AK 239: The Enemy Is Already Here

Kendrick Bay

All I remember is crazy Stone’s face as he’s standing on the hull of the sub next to Jennifer and me. He throws his phone and jumps into the water yelling,

“Shit!”

Jen, fortunately, grabs the flying phone.

All the rest of us hit the deck, literally as two bombs splash in the water right in front of us. But the good news is: No explosion! However, the impact of the bomb is still so great that water splashes up and soaks all of us.

We pause and everyone quietly stands.

We’re all relieved until I say the obvious,

“Didn’t he say four?”

Just then another bomb splashes in the water between the sub and the beach.

“Thank God! They’re duds,” I mumble to myself.

Unfortunately, the fourth bomb explodes near both Jimmy and Tony.

As the smoke clears we see two bodies on the beach.

I see Stone trying to swim to them in the water yelling, “No!”

Seeing this, I think: Great! If he can’t make it to shore on his own, I doubt I’ll be able to save him. Orca’s going to pull me under.

I dive into the water and outswim the older, and much more out of shape, Stone deciding to see if I can help the wounded on the beach first.

I climb out of the water and run to the two men who are motionless, face down, on the sand.

I roll Stone’s pilot over first.

After an eternity passes, Jimmy opens his eyes, sits up and says in the Queen’s English:

“I believe all of my nine lives are now up!”

I then grab Tony and roll him over.

Tony opens his eyes looking at Jimmy, “He told me to duck!”

I ask them, “You guys, Okay?”

Both nod their heads, slowly, in the affirmative.

I now realize Stone is still in the water.

“Help! I’m drowning!” says Stone.

Tony stands up laughing saying, “Dad never could swim.”

I shake my head and walk slowly toward Stone.

As I swim to him I realize the water is only about four feet deep so I stand up.

Stone, seeing this, tries it and feeling embarrassed just stands up too. As soon as Stone gets closer to the beach his son runs out and hugs his dad.

On the sub I can hear General Norton screaming,

“Give me a damage report! Now!”

Jennifer and Captain Vasili are the only ones now standing on the front hull of TK-20.

“This is former Navy Lieutenant Commander Jennifer Tavana. Scratch one Russian nuclear facility. Scratch one Iranian sub. We have control of the Russian Typhoon, sir.”

Jennifer looks a bit guilty to Vasili who nods his approval.

“Also, zero casualties from your birds, general. Repeat zero casualties from the birds.”

I can clearly hear the cheering all this all the way over here on the beach.

We look at each other and start cheering too.