Steve`s Country
For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
The Investigators, Inc. The Major Case. Chapter 9. Waiting.
Pop! Floop! A little while later. Pop! Floop! Then again in a short time. Pop! Floop! Poor Storm. I forgot to bring his weights to keep him underwater. That air filled globe around his head keeps bringing him to the surface, giving that pop sound. Then Angel pulled him back underwater, giving that floop sound. Finally he got on Angel’s back and put his long front legs, as best he could, around her neck. That worked. Hopefully he can stay there long enough to get to the island.
It is a long swim, a little longer than we had planned originally, but the engine stalled on us and we really had no time to work on getting it going again, so we had to start our swim about 6 miles out, instead of 4 miles. That will make it a little hard on me. Even a 4 mile swim was stretching things a bit. My various back injuries over the years has made underwater swimming a little difficult, to say the least. These new snorkels that Baldwin produces at one of his companies are working great.
They have a sensor on them that shortens, or lengthens, the breathing tube automatically. That way we do not need to stay at a particular depth all the time. There is also an emergency supply of air that will last several minutes if that sensor quits working. When the sensor stops, it automatically plugs the breathing tube. Then we would have to surface to breathe. Hopefully that does not happen. The tube stays just above the water so it is hard to be seen if anyone is watching. Which is why it is necessary to keep Storm underwater too.
Meanwhile… Rich came out when Sam called him. “What is wrong?” he asked. “There is a big bubble that keeps coming to the surface, then drops back underwater,” he said, “take a look.” He handed the binoculars to Rich. Rich looked, and looked. But he saw nothing. He looked over at Sam. “You called me out here to see nothing?” he asked. Sam looked again. “But I saw it, I really did,” he exclaimed.
“Bubbles do not go back underwater once they come up,” Rich explained, “they pop and are no more.” “But this one went back underwater,” said Sam, “I saw it several times.” Rich thought for a moment and asked Sam how big the bubble was. Sam guessed at a size. “What you likely saw was a bottle floating and filling with water,” said Rich, “it finally had enough water in it that it sunk.” He went out to their boat and came back.
“I want you and Juan to make sure that boat is packed and ready to leave when we get back here,” Rich told Sam, “I am going to the other island to help Pete.” “Why does Pete need help?” asked Sam, “all he has to do is pick up that suitcase of money.” “Someone should be watching,” said Rich, “in case there is trouble.” “You think there might be trouble tonight?” asked Sam nervously. “No, I do not,” he answered, “but we need to always be prepared.”
“Oh, can I go get my girl and bring her with us?” asked Sam, “I told her I would soon have enough money for us to go away together. We just had to conclude our business here tonight and I would be wealthy.” Rich just stared at Sam. He was going to explode, but then he thought it might be good to get that girl out here too and get rid of both of them at the same time. She likely knows more than Sam is telling.
“Sure, go get her, but not until this evening,” said Rich, “and make sure the boat is ready before you go get her.” “Okay, no problem with that,” he said happily. “And do not touch that lady in there!” he told Sam, “and make sure Juan understands that too. Wait, I will go tell Juan myself, get the rowboat ready.” He went inside the cave and told Juan to leave Macey alone and when Sam came back with his girl, to make sure they do not leave this island ever again.
“Do you have your gun handy?” he asked Juan. “I prefer a knife,” he answered. Rich then left Juan and had Sam row him across to the other island. Off he went to meet up with Pete. It was already mid afternoon. Major would likely be arriving soon with the money.
Back to our team at the hotel. “I hope Steve can make that swim, it is much further,” said Sky. “He will make it,” said Rock, “no need to worry about him, or the others.” Meow,meow.=Me hope Storm be okay too, long time swimming under the water. “Hmm, only about half and hour before the Major shows up,” said Rock, “think I will go downstairs and wait.” Benson and John went with him…
To Be Continued.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
Friday Fun With Coffee. #2
Good morning everyone! Happy Friday to you as well! We had more freezing fog during the night so the trees, and most everything else, are once again covered with frost. Some trees were still frost covered from before, but many had lost their frosty coats. It is quite windy out there this morning too which is supposed to bring in some very mild weather for us by Sunday. It could warm up to 34F (1C) on Sunday and Monday too. Then it will cool off once again.
There are not many birds this morning, but my little chickadees and nuthatches are here. I have not yet seen any other birds. So different from last winter when I had hundreds of birds out here. They obviously must have found a better restaurant. Plus that shrike might have something to do with it. Oh well, I cannot do anything about it. Speaking of restaurants, I am sure I mentioned this one I stopped at a few years ago.
But many of you would have missed that anyway, so I will share it again. It was a small country restaurant I had never tried before. So, one morning as I was driving by, I decided to give it a try. I mean, how can anyone spoil a simple country breakfast. There were two vehicles parked out front, so that was a good sign, other people eat here too. I went inside. It was empty. But it was a nice looking, and clean, restaurant.
It was quite small, but it is a country restaurant, they normally are not very big. The vehicles probably belong to the owners. I sat at one of the tables and waited. And waited. “Anyone here?” I called out. A man poked his head out of the kitchen and then came over to me. He was quite dirty and had a somewhat dirty towel over his shoulder. I probably should have left, but I thought this might be interesting. I was not disappointed.
“You want somethin?” he asked. “Yes, a cup of coffee and the breakfast special,” I said. He went back to the kitchen and came back quickly with coffee and a cup. He stopped at the table and looked in the cup. Then he blew into the cup. Then he stuck his finger in the cup. “I better get a different cup, this one is dirty,” he said. At least he recognized that. He set the coffee pot on the table and went back in the kitchen. I waited. And waited. He must be washing the cup.
He came back with another cup. “This one is clean,” he said, “and we do not have the breakfast special today.” “Okay, I will have bacon and eggs and toast,” I said. “Okay,” and off he goes. What I just ordered was the breakfast special. Very odd. He comes back and asks what kind of bread I want. Better make this easy, I thought. “Just white bread,” I said. “Okay,” and off he goes. He comes back. “We don’t have any white bread,” he said. “How about rye?” I asked him.
“Okay,” and off he goes. He comes back. “We do not have rye bread either,” he said. “What do you have?” I asked. “Actually, we do not have any bread,” he said. “Fine, I will have hash browns instead of toast,” I said. “Okay,” and off he goes. He comes back. “We do not have any bacon, would sausages be okay?” he asked. “Sure,” I said and off he goes. He comes back.
“We do not have any sausages either,” he said. Then why did he suggest them? Oh well. “I will just have eggs and hash browns,” I said. “Okay,” and he left. I should have too. He comes back. “We do not have and hash browns,” he said. I stared at him. “Actually,” he said, “we do not have any food right now, my wife is going shopping this morning.” I stared at him.
“Would you like more coffee?” “No thanks, I am in a hurry,” I said. I paid for my coffee and went to my car. Once in my car I burst out laughing! It could only happen to me! I drove on to the next restaurant and got my breakfast. Baxter and Betty, my two blue jays have shown up for breakfast. Thank you for visiting today, have a wonderful Friday and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
©2023 Steve McLeod.
Steve`s Country 