FIRE ON HIGH
“Fire On High” is a work of fiction, and any resemblance to any person living or dead is purely coincidental. All characters and settings copyright Tigermark 2003-2004 unless otherwise noted. Request permission before using them, please.
The character Anatol Altaisokova is my name for a character copyright Max Blackrabbit, and appears in this story with his permission.
Chapter 5
Suspicions
Several days of routine had come and gone since Alex had returned to
Such were his thoughts as Alex opened the door to his office and hung his coat on the coat rack beside the door. He walked over to sit down behind his desk, ready to tackle the contents of his inbox, when he noticed the large manila envelope on his chair. Curious, he examined it in place without touching it. There had been several letter bomb attacks in the past couple of months, so Alex was cautious about things he didn’t know the origin of showing up in his office. There was a smaller envelope attached to the front of the manila one.
Seeing nothing amiss on the surface, Alex bent down to read the typewritten words on the smaller envelope:
To: Lt. Col. O’Whitt, Open this envelope first.
Alex moved his nose close to the package and gave a large sniff. He detected no hint of explosives, or even a scent from whoever had put the package in his office. This caused the fur on the back of his neck to rise a bit. Someone had gone to great lengths to make sure the package Alex was examining couldn’t be easily traced.
Looking again to make sure no wires or metal strips connected the two envelopes; Alex carefully slit the smaller one open with his index claw. Inside he found two pieces of folded paper. He removed and unfolded them and read:
“Lt. Col. O’Whitt,
You have a right to see these, and to know the truth.
-A Friend-“
Along with that cryptic statement was a list of contents for the other envelope. Alex stared in disbelief, his ears back and his tail flipping nervously. If the list was correct, the envelope contained copies of the maintenance records, maintenance recorder transcripts, ATC transmission transcripts, weather data, crash scene and autopsy reports, and transcripts of statements taken from involved parties to Jason’s crash. If true, Alex now held the same evidence that the crash investigation board held.
Alex tentatively examined the larger envelope. Finding nothing amiss, he carefully slit it open. True to the list, everything was there. He examined the documents carefully. They were printed on standard Air Force letterhead, and had no copy number or copier imprint. Each was time-stamped with a transcription date and time, but no unit designation tags or signs were to be found.
Alex sat down and thought, all concerns for the other paperwork pushed to the back of his mind by the mystery package.
“Now who could’ve put this here, and how did they get it?” kept repeating itself over and over in his head. When no possible answer came, Alex decided to file the question away for later thought. He began to examine the documents.
Three and a half hours later, Alex had a clear picture of Jason’s last flight. It had lasted about 60 seconds, from the start of full afterburner for takeoff, to the sudden end of the data. The story it told chilled Alex to his very soul. The takeoff had been normal, with small control inputs, apparently to hold position, which suggested a formation takeoff.
“An odd thing to do, considering the weather data showed a 2500’ ceiling and a thunderstorm right on top of them,” Alex thought.
Just after the landing gear was raised, a small electrical surge was noted in the flight instruments subsystem. This caused the attitude gyros to uncage and loose rpms, which caused them to begin to give false readings. This lit a caution light on the electrical panel, but caused no alarm tone.
Jason’s HUD had been in NAV mode, and so the light should’ve shown there also, but the power surge had shorted out the indicator.
“Why hadn’t Jason noticed the light on the electrical panel? It would’ve been part of his normal instrument scan, especially getting ready to enter IMC. He should have had plenty of time to abort the takeoff,” Alex wondered to himself.
Jason’s control inputs showed he thought he was drifting right, a feeling not uncommon in a climbing left turn. The crash site analysis showed he’d come out of the cloud base at 2500’ inverted, with a 73-degree nose down attitude and still in afterburner. He would have had only a fraction of a second before impact to realize his impending doom. Alex was forcefully reminded of the dreams he’d had around the time of the crash. The data ended with an abrupt control input that showed Jason had at least tried to bring the aircraft out of its dive. Alex shrugged off the mental picture of that last, desperate move and grimly continued.
The things he hadn’t looked at were the statements of the involved furs, and the autopsy report. Alex decided to skip the autopsy. This was Jason he was reading about, and he didn’t want to have to deal with what that report contained unless he had to. He pulled out the statements and began to read.
A short time later, Scatcat Higgins was walking down the hallway from his office to see if his XO would be interested in going to lunch. He turned in at Alex’s office and had just opened the door when a loud thud resounded from the doorframe beside his head. He ducked involuntarily, and the loud clatter of something hitting the floor beside him drew his gaze to the shattered remains of a stapler that had landed there.
Col. Higgins peered cautiously around the door, and found Alex on his feet behind his desk, his tail whipping back and forth in agitation. His ears were back and his eyes closed as he fought to control his anger. A scattered trail of papers, pens, paperclips and staples marked the pawswipe that had launched the now-defunct stapler.
Scatcat eased into the room, stood up tall and then barked, “O’Whitt! Atten-shun!”
Alex snapped upright, his years of military discipline kicking in. Scatcat walked up to Alex’s desk, looking the tiger in the eye.
“Eyes front! Tail down! You’re at attention, Mister,” the lion growled.
Alex complied, slightly confused by his CO’s sudden appearance.
Several seconds passed, and then Scatcat said, “Calmed down now?”
“Yes Sir!” Alex replied, his previous anger now abated somewhat.
“Good. As you were and sit down. You can explain to me what’s got you so angry that you’re doing missile runs on your CO with government property,” Scatcat said as he pulled up a chair and sat down.
“Uh, sorry, that wasn’t meant to be headed in your direction,” Alex said sheepishly as he sat down.
“So what’s up, Ice? I haven’t seen you that mad in a long, long time,” Scatcat said, looking at his friend closely. The anger may have subsided, but Alex was still clearly upset about something.
Alex took a deep breath, and then slowly let it out.
“I found this on my chair when I got here this morning,” Alex said, passing the envelopes to his CO, “Any idea who put it there?”
Scatcat looked them over and grew concerned. He hadn’t put them there, and for a stranger to stroll in and put something unknown in one of his fur’s offices made him wonder about the base’s security measures.
Finally, he said, “I take it something in these documents, which it’s highly unorthodox for you to have now, by the way, is what caused that outburst?”
Alex, a bit calmer now, replied, “Yes sir. From what I’ve seen, the main cause of Jason’s crash was spatial disorientation in IMC brought on by instrument failure, but what made me so angry was this!” He handed Col. Higgins the statements he still held from Lt. Col. Mastifson and the weather furs. Realization dawned on the lion’s face as he read, and his tail flipped once in shared agitation.
“Now I understand the reaction. Mastifson’s order put Jason in a situation where he didn’t know his instruments had failed until it was too late. And even after Jason told him it wasn’t a good idea,” Scatcat said sourly.
The look on Alex’s face told Col. Higgins how he felt about the situation. He wanted to go roast the rotweiller on a spit!
“Ice,” Col. Higgins said evenly, “I know that look. I know you want to go get this guy, but the accident investigation board hasn’t had time to digest this yet. See the transcription date? Let them do their work. Let them be the ones to hang him. I already told you his uncle’s a three-star. I did some more checking, and he’ll not let anything stand in the way of his nephew’s progress. Seems his own sons didn’t choose to join the military, so this Jefferson Mastifson is his legacy. You have the info, and if it starts to look like a white wash, then you can tell them what you know and have, and they’ll be forced into the proper action. For now, though, no sense stirring up the hornets unless you have to.”
Alex looked at him, took another deep breath and said, “Okay, Boss, whatever you say. I hope he’s not still flying in command, though, the fur’s a menace.”
“True, but he retains his position until the board’s findings are in. He had the usual 72-hour stand down after the crash, but it’ll be up to the board and his CO to finally decide about it,” Col. Higgins replied.
Alex slowly nodded. Col. Higgins took that chance to change the subject and said, “Good. Hey, I came by to ask if you wanted to go to lunch.”
“Sure,” Alex said, without much enthusiasm, as he put the documents back in their envelopes and put these in his bottom desk drawer. He glanced toward the door and saw the scar on the facing, and the remains of the stapler on the floor.
“I’d better fix that first,” Alex said, nodding toward the door as he stood up. He walked over and retrieved the pieces and, with a few brief tries, succeeded in reassembling the stapler.
“See, good as new,” He said, trying to lighten the mood as he walked back and placed the formerly airborne projectile on his desk.
It promptly fell apart again.
Shaking his head, his mane flipping back and forth as he laughed, Scatcat said, “Ice, let’s get you out of here before you destroy the whole office.”
Alex grinned sheepishly, but his tail curled in suppressed laughter as he said, “Sure thing, Boss.”
Scatcat continued to laugh as Alex retrieved his hat and jacket, and the two friends left for lunch. As they left the building, neither of them took note of the form observing them from the shadows of the nearby trees as it turned and quietly slipped away.
# # #
Jenna opened the next box. She had already put away one box of glassware, and the movers had been gone less than an hour. She paused and looked out the kitchen window.
“My new home,” she thought, “only without Jason . . .”
She blinked away a tear and chided herself. Such thoughts weren’t very productive, but they still came to her many times a day.
“Still too soon,” she sighed.
The view she had of the fenced pastures and rolling hills of Central Kentucky was quite beautiful. The spring sun had warmed the day nicely and little puffy cumulus clouds drifted by on a light breeze. She could see horses grazing in one section, as Alex had leased out the pastureland to the neighboring farms. Jenna could just see the main house out the corner of the window. A large, single story affair of glass and stone, with gray wood trim and a 3-car garage, it reflected its owners strength, and at the same time, his quiet, friendly nature.
The smaller brick and siding ranch Jenna and the cubs had moved into suited them perfectly. The master bedroom had a Jacuzzi tub and separate shower for Jenna, and the main bath had separate compartments so that one could use the restroom while someone else was showering or primping in front of the mirror. It even had a fur dryer, which would save them all time and chills on school mornings. The two cubs’ bedrooms were on opposite corners of the house, allowing enough separation to reduce conflicts. The kitchen had loads of cabinet storage, and there was a living room and den/family room, separated by a double-hearth fireplace. Behind the house, a huge deck allowed a fantastic view of the surrounding countryside.
Jenna’s reverie was shattered by a loud shriek from the direction of the bedrooms. A second later, Andrew came tearing in from that direction, heading for the back door.
“Be back in a few, Mom. Gonna check on Blake,” the young tiger called.
“Freeze, mister!” Jenna said sternly, bringing Andrew’s headlong rush to an abrupt halt. Jenna turned her head and looked back the way Andrew had come, waiting.
In a few seconds, Tia came charging into the kitchen, her cheek fur fluffed out, her cheeks red with anger and embarrassment. Jenna held up a paw to stop her before she began her accusation. Tia came to a halt, her snow leopard tail flipping back and forth rapidly.
Turning back to Andrew, who now looked like a deer caught in a car’s headlights, Jenna said, “Okay, spill it!”
Andrew opened his mouth to speak, but seeing the expression on his mother and sister’s faces, rethought and started again.
“It . . . wasn’t anything bad, Mom . . .,” he said haltingly. Jenna’s stern gaze didn’t change in the least.
“Alright, it was only a joke,” Andrew said at last, “I put a spring-loaded surprise in a box of Tia’s clothes.”
Tia started to speak, but again Jenna stopped her.
“All of it,” Jenna said.
“Oh Mom, I planted it before we left South Carolina, as a joke to cheer her up,” Andrew said plaintively.
Tia would be shushed no longer. “Mom! It was in a box of my underclothes! My bra’s and underwear are scattered all over my room! They’re hanging on the dresser, the closet door, the window, the ceiling fan. It’s . . .,” here she ran out of words, and just looked at her mother, exasperated.
Jenna had to put a mighty effort into not laughing at the image that presented. She gave a slightly exaggerated sigh, and then said, “Apology, Andrew, Now!”
Andrew tried his best to look sorry, but the way his tail was curling gave away his lack of sincerity.
“I’m sorry, Sis. Can I go now, Mom?”
Jenna still looked at him sternly, and then said, “Yes, you may go . . .”
Andrew turned toward the back door.
“. . Back to your room and continue unpacking. You’re grounded for the rest of the day,” Jenna finished.
Andrew started to protest, but the look on his mother’s face dissuaded him from any argument. His tail now dragging behind him, Andrew silently set out for his room. Tia watched him go and then turned to her mother with a plaintive look on her face.
“Mom, isn’t he ever going to grow out of this! I’m afraid to open any more boxes, for fear that he’s booby-trapped them!” she said.
Jenna smiled at her daughter and said gently, “Andrew has always played practical jokes on you. True, he does get carried away sometimes, but would you prefer he never paid any attention to you at all?”
Tia looked as though she might like that, but then thought better of it and said, “No, I guess not,” sighing, she continued, “Guess I’d better go collect my underthings before the whole neighborhood sees them hanging in my window.”
Jenna now couldn’t help but laugh, and soon Tia was laughing, also. Jenna turned to see if Jason was laughing, too, and was immediately struck by the fact that he was gone.
Steeling herself to keep from tearing up, she said, “Andrew did have a good idea. Why don’t you go check on Blake before you get your things down? I want to make sure he doesn’t wander too far off.”
Blake, Anton’s kaht, had made himself at home upon their arrival, and then promptly wanted out to explore the area. “It’s alright,” Anton had said, “He never goes far.” Since they were a good half-mile from the main road, Jenna had let the kaht out to roam.
Seeing the change in her mother’s demeanor, Tia stepped in quickly and hugged her. She then headed out the door, saying, “Be back in a little while.”
Jenna sat down and wiped the tears that had welled up in her eyes. She knew Jason was gone, but she missed him so much. She bowed her head and again thanked God for having had him for the time she did. The still, small voice in her heart whispered over her grief that it would be alright. Jason was with the Lord now, and the Lord’s comfort was with her. The grieving and healing would continue, and life would go on.
Presently, Anton walked into the kitchen, wiping his muzzle with a damp cloth.
Jenna looked at him, and noting the cloth said, “Were you sick again, Dad?”
Anton looked at her and winced slightly before he spoke.
“Yeah. It’s nothing, though. Just all the traveling”
Jenna looked at her father-in-law with a critical eye. He had been sick to his stomach a lot since he’d been with her and the cubs. He had worked energetically, as always, but she had seen signs that, along with the nausea, Anton had been experiencing some stomach pain as well.
“Nothing my skinny tiger tail!” Jenna said in her stern-mother voice, “You are going to the doctor to get checked out.”
“But I don’t know any doctors down here,” Anton protested.
“You don’t know any in West Virginia, either! When was the last time you saw a doctor?” Jenna persisted.
“Counting driving by the golf course?” Anton said, trying to joke his way out of the conversation. The pain in his stomach sharpened slightly as he tried to laugh. Jenna caught the fleeting look of pain in his eyes.
“This is no joke, Dad,” she said earnestly, “You’re hurting, and you-are-going-to-get-checked-out! I’ll call Billy Panelli, he’ll know a good doctor here in Lexington.”
The pain had subsided, but the look on Jenna’s face told Anton that he would have no peace until he agreed.
“Alright,” he said, “just to put your mind at ease.”
“I always knew you were a wise ol’ tiger,” Jenna said with a big smile on her muzzle, “I’ll call Billy right after I finish with this box. Wanna help?”
“Sure, always glad to,” Anton replied, and he and Jenna set to work pulling glasses out of a box and putting them into the cabinet.
# # #
“Hey, no problem Jenna, Dr. Sologen is probably the best GI doc in town,” Billy Panelli said into the speaker phone as he closed the rolodex on his desk, “Think you’ll really get Anton to go?”
“He’ll go,” Jenna said with certainty, “And I’ll go with him to make sure he goes.”
“You’ll need to, he’s a stubborn old tiger,” Billy said, “Hey, I know! Make the appointment for the late afternoon, and that’ll give you an excuse to come on over to the house in Versailles for dinner.”
“Ah, we’ll have to do that another time. Anton won’t go if Tia and Andrew are with us. Some fool notion about not appearing weak in front of them. Honestly, I don’t know where you males come up with this crap!” Jenna said in a frustrated tone.
“That was the way back in ‘The Old Country’ as Anton always says,” Billy replied.
“Humpf, Anton never saw ‘The Old Country’, His parents came to the
“Speaking of stubborn Siberian Tigers, heard from Alex?” Billy asked, changing subjects.
“Yes, he called today, in fact. He seems to be doing Okay. He said the lady he’d been dating turned out to be a friend and not a mate, though,” Jenna said, “I really wish he could find someone to settle down with.”
“He will, I think,” Billy said, though not really comfortable discussing his friend’s love life with the tiger’s sister-in-law, “He’s just very picky, and very busy.”
“Yeah, I know, married to his job. Thanks again for the referral, I’ll call and make that appointment right now,” Jenna said as she prepared to hang up.
“Not so fast, milady,” Billy said teasingly, “Penny and I still want you all over for dinner. How about tomorrow night?”
Jenna was silent a moment, and then said, “Okay, tomorrow night. What time?”
“Make it 7, that’ll give me enough time to get home and presentable for company,” Billy said.
“Sure thing! See you then! Bye, Billy,” Jenna said and closed the connection.
Billy flicked the speakerphone off and sat back. The last charter tomorrow departed for Charlotte at 13:15, so he should have plenty of time to get home and ready for guests. He wrote the dinner plans on his desk calendar, and then picked up the pawset and dialed his wife’s cell phone number.
On the third ring, Penny Panelli answered with a purred, “Hello Cowboy, you have reached the Panelli love line. Please enter your credit card number to proceed with your call.”
“Hello Princess,” Billy replied in his best Barry White imitation, “My credit card number is I-L-O-V-E-Y-O-U-D-E-A-R-L-Y.”
Penny giggled and said, “Okay, you crazy feline, you called my bluff. What did you want?”
“Why, the complete advertised package, of course!” Billy replied, still enjoying teasing with his wife.
She giggled again and breathed, “Later, Tiger.”
Billy sighed and said, “Yeah, story of my life, hurry up and wait. Engines full throttle and then slam on the brakes. Anyway Princess, we have company coming tomorrow night.”
“Jenna, Anton, and the cubs?” Penny said, excitement showing in her voice.
“Yeah, she agreed to come, so at least she’s recovered enough not to sit around and mope,” Billy said, “Need me to pick up anything on the way home?”
There was a short pause on the line as Penny thought, and then she said, “No, I think I have everything I’ll need here. Just bring that nice stripy backside of yours on home. Since we’ll have company tomorrow, tonight is for us.”
Billy gulped and said, “How soon do you want me home?”
Penny laughed and said, “Keep it safe and legal. I want you home in one piece, oh eager one!”
“You got it. See you around seventeen hundred,” Billy said, attempting to sound calm, cool and collected. He didn’t carry it off too well.
Penny laughed again and said, “Love you, Cowboy.”
“Love you, too, Princess. See ya soon,” Billy replied, and then, remembering the rest of Jenna’s call, “Oh, by the way, put Anton on the church prayer chain, Okay? He’s been having stomach problems.”
“Anything serious?” Penny asked, her voice now full of concern.
“Don’t know yet,” Billy said, “Jenna’s getting him to a doctor as soon as they can get an appointment. Just get his name to everyone.”
“Will do, Billy, see you soon,” Penny said. She blew a kiss and closed the connection.
Billy sighed, hung up the pawset, and collected his thoughts. He had been planning to call and invite Jenna and family to dinner before he left for home today. Jenna’s call to find a doctor for Anton had saved him calling, but the concerns it raised were rather frightening. As far as Billy knew, the older tiger had been fit and healthy his whole life. If he’d agreed to go to a doctor, it could really be serious.
He was glad Jenna had accepted the dinner invitation. He and Penny had been afraid that Jenna would just hole up in Alex’s guesthouse and not want to come out. They had devised a plan to gently ease her back into more and more social contact. The cubs were to start school the beginning of the next week, leaving a lot of day for Jenna to fill. The Panelli’s wanted to make sure she became involved with some positive contacts to occupy the time. The next step now was to get her started at a local church. That should be no problem, as Jenna had been a Christian for many years, and she and the cubs had been active with the base chapel during her husband’s military career.
Billy’s thoughts now settled on Penny. Her surprise greeting had caused his mind to take a hard starboard turn and go screaming off into fantasy mode. He pictured her gorgeous, very curvy 5’6” frame. Pennyworth was her full name, from her mother’s Arapaho Indian background. Penny was half Bengal Tiger and half Red Fox, and as with most hybrids, she looked much younger than her age. Feline in form, she had a coppery red base color to her coat that turned a dark russet on her paws and feet, black tiger stripes that faded into a white throat and chest, and a bushy, striped tail tipped in black. Jet-black hair topped off her markings, and her eyes! The thought of her warm, lovely ginger brown eyes made Billy’s mind up for him.
Penny would be home from her job as office manager for Bluegrass Advertising and Productions at 1700. If he left now, Billy could pick up some Italian takeout and a nice bottle of wine, and be home in time to meet her. He stood up, put the papers he’d been looking at when Jenna called in a folder, shut down his computer, and grabbed his coat as he left his office.
Sometimes it was good to be the owner . . .
# # #
“And the shepherd says . . .,” Tasha gave a short giggle, trying to get the punch line of the joke out before she broke down laughing, “And the shepherd says, ‘You’re a consultant, now give me back my kali!” With that, she dissolved into uncontrollable laughter.
Alex laughed heartily, too, more at Tasha than at the joke. He’d heard several versions of it before, but watching Tasha try to tell it was worth hearing it again. She normally was on the serious side, and this was the first joke she’d ever told Alex in the few months he’d known her.
Their laughter was drawing curious looks from the crowd of furs in the restaurant. They’d usually gone to smaller, quieter places on their dates, but as they had decided they were better as friends, they’d chosen one of the larger, touristier places in Frankfurt for that evening’s outing.
Recovering a bit, Alex said, “Tasha, you should tell jokes more often, guys like a sense of humor, too.”
Tasha had recovered also, and now winked at Alex and said, “Just now decided we’re friends and not lovers, and you’re already trying to get rid of me.”
Alex grinned and said, “Absolutely! As your friend, it’s my job to see that you get properly hitched to the right fella. That’s why I’m giving away all the male trade secrets.”
Tasha smiled back, a bit more serious now, and said, “Ah, Tiger-o-mine, I’m just like you, married to my work.”
“Hmm, has a familiar ring to it,” Alex said.
He thought a second and then said, “You know, you’ve never told me what you do, or which government office you work for.”
Tasha looked away for a few seconds, and then turned back and said, “It’s really boring to most folks, so I don’t talk too much about it. I work for the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a liaison to the German Ag Ministry. It keeps me pretty busy, as you’ve seen by my work hours.”
Alex nodded. Long hours were one of the things they’d had in common when they’d started dating.
“Well, there you go, you’re too busy, so it’s up to me as your friend to see to it you don’t end up an old spinster,” he said straight-faced.
Tasha laughed lightly and said, “You know, I didn’t realize they let certifiably insane tigers be fighter pilots.”
“You didn’t?” Alex said, raising his eyebrows and flipping his tail in mock surprise, “Why, it’s a prerequisite!”
Tasha now laughed in earnest, and Alex joined in a second later.
“Alex,” Tasha said, wiping her eyes with the back of her paws and trying to act a bit more serious, “I’m really going to miss your sense of humor when you leave.”
Seeing his expression start to fall, she quickly added, “Not that I’m rushing you! Uh, how are your preparations for Test Pilot School coming?”
Alex replied with a smile, and allowed the conversation to be steered in the new direction.
“Good! Since we haven’t been flying much this week, I’ve been taking some time in the afternoons to re-study some of my college and graduate school materials. Add that to what I’ve been able to pull off the ‘net on my PC at home, and I should be ready to hit the ground running when I get there.”
Tasha looked pleased, whether at Alex’s progress or the change of subject he wasn’t sure. She leaned forward and put her chin in her palm, her tail slowly waving behind her right shoulder.
“What will it be like? Test Pilot School, I mean,” Tasha asked, intent on keeping the conversation going.
Alex took on a thoughtful look, and then said, “I hear it’s pretty intense. Gives you the equivalent to a Master’s degree in Aerospace Engineering for the one-year course. It demands very precise flying. The old “strap ‘em on and see what they do” mentality is long gone. It’s a very scientific and carefully controlled process to test aircraft and systems now.”
“Careful and controlled, but still bold and brave enough to be the first pilot to try a new plane out. Sounds like it fits you perfectly, Alex,” Tasha said, a warm smile on her muzzle.
“I think so,” Alex replied, “It’s the kind of flying I’ve trained for ever since I started in the Air Force.”
“You’ll be great at it! With your skill, dedication, bravery, and faith, how could you go wrong?” Tasha said, still smiling.
Alex smiled, actually rather shyly and said, “I’m not that perfect. I make mistakes all the time. One of them could catch up to me just as easily as anyone if I don’t stay sharp. The Lord watches over me, so I’m not afraid of what might happen. I just try to take things as they come.”
Tasha looked down at her paws and said, “I sometimes wish for faith like that.”
Alex looked at her questioningly, and she continued, “I . . . became a Christian when I was a teenager, but I haven’t lived it very well. Circumstances always seem to lead me off that course.” She looked away, unsure of how to continue.
“That’s the great thing about Christ,” Alex said quietly, “Even when we screw up, He’s there to forgive us and help us get back on track.”
Tasha turned back and looked into Alex’s blue eyes, a smile beginning to play across her muzzle.
“I’ll try to remember that. Thank you, Alex, for not being like everyone else. And for reminding me where to go when things get tough.”
Alex smiled back, saying, “You’re quite welcome. That’s what friends are for.”
Tasha was still lost in thought when Alex glanced down and noticed the time on his watch.
“Hmm,” He said, “It’s getting late, and I have a mission tomorrow. We’d better go.”
Tasha looked down again, and then said quietly, “Alex, uhm, I’m going to be having a very busy schedule for the next couple of months. We probably won’t be able to get together again before you leave. I’m going on assignment to Berlin.” She looked at him now with sad eyes, saying, “I’m really going to miss you.”
Alex took her paw in his, looked into her blue eyes and said, “And I you, my friend. There’s an old military saying that goes, ‘You never say goodbye, just until the next post.’ I will miss you, too.”
Tears were welling up in Tasha’s eyes. Alex reached out and gently wiped them away. They held like that, her paw in his, his paw on her cheek, for several seconds.
Tasha suddenly turned her head away, saying, “You’d better drive me home and then go on. You need your sleep.”
Alex released her paw and they stood to leave. Alex left a tip on the table and they went to the front to pay the check.
The ride back to Tasha’s apartment building was quiet as they each dealt with their feelings. All too soon for the two friends they arrived. Alex started to get out to open her door as he usually did, but Tasha stopped him.
She leaned over and kissed his cheek, looked him in the eyes and said, “Don’t forget me, Alex O’Whitt. We will meet up again.”
Before he could reply, she got out and shut the door. Alex watched her walk away, stunned by her sudden departure. She was walking with her head and tail down as she disappeared into the building. He knew it would hurt to say goodbye, even as friends. He found he had no tears left now, having spent them all on his brother’s death. Instead, he stoically put the sadness he felt away with all the other pains he dealt with.
Alex heaved a deep sigh and thought, “I’m getting to old to keep moving around like this.” He put the car in gear and drove back to the base.
END OF CHAPTER 5