THE TOCABAGA CHRONICELS: (BOX SET PART II - BOOKS #6-8)

by Thomas H. Ward

  I heard Tommy yell, “Drop your guns, and put your hands in the air! Get on your knees!” The Hummers pulled out of the jungle onto the beach keeping the Red Chinese covered. The rest of us followed and surrounded the Reds. The man holding the white flag looked like some kind of officer.

  I told Tony, “Keep an eye out for the Roamers.” Tony swung the machine gun turret around to cover our backs.

  To my surprise only two of the Red Chinese had been wounded. Tommy and Jim Bo walked up to each person and checked them for weapons. They found several hand grenades, rifles, a couple of pistols, and knives. We threw everything into the Gulf of Mexico. Jim Bo tied their hands behind their backs using plastic flex handcuffs.

  The leader had on one of those old fashion military hats. He was dressed in a fancy uniform; like one you would wear in a parade. Tommy asked him, “What’s your name?”

  “My name is General Chen of the People’s Republic of China.” He spoke in a defiant manner and judging by his gray hair he appeared to be about fifty years old. His oversized belly told me he ate too much and was not in the best of shape. I guessed he was tired of running so he surrendered.

  Tommy looked at the guy next to Chen. “What’s your name?”

  “Captain Kim, head of security for the General. I demand you treat us with all due respect as specified under the Geneva Convention.”

  Kim had on combat fatigues and so did the rest of his men. Their uniforms looked almost new. He had a hardened face, almost weather beaten in appearance. He was lean and seemed to be in great shape. His men looked identical to him. I could tell these guys were real warriors and had been in some battles. Judging by their faces they weren’t happy about being captured.

  The Geneva Conventions comprise four treaties that establish the international laws for the humanitarian treatment of prisoners, be they military or civilians. The treaties were ratified by 196 countries.

  I responded, “You’re not in a position to demand anything Captain Crunch. We don’t follow the Geneva Convention here. Kim is a Korean name. What are you doing in the Chinese Military?”

  “After the second Korean War many of us moved to China and enlisted in the Chinese Army. It is the only type of work we know.”

  Tommy stepped over to me and signaled Mike and Jim Bo over. He whispered, “These men are an elite guard for the General. We have an important guy here. We need to take the General and Captain back to the Fort and interrogate them.”

  I asked, “What about the other men?”

  “I don’t want any of them around. We only have the two Hummers for transportation, so we can’ take them all. Leave them here tied up on the beach for the Roamers to get. I’ll take one Hummer, with Jack and Maggie, along with the two officers. We’ll leave first and when we’re out of sight, you guys bug out.”

  Our Hummers can only carry five people at one time. With the prisoners we have five men in our truck. That leaves five of our people to load into the other one. Steve’s pickup is parked on the bridge which could hold all the prisoners but we didn’t want ten dangerous men on Tocabaga. Tommy was right; leave them here for the Free Roamers to kill.

  Riding back to Tocabaga, the Captain asked, “What about my men.”

  “Don’t worry. We’ll take good care of them,” Tommy advised.

  The General asked, “Are you in the US Army?”

  While driving I answered, “No. We’re local militia.”

  Maggie was turned around in the front seat pointing her M4 at the General and he commented, “You know, your President made an agreement with China. He gave the State of Florida to my government to pay off the US debt.”

  “We know all about that. One of your men, Zhu, told us. What the President did isn’t legal,” I told him.

  “You know Captain Zhu Lei? He’s one of our best.”

  “The best at what? Chinese checkers?” We all laughed, but Kim and Chen didn’t think it was so funny.

  “Where is Captain Lei now?”

  “Captain Lei went to Never-Never Land at Disney World.”

  “What do you mean? He would never leave his men and disobey orders.”

  “I mean Zhu Lei is dead.”

  “Dead? Who killed him?”

  Tommy said, “I killed him. You’ll be happy to know he didn’t suffer. Now shut up, Chen! Maggie, blindfold them so they can’t see anything.”

  She covered their eyes with bandannas before we crossed the bridge onto Tocabaga. Tommy stopped at the bar to let Maggie out. He told her, “Find Lisa and Trini. Tell them to report for guard duty at the Fort ASAP.”

  I told Maggie, “After you find them go get some rest. You’ve been on duty for more than 24 hours.”

  “Thanks, I need a shower and some sleep.”

  We drove to the Fort and took them to the cement lined jail cell. This cell was the original jail built in 1898. It has a big two inch thick iron door with a small viewing port, but the only view you have is that of a concrete wall. There’s one commode, a sink, shower, and four beds located along the wall. The room has no air conditioning. It’s impossible to escape from this sweat-box dungeon.

  Tommy pushed them both into the cell, removed the blindfolds, and cut off the plastic flex handcuffs, while I kept my M4 pointed at them. I locked the door as Chen stated, “This is not acceptable accommodations for officers. It’s dirty and there are insects here.”

  “Too bad, it’s all we have. I’ll get you a broom to clean it out,” I responded.

  Chen kept ranting, “I will report you for mistreatment of officers!”

  Captain Crunch asked, “Where are my men being held?”

  We walked away while they yelled, and went to the air-conditioned radio room. We sat down for a much needed rest in the ice cold room. Tommy pulled out two bottles of cold water from the small refrigerator and tossed me one.

  I took a big swig and said, “I’ll take our new friends some water just to be nice.” I picked up four plastic bottles and walked back to their cell. I wanted to squeeze some more information out of them

  I looked inside the cell and they were resting on the beds. “Hey, you want some water?”

  They sat up and looked at me. Chen said, “Yes please, and some food if you don’t mind.” I opened the little sliding door used for the transfer of food and dropped in four bottles with a couple of power bars.

  “That’s all I can give you for now.”

  Chen came up to the window and asked, “What is your name, sir?”

  “Jack Gunn.”

  “Well Mr. Jack … if you take special care of us, I’ll see that you are rewarded for your trouble. It’s just a matter of time before my troops rescue me.”

  The Chinese always mix up the last and first names because in their language the last name comes first.

  “How are your troops going to find you?”

  “Oh, they know where I am at all the time.” Right then, I knew they had GPS locators hidden somewhere in their bodies. We’ll have to strip these guys down and scan them for the GPS bugs. Doc Scott will have to cut them out.

  “Where are my men being held,” Captain Kim asked.

  “Don’t worry Captain Chopsticks, they’re safe.”

  “You are a very arrogant person, Mr. Jack. You Americans think you’re so great. You should cooperate with us because China will take over Florida.”

  “That’s not working out so well. Like I told Zhu Lei, your best Chinese checker player, there are over five million people living in Florida and most of us have guns. We’ll never let China take over our state.”

  I walked away and didn’t say another word to them. At the radio room I advised Tommy about the possible hidden GPS units. I told him, “Go find a metal scanner and Doc Scott. We need to cut the things out of their bodies tonight. Oh, and bring back Jim Bo and Mike for extra security.

  Tommy was just leaving when Trini arrived with Lisa. “Jack, you wanted us for guard duty,” Lisa said.

  “Yeah that’s right.”


  “What are we guarding?” Trini asked.

  “Two Chinese soldiers. One is a general, and the other a captain. They’re over in the brig right now.”

  Trini laughed and giggled a little. “Do you want us to … like let them escape … and then kill them?” Lisa laughed along with Trini.

  Trini had already killed one prisoner, in cold blood, trying to escape or so she claimed. I couldn’t prove it one way or the other and really didn’t give a shit, but these guys we needed to keep alive.

  “No ladies, I need them alive. I want you to stand guard outside the cell. Don’t talk to them, don’t even look at them. You both got that?”

  “Yes, Sir,” they replied.

  “One more thing. No one, and I mean no one, is allowed to see the prisoners without my permission. If anyone comes around contact me right away. I need to talk to Captain Sessions, so I’ll be here if you need me.”

  They left the room and I knew that my Amazon Warriors wouldn’t let anyone near our important prisoners. They take their job very seriously.

  I got on the phone with Captain Sessions. It was a few minutes after midnight.

  JULY 8, 2025

  AFTER MIDNIGHT

  “Captain, its Jack. Sorry to brother you, but I have a situation here.”

  “What’s the problem?”

  “We captured two Chinese officers. One is a general and the other a captain. He’s really a North Korean who’s in the Chinese Army.”

  “What’s the generals name?”

  “Chen, General Chen.”

  “Ok, I’ll check him out and let you know what I find.

  “Did your men sink the gun boats?” Sessions asked.

  “Yeah, the MK153 rockets worked well. Chen and some of his men managed to abandon ship before it sank and swam ashore. That’s how we captured them.”

  “Good work, so everything is under control.”

  I thought for a minute before responding. “Yes and no. There still might be some Chinese troops over on Pass-a-Grille. We’ll check that out tomorrow.”

  “Roger that. I’ll arrange for a chopper to pick up the prisoners and take them to SOCOM for interrogation. It may take a while before I can free one up.”

  “What about the Chinese Navy? Are there any more ships around Florida?”

  “Our drones sank three of four gunboats. One managed to shoot down our two combat Drones, so you still have one boat on West Coast. We’re sending two more Drones after that boat in the morning. The Chinese now occupy Key West and may start to move north on Route 1. We estimate there are currently 1,000 troops with four tanks.”

  “Oh, by the way I think the general has a GPS bug in his body. We’re going to remove it.”

  “He probably does. Check under his right arm, near the arm pit. That’s where they usually put them.”

  “Will do, Captain. Let me know when the chopper is on the way.”

  I had just hung up when Lisa walked in. “What do you need, Lisa?”

  “I told Trini, I needed to take a leak. I wanted talk to you alone.”

  “Talk about what?”

  “You don’t pay any attention to me. You don’t stop by to see how I’m doing.”

  “Well, I’m a little busy and haven’t had time.”

  Lisa moved close to me and sat on top of the desk. In the dim light I could see her fatigues were skin tight. She had the first three shirt buttons undone revealing she was braless. She leaned over and gave me a peck on the cheek. I got up from the desk and stepped several feet away.

  “Lisa, get back to guard duty.”

  “I will, but I just want you to know I need a man and you’re the man I want.”

  “We already talked about this. I’m married and nothing is going to change that.”

  “I’m not asking you to change that. I don’t wanna marry you. I’ll just wanna be your friend with benefits.”

  I looked at her and took a deep breath. “Give it up, Lisa. Gossip around here travels fast and if my wife found out that we had a relationship she would kill me. Now get back to guard duty before I write you up for leaving your post.”

  The office door opened and in came Tommy along with Doc Scott, Jim Bo, and Mike. They all stopped and looked at Lisa sitting on the desk so I blurted out, “Ok, Lisa, if nothing else, get back to guard duty.”

  “Alright, see you later.” Everyone eyeballed her as she swayed out of the room.

  Mike watched her butt wiggle out the door and said, “Man, this is turning into a long day.” We all laughed and agreed.

  I said, “Mike, you’re not married, so why don’t’ you take Lisa out and have a drink.”

  “I thought she was your girl. That’s the rumor going around because you brought her to Tocabaga.”

  “Shit! Who started that rumor? Lisa is just a friend and nothing else. Pass that around to everyone.”

  “If that’s the case, maybe I will ask her out for a drink.”

  Doc Scott said, “Heck, I might ask her out for a drink.”

  Doc Scott is a good guy, but he’s a big nerd. He has jet black hair, stands about five foot four, and wears big black-rimmed glasses. He never goes out in the sun so his skin is almost pasty white. He kinda looks like a vampire. Doc doesn’t have a girlfriend because there’s not too much to pick from on Tocabaga. I don’t think Doc is Lisa’s type.

  “Go ahead and ask her, Doc. What do you got to lose?” I told him. Everyone in the room snickered because they knew Doc didn’t stand a chance of hooking up with Lisa.

  “I just got off the phone with Sessions and he said to check under the right arm pit for a GPS bug.”

  Tommy asked, “Who do you want to check first?”

  “Let’s check Kim first. We’ll separate them and take him to an officer’s room.”

  “What if he doesn’t cooperate?” Doc asked.

  Tommy replied, “Then we make him. Let’s get this over with so I can get some sleep.”

  Lisa and Trini where standing in front of the jail as we went to the door. I peeked in the window and it seemed that the General was asleep, but Captain Kim was awake. I waved him over to the door. “Captain, we want you to come with us.”

  “What are you going to do, stick bamboo slivers under my fingernails?”

  “We don’t torture people here. We just kill them,” Tommy advised him.

  “I give you my word. I will fully cooperate and answer any questions.”

  I unlocked the rusty old door and swung it open. Tommy stepped forward with some flex cuffs and Kim said almost in a whisper, “There’s no need for those. I will fully cooperate. Let’s go now and not wake the General.”

  This tough guy is folding like a paper tiger and I wondered why? What did he have up his sleeve? Tommy kept his M4 pointed at Kim the whole time.

  Jim Bo opened the door to one of the trailer living quarters. It smelled like mildew. He turned on the AC as Kim walked in and sat down on the bed. The five of us just looked at him because we were all surprised by his cooperation.

  Kim looked at me and said in Korean, “Put’ agŭl tŭrŏ chushigessŭmnikka? (Will you do me a favor?)”

  I hesitated for a moment, wondering how he knew I could understand Korean, and said, “Amado, kŭrŏk’e hageasŭmnida. (Maybe, I will.)” I immediately wondered what the he was going to ask. “Speak in English Captain, so everyone can understand.”

  “First of all my name is not Kim. My real name is Colonel Park, Kang-Dae of the South Korean Army. I’m a South Korean, spying on the Chinese Army, for the Korean Intelligence Agency (KIA). Please hear me out. I know you Jack Gunn. Your Master, Yoon, Im Un, is my Master. Master Yoon told me many stories about Jack Gunn in Korea. You are somewhat famous among the martial arts schools.”

  I was shocked by Kim’s comments. He knew my Master and he knew I spoke Korean. He must be telling the truth. I spent years in Korea while working for the DOD. I studied the ancient art of Hapkido, which is a form of judo combined with karate, under Master Yoon. I also traine
d in Tang Soo Do, a more violent form of Tae Kwon Do. I fought in many exhibition matches around the country.

  “Ok, Captain or Colonel, tell me one story so I’ll know if you’re telling the truth.”

  “You once had an exhibition fight in Itaewon. You fought three men, all at one time and won the fight in the second round by TKO. Master Yoon told me it was a truly impressive fight. He told me you’re the best student he ever had and you’re an honorable man.”

  Itaewon neighborhood is located next to the US Army base in Seoul. Because of the base this part of the city is a big party location. It’s full of bars, strip clubs, social clubs, and other places where you can get into trouble. It’s a big tourist trap with cheap shopping. You can find whatever you want in Itaewon.

  I replied, “Yes, that’s a true story. How is Master Yoon these days?”

  “I haven’t seen Master Yoon since the war. I’m pretty sure his school is still in business. I remember seeing your picture on the wall of fame.”

  “Colonel Park, how can I verify your story?”

  “All records of me and my men have been expunged. We’ve been undercover in China for five years. There is only one man who can verify what I’ve told you. He’s in charge of the KIA and his name is General Park. He’s my Father.”

  While living in Korea I became infatuated with the country that the Japanese called the garlic eaters. In Korea garlic is served with every meal. Most of the food contains garlic and they eat whole cloves grilled or raw. South Korea is the only country that practices Confucianism and Buddhism.

  Confucianism is lifestyle for one to live by. This lifestyle is actually taught in schools and at home. Confucianism was started in China by Philosopher Confucius also known was Kong Qiu. Under Mao, who started Communism, everyone was ordered to stop teaching it as well as Buddhism. Buddhism is a religion based on the life and teachings of Buddha.

  Another unique aspect about Korea is the language. Speaking Korean is more like speaking German than Chinese. It has many multi-syllable long words. Korean writing has an actual alphabet like English does. However, Korean alphabet letters don’t look like English letters. They appear to be more like Chinese, but are squared block-shaped letters. Japanese and Chinese don’t have an alphabet but use symbols or characters for writing. People think these languages are all the same, but Korean is entirely different from any language on earth.