by Mark Nolan
Jake twisted Zhukov’s right wrist as hard as he could, and his enemy lost his grip and dropped his knife. Jake then brought his left hand up to join his right on the handle of his knife, as his legs continued to crush Zhukov in a tight grip.
The two fighters looked into each other’s eyes as Jake used both of his hands to force his knife into Zhukov’s chest, all the way to the handle. He buried all seven-inches of the blade deep into his enemy’s heart.
Zhukov’s eyes went wide and rolled back in his head as his heart bled out and stopped beating. He wheezed involuntarily in the death throes, and his lungs filled with water.
Death was something that Zhukov had always known could come at any time. He felt no fear, only shock and pain from the blade that now pierced his heart. As Zhukov’s dying brain accepted his inevitable death, his thoughts turned not to hatred or revenge, but instead to Tatiana, his one true love.
While his eyes grew dark, he saw a vision of his dacha in the Russian countryside. Tatiana was there, alive again and laughing at him as he shoveled snow and sang poorly rendered versions of old Russian folk songs.
In Zhukov’s dying heart, he knew that all he’d ever wanted was to live in peace with his beloved wife. To work at a decent job and come home to enjoy her companionship. And to share a meal and share their bed. He’d only wanted the same things that many people in other nations wanted, but instead, fate had made him into an assassin. Now he was dying in this cold ocean bay so far from home. Killed by an American Marine Corps bastard devil dog.
Jake saw the life go out of Zhukov’s eyes, and he released his leg lock from around his dead enemy. He kicked off against Zhukov’s shoulders as he began to swim toward the water’s surface. Jake hadn’t focused on survival, only on his mission of killing Zhukov and protecting his loved ones. Now he faced the fact that he might not live through this. His attempt to survive might be too little too late.
Although Jake was making a huge effort to use his arms and legs to fight his way upward, his limbs felt increasingly numb and lifeless. His lungs were burning with the need for oxygen. A deadly chill was seeping into his body. Hypothermia was taking hold of him in the cold water. His heartbeat began to slow down along with his brain activity.
Jake knew that he needed to breathe oxygen, and he needed to do it soon. There was a distinct change in the light in his eyes. Something from his memory told him that this was a dangerous sign. The one other time he’d seen that fading light was years ago when he’d nearly died in a hostile desert far from home.
The glow from the police boat spotlight swept the surface, showing Jake the way home. But things began to blur as his vision got darker. Jake felt as if he was going blind. He thought that if he didn’t make it out of here, a watery grave was a fitting way for a Marine to go. He’d die with honor, serving his country and fighting to protect the people he loved.
Jake continued his efforts to reach the surface, but he also began to accept reality. Even as he fought hard to live, he began to think of everyone he was leaving behind. He knew deep down that he might never see his friends and family again—or the beautiful Sarah Chance, or his new best buddy Cody. He hoped Sarah would adopt Cody, and they would become close friends. A new family he would not be a part of.
In Jake’s memory he heard the Padre giving the eulogy at the recent funeral. “Rest in peace, Marine. Fair winds and following seas brother. We got it from here. Semper Fidelis. Until we meet again…”
It was a struggle for Jake to move his arms and legs at all now. He could barely feel them. He tried to kick his feet, but his legs were numb. Blood trailed from the wound in his side. He could see the surface now, so near yet so far. Bubbles escaped from his mouth. A sound choked in his throat as he tried to stop himself from calling out a name with his last breath.
People had often told Jake that his luck would run out someday. Today was obviously that day. But as Jake’s eyes began to close for the last time, he thought he glimpsed a golden animal clawing the cold water and moving toward him like a thing possessed. The seemingly mythological creature appeared as if the fur on its back was smoldering with fire, even while under water. The beast was all paws and teeth and animal fury as it swam toward Jake relentlessly. Jake gazed calmly into the creature’s intelligent eyes as it got closer, and he saw its bravery, loyalty and determination.
As Jake wondered if he only saw Cody in a hallucination due to a lack of oxygen, a chunk of boat wreckage that was floating past struck him in the head and Jake’s world went completely dark.
Chapter 119
When Jake’s heart stopped beating and he died, he didn’t realize that he was actually dead. He had no previous experience at being dead. What could prepare you for it?
Like many people, Jake had heard the stories about near death experiences. Thousands of people claim that they’ve died for a short time and have then come back to life. Some people say they floated above their bodies. They could see the doctors trying to revive them. Next, they were flying through a long tunnel and seeing a bright light. They were greeted by people they had previously known who had passed away before them.
Jake had never really known what to think of it all, but now it seemed to be happening to him, just like the stories he’d heard about. Jake began dreaming that he was having a near death experience.
At first, all Jake knew was the dark and cold. Such a cold as he’d never felt before. Cold right down in his bones and his heart and soul. But after the darkness and cold passed, he was numb for a while and then a strange thing happened. He dreamed that he found himself outside of his body and floating up above it. He was looking down at the scene below and feeling warm all over.
In Jake’s dream, he saw Cody come swimming to the surface of the water, dragging Jake along with him. Cody was biting down on Jake’s shirt collar with his teeth while dog-paddling upwards with all of his heart. Terrell was waiting there in the water, wearing a wetsuit and lifejacket. He grabbed Cody while the quadski cop grabbed Jake’s body and put it on a rescue stretcher. The cop closed the top of the stretcher. Terrell sat on it and held Cody in his arms as they were lifted up to the deck of the police boat.
Jake saw some people begin trying to revive him. He wasn’t breathing. Someone was bent over him, giving him mouth to mouth resuscitation.
Nearby, Cody was soaking wet and shivering. Terrell dried him with a towel as best he could, and wrapped him in a warm blanket. Cody’s eyes never wavered from watching Jake.
For a moment, Jake also dreamed that he was surrounded by a bright light. Next he saw his deceased Grandfather Patrick Wolfe along with his dogs, Gracie and Duke. In the dream, Patrick spoke to him. An understanding passed between them that Jake’s work was not done. He had to go back… to the ship of fools.
The next thing Jake knew, he was back inside his injured body again. His skin felt cold, but his spear wound felt like it was on fire. He took that as a good sign. The pain meant he was alive. Pain was weakness leaving the body. That’s what his boot camp drill instructor had said. Jake looked out through barely open eyelids and saw a group of people peering down at him. Someone’s hands kept pressing on his stomach, making him cough up seawater.
“He might be coming to,” somebody said.
“I don’t know,” another voice said. “It could just be the death throes. His heart has been stopped a while. He looks dead to me.”
“Shut up,” a woman said. It was Sarah. Jake recognized her voice.
“Come on Jake,” Sarah said. “Breathe. Don’t you quit on me. Breathe now!”
Jake felt Sarah’s warm lips pressing on his. Her sweet breath blowing into his lungs. Her DNA joining with his in what seemed like a merger that fate had ordained and was meant to happen.
Sarah’s breath and her touch felt like medicine going through Jake’s whole body. He tried to kiss her, but he was too weak to move a muscle. If he was going to die, having this special woman kiss him goodbye was the best way to go.
Jake fe
lt a strong tug on his heart, like a rope being pulled. Sarah’s hands were pressing down right over his heart, doing CPR chest compressions again and again. There seemed to be some kind of electric energy connecting Sarah and Jake.
Sarah alternated between administering CPR chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation. Jake didn’t mind this one bit. Sarah gave him something to live for. Just keep kissing me, maybe I’ll make it, he thought. Jake felt the tug on his heart again, stronger now. Then he suddenly gasped for air, and his chest heaved under Sarah’s hands.
“He’s trying to breathe,” a man said. “What is our ETA to the dock? Is the ambulance there yet?” It sounded to Jake like Terrell’s voice.
“ETA five minutes or less, the ambulance is standing by,” another voice said. Jake didn’t recognize the deep, gravelly voice but it had a commanding sound to it.
“I need the police boat’s defibrillator—hurry,” Sarah said. She redoubled her efforts at CPR, with tears on her determined face. She did more chest compressions and mouth to mouth resuscitation. Then she slapped Jake across the face and cried out, “Jake, come back to me… to us I mean.”
Everyone else got quiet as they understood what seemed to be at stake here between Sarah and Jake, and they held their breath. Sarah continued to work tirelessly on Jake. She never would have stopped until they dragged her away. A cop ran up with a defibrillator and opened the case. Sarah got it working and said, “Clear!” She pressed the paddles against Jake’s chest, giving him a powerful shock.
Jake’s body bucked upwards off the deck from the jolt and then fell back. Sarah gave him another shock and then another. On the third try with the defibrillator, Jake coughed and began a ragged breathing. His eyes opened half way, and he blinked a few times. Cheers went up from the people around him.
Sarah looked as if she might faint from exhaustion and relief. She took a deep breath, put her cheek against Jake’s and whispered in his ear. “Welcome back Jake. Don’t ever drown again or I’ll kill you. Understand?”
Jake just lay there exhausted after coming back from the dead. But everyone noticed that he seemed to smile a little, if such a thing was possible. Sarah put her hand on Jake’s cheek. He tried to talk, but his lips felt like they had turned blue. Maybe they had. Jake made a strange sound in his throat and then tried again to speak. Sarah’s hands on him felt like life-giving healing magic wands. With a hoarse voice, Jake was able to get out two words. “Cody… okay?”
“Yes Cody is fine,” Sarah said, pushing some stray hair off of Jake’s forehead with her hand. “He’s cold and wet and exhausted, but alive and well.”
Jake was greatly relieved to hear that. If he lost another dog, his heart might break once and for all. The last thing he remembered was that Cody had been in the dark, cold water with him. Cody had saved him from drowning, just as he’d learned to do in rescue dog training.
As if reading Jake’s thoughts, the soaking wet dog slowly walked up and licked Jake’s face. Cody grinned at Jake with that famous smile retrievers have, and then he wagged his tail. The hair on the top of Cody’s back was charred as if it had been exposed to fire, and the stitches on his long flesh wound had pulled loose again and were bleeding a little bit. Jake managed a smile back at Cody.
A gravelly voice accompanied by the aroma of pipe tobacco said, “Cody pulled you out of the bay. He dove off the boat right into a flaming oil slick to get you. He went underwater for so long we thought he was…”
“Where am I?” Jake said.
“You are aboard the SFPD patrol boat Marine One. On the San Francisco Bay. I’m Captain Leeds.”
“Thank you, Captain.”
“Thank Cody. He’s an amazing rescue dog.”
“Yes, he is.”
Cody barked once and seemed to nod his head. Then Cody licked Jake’s face again and breathed on him with dog breath. It definitely wasn’t quite the same as Sarah’s sweet breath, but it was all good to Jake. He was glad to be alive.
Captain Leeds looked at Cody. “I’d heard about these rescue dogs, but actually seeing Cody in action was incredible.”
Terrell said, “Dogs like Cody are trained to jump out of helicopters into dangerous waters and rescue people who are drowning. They can even swim while pulling a rope and towing a life raft full of people to safety.”
Captain Leeds nodded his head. “Jake, when Cody came to the surface; our officer on the quadski was there to lift you into the stretcher. Lieutenant Hayes insisted on getting into the water so Cody would recognize a friend and let Terrell grab hold of him. Terrell held Cody in his arms while we lifted you all up to the deck of Marine One.”
“I owe that quadski officer a beer,” Jake said. “I owe all of you… thank you.” He looked at Terrell, and Terrell just smiled and nodded.
“You’re welcome, it’s all in a day’s work,” Leeds said. “Speaking of work. I understand you’re the rascal who sent us chasing after your phone on the ferry boat that goes to Alcatraz.”
Jake managed to smile. “Sorry about that Captain.”
Sarah bandaged up Jake’s puncture wounds on the front and back of his waist. She then hooked up an IV from the ship’s sick bay, to give him some fluids.
Leeds looked toward the shore. “Hang in there Jake, we’re reaching the dock now. Paramedics will be coming on board to take you to the hospital.”
“I don’t need to go to the hospital. I’ve seen all I want to see of that place. But I sure could use some aspirin and a hot cup of coffee with a shot of Baileys.”
Leeds twisted the cap off of a flat silver flask and handed it to Jake. “Here’s a drink that might help.”
The flask smelled of alcohol. Jake drank some of the amber liquid and he coughed hard afterward. It brought the color back to his cheeks.
“Christian Brothers brandy,” Jake said, and he coughed again.
“That’s a good sign, it means the booze expert is going to be okay,” Terrell said.
Terrell took a small bottle of ibuprofen pills out of his pocket. He shook out two pills and put them into Jake’s hand. Jake took the pills with some more brandy, and then Terrell helped him to his feet. Jake stood up with a groan. He was a little bit wobbly on his legs, but Sarah came close and put her arm around him and held on tight.
Jake looked at her and said, “Sarah, are we still on for our date? Let’s have dinner tonight on the Far Niente. We can go out on the water, and I’ll grill some steaks on the barbecue.”
Sarah just smiled at him. The man was irrepressible. Captain Leeds laughed and slapped Jake on the back. Cody barked once and nodded his head. The police boat thumped against the dock. Two paramedics boarded the vessel and ran to Jake. One paramedic put a blood pressure cuff on his arm. The other one shone a penlight in his eyes. Then he checked the bump on Jake’s head and the wound in his side. “Who put these bandages on you?”
Sarah raised her hand.
“Nice work, are you a police doctor?”
“No, I’m a veterinarian.”
Jake shrugged as if being treated by a dog doctor was his standard operating procedure. While he stood there being examined, he looked over at Terrell. “Grinds I think I died and I saw my grandfather, Patrick.”
Terrell raised his eyebrows. “If you say so, then I guess you did. They threw you back though huh, like a small fish?”
Jake smiled at his friend. Nobody else spoke for a moment. They just looked at each other with confused expressions. Jake had a bump on his head, and he’d been unconscious and had nearly drowned. It wasn’t surprising that he might be disoriented and imagining things.
“Did I take out Zhukov? Is he dead?” Jake asked. “The last thing I remember is stabbing him in the chest with my KA-BAR.”
“Our other police boat is searching for his body right now,” Terrell said. “But your KA-BAR is missing and I have no doubt it’s buried deep in Zhukov’s dead heart right now.”
Chapter 120
Jake finally convinced the paramedics tha
t he was well enough to go home and rest. They advised him to get a full medical checkup the next day. He promised that he would. The paramedics disembarked the police boat and walked up the dock. They were followed by Jake, Cody, Sarah, and Terrell. When they reached the parking lot, a black Chevy Suburban with darkened windows drove up. Agent Easton was behind the wheel. The backseat window rolled down, and Jake saw Agent Shannon McKay looking at him. “Get in and have a seat Wolfe. I need to have a word with you.”
Jake sighed, “No rest for the wicked. Is that it McKay?”
“You would know. Now get in. I’m here on White House business with a private message from President Kaufman. And I’m on a tight schedule.”
“I’ll make a deal with you,” Jake said. “Easton gives Sarah and Cody and me a ride to my boat—and you and I can talk while we drive.”
McKay let out a breath and nodded in agreement. Jake helped Cody get into the back cargo area of the Suburban and patted him on the head. Sarah got into the front passenger seat, and then Jake got into a back seat.
Terrell watched the vehicle drive away, and then he walked down the dock to meet up with Beth Cushman. She was bringing back the citizen’s boat that Terrell had “borrowed.” Nobody noticed the high-flying drone that had been hovering far above them and watching the scene. The drone began following the black SUV as it drove toward the Bonita Yacht Harbor and the Far Niente.
In the SUV, Jake said, “Agent McKay, in the flesh. What brings you all the way from DC to our fair city by the bay? If you just wanted some genuine sourdough bread, I could have shipped a few loaves to you by FedEx.”
McKay ignored Jake’s humor. “Easton, give those noise canceling headphones to Sarah, and turn on the music.”
Easton handed the headphones to Sarah. “You’re not cleared to listen to this private conversation. I need you to wear these and listen to music instead. Otherwise, I’ll have to drop you off at the next corner.”
