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’Cause she kissed you and you liked it a hell of a lot, Marine.
I loaded my ruck then pushed the boat, jumped in, and, after pulling the cord several times, managed to start the little outboard motor. Taking the bench at the stern, keeping my hand on the tiller, I checked the coordinates and adjusted my course to a southeasterly heading, roughly in the direction of the San Juan River, the lake’s main drainage point.
Lake Nicaragua was the largest fresh water body in Central America. The night was dark, and the wind churned the waters into a choppy mess for most of the way. Water licked my boots and sloshed at the bottom of the oldyola, soaking the women’s feet.Praying over their rosary beads, the nuns were taxed to the max. Never once did Missy complain.
Many hours later, when my Tak vibrated, I swept the shore with my flashlight and spotted my destination. After a few minutes of paralleling the shore, I turned south and motored into the darkness of a vast nature preserve. I steered theyolatoward a brown water inlet, and kept going until I arrived at the small, muddy beach from where I’d launched.
I turned off the motor. As the keel scraped the murky bottom, I jumped out and hauled the boat ashore. I helped Missy out of theyola.
“Do you think the nuns can handle a run for the border tonight?” I asked.
Missy glanced over her shoulder and took in her friends before she met my gaze again. “They’re exhausted. Can you please give them a rest, even if it’s only for an hour or two?”
When Missy said ‘please,’ all my resolutions melted. “We’ll have a short rest.”
“Thank you.”
When Missy thanked me, it was my heart that melted.
I helped the nuns out of the boat and ordered them to wait for me at the beach. Moving quietly, holding my carbine at the ready, I scouted the shoreline north and south of us, then moved up the animal track across a swath of swamp. The trail gave way to higher, drier land, and led to a grassy patch notched between trees. An old, long-abandoned, lean-to, built of branches and brambles stood beneath a huge mango tree.
This was the spot from where I’d staged my infiltration on the way in. Walking the perimeter, I made sure the place was clear of threats. When I was sure it was safe, I trekked back to the lake.
“All clear,” I announced.
Missy helped the other women to their feet while I shouldered my ruck, pulled the skiff out of the water, and hid it among the bushes. Then I guided my companions to the mangotree. My mission was supposed to be a quick in and out, so I traveled light, which meant no sleeping bag, no comfort items, and minimum weight carry.
“Ladies, this is your hotel for the evening.” I yanked my poncho from the side of my ruck and spread it over the ground beneath the humble lean-to. “It’s a little shy of five stars and slightly short in amenities, but it has a gorgeous view of the Milky Way.”
“Thanks, Goodman.” Sister Elsa looked mighty relieved as Missy helped her to sit down.
“It’s Goofman,” I mumbled, rummaging through my ruck. “That’s what my friends call me.”
“They’re mistaken.” Sister Elsa smoothed her skirt and flashed a serene smile. “You’re Goodman. You just don’t know it, do you?”
I lifted my head and considered the woman’s face. Was she teasing me?
“Sister Elsa might be right.” Missy’s shy smile dazzled me like a spotlight in the night. “You did well today.”
Something swelled inside me, my pride, my heart, my hope? Whatever it was, it felt like a revival. If Missy thought I could be a good man, maybe I could be that person after all.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.” Sister Janet plopped down next to her companion and huffed. “The crossing was murder. It sure whittled me down to nothin’.”
“No more crossings for you.” Missy knelt on the ground, took off her friend’s shoes and socks, and dried her feet with her old jumper. “We’ll have you both dried and fed in no time. Won’t we, Javi?”
Javi?
No one had ever called me that, but hell, I liked it.
“Yes, ma’am.” I extracted some food from my ruck and made an announcement with a touch of flair and a slight Frenchaccent. “And now, I invite you to rest and relax. As I proudly present you with… your dinner.”
Whistling the tune of a popular Disney musical, I did a little jiggle as I distributed my ready-to-eat rations among the laughing women. The nuns found my performance hilarious. Missy’s quiet giggles rang in my ears like delicate chimes. First time I’d ever heard her laugh. The sound was… addictive.
I elbowed her playfully. “You likeBeauty and the Beast?”
“I love that movie.”
I’d be a clown and whistle Disney tunes until my face turned blue to get the pleasure of listening to Missy’s laughter.
