and lowered his voice as he spoke into the handset.
“I’ve gotta run, Umi. Thank you for everything. I’m sorry it ended like this, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to come back to Japan.” Before he hung up, he said one last thing to her. It was what she had told him at their Zen retreat. “Au wa wakare no hajimari. I guess all good things come to an end, and you are a good thing, Umi.”
Chapter 82
The military police officer standing watch on the deck next to a wooden podium looked intimidating. The athletically built policeman had a Beretta 9mm handgun strapped to his hip and an M4 assault rifle slung across the body armor that hugged his torso. He inspected every sailor who requested to come aboard the USS George Washington.
“That military cop looks really serious,” Bonnie said nervously. “We’re going to get caught and arrested!”
“Relax, Lieutenant,” Chief Alvarez said, trying to calm her. “You’ve already come this far. Plus, that watch stander is looking for terrorists, not two Cajuns in flight suits.”
Cain and Bonnie headed to the gangway.
“Jesus, this boat is way bigger than I would have ever imagined,” Bonnie said.
Alvarez put his arm around Bonnie. “This is not a boat. It’s a ship, and not just any ship. It’s a nuclear-powered super aircraft carrier. It’s the might of the American military and what keeps us free.”
Cain smiled with pride. He felt as though he was reliving his navy days. He and Bonnie were just two military pilots out of hundreds of aviators on board. And as pilots, they were commissioned officers, with a set of parallel silver bars displayed on each shoulder of their flight suits. The chief really delivered. Bravo, Zulu, Cain thought as they approached the gruff military police officer.
“Permission to come aboard,” Chief Alvarez asked while simultaneously saluting.
The military policeman returned the salute. “Welcome aboard, Chief.”
“Permission to come aboard,” Bonnie requested.
The guard saluted Bonnie. “Welcome aboard, Lieutenant.”
Cain stepped onto the deck of the USS George Washington and was overcome with emotion. The ship’s motto was engraved on a large wooden plaque attached to the wall. “The Spirit of Freedom,” he said aloud, feeling euphoric as goose bumps formed on his forearms. In the corner, near the wooden podium, was the bust of President George Washington—America’s first president. Behind the bust was the American flag with a gold-plated eagle on top. Despite all our flaws, we’re still the greatest country in the world, Cain thought.
Tears formed in his eyes as he requested “permission to come aboard.”
The guard snapped a crisp salute. “Permission granted. Welcome aboard, sir!”
Cain returned the salute with the same vigor and precision. He turned toward Alvarez, who noticed that Cain’s eyes had welled up with tears.
“Are you okay?” Chief Alvarez asked.
“Never better,” Cain replied.
They ducked their heads and entered the ship’s hatch. The chief escorted them through the large hangar bay, which was crowded with various F-18 fighter jets and H-60 Seahawk helicopters.
“Where’s the plane y’all used to fly?” Bonnie asked.
“The Mighty War Pig wouldn’t be on this ship,” Cain said. “It was a land-based submarine hunter.”
“How many missions you figure we flew together?” Chief Alvarez asked, obviously feeling nostalgic. “At least the ones we can talk about.”
“Counting tonight?” Cain smiled wearily.
Chief Alvarez returned the smile. “I reckon tonight’s mission will stay top secret, unless that Champ Albright has anything to do with it.”
“Champ Albright?” Bonnie joined their conversation. “The reporter I meant to introduce you to?”
“One and the same,” Cain said. “He actually helped me find you. I’ll tell you about it on our way to Guam.”
“This ought to be good. I can’t wait to hear all about it,” she said.
Cain and Alvarez laughed as the chief continued escorting them through the ship to their sleeping berth. Even though it was technically a VIP room, it was still on board a military ship designed for combat. The USS George Washington’s mattresses were prison-thin, the pillows hard as rocks, and the wool blankets scratchy as sandpaper. Cain didn’t care, though. As far as he was concerned, the mighty ship was the Ritz-Carlton.
“How did you score this room?” he asked Alvarez.
“It may seem like a new navy with the new generation joining nowadays, but chiefs still take care of each other. Let’s just say I owe the supply officer a drink when we reach Guam.”
“A room like this, I’m sure it’s a lot of drinks,” Cain replied.
“You guys are worth it.”
Cain felt an enormous sense of gratitude. He wrapped one