying through the air sends chills up and down my spine. What about you?”

She laughs, “You know my choice. I want to be the legal eagle that challenges the system and wins! They can train me as a lawyer and I’ll cheer.”

“Well, at least we would both be officers, so we could still enjoy a piece of tail now and again or even tie the knot. Have you ever given that any thought?”

“Not yet. I’m still enjoying my youth and my freedom. Lots of time to think of that later, much later.”

“Yes, I suppose you’re right. Well, good night love.” They kiss once more and part.

Sunday they go for a walk out the gate and to the bus stop. Before long they are seated in the bus rolling towards Digby. “Did you sleep well?”

“I suppose, but I missed you.” Mike kisses her.

“Mike! Everyone is watching.”

“Well, of course. We’re a fine looking couple,” he grins.

They get off the bus in town and Mike heads right for Tim Hortons on Warwick Street. They enjoy coffee and donuts before heading for the main street. Many tourist bed & breakfasts dot the area and Mike notes the Harbourview Inn across from the harbor and the Bayside Inn along Montague Row. They hear about the Digby Pines Resort and Golf Course but cannot travel to see it on Shore Road.

In a crowd on the dock they watch open air grilling of scallops and shrimp and soon have to partake of some. Gulls cry and fishing boats rock with tolling bells behind them as they lick their fingers. It’s a beautiful day but Mike is mindful of George’s warning that a storm is on it’s way.

They walk quite a way around the town making their way down to Water Street and the fishery. Coming back up on Carleton Street Mike notes dark clouds south of town. “We better get back to the bus stop love. See those black clouds ahead?”

“Let’s hurry.” She takes off jogging and Mike trails her. With luck they will catch the 1500 bus up the valley. It catches those at the base getting off work at 1600. They just make it as the bus is leaving.

“I wonder what taxi fare is to the base?” Mike ponders this. “It’s likely a twenty for servicemen.” He grins, “They love us.”

“Well, we don’t have to worry about it tonight.” She snuggles up to him. “I think those vendors on the wharf are going to get wet.” The bus trundles along making numerous stops for customers along the way but arrives on schedule at 1600 at the base.

They step down and allow the crowd to climb aboard. The sky is really black in the south so they head for their barracks quickly. “See you at supper. Bring your poncho even if it’s not raining yet.”

Entering the barrack Mike notes it is already turning blustery and the air has cooled off. He goes up to his room and pulls out his poncho throwing it on the bed. A quick run to the bathroom and when he comes back he notices rain is slashing against the window. He flips the light on and goes to the window. It looks like it might be a long wet night.

Downstairs he hears the front door bang and voices calling as someone comes rushing in. There’s chatter and laughter as they come up the stairs. Somebody got caught out in the rain. Suddenly his room is lit by a flash of nearby lightning. The flash is almost immediately followed by a loud boom and the windows rattle.

Mike dons his poncho and braves the elements during a lull in the storm. He dashes to the mess hall and joins the line inside. He sees an early arrival waving at him and recognizes Bev. She indicates she has a table for them. Mike shrugs when she seems to query him by pantomime. He has no idea where Jackie is.

He joins her and asks, “No sign of Jack yet?”

“He wasn’t sure if they would make it before supper but said not to worry if he was late. I am worried now with that storm raging. That lightning struck close a while ago.”

“It sure did. I wonder where Jackie is. I thought she would be here. You didn’t see her?”

“No but I didn’t check on her before I left. I thought she would be with you or here at supper.”

“We went in to Digby today on the bus and just got back before the storm. It was a nice morning and afternoon until the storm blew in.” Outside the storm is raging again with wind swept rain and flashes of lightning. The lights in the hall flicker. “Oops, I think the generator just kicked in.”

Outside the street lights come back on winking here and there in flowing shadowy images on the glass. Bev shivers, “It’s gotten dark awfully fast, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah, I hope Jackie isn’t trying to get here in that weather.”

They eat in silence but Mike glances at her often. Finally he can’t resist asking, “Remember your problem we earlier discussed?” She looks blank. “You know, not being able to orgasm with Jack.”

She grins, “I don’t have that problem anymore. Didn’t you notice when we did it in the backseat of the truck?”

Now Mike is the embarrassed one and admits, “I was pretty sure you came that time. I know it really pissed Jackie off when we didn’t get the chance.”

“I know, she got downright hateful over that but we got the chance and had been as excited about using the truck, the same as you guys, so we got right to it. It was great!”

“I can imagine. We used the back seat ourselves the other night. It was awesome.”

“Mike. I don’t know how to ask this so I will just blurt it out. There’s a girl in our barracks who says she has had sex with Jackie. Is that possible?”

“Is she a blonde female amazon from Denmark or Sweden or somewhere like that?’ He can see Bev nodding before he finishes asking. “That’s Mary Anne and Jackie did room with her when we first arrived. You must remember her. She arrived the day after we did.”

“That’s her name, alright. I don’t remember her but it was a confusing time when we arrived.”

“Well, we threesomed with her and I’m pretty sure her and Jackie got it on a few times on their own so I guess that answers your question.” She nods but remains thoughtful. They eat in silence.

“Penny for your thoughts,” he grins.

“Do you think Jackie would come on to me?”

Mike studies her before venturing an opinion. “I don’t think she would. You don’t have that flare, that outrageous sexist extreme she is drawn to.” He adds, “Don’t get me wrong, you have definite sex appeal, in fact having seen you in action I have to watch myself that I don’t cross the line with you.”

She laughs, “So it’s you I have to watch out for and not Jackie, is it?” Mike laughs with her. They finish their supper just in time to see Jackie come running in.

“Whew! I got caught in the storm and had to go back and change. My hair is still wet!” She shakes her head, but Mike is suspicious. It looks more like she took a shower and he smells a hint of shampoo.

“I was wondering where you were. I thought you would try to make it here earlier.”

“I was busy,” she goes on, “Some of the girls had a game going and I joined them. I never noticed the time.” She nods at Bev, “Isn’t Jack back yet?”

“No, I don’t think they docked because of the storm.”

“Gee, did I break up your little tête-à-tête?” She glances at Mike then glares at Bev. Bev gets up to leave but Mike stands and takes her arm stopping her.

“Hold on, Bev. I think someone has an apology for you,” he glares at Jackie. She just sulks unapologetically.

Bev pulls away, “I have to go. See you later.”

Mike sits down again, “That wasn’t very nice. What’s wrong with you?” She continues to eat sullenly.

“Now you are punishing me, is that it?”

“Mike, it’s not you. I love you. Can I help it if I get jealous now and then. You’re awfully close to her, though. I can sense it and I don’t understand. She’s such a cow.”

Mike is disappointed with her response but leaves it alone. He sits with her as she eats a light supper then they leave to brave the weather.

He goes back to his room and gets it ready for Monday morning inspection. Some time during the night the storm blows out to sea and the morning bursts upon the valley with a new vibrancy in the wet grass.

Now in their fourth week of eight they go through career day. Wednesday is spent testing and determining potential in candidates for future careers. Mike finds he has aptitudes for cooking, mechanics, electronics and leadership. Amongst the careers open to him are cook, mechanic, driver, pilot, electronic tech or seaman officer.

He’s ecstatic to see pilot included. That answers his questions and he decides that’s the career for him. He will be a navy pilot. Maybe even a test pilot or an astronaut. Who knows?

Jackie is found to have aptitudes for medicine and leadership opening her for doctor, nursing, dentistry, psychiatry, teacher, lawyer or seaman officer. She is delighted to see law amongst her options.

Jack is pleased to find he can look forward to a career as a sailor with leadership potential in the navy and likewise Bev finds her wishes to become an RN are within her reach.

They all get together at supper and congratulate each other. Mike doesn’t tell them of his dream to go on to become an astronaut but Jackie senses he is happy for more than just the chance to be a pilot.

“Let the military train you and go to work for United Airways or some of the other big players out there. That’s what you do, eh? Make lots of money some day!”

“Ha, a navy jet jockey is good enough for me. Just give me the plane and to hell with the money.”

“But you want more! I can tell you think bigger than that. What is it you seek in the air?”

He smiles enigmatically, “Maybe it’s not in the air.”

Bev nods knowingly and Jack asks, “What kind of lawyer, Jackie?”

Bev whispers towards Mike, “Beyond the air.” as Jackie responds to Jack while Mike nods to her.

“I think a service lawyer to start but corporate is my final aim. That’s where the real money is.” She gloats, “I plan to always go first class.”

They finish supper and Mike is off to the motor pool. He is studying air systems. He aims to get his air ticket so he can get a Class 1A driver’s license. He wants the very best, too.

Friday Mike calls George. “Hello, is that you, George?”

“Do I sound like my sister?”

“No, I’m sorry, George. Cliff tells me you have the truck finished. Is it ready to drive?”

“Yeah, it’s ready to go as is. I mean, it’s all dry but if you want any changes or other highlights or such that won’t be ready yet.”

“That’s the thing, I want to view it in full sunlight before I make a decision on that. How be I make arrangements to come out tomorrow morning. Does the bus run Saturdays?”

“I think it does. I see it pass by on the weekends. You better check the schedule.”

“I will and I’ll see you tomorrow. Take care.”

Mike gets passes for them both so Saturday morning at 0800 they catch the bus to Annapolis Royal. It’s a lightly cloudy morning but bright so Mike is optimistic they will be able to see it clearly in a good light.

They have the driver drop them at Cliff’s place and wend their way around the pond in front of his house. Jackie says, “I love the setting for their home. Isn’t it perfect?”

“You mean the pond? Oh, look! Is that a swan? I think it is behind those cattails.” They spot a couple Mallards in the rushes and then a pair of swans make themselves visible. A fish jumps and they stop to see if they can see any more in the shallows. He spots some, “There’s some minnows.”

“I see them and that one is pretty big for a minnow,” she points. They move on and up the lane to the house. George is outside waiting for them. Mike waves.

George takes them right around the house to the shop. He explains, “They like to sleep in on Saturdays. Now look at this beaut,” he throws open the shop double doors.

Mike is quite pleased and Jackie exclaims in excitement, “It’s perfect! It’s so beautiful. I love it.” Mike smiles at her enthusiasm.

He says, “Let’s pull her outside and see how she looks in the sun.” They proceed to do that and Cliff comes out to watch. Mike pulls the truck into the open by the pond and gets out.

He walks around it while George and Jackie come down the hill to join him. “I don’t know about those hubs, George. What do you think?”

“I think I’d leave them pink. You might do those lug nuts in cherry… or just leave them black. I didn’t paint them in fear of messing up the threads. You see how the threads show through the cover?”

“Yeah, I was wondering how you left them unpainted.”

He grins, “A little tape and crumpled newspaper.”

“They look good as is and do not contrast with the cherry trim on the bumpers and mirrors. I was thinking driving down here that I might get the dash done to match. How much would you charge for that?”

“Fifty bucks right now because I have the paint mixed already for it but an easy one hundred later on.”

“Did you mix me any extra in case of need later.”

“Yep, I sure did. I included a gallon of the pink and a half quart of the cherry,” he smiles proudly.

“And what are you going to do with it if I don’t take it? I don’t have much room for storage, you know.”

“I don’t know, put it aside I guess.”

“Don’t you think fifty is a bit steep to do the dash with my own paint?”

“Alright, twenty! Does that suit you?”

Mike smiles, “You got a deal.” Cliff is chuckling up the hill and walks back to the house.

He calls, “Hey, Mike! Coffee’s on.”

They all walk up the hill together. George says he will get a receipt so Mike peels out $220.00 for him in twenties. Jackie watches wide eyed but says nothing.

Henrietta is smiling when they come in and Mike realizes Cliff has told her about the switch he pulled on George to get the extra work done cheap. Mike tells George, “It’s only fair I tape and sand the dash for you, George. We can paint it right away.”

So that is how it goes down that day. They paint the dash and turn on the heat lamps to dry it. By evening the job is done so Mike and Jackie head home to the base. They leave the windows down an inch as they drive and when they park it at the base.

They have to put up with some heckling at the gate over the paint job but it’s all in good natured fun. Mike parks it proudly right up near the gate. He figures he will close the windows Sunday evening.

As it turns out Jackie chats up the paint job and interests Jack and Bev to see it so Mike has to acquire passes for them for the day. They take it for a spin up to Middleton and Mike gets a chance to see some planes up close. They visit CFB Greenwood, a RCAF base with sub chaser aircraft.

Mike admires the large four engine Argus Aircraft and watches smaller craft arrive and depart. Mike and Jack would have stayed all day watching them but the girls insist they move along. The head back down the Annapolis Valley for home.

The Annapolis Valley stretches from Kentville/Wolfville in the northeast down to Digby in the southwest of the peninsula. This is an area rich in apples, peaches, cherries, pears and grapes. It is also the heart of Canadian coastal defenses for all the northern continent including Canada and the northeastern seaboard of the USA from Boston to NYC. This network is covered by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and includes co-operation on the part of Canada and the USA.

These two bases (Cornwallis & Greenwood) are only two sites involved in the network of coastal defenses. There are many more but these two are only about fifty miles apart. They arrive back at the base in time for supper. Where ever they go they cause raised eyebrows and second glances. No doubt Mike’s truck will be remembered.

Chapter 14
Yarmouth Bound

In their fifth week of Basic Training the parade skills of the group are improving to the point of no longer learning new moves but simply practice, practice and more practice. Now Mike has earned that second chevron and is a LS or Leading Seaman (equivalent to army Corporal).

He assists Bruce with marching practice and classroom activities. He is also busy with night classes to earn an air ticket for his drivers license. He and Cliff occasionally go together to pick up loads of supplies or mail runs, etc. Although not an official driver he is allowed to drive when necessary and finds he can handle most of the vehicles they have at the base including an air equipped tractor trailer and float.

The latter is not legal so he doesn’t advertise his experience with the tractor trailer. While the five ton tractor is air equipped the five ton dump truck is not so he drives it and has hooked it to the float to move it.

He still professes a love to learn to fly but the power of the big rigs is addictive to him. He drives every chance he gets so late one Friday night Cliff calls the barrack and asks for Mike.

“Mike Claymore here.”

“Mike, it’s Cliff. I got a chance for you to take a run for me if you feel up to it. The doc tells me I got pneumonia and says I got to rest. I haven’t called in yet but Monday morning I have a run for supplies to Halifax. If you want it I will recommend you?”

“Yeah, sure, that’s with the three ton stake truck. isn’t it?”

“Yep, I know you can handle that one.”

“Oh hell, yeah!”

“Okay. I’ll recommend you. Good luck. Good night.”

“Thanks Cliff, good night… oh yeah, and take care of yourself.”

He gets off the phone and mumbles, “That sure beats pounding the parade square.”

Saturday morning he greets Jackie with, “I’m glad we stayed in last night. I got a call from Cliff and he wants me to take a run Monday to Halifax. Isn’t that something?”

“I suppose but who will do our drill practice if you go?”

“I guess either Bruce or someone he delegates. I’m not going to worry about it. Maybe he’ll get the Sergeant back to help out.”

“I guess it doesn’t matter.” she smiles, “So what are we doing this weekend? Can we go to Halifax?”

“I thought you might like to go to Yarmouth and check that town out. We could get a motel room for the night.”

Her eyes light up, “Oh yeah, let’s do that. I like that idea. Have you got passes?”

“Yep, I got them yesterday. I was sure you would want to go out on the weekend.”

She looks suspiciously, “Let’s see them. I bet they were good for last night, weren’t they?” Mike shows her and she curses, “Damn! Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I told you I didn’t feel like going out.”

“Well, I could have gone without you, couldn’t I?”

“Here’s your pass. Go where ever you want. Good bye.” He turns to leave.

“Mike, I’m only kidding. Don’t take me so serious. Jesus, no sense of humor at all.” She follows him.

They proceed to the gate and then on to the truck. He opens her door and closes it behind her before going around to open his. She slides over in the seat to sit beside him.

“Can I get a kiss?” she asks.

Mike turns and takes her in his arms kissing her soundly. She loves this side of him. He simply can’t resist her charms. It’s part of why she loves him so. He forgives her wrong doings before she even asks. She has come to count on him.

Mike starts Tryst and they head into Digby. They follow Hwy # 1 down the coast to Weymouth and Sauinierville. Then Metaghan, Mavillette and Port Maitland before they reach the outskirts of Yarmouth and pass the Yarmouth Regional Hospital on the right.

Mike watches the street names and says, “Watch for Jenkins Street.”

“How come?”

“Just watch for it.” They pass Store and South, then Public Street and the Frost Park. Glebe and Lovett, then Jackie sings out, “There’s Jenkins on the right.” Mike prepares to turn right.

“Now watch for number 8. It should be down near the end by Water street and should be on your side.”

She watches, “What is it? A motel? A hotel?”

“A cottage.”

“Huh? Somebody you know? What’s this all about?”

“It might be run down or abandoned.”

“Then I bet that’s it.” she points at a roofless shanty near the end of the street.

Mike nods and slows to a halt across from the Yarmouth Pub. He notes the pub is number 5 so he thinks she is right. “That’s where Henrietta and George grew up. That was the extent of the Martin holdings,” he grins. “I wanted to see it. Cliff told me it was here.”

“I thought Cliff and Henrietta lived on the Martin estates or at least part of them.”

“Cliff told me his brother-in-law is a bit of a braggart and stretches the truth frequently. Apparently he tells every one he meets that they live on his family lands. The estate is actually Cliff’s family’s.”

“Oh my God, I believed him. What a turd!”

Mike pulls around the corner and they go south on Water Street. They go all the way down to the Ferry terminal and the ferry for Portland, Maine. Mike spots Rodd Colony Harbour Inn across from the harbor. He swings in and parks. “How’s this? Right down town.”

“I hope they have a vacancy.”

“They seem large enough to have lots of vacancies. I’ll go in and register since we don’t have any luggage. We don’t want them throwing us out before we get there.” he chuckles. As he steps out he says, “Wow, four stories. I bet they have fifty rooms. I’ll try to get us a view of the harbor.”

Mike goes in and nearly fifteen minutes later he comes back out whistling a tune. “I got us a room on the third floor but no harbor view except off our private balcony.” He laughs, “How about that?”

“Wow, can we go up?”

“Sure, if you want. I thought you might like to look around a bit first. I thought we might pull back over on Main Street (Number 1 Hwy) and go back up towards Jenkins and see what else there is to see.”

“I guess so. It’s a nice day for sight seeing.”

He pulls out turning left on Forest Street and drives two short blocks to Main. He swings left here and they notice a bakery on the corner then a Salvation Army Citadel on the right. That’s followed by boutiques and a gun shop. On the next corner there is a bank and the CBC Building.

Farther along are restaurants and another bank followed by a drugstore and more restaurants. Mike spots a realty office and when they reach Jenkins Jackie spots a wool shop. She wants to go back to the boutiques so Mike turns right at the next stop light. He goes over three short blocks to Willow and turns right again.

“Are you going back to the boutiques?”

“Yep, back to Forest and look for a parking spot on Main.”

“Huh? We’re on Willow.” Mike just nods.

They pass a cafe and a market then a French bank before they hit a dead end but Mike just jogs left then right again. It’s residential now and they pass Cumberland Street. The next street is Forest so Mike turns right.

As they come out to Main he turns right and seeks a parking place near the boutiques. As they round the corner Jackie can see their hotel just down the next block if they had gone straight to the harbor. Now she knows where they are.

“Can we stop at the bakery on our way back?”

Mike parks and points across the street. “It’s right there so I guess we can. Let’s go check out these shops you saw.” Mike locks up Tryst and they wander to the shops. She enters a clothing shop first and just has to have a pair of shorts to match a purse and shoes she has back at the base.

Mike pays for them as she seems to expect him to but when they exit the store he asks, “Don’t you have any cash with you?”

She replies demurely, “No, will I need any?”

“I guess not. I’ll have to stop at the bank and use their ATM. I thought you would have cashed your first paycheck by now.”

“Oh, they provide meals and housing so I thought to frame my first service paycheck to look at in the future. Doesn’t that sound neat?” She’s staring in the window of a jewelry shop. “Oh, isn’t that lovely?”

He looks away, “Not near as lovely as that framed paycheck of yours, I bet.” He steers her away from the door and on to the next shop, a hardware. She acts bored and moves on to a grocery store and market. They spot some nice ripe peaches so Mike gets a half dozen.

Just as they are leaving he sees an old battered suitcase behind a counter on the floor by the front door. He asks the proprietor if he would sell it. He says he has it out there to discard it so they can have it. Mike is delighted because they now have luggage to take into the hotel.

He explains to Jackie that they will just leave it in the car. Jackie says that is great because she will put blankets and maybe a pillow in it for the back seat. They laugh over that. Tryst has got an accessory.

Outside he puts the shorts and peaches in the case. “Might as well make good use of it.” He’s surprised at how clean it is inside and it seems to be sound, just scuffed up. “I think we got a good deal.”

They pass a drugstore and cross over the street to walk back down the block. Jackie has spotted a boutique that has scarves in the window. They go inside. Mike looks to the next building, a Bank of Nova Scotia and nods. He does most shopping of small items by cash or larger purchases by check. He accesses his funds via an ATM at the bank and uses his bank card also as ID when writing checks.

He has his service paycheck deposited automatically to his account through pay and accounts at the base so he doesn’t have to line up for a paycheck nor does he have to go to the bank to make a deposit. He finds that quite convenient. He doesn’t have a credit card and really doesn’t miss it since he never has had one.

Jackie has to have a scarf to match the shorts she got earlier so once again Mike comes to the rescue and buys it for her. She also picks out a small piece of costume jewelry that catches her eye. Mike is glad she didn’t go into the jewelers they saw across the street.

“I think that pin will look divine on that scarf to hold it.” Mike puts them in the suitcase in front of the bank.

“Hold on a sec, I need to use the machine.” he goes inside the door to the ATM and inserts his bank card. Jackie waits outside the door with the suitcase. He comes out putting his wallet into his hip pocket and they walk on to the bakery.

He asks, “Do you want to go out to a restaurant for supper or shall we get a few things here to snack on tonight?”

“I think we might be busy tonight,” she grins broadly.

Mike grins as well, “That’s what I thought.” They go inside to get plump pastries and a small cake (to celebrate their first motel). When they get back across the street to the truck Mike carefully puts the last purchases in the suitcase. “I think we are ready to go home, my dear.”

“Lead on, Mr. Claymore. I presume at the hotel I am Mrs. Claymore?”

He nods, “You are, my dear.”

They promptly return to their hotel and enter the lobby, suitcase in hand. They go directly to the elevator and ring for service. It open immediately so they step in and punch the third floor button. “317 my dear,” he announces as they step out.

At the end of a corridor they turn left and there it is on their right, room three seventeen. Mike opens the door with the key. “I can either carry you over the threshold or the suitcase. Which shall it be?”

She bounces through the door saying, “Don’t be silly, bring the suitcase.” Mike does as she asks. There’s a short hallway opening into a huge room with high ceilings and double width patio doors leading out to a wide balcony beyond the door and window. “Oh Michael, it is adorable.” she runs to the doors and throws them open to step outside. She points to the right, “And there’s the harbor and the sea!”

Mike puts down the suitcase and goes to join her. “The guy on the desk said there was a view from this room although it doesn’t face the harbor. He was right, it is a good view.” He sits at a patio table across from her. “Shall I order up coffee so madam can enjoy a pastry?” he bows from the waist in the chair.

“Why thank you, kind sir.” they chuckle together as he steps inside to use the phone.

“Why dear, have you noticed the flowers in here?” he calls to her as he dials. “Oh, they are from the Management.” He studies a card that says, “Welcome Mr. & Mrs. Claymore to the Rodd Colony Harbour Inn”

Jackie has come in so he hands the card to her. “Why, isn’t that sweet,” she studies the card while he orders a pot of coffee.

Mike says, “I thought I saw a small gift shop downstairs. I bet they make these bouquets up right here on the premises.”

Shortly a bell hop arrives with an urn of hot coffee and shows them where there is cups, silverware and fixings for their coffee in their bathroom. Mike tips him and they settle down to enjoy some pastries and coffee at the patio table on the terrace.

They watch a ferry arrive and see the hubbub of traffic down below. A wheeling sea gull threatens to land on their railing but Mike shoos him away. They watch the sun set out over the Bay of Fundy on the far side of a wooded island. They get their hands all sticky from peaches and rush in to wash in the bathroom.

They wind up on the bed wrestling and soon clutching each other. It’s a king size bed so they have lots of room to roll around and play. They kiss deep and long between scattering clothes around the room. He holds her hands up over her head and lays on her body to force her legs open and kiss her again.

She tickles him and squirms away to the balcony. He utters, “Hey, you haven’t got any clothes on… at least not much!”

She giggles and calls, “Hey, look at me,” then dashes back in to land on him in the bed. “I think an old man looked up at me.” She’s grinning broadly. “I gave him an eyeful.”

Mike cautions, “Don’t get us booted out of here,” but he laughs.

She walks her fingers down his chest and around his belly button. She stops on his pelvis then taps his erection with a finger, “Hello there, big boy,” she turns coy, “Why don’t you come up and see me some time.”

“That’s what he’s dying to do.”

She flops back on the bed, “Imagine, we have the full night here to just do whatever we want,” she looks towards Mike, “and I know what I want.”

He studies her flowing blonde head with darker eyebrows, her deep mysterious brown eyes, her cute prominent nose and generous sensuous lips. His eyes rove over her small but firm breasts, her tight narrow waist and then that thatch of wavy auburn hair surrounding wide outer and inner labial lips in a crinkly line flowing under her form.

He thinks, ‘she is woman, through and through’. He likes what he sees but he doesn’t understand the reasons behind the bleach job, her false bravado, her insecurities, her sordid past. He accepts her ‘as is’.

He turns out all the lights except a small spot over the bed he has arranged by moving a lamp. “The better to see you with, my dear,” he grins wolfishly.

“Let’s leave the patio doors open, the sea breeze feels so fresh on my skin.” He agrees with her. He picks up an ankle at the foot of the bed and kisses it then licks up her leg to her knee. He kneels between her legs to lick farther up the inside of her thigh but stops to turn his attention to her other leg.

Rolling her over he licks behind her knees alternating with kisses in this sensitive spot then works his way up the backs of her legs to the cheeks of her ass and between them. He works up her spine with kisses and tongue while she relaxes enjoying the attention.

Distant sounds of muted traffic vie with the sound of his tongue flicking her flesh. He moves to hover over her and turn her so he can taste her teat. With one hand he squeezes a peach and allows the juice to drip on her nipples freely then dribble pooling down her chest and stomach.

He dips his head to lick and suck the juice from her skin poking his tongue into every crevice. She giggles as a trickle runs off her only to be caught by his tongue. She sucks in her breath and blows out to drop her belly and cause the juice to slither quickly between her thighs.

Mike goes after it licking and sucking her very nether lips in his quest. She grows impatient and gasps, “Fuck me, Mike! Fuck me hard and fast! Fill me with your cum. We can take our time later, just fill me now. Please.”

Hunching down between her legs he grabs her hands and holds them with one hand over her head while he forcefully kneads her breast with the free hand and kisses her fiercely on the lips. Biting her neck he enters her hard and fast, just like she wants it.

He drives into her repeatedly generating a loud sucking sound and the smacking of his balls against her. She says, Oh!” when she expresses a small fart as he drives her. Mike doesn’t let it distract him but continues to set up a hard driving rhythm. They can’t take this pace long before he feels the tingling in his balls.

“Hang on your hat, love. I’m going to blow it off anytime now… in fact very soon.”

She pushes up meeting him move for move and whimpers, “Do it, love. Fill my pussy with all you got.”

He buries deep and shoots his seed, she squeals and spreads herself as far as she can then wraps her legs around him as he ejaculates again and again. “Oh Mike, oh baby, oh, oh, oh.” she shakes her head wildly but quickly stops.

She holds him inside with her legs locked around him. “I wanted that so badly tonight. I could hardly wait. Let’s shower and then we can make sweet love all night if you want. God, that was good.”

“Lay still for a few minutes, love.” He gently extracts himself from her and goes to bring her a hot wet washcloth. He gently washes her sticky chest and her scarlet box.

“Thank you, my love. Let me wipe you off now.” She takes the cloth and strokes him back to life. “Let’s go shower.”

Mike adjusts the shower head for a sharp needle like sting and ley’s it drill into his shoulders. Jackie finds it invigorating as her body glows with steam. She laughs and teases Mike as he lets the heat work on his muscles and sinews. Her playfulness has him hard and his thoughts carnal but he waits for her.

She luxuriates in the hot water working it into every orifice with soft sweet soap and rinsing to start again. She feels so clean and new all over, She turns to Mike and applies soft soap and attention to his skin. He watches and waits.

Tension builds in the hot steam and Jackie is well aware as she ministers to his brawny body scrubbing his ribs and abs. She calculates her moves carefully and when she knows she has his attention she clumsily drops the soap. She turns from him and dives for it exposing herself fully to him.

What healthy eighteen year old youth could resist? One hand turns the shower off as the other steadies her outthrust womanhood. He drives into her with vigor and she grips her ankles to steady herself. He shuttles inside her driving in and out in the obscuring steam.

He pulls out to spin her around and pin her against the shower wall kissing her fiercely. His tongue invades her like his hard cock has and she responds by sucking on it savoring his sweetness. No matter how wild and abandoned his attack she meets him with equal vigor.

She wraps a leg around him and he drives into her deep again. He lifts her off her feet and she clings to him as he bounces her off the wall with his hard fury. Like a storm that flings debris and destruction only to bring relief from stifling hot days they settle into sweet passion and he staggers carrying her to the bed.

Still inside her he lands on top and they wrap together. She whispers softly and he grunts in reply as they continue moving against each other. This goes on for a long period of time before they slow and finally come to rest together.

She whispers, “Oh Mike, we didn’t dry off. We are soaking the bed.”

“Uh huh,” he grunts. He moves slowly out of her then slides back in and moves slowly deeper.

“We already got it wet though so I guess there’s no hurry.”

“Uh huh,” he shuttles inside her slowly. He cups her bum.

“Are you even listening to me?”

“Uh huh,” he works one finger around her anus before gently inserting it.

“Oh,” She moans, “No hurry.”

“I guess you like that,” he smiles. She snuggles and struggles against him.

“Uh huh!”

They gently continue to copulate until they drift off to sleep in each others arms. Around three am they suddenly burst into action again. Mike is on top of Jackie with her legs spread as wide apart as she can. It’s how they woke and how they now want it as he repeatedly slides in and out of her. The room is filled with their grunts, cries, moans and groans.

The bed creaks, the flesh slaps and the night winds flow over them keeping them cool. His lips are on hers, then on her neck and then a nipple. Hers tease an ear and bite as they suck on his neck. The tempo increases as they thrash about. Her cries fill the air. He tenses as he feels his time is ripe.

She whimpers and cries as her world is upset and fireworks fill her soul. He buries his fingers in her hair kissing her hard as he drives into her deep to deliver his spurting cargo. After shocks of ejaculate fill her to overfilling. She feels so washed out but complete, satiated as it were.

She pulls a pillow under her head and toys with his chin. “You shove that thing into me pretty hard, you know.”

“I try to fill you with pleasure, I try to make you cum.” He feels himself shrinking inside her.

“You do a pretty good job of that.” Her lips curve into a happy smile as her fingers trace his lower lip. “I guess we went to sleep and left the lamp on,” she nods to the source of light. A shadow zips across the light.

“Hmm, I guess we left the patio doors open, too. We have a bug in here.” He stretches and rolls off her then draws a sheet over her. She pushes it so it covers him as well while he clicks off the lamp.

“I guess the bed is already wet. Do you feel like getting up?” He grunts in reply and they both fall off to sleep.

Mike wakes early and carefully checks his watch. 0635 hours is what he reads and lowers his arm. She is laying on the other arm so he takes this opportunity to study her although he does feel the pressure from his bladder. It is asserting itself by causing him a throbbing hard erection. He puts that from his mind to see her.

She has a soft round chin which slopes perfectly to her soft plump throat and curves up to her bleach blonde hair covered ears. He brushes the hair aside noting the prominence of her strong bulbous nose both round and long changing into two slashing darker eyebrows over her smiling soft brown eyes… “Oh, you’re awake.” He smiles back.

Under the sheet her hand moves to handle his hard on, “Is that for me?” She whispers.

He greets her, “Good morning, love. It’s all yours, you know that.”

She clucks her tongue, “I think we slept in the wet spot and my pussy is still dripping your cum when I move my legs.”

“I think some of it is yours, too.”

She smiles, “I suppose. Who cares, kiss me.” She insistently caresses his hard cock drawing him closer. He complies kissing her passionately then running his tongue down her body to her matted pussy. “Oh my God, Yes!”

Mike licks and kisses her labial lips until they are swollen in passion. He inserts his tongue to drive her nuts as he seeks her clit. He inserts two fingers in her as he licks her clit and he plays with her sending her into throes of passion.

She cums hard and begs he stop so he hesitates waiting her renewal of strength. When her breathing steadies he moves his fingers again lightly sucking on her clit. She goes directly back into another orgasm and he eases up then does it again to her. He sees he through about six orgasms this way. Finally she gushes her fluids and Mike is satisfied.

He climbs her body to enter her and fuck her hard. He hunches in a position to rotate his hips and push in deep then almost fully withdraw before driving in again. In this way he cries out in exhilaration as he shoots his semen deep in her vagina. He laughs with her as he shoots more and feels drained. “What a night!” They roll around together on the giant bed.

Later they both shower and dress in yesterday’s clothes. They pull the wet sheets and pillow cases together with used towels and pile them by the door. They pull the coverlet over the bed and naked pillows.

Gathering up all their belongings they prepare to leave. Downstairs the gentleman at the counter asks, “I trust you folks had a pleasant night’s sleep?”

Mike nods, “We did, indeed.”

Chapter 15
Halifax In His Sights

Mike has early breakfast because he wants to be on the road before 0800. He doesn’t expect to have any problems but he likes to be prepared for the worst. He’s taking a three ton stake truck and they have loaded a few items for delivery.

He hopes to be in the Fleet Maintenance yards in Cape Scott by noon and back before 1600. Jack is going to run through the new knots they learn today with him tonight and there is no other work he can’t catch up on when he can.

He checks with the office to make sure he has his paper work in order. He checks the oil and water in the truck before starting it. He knows someone is watching him.

He feels an exaltation as he leaves the base on his own. He heads for Annapolis Royal and shouts a whoopee in a loud voice. Watching the tachometer he shifts gears smoothly and soon he is eating up the miles. It’s around a hundred miles to Halifax but it is almost a straight run up to Wolfville sixty miles away.

Mike stretches and smiles as he wheels along. It’s great to be alive today. He passes Annapolis Royal and presses onward to Middleton. He remembers the RCAF station there called CFB Greenwood. When he pulls into town he stops for a coffee and chats with a friendly waitress.

“I’m Mike from Cornwallis.”

“I’m Charlene Campbell and I live out at the base. My dad’s in the air force out there.” She shakes her auburn tresses.

“I bet you love to date service men.”

“I sure do but my pa don’t like it.” Mike laughs and finishes his coffee. She waves to him as he leaves.

He continues through the Annapolis Valley with orchards and vineyards for accompaniment all the way to Wolfville. Then the highway turns south to Windsor. Beyond that it is thirty miles into Halifax.

Mike reaches Dartmouth around 1000 and the bridge into Halifax by 1035. From there it is twenty minutes into Fleet Maintenance docks in the harbor.

They unload him before they go for lunch so Mike joins them. This is CFB Halifax Dockyards so he goes to the NCO’s section of the mess to eat. There’s officers and enlisted personnel from many ships and facilities about Canada represented here at any time. This is Maritime Command (Atlantic).

After lunch he checks and they have items loaded for Cornwallis and some to pick up at HMCS Scotian at the end of the harbor. He drives along the harbor and pulls in by the last dock After loading he takes Water Street to Barrington and follows it out to the bridge.

He’s heading out of Dartmouth by 1300. Watching the time he proceeds north towards Wolfville. When he bypasses Wolfville and heads into the valley he checks his watch. He thinks he will make it before 1600. Sixty miles to go and he has two hours.

Watching the scenery go by and the odd view of a far off sea from a high point makes him think what a beautiful country he lives in. He enjoys the steady pace mile after mile and being his own boss on the road. It all appeals to him. Of course Jackie crosses his mind frequently and he wishes she could be with him.

He wonders what she is doing today and grins as he thinks how tired she was last night when they got home from Yarmouth. He thinks he could go for another day or two of that but he’s not so sure about her. He marvels that he came three times in one night then sobers when he recalls masturbating more times than that in one night when he was much younger.

‘Oh well’, he thinks, ‘What’s the big deal?’ He passes Middleton and thinks of the waitress he saw on his way down. He muses, “I bet she’d like a good fucking.” then rebukes himself for such thoughts. He might as well think of her though as he doesn’t mind fantasizing about Bev and her big tits. He thinks of those large orbs and gets hard.

“Damn! Better put those out of my mind, too.” he mutters shifting gears on a turning upgrade. At 1545 he pulls into the base and parks by the motor pool.

Inside the attendant asks, “Did you have any problems?”

“Nope, nothing slowed me down. It was a good run.”

“Cliff called and asked if you would call your MS. I think it’s something to do with that forest fire in New Brunswick. I know they were asking for volunteers today. A place called Sheffield is apparently threatened.”

“I’ll give him a call. Thanks for the message.”

Mike calls Bruce in Digby but his wife answers and says he’s at the base. He thanks her and goes looking for him at the mess hall. That’s where he finds him.

“Hi. You were looking for me?”

“Oh Claymore, right? Where were you?”

“Took a run for Cliff to Halifax. It seems he has pneumonia.”

“Mike, we are sending a contingent of students over to New Brunswick to help out as fire fighters. They have a fire burning out of control in a drought area called Sheffield. Small town is threatened to be wiped out if they don’t get some help.”

“Are you going with the crew?”

“Yes, I’m not sure how much help we can be but I am damn sure I will be there to make sure no one gets hurt from this station. Some of the army boys are going with us. Most of them are on instructor’s training and a lot are officers so how much good they will be is hard to say,” he grins. “By the way, I didn’t say that.”

“Yes, Master Seaman,” they laugh.

“Count me in. I can use the break.”

“I thought you would. That’s why I called.”

“Who all we got?”

“I got twenty including a few women. I’m not sure what to do with them. Sandwiches and coffee, I guess. If we can put together two crews of eight I will want you to try and keep one out of trouble and I will look after the other.”

“Why eight?”

“Six back packers, one radio op and ourselves.”

“Back Packers?”

“Water porta-packs. They use them for clean up in burned over areas to clean up hot spots. I guess you never done this before?”

“Not me.”

“You’ll learn. It seems we get called on every few years. There will likely be a crew from Greenwood there, too. Airmen on course. Assisting civilian authorities in time of emergency is part of our mandate.”

“It’s part of the course then. Do we get credits for it?”

“We’ll likely add a week to your course.”

“When do we go.”

“Tomorrow morning at 0800 on the parade square with light uniform pack and coveralls. Make sure everyone wears boots. I’ll be here at 0730 hours. See you then.”

“Right, see you in the morning.”

Bruce leaves and Mike looks for Jackie. She is at a table with Jack and Bev. He picks up supper and joins them.

Jack asks, “So are you joining our happy crew of firebugs?”

“Yeah, I get to lead one group. Are you all going, too?”

Jackie spits, “No way! Let ’em burn.”

“I’m going, too,” from Bev.

“Sorry love, I didn’t know who was going and who was not.” He tries to placate Jackie but she is adamant that she will not go whether he goes or not.

“You know what they say about volunteers,” she sneers.

“No, why don’t you tell me.”

“Once a volunteer, always a volunteer. You will always be considered the sucker that never refuses. I refuse on day one and they know enough not to ask me. I’m no sucker!”

“Oh well, the time will go by quickly and we’ll be back before you know it. I do wish you would reconsider though.”

“Not likely. It sounds like work to me.”

And that’s how they leave it. Mike bids her goodnight and goodbye if he doesn’t see her in the morning. She says she will see them at breakfast but Mike has his doubts. If there is no class he is sure she will sleep in.

Next morning he eats early and heads down to the parade square with the others. There is nearly thirty of them. He does a count and gets twenty seven but a straggler joins them.

Bruce comes in and mike says, “Looks like twenty eight in all. Does that jive with your figures?”

“Yeah, that sounds right if you are not counting yourself.”

“Oh damn, twenty nine then.”

“And I makes thirty.” he grins, “Three ranks of nine. Who would you suggest to head up the third column?”

“What do you think of Jack?”

“Yeah, either him or his girlfriend. I think she would do just about as well but this is a dirty enterprise so let’s give Jack the go. Do you want to tell him he’s acting AB?”

“Yes, I will Master Seaman.”

He turns and calls out Jack to take lead position in the second rank. Jack smiles as he moves through the ranks to head up second rank.

“Alright, eyes front and can the chatter. You’re at attention. Ordinary Seaman Jack Dylan, you are acting Able Seaman for this exercise.”

“Parade, Stand at Ease!” and “Stand easy!” from the MS. “Okay, we are going to load up on the buses in an orderly fashion so we will take up our luggage and board one rank at a time. I’m glad to see most of you brought your backpack. Those with kit bags will have to sling them over their shoulders to carry them.”

“Okay, Front Rank Only, At-ten-huh! Right Turn! Take them away, LS.”

Mike calls out, “Front Rank Only, Quick March! Left, right, left, right. Get it together!” He marches them to the waiting buses and to the first one where he halts them. He asks the driver if he is ready and gets the go ahead. “Okay Group, Load em Up!” he gets out of the way.

Before they leave the MS comes through to double check the roll call. He leaves a copy with Mike with his rank one people marked with a check mark. He asks him to share with Jack. Some of his people are in this bus as well. Second rank is marked with an X. Third rank have no mark by them.

Bruce bellows, “Listen up, people. We are going by bus to CFB Greenwood. From there we fly to Fredericton, New Brunswick and go by bus from there to Sheffield, a matter of about seven miles.”

“It looks like we will be in army tents in a bivouac area about a mile west of the town and out of direct threat of the fire. There are service personnel there already so pay attention and do us proud. We are Navy!” He steps off the bus and waves the driver on.

As the bus pulls out Mike goes back to sit across from Jack and Bev. “Two buses? They believe in giving us lots of room, don’t they,” says Jack.

“We do have a lot of equipment in the back and underneath, Jack.” Jack nods.

Bev says, “I thought Jackie might join us this morning,” she shrugs.

“I was pretty sure she wouldn’t and didn’t really expect her to be at breakfast. If she doesn’t have to get up, she won’t.”

“I guess you know her well. Did you both have fun on the weekend? I heard you went to Yarmouth.”

“We did and we had a pretty good time. Didn’t she tell you?”

“Mmm, not much,” she shrugs.

Jack pipes up, “Jackie doesn’t volunteer information any more than she volunteers herself. She doesn’t!”

“Well, we went sight seeing, did some shopping and spent some quality time together. Old historic Yarmouth is an interesting place to visit.” He looks to Jack, “You would find the harbor interesting. They have ferries coming and going there from Portland, Maine as well as the local fishing fleet. We even saw a cruise ship in port.”

“We might try to make it down there one day. We like to go when we can but right now we want to get our careers in gear first.”

“Sounds like solid logic, buddy.” They pass Bridgetown, “Won’t be long now, that was Bridgetown and Middleton is next. CFB Greenwood is only a few miles from Middleton.”

“Jackie said you went down to Halifax yesterday. What was that about?”

“Cliff has pneumonia so I took a run for him.”

“They let you do that?”

“Cliff recommended me. I have the same license as he does. I have a Class 1.”

“How come? All I have is a Class 3. That’s all I need.”

“I don’t know, I just wanted the best. I’m studying air equipment now so I can get a Class 1A. With that I can drive anything except a bus or a motor cycle. Hey, here we are.”

Sure enough they are pulling up to the gatehouse at CFB Greenwood. The gateman directs their driver to a building out by the hangars. As they pull ahead Mike gets up to move to the front. When they arrive he calls out, “Just relax, we will have you out in a few moments.” He steps down out of the bus and watches the other one park.

Bruce steps down from it and calls to Mike, “Three ranks out front here, Mike.”

“Got it!” He steps back up in the bus and calls, “Make sure you have everything you brought on the bus and form up in three ranks outside by bus number two. Move it!” He picks up his backpack and slings it on his shoulders then steps down again.

Jack asks, “Do you think I should join them?”

“You better. I’m going to.”

Mike takes his position as the right marker and Jack steps in behind him. Lots of the service members pick up dressing with arm movements and all settle into a platoon formation.

Bruce calls, “Parade! Parade, Ah ten hah!” They all snap to attention either shouldering their packs or dropping them. “Leave them where they are.” He looks over the group. “Stand At Ease!” then “Stand Easy!”

He calls, “Okay, I’m going to check what they want us to do so just stay where you are but relax and enjoy the nice weather.” he grins and turns away to go inside the building.

On the flight line they see and hear the arrival and departure of multiple aircraft. Greenwood is a busy airfield even if it is only military. Some civilian aircraft operate here but they do not originate here.

As they are watching a two engine DC3 rounds the hangar nearby. It has Air Transport Command written on the side of it in black letters under Canadian Armed Forces in red. Puffs of white smoke issue from the cowlings of this behemoth as it chuggs by them.

Bruce comes swinging out the office door, “Okay people, listen up! When that Dakota gets parked I am going to march you out there beside it. If they don’t shut down those engines you will have to pay special attention to what I am saying. That’s our transportation to Fredericton Airport. It’s a short hop of just over an hour. See you onboard.”

He follows that with “Parade! Parade, Ah ten huh!” and “Parade, Right Turn!” and “Okay, make sure you have your gear. Parade! Quick March!” He marches them onto the field, “Parade, Left Wheel!” When they are in front of the offices and near the aircraft, “Parade! Parade, Halt!”

Near the aircraft it is really noisy so they shuffle to a halt. They are catching the edge of the windy backflow of air from the props. They watch as a side door is opened from the inside of the craft and a steep staircase is dropped from the door. It seems to be hinged to the doorsill. A folding railing extends from the ladder like affair.

A uniformed airman steps down the stairs grabbing for the skimpy railing and hanging on to it steps down on the tarmac. He quickly walks to Bruce and they talk. He spins around and waves at them to jump on the aircraft. Nobody is sure what they should do but they see Bruce shrug his shoulders and wave them to follow.

A tractor hauling a cart with all kinds of equipment speeds by them and parks under the aircraft. They don’t look to see what they do with it, they try to climb the steep step ladder and get their packs inside with them. Nobody can hear anything for the noise of the twin engines.

As you get inside the sound is mercifully muted but they find yourself on what feels like a 45 degree hill running down to the tail. Trying to balance their pack and not slide down the aisle they make their way down past the seats. Not too far, there are only twelve rows of seats, two on one side and singles on the other with an area for luggage at the rear (or extra seats if they need them).

Mike throws his backpack into a cubby hole in the racks at the back then climbs back up to a single near the front. Jack is across from him with Bev. Bruce comes onboard with the airman and they go to the rear checking luggage to make sure it’s secure.

Up front a flap in the canvas door across the air crew section opens and a radio officer is seated on the left. Ahead of him is the pilot and co-pilot. The pilot half salutes them calling, “Welcome aboard Air Transport 717. We will be in to Fredericton before noon local time so make yourselves comfortable. No smoking until the No Smoking sign over head goes out and the same when landing. Please fasten your seat belts. See you in New Brunswick.” He turns back to his instruments.

In a few minutes they are hopping along heading out to the runway. The back of the craft is really bobbing up and down. Mike wonders if the have a flat rear tire but he keeps it to himself. At the end of the runway they rev up the engines and Mike feels the brakes lock in place holding them.

Then they release allowing them to streak down the runway. Mike is driven back into his seat and glances out to see the hangars rush by. Suddenly it seems the hangars are falling away below them and he realizes that they are airborne.

Wow! He loves it. This is the life for him. Maybe he should think about changing over to the RCAF. His chances of flying would be a lot better, he thinks. But he knows they are tethered by a radio to the ground. You are not really your own boss here.

He doubts if the pilot could get away with anything erratic like flying under the power lines down there or climbing into the sun until you stall it then spiraling down to recover or even landing at any airport you choose. Would any of the passengers care if he landed for coffee in Truro or even stopped for the night by the sea.

Maybe the pilot’s life is not so hot. He has to think it all out before he commits to a career. He settles back to read a notebook from his pack. He wishes he had brought The Joy of Sex but has to satisfy himself with a St. John’s First Aid manual or the Compressed Air Dynamics manual. He has one other possibility, a new Jughead comic book. But he is saving that for the long nights in New Brunswick.

There is only so much room in a backpack so he had to leave The Joy at home in Tryst’s glove box. Studying keeps him busy for a time and when he glances out again they have left the sea far behind. Forested lands stretch out to the horizon with small patches of agricultural grounds cleared here and there joined by strings of asphalt. He spots a meandering river below and wonders it’s name.

The airman stops by his elbow, “Coffee, sir?”

“Oh, that does sound good.” He accepts the cup and asks, “How long before we get there?” He fixes it.

“We should be landing in about twenty minutes.” Mike nods. The airman goes on to the next seat.

Mike sips the coffee and notices Bev is sleeping with her head on Jack’s shoulder. He nods to Jack before noticing his eyes are shut. With a wry smile he goes back to his coffee.

When he glances out the window again they are circling the airport and lining up to land. There’s a rustling of people expressing relief to see the end of the trip. Mike notices Jack and Bev are whispering to each other. He smiles at their exclusivity.

No Smoking and Fasten Seat Belts are both lit up so he sits tight. He closes the compressed air manual and thinks he will write the exam as soon as he can get a chance. He’s fairly comfortable with the material.

They touch down and roll to a stop near the tower in an area designated as Department of National Defense. This time they shut down the engines and it is mercifully quiet.

Bruce has Mike and Jack get the people unloaded with all their gear while he checks on the spare equipment they are bringing. Mike gets them in three ranks and in the easy position while they wait. Jack mutters, “Hurry and wait, hurry and wait, it’s the story of out lives.”

Two school buses come into the area and park nearby. Bruce comes to join them and tells them to get on the two buses. They load up and head out 102 across a slough and then follow the St. John River to the Burton Bridge. They cross over the St. John River and proceed east on 105 to Paul’s Motel and Restaurant.

From the time they cross the river they are in drifting smoke of varying intensity. Just before they reach the motel they see many tents in the fields and now proceed back amongst them from the motel driveway. There are trucks and military jeeps everywhere parked and moving.

They pull up to a large central tent and stop. “Everyone sit tight!” Bruce gets off the bus and goes inside. There are camouflage tents, blue tents and brown canvas tents, some house shaped, some round both large and small.

Bruce comes back and climbs up in the bus, “Listen up. It’s nearly 1500 hours and supper will be open in the mess tent at 1600 so we are going to get settled into our tents now. Look to the main tent flap and see that bulletin board. On that board there is a map of the tent locations.”

He goes on, “I’ll call out your tent and you can go there with your gear. Then get your tail back here for bedding, etc.” He calls them alphabetically and tells each what tent they are in. As he is heading for the other bus he calls, “Mike and Jack, your bunking with me.”

Jack asks Mike, “Where is that?” Mike just shrugs his shoulders. Bruce comes back and tells them to follow him. He dives into some boxes that arrived with them and he opens one.

“These are mess kits. You two can see that all our people get a set. They have an aluminum plate, rectangular bowl, mug and gut wrenches. Tell them they will be collected before we leave and they better have them.”

He open another box, “Bedding in here somewhere, yep this is blankets. There should be folding bunks and mattresses with pillows already in the tents. Better issue coveralls now, too. I think that’s it for now. Get them to sign a roll call sheet for that stuff.”

Some are arriving back so Mike and Jack get busy. Bev sneaks around to help them behind a folding table they have set up. By 1630 they have a lull but note on their list that three haven’t come back yet. Bev asks, “That’s not us, is it?”

Mike laughs, “No, not this time.” Two more arrive so Mike checks the list to see who is missing. “That’s funny, there are only 29 names here. I thought we had thirty.”

Bev looks at the list and grins, “Who isn’t on the list?”

“Yeah, that’s what I’m wondering?”

She insists, “Mike! Who is not on that list?”

Mike looks at it then grins with a sheepish grin, “Bruce.”
Supper is quite good for being prepared in the open air. They enjoy roast beef, boiled potatoes, gravy and mixed peas, corn and carrots with a bread pudding for desert. The coffee is hot and even with the pervading smoke it is enjoyable.

Bruce stands with the group and raises a hand, “I bid you all adieu and suggest you get a good night’s sleep while you can. The mess tent is open at 0500 and be ready to go at 0730. I will see you in the morning right here.”

Chapter 16
Back On Course, Of Course

A week has gone by of dirty, hard work. The crew are praised for their valiant effort to keep ahead of the blaze since Wednesday Mike and Jack’s crews caught and contained a flare up in a burned over area near the encampment saving the camp and also their fellow servicemen in Bruce’s crew.

What was supposed to be a backfire and fully wetted down by air after doing it’s job of stopping the main blaze turned into a pocket raging inferno in the roiling smoke. Only fast action by those directly involved saved the day.

Now it’s Sunday and they are lined up in three ranks at the Fredericton International Airport with backpacks and five pallets of grimy gear. They are glad to be going home. Another crew of airmen and army are on their way in to replace them later today.

Jack says to Mike’s back in the front rank, “That old Dakota looks pretty good, eh?”

“It sure does, Jack. It didn’t even sound so noisy this time when it pulled up here,” he chuckles while looking around. They are at parade rest in the stand easy position. The airfield is full of activity. He watches for Bruce to join them.

There’s a large refueling bowser pulled up next to the aircraft pumping fuel into a wing tank. Bruce comes out of a hangar and calls, “Looks like we can climb aboard as soon as the refueling is complete so it won’t be long, chaps. Hang in there.”

He comes over to chat with Mike, “Their loading up lunch for us so we want to get settled as quickly as we can. It’s only an hour trip so we will be crowded for time. See if you can give them a hand getting it done, Mike.”

“Yep, I’ll do that. What’s the weather like in Greenwood, have you heard?”

“I heard it was spotty, an Atlantic storm is building off the coast, but so far it looks good for us.”

“That’s about what I heard last night on the radio.”

“See you aboard.” He walks off to the hangar again.

Mike says back over his shoulder, “Did you catch that, Jack? I mean about the lunches?”

“Yeah, I caught it.”

It’s a quick trip to Greenwood with what the pilot calls a force 10 tailwind so everyone has to gobble lunch in rapidly darkening skies. They touch down with wind sheer but no rain yet.

They effect a quick transfer to the buses and sit waiting for the extras to be loaded. By 1500 they are on the road to the base. It’s dark and gusty but the rain is still holding off as they cruise down the valley. When they roll through Annapolis Royal Mike feels like they are truly home again.

They pull in at the base around by the motor pool gate and pull up by supply. Rain has started slashing across the windows in the bus so When they park Bruce comes in the door to holler, “Grab your gear and get out of here. It’s too wet to have a parade to dismiss you.” He hesitates, “And you did us proud, fellows and girls. Thank you!” and “Now git!”

Mike says to Jack and Bev, “I’m heading up through the gym to stay out of the weather. I’ll head across to the mess hall from there then take my gear up when the rain lets up. Care to join me?”

“Sounds great.” from both of them. They dash off through the weather and into the gym, “Whew! That wasn’t bad.” They are laughing and chatting as they pass through and almost run over Mary Anne coming from a shower.

Mike smiles, “Well hi, stranger.”

She smiles and stops to pull a sock up holding Mike’s arm. She whispers, “I didn’t know Jackie was staying or I would have come to keep you company.”

He hurries to catch up with the others, “I’m glad you were here to keep her company this week. It must have been a lonely time for her.”

“Oh, it wasn’t that bad. We got down to Halifax Wednesday…” she pauses, “shopping, you know us girls can’t pass up a bargain.”

“I guess. I didn’t know she had any ready cash. I could have left her some. We seldom see you anymore. Where do you keep yourself?”

“I date a pilot from Greenwood now so I am off base a lot.”

They dash from the gym to the mess hall and Mary Anne goes on towards the female barracks waving to them. Bev is quick to say, “That’s her, Mike. That’s the one who says…” she stops, “rumors about you know who.” She shrugs at Jack and then notices Jackie waving at them from a nearby table.

As she gets scarlet Mike covers for her by calling, “Hey there, you’re a sight for sore eyes. I sure have missed you.” He steps over to the railing to speak to her and give Bev a chance to recover her poise then steps in line behind them.

“What’s that all about?” It’s Jack who is curious now.

“Oh you know these women, always shopping,” he laughs and Jack looks confused but smiles with him.

They get their food and join Jackie. Mike reaches to kiss her but she waves him away with, “Oh Mike, I’ve missed you, too. Was it a tough week? You seem so dirty and you smell like smoke,” she sneezes. “You all do. Whew!”

They eat pretty much in silence and watch the storm rage outside the glass. Mike says, “I guess it will be a quiet night tonight. I was going to shower and maybe take you out but you don’t seem to like the idea.”

“Where did you have in mind?”

“I thought maybe the theatre in town.”

“I’d love that but it’s so wet. I suppose we could grab our ponchos. What about passes?”

He smiles, “I’ll take care of that.”

“Okay, how long do you need to shower?”

He checks his watch, “Meet me at the guardhouse in forty five minutes.” She grins and turns to go pulling her poncho around her.

Mike dashes out behind her and on to his barrack block. He hurries upstairs and thence into a shower, dresses and dons his poncho. He is out the door for the guardhouse. He feels lucky tonight.

He flips open his poncho as he grabs her in the guardhouse. “Is that better? No more smoke in my clothes.”

She kisses him then hints, “I can still smell some in your poncho but it is much better.” She kisses him again.

She kisses him one more time in the truck when they have it running and whispers, “We don’t have to go that far, love. We can go parking.”

So less than two miles away they pull into the farmer’s woods and settle for some love making. They are both hungry for the other’s touch. They throw clothes over the seat and cling to each other. As the winds howl and branches brush against the truck they snuggle together in a world all their own.

Mike kisses under her neck with his head wedged under the steering wheel then moves down to her breasts. He mouths one while he caresses the other as he crawls crabwise on her form. His free hand seeks her wetness playing with her labial lips. She moans for more.

He tries to turn so she can access his hard projection but there are too many levers and shift knobs to navigate so he slides from the seat to kiss her pussy. He thinks she tastes sweet as honey wine in the spring. How appropriate for this German descendant to taste like a fine German wine. (Liebfraumilch literally translated as Beloved Lady’s Milk)

“Jacqueline Schneider, I love your bouquet.”

“Michael Claymore, lick away. You drive me crazy.”

“That’s what I been dying to do. I hope we don’t get stuck back here.” He listens to the storm. “I guess we would get a chance to try that four wheel drive.” He chuckles.

“Come on, lick me some more,” she shifts her bottom for him and he moves his tongue to make her happy. He can feel her lips getting thicker and puffy as she gets excited. He wiggles his tongue on her clit some more then sucks her lips.

She can’t stop her hips from thrusting and wobbling back and forth as she feels his hot tongue inside her. Suddenly she feels his fingers inside her as well and she loses it. She feels dizzy and everything seems to flash in her head while she just wants it to go on and on. She knows she is calling his name but is not sure she has called the right name. She has to clear her head and quickly. “Oh Mike! Mike! Mike!”

She sighs in relief and gets lost in the crazy world of orgasms again. When she next makes sense of what is happening he is on top of her with his lips on hers while his hard cock is buried deep inside her.

She moves her hips to stay with him and loves the feel of him inside her. She also loves the feel of his weight on her flattening her and possessing her. She loves the excitement of his movements striving to fill her with his nectar of life. She urges him on with all her might grunting and panting to further excite him.

She has to own him and his strong male body to do her bidding when she wants it done so she strives to please him. The storm outside rivals the storm inside the cab of Mike’s Tryst and the night is filled with Jackie’s cries. For a time there is calm as they rest for more.

“So what did you think of Halifax?”

After a guilty silence, “What?”

“I saw Mary Anne tonight when we came in.”

Silence. “She told you?”

He chuckles, “I don’t think she meant to, she just blurted it out without thinking. I guess she thought I would be upset.”

It’s very quiet. “What did she tell you?”

He laughs, “About you two shopping. Just can’t turn down a bargain, she said.”

“Yes, we went shopping. I had a great time.”

“What all did you get?”

“Just clothes. Just some bargains. You know, something pretty to wear. I’ll show you one day.”

“And what did you think of Halifax?

“It was okay. Come on, I’m getting cold, love.”

Mike hurries to heat her up some more and it stays hot until he empties his scalding load deep inside her. She is so happy she cuddles with him and says she doesn’t want to go home but it gets cool and the storm rages on so Mike gets around. They get dressed and he only has to slip in front wheel drive to have them walking out the driveway.

They return to the base and their barracks. Mike sleeps well this night.

Monday morning is an early inspection but Mike has the process down pretty pat by now and passes with few comments none of which are negative. When he meets the others for breakfast they report much the same results.

Bev is nervous and Mike realizes she is trying to catch his eye. He grins at her and says, “You look like the bird that ate the canary, gal. What you up to?”

“Oh dear, I have to talk to you.” She looks at the others and just stutters, “I-It’s-s pri-i-i-vate!”

Mike gets up and nods at her to join him. He walks over to the side rail and asks, “What is it, Bev?”

“Oh my, they’re watching us. What will they say?”

He looks over to the rest, “I don’t know. I suspect they will think we have a secret.”

“I heard about Jackie and thought I should tell you. Now I’m not so sure.”

“Ah, I see. What did you hear?”

“She went to Halifax with Mary Anne and her boyfriend and another pilot from the airbase.”

“Who said that?”

“My roommate told me there was two pilots from Greenwood that they left with. I thought I should tell you, Mike. It’s only fair.”

“Well, thank you, I suspected as much but Jackie is Jackie. I don’t know what else to say. Now does Jack have anything special coming up, like a birthday?”

“No, not that I know of.”

“Anything you might get a present for him for?”

“No, unless maybe a souvenir or an award for getting me off.” she teehees over that.

“Well, it’s a poor excuse but I suppose it might work. You want to give Jack something to show your appreciation for him giving you an orgasm so you are asking me if I agree with the idea. Get it? You can divulge that to Jackie in private and it will satisfy her as to why you had to speak to me.”

“Oh dear, I hope she believes me.”

“Let’s get back over there.” They return to the table before Bev can tell him what else she heard. She also heard that Jackie wasn’t seen back at the base until Saturday morning. It makes her feel sick to think of telling him. She really likes Mike.

“So what’s that all about?” asks Jackie as Bev and Jack leave for class.

“You’ll have to ask Bev that, she just wanted my opinion on something.”

“What’s she want your opinion about?”

“I think that is her business, love. You can ask her if you want. She just wanted a man’s opinion, that’s all.”

They head into the class room. Mike sees her chatting with Bev before class so he hopes it works. It seems to so he leaves it alone. He is disappointed in Jackie but not greatly surprised. Life with Grace had been so much simpler.

As if by magic the instructor passes out mail before class commences and gives Mike a letter from Grace.

Dear Mike,
Nancy gave me your address. I hope you are well. I hope you haven’t forgotten me. I think of you a lot, specially at night. I miss you, Mike.
I wasn’t going to say that but I can’t help it. I’m crying, Mike. I’m sorry.
Please let me know you are okay. I won’t cry any more. I promise. I found you on our map at school. It looks like you are right on the ocean. What is it like? Maybe you could send a picture. Please.
I have to go or I will cry again and I said I wouldn’t. I think about you lots. Goodbye, Mike
Grace

PS Thank you for the Dove blanket, Mike.

Mike resolves he will write her tonight. He will try and get her a few postcards that show the base and the sea. When he thinks about it he realizes that this is proof that Nancy has gotten his letter. He must send her another one so she stops sulking.

They go through the day smoothly and Mike checks in with Cliff after supper. He asks, “I think I can pass the exam now. Do you want to test me?”

“I can if you like. Do you feel good with it?”

“Yes, I do but one can always learn something new.”

“That’s a good attitude. I’m sure you will make it.” He proceeds to review material for Mike and question him. Time passes and they both are satisfied by the time they are done.

“When do you want to write it?”

“This weekend, if possible.”

“See the instructor tomorrow night. He’ll schedule you.”

“Where do they do the practical?”

“In Digby. The inspector comes out from there and you will take the five ton tractor ‘Old Thor’ there and hook up to a trailer then go into Digby with it. He will want you to back up to the loading dock at the fish plant and parallel park in Sobey’s parking lot. He’ll try to get you to go up Tankums Lane which is clearly marked no trucks and watch for dead end streets. He loves to catch you in a bind so just take it cool and you got it.”

“Will they tell me if I got it?”

“No, they make you wait until the certificate comes in the mail. Bunch of dunderheaded so and sos in that office.”

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