The Journal: Raging Tide: (The Journal Book 4)

by Deborah D. Moore

“Nothing is wrong, trust me. I’ve got some major decisions coming up in the next few days, is all, and I need to concentrate on them. As for anything you can help with,” he hesitated, “we’ll discuss that after we leave the Soo. While we’re there, please be careful, and if you need me, I’ll be easy to find.”

  *

  We drove in silence for another hour before coming to the outskirts of Sault St. Marie. Not much further was our destination, a large two-story office complex.

  “That doesn’t look much like a military base,” I remarked.

  “It wasn’t, but it is now,” Jim said. “When the troops showed up, they took over this empty building as housing, mess hall, and command center all in one place. From what I saw during the few hours I was here, it seems to be fairly efficient, if a bit disorganized.” He parked near the entrance, and we showed our IDs to the guard.

  “Ah, lights! Must be generator time,” Jim said. When I looked confused, he said, “Much like Moose Creek, the base generator is running only a few hours a day to conserve fuel. At least we’ll have the elevator for you to get to the second floor without having to use the stairs.” My feet throbbed at the thought of climbing a flight of concrete steps and my claustrophobia woke up at the thought of getting in the elevator with questionable power. I was torn.

  The doors slid open on the second floor and I breathed easier. Jim led me down a hall to a desk manned by a Corporal Donna Cook.

  “Colonel Andrews!” She stood and saluted. “We didn’t expect you back so soon. Major Hogan will be pleased.” Corporal Cook lifted her phone to announce his arrival. “Please go right in,” she said with an unasked question in her eyes as I limped past, following Jim.

  Major Daniel Hogan was a large man, slightly shorter than Jim and a bit overweight. With jet black hair and dark blue eyes, he was an attractive man and had an air of command about him.

  “Colonel Andrews, it’s good to see you again.” The major stood and shook Jim’s hand. “I take it the rescue mission was a success?”

  “Yes it was, Dan. Your men performed admirably,” Jim replied. “I’d like to introduce you to First Lieutenant Allex Smeth.”

  I saluted.

  The major was stunned. “I thought Lt. Smeth was a man, Jim.” He saluted me back. “I can’t say I’m disappointed though.” He gave me a warm smile. “Please, have a seat.” We both sat in the comfortable wing chairs across from the major. The former business office was spacious and decorated with fine furniture.

  “My name is actually Allexa, Sir, however I go by Allex,” I said, returning his warm smile.

  “What’s your AOC, Lieutenant?”

  “Public Affairs, Sir, with a specialty in civilian Emergency Management.” I knew this would come up at some point and I had practiced my response. If I was asked to work, I would at least know what I was doing.

  “Is there a spare office I can use for a few days, Dan?” Jim asked. “I need to formally issue Sgt. Pitchner’s new orders and do some debriefing before we head back to Sawyer. And we’ll both need temporary quarters.”

  “Certainly. With all the space we have here, most offices come with quarters attached. Female quarters are located on the main level, as well as all male enlisted personnel,” the major said.

  “Where is the EOC located, Major?” I asked. When he looked confused, I clarified, “The Emergency Operations Center?”

  “Well, it was down the hall. Without anyone to run it, we closed it down.”

  “Then it needs to be re-opened while we’re here and the adjoining quarters given to Lt. Smeth,” Jim said.

  “That office doesn’t have quarters.”

  “Then find an office that does, Major Hogan,” Jim insisted. “Lt. Smeth was just rescued from being tortured by a psychopath, who took sadistic pleasure in breaking her toes one at a time. She can barely walk and I will not have her subjected to traversing flights of stairs. Is that clear?”

  *

  “You were a bit hard on him, Jim,” I said when we were alone.

  “Not really. Besides, rank has its privileges, and even though this is his command, I still outrank him. A little push now and then reminds everyone of that.”

  “Well, thank you. I wasn’t looking forward to the walk. Plus I didn’t like the thought of being so far away from you.” When I realized what I had just said, I looked away, feeling a blush coming on.

  “Do you really want to reactivate the EOC?” Jim asked.

  “Why not? It’ll give me something to do while you’re busy and I might as well do something useful.”

  We had been assigned offices on the same floor, at opposite ends of the hall. Two privates had brought up our duffels and set them in the corridor outside the rooms.

  “I think the first thing I’m going to do is find the laundry facilities and wash all of my clothes. My jacket still has river mud in the seams and it’s itchy,” I said to Jim. I left him in his rooms and made my way to Corporal Cook’s desk to make friends.

  “Corporal Cook, hello, I’m Lt. Smeth.”

  She looked at my outstretched hand in shock, and then shook it. “You’re Lt. Smeth? We thought you were a man.”

  “So I gathered,” I laughed. “I was hoping you could help me with a few things. May I call you Donna?” She nodded. “Thanks. Where is the laundry, Donna? I really need to clean my clothes.”

  I had checked the power schedule and saw I still had a couple of hours. I dragged my duffel to the elevator and descended to the first floor, and following Donna’s directions, found the facilities. I loaded two washers, then slipped into the restroom and changed into a sweater and jeans, putting the clothes I had been wearing into the wash. I sat in one of the metal chairs, propped my feet up on another, and leaned my head back, closing my eyes. It had been an exhausting day and it was only early afternoon.

  “Hey!” someone shouted at me, slapping my feet off the chair. I almost passed out from the pain. “Are you a civilian or are you out of uniform? And keep your feet off the furniture!” the angry voice continued.

  I stood on my good foot and looked at the soldier in front of me. I checked his chevrons and then his name tag. “Sergeant,” I said, putting my hat back on so the rank was clearly visible.

  He had the decency to look embarrassed. “My apologies, ma’am! I didn’t know we had guests.”

  “I’m here with Colonel Andrews, Sgt… Wilkes,” I said, glancing again at his tag.

  “You’re Lt. Smeth?” he said in awe. “We all thought you were a guy.”

  “I keep hearing that.”

  “Is there anything I can do for you, ma’am?” he asked with a complete reversal of attitude.

  “As soon as I finish folding my uniforms, I’m going up to my office. I’m reopening the EOC and I’ll need to staff it. Do you have access to the service records?” I hobbled over to the dryers.

  “Oh, yes, ma’am!” he stared. “You’re limping. Did I hurt you?” I heard the concern in his voice; technically, he had assaulted an officer.

  “No, Sergeant, I was already injured.” I stuffed my folded clothes into the duffel, leaving out one set. “Why don’t you meet me in my office, 11B, in forty-five minutes, with some of those service files?” He scurried out the door, and I stepped into the restroom to change.

  *

  After hanging my few clothes in the closet, I opened the adjoining door to my new office. What a disaster! There were two desks and only one chair, which looked very uncomfortable. The one file cabinet had a drawer missing and there were papers on the floor and dust on everything else. And not one computer.

  Sgt. Wilkes knocked and entered. “Wow, this is a mess,” he said looking around.

  “It sure is!” I agreed. “Any suggestions? Like a broom and a few trash cans?”

  He set the files he was carrying on one of the desks, and said “I’ll be right back.”

  I picked up a few of the papers off the floor and looked through them. Apparently they were all from the office’s previous t
enant and nothing military. I continued to pick them off the floor and stack them on the desk. A few minutes later Wilkes was back with two privates, a trashcan, several rare plastic bags, a broom, a bucket, and some dust cloths. How he got all that in such short time, I didn’t ask. We set to work.

  Inside of an hour the place was clean, all the trash had been removed, and I had a new chair.

  “Let’s take a walk, Wilkes, down to the old EOC and see what was left there,” I said to my new right hand.

  “I can’t believe I smacked your injured foot, Lieutenant,” he mumbled.

  “Don’t worry about it, just don’t do it again. I may hit you back!” I said. I opened the door down the hall that was closed as the EOC three months ago. There sat three silent computers. “Why aren’t these in use?"

  “Maybe because there’s no internet,” Wilkes responded.

  “They’re still good as word processors.” I turned them on, one at a time. “They all have the latest operating systems. Can you get them moved to the new office?”

  *

  I sat with one computer on, the monitor blipped with balls bouncing as the screen saver. Wilkes had also retrieved two printers and some paper. I started going through the files he had left and made notes on who might be likely candidates for a new job. I was interrupted by a knock on the door. Jim opened it and stepped in.

  “Looks like you’re settling in,” he said.

  “Not really, only cleaned up a mess and moved the computers down. How’s it going on your side?”

  “Paperwork, paperwork, and more damned paperwork,” he said, sitting in the other chair. “Dinner is in fifteen minutes in the officers’ mess. Care for a cocktail?” He produced our liquor bottles and two glasses.

  “Are officers allowed that, or should you lock the door?” I asked.

  “We’re allowed. Besides, if I locked the door someone might think….you know.”

  “Is the major over the shock that I’m not a man?” I asked with a chuckle. “And why is it everyone here thinks I’m a guy?”

  “That’s my fault, sorry. When I was organizing the rescue I referred to you as Allex, and that’s more a masculine name,” he informed me. “I must admit that since we showed up, you are the hot topic of the entire base.” I frowned at him, sipping my drink. He leaned on the desk. “Allex, everyone knows what you’ve been through, and they are all amazed at your resilience. Quite frankly, so am I.” He looked at me for a bit then looked away.

  “These drinks need ice,” I said, clearing my throat. “I think tomorrow I’m asking Wilkes if he can find a small fridge for my room. I’m finding he’s the ‘Radar’ of this base.” I smiled thinking of the TV series M*A*S*H.

  “Wilkes! He is so enamored with you he would steal it from Dan’s office for you,” Jim chuckled. “Come on, Lieutenant, let’s go to dinner, then we’ll come back here for our evening cribbage game.”

  CHAPTER 14

  JOURNAL ENTRY: April 25

  I set aside five files that looked promising. Wilkes had agreed to meet with me at 10:00 after his usual rounds to help me with the selection. Major Hogan, Jim, and I had a pleasant, leisurely breakfast earlier of ham and eggs. Real ham… I wonder where they got it.

  ~~~

  “Good morning, Lt. Smeth,” Sgt. Wilkes said, announcing his arrival in my new office. “Did you find the mess hall alright this morning?”

  “Good morning to you, Wilkes, and yes, I dined with Major Hogan and Colonel Andrews. It’s been a long time since I’ve had ham that wasn’t canned.”

  “Rank definitely has its privileges,” he replied without any rancor. “So what do you have for me today, ma’am?”

  “I was hoping you could help me narrow down these possibilities,” I said, sliding the file folders in his direction.

  He picked up the first one. “Lost in battle,” he said and set it aside. “He was with the rescue mission,” he said of the second and set that one aside as well. He took the remaining three and sat, flipping through the pages. “Pvt. Toth… now there is one strange dude. He seems really smart, however, he does dumb things that get him in trouble and demoted. I don’t know Cpl. Ki very well. She sticks to herself, not much of a team player. And this one,” he said, picking up the final file, “is bad news. He’s in the brig right now.” He dropped it in the first pile.

  “Where would I find Toth and Ki?” I asked.

  “Toth is sweeping floors somewhere and Ki is in the kitchen.”

  “They both have strong computer backgrounds and they’re doing menial jobs?” I asked.

  “Like I said, neither one is a team player.”

  “Can you have Toth report to me at 1100 hours? And will you show me the way to the kitchen? I’ll talk to Ki on her own turf,” I said, standing with Kimberly Ki’s file in hand.

  *

  “Cpl. Kimberly Ki?” I asked a young Asian girl.

  She looked up from chopping vegetables. “That’s me. What did I do now?” She wiped her hands on her soiled apron.

  I looked her over. “Do you enjoy working here in the kitchen, Corporal?”

  “It’s a job. One I’m actually appreciated for. Why?”

  I opened her file. “It says here you graduated from college at the age of seventeen with a degree in computer science. How did you manage to do that?”

  “I had a really good counselor in middle school who let me skip a couple of grades. I was already in high school when I was fourteen and started taking college classes along with my regular ones. When I graduated from high school at fifteen, I doubled up my college classes and was done two years later.”

  “Isn’t chopping onions a waste of your education?”

  She sighed. “Permission to speak freely, ma’am?” I nodded. “Yes, I know more about computers and programming than anyone else on this entire base, but nobody wants to hear my ideas and nobody wants to take a chance on this kid. This is the Army, ma’am, and this is the good ole boy branch of it.” She went back to chopping.

  “Report to the EOC in room 11B at 1300 hours. I will have your new orders ready,” I said, then I turned and walked out. I sure hoped I wasn’t overstepping my bounds!

  *

  At 1100 hours I heard the door open and looked up. Sgt. Wilkes was ushering in a scrawny, gangly young man. If this was Pvt. Toth, he looked fifteen— a lot younger than the twenty-five his file said he was.

  “Thank you, Sgt. Wilkes. Can you come back at 1400 hours? I will have a list ready of supplies I need.” I turned to this sullen boy. “Have a seat, Private. I understand you have a knack for computers.” He snorted. “I’ll take that as a yes. How would you like the opportunity to do some real work? Something besides pushing a broom?”

  He looked up. “Like what?”

  “Like getting all these computers running as a unit, maybe even trying to get us back online. Think you could handle that?” I crossed my arms while we stared at each other.

  “What happens to me when I’m done?”

  “That will depend on you,” I said. “What do you prefer to be called, Private? Toth? William? Bill? What?”

  “What do you care?”

  “Stuff the attitude, Pvt. Toth,” I snapped. “I need you to make my job easier, and if I can make your life easier at the same time, we both win.”

  He looked on the verge of tears. “Billy, ma’am,” he finally answered.

  “Well, Billy, I want you to report back here at 1300 hours and I’ll have your new orders ready. Be ready to work.”

  *

  I knocked on Jim’s office door and peeked inside. He was on the phone and motioned me to come in. I limped over to a chair and sat, waiting for him to finish.

  After he hung up, he said, “Good to see you, Allex! What can I do for you? I’d take you to lunch but I’m swamped.”

  “Me too. Jim, I need some advice,” I said. “I’ve got two new assistants, and I don’t know how to get them transferred to me, or even who I should ask.”

  “I could d
o that, although I would suggest you go through Major Hogan, this is his command.”

  “I want to get started as soon as possible.” I paused. “Do you have any idea how long we’ll be here?”

  “I was hoping for only a few days, though now it’s looking closer to a week. I’m sorry, I know how much you want to go home.” He stood and came around the front of his desk to sit on the edge. “Are you doing okay?”

  “I’m doing fine,” I said, pushing back the memories of my time as a captive. “I don’t know if I will do much good in the EOC, but I think I might help two lives.” He looked askance. “I’ll explain later. Say, is there a chance to sneak our wine in? I hate the thought of it closed up in a hot vehicle.”

  “I will attend to that right now!” He stood as I did. “I’ll come by to escort you to dinner at 1730 hours.”

  I did a quick mental calculation: that was 5:30pm. I’d get the hang of this yet.

  *

  I stopped at Corporal Cook’s desk to make an appointment with the Major. She wasn’t there, although the door was open and I could hear her voice. So I gently knocked, and waited.

  She stepped out, steno pad in hand. “Good afternoon, Lt. Smeth. Are you here to see the major?”

  “Yes, if he has a few minutes to spare, thank you.” I nodded knowingly at her, she looked flushed.

  “Come on in, Allex,” the Major called out from behind the half opened door. I walked in with only the slightest limp. “You’re moving around better. Have you seen our medic since you arrived?”

  “No, sir, I haven’t. I think just not being used as a punching bag has helped a great deal.” The major winced when I stood with the two files in my hand. “I have a request to make, Major. I’d like these two soldiers transferred to the EOC.” I handed over the files for Ki and Toth.